ACL surgery at 44?

[suesam]

I posted a while back about my knee sprain I got while snow skiing. Well turns out it was not actually a sprain but a "complete disruption of the ACL".
Has anyone had ACL surgery and how did it turn out? My dr. was not real sure I needed it. He said if I was 18 I should go ahead but at 44 it could go either way.... depending on how active I want to be. Well I want to be plenty active, I ski, jog and bike. He said without the surgery jogging and biking would probably be fine. So... basically I could give up skiing.. which I suppose I could live with.

I will continue to research as I will be going to PT for 6 weeks but it is always nice to hear from people who have been in the situation.

Thanks!
Sue

 

[DonM]

Sue:

Is a "complete disruption of the ACL" the same as a complete tear? It sounds as though a disruption is not a complete tear?

After I got that straightened out, I'd get a second opinion. Then if they leave it to you to decide, and you wanted to continue to ski, I'd go for it. I'd go to the best surgeon I could. You can strengthen the knee with weights and that will compensate for the lack of stability, but a successful operation will be better. 44 is still young. Alternately you could try the weight training and if you injure it again then go for the knife. Discuss it with the orthopedist.

good luck

don

 

[suesam]

Don,
Unfortunately, a complete disruption is a complete tear, I saw the picture.
I will most certainly get a second opinion if I do decide to have surgery. I am going to meet with the Physical Therapist a few times and see what he has to say. The Dr. did say I will know much more how I feel in 6 weeks or so, after my swelling is totally gone, etc.

I do not think 44 is that old either! I kind of think if an 18 year old should have surgery so should I!! But then.... I do not want surgery either. I am soooo confused!! From the conversation with the Dr. my husband has the opinion that I should not have the surgery and I will be fine and be able to do everything I want. I really did not feel that way.... he is the optimist of the two of us however. I consider myself a realist.

Sue

 

[nazclk]

ACL

My Step Daughther had the same problem. had the Surgery a couple of weeks ago and is walking around with a brace the last few days

 

[dukebigtom]

I blew my ACL playing volleyball at your age and I'm now 56. I was scheduled for surgery twice and it was cancelled for emergencies in my family. I went through physical therapy and ended up being able to do pretty much everything I wanted to do except some very physical activities. Even at that, using a brace, I was playing volleyball again with my kids in an adult league up till about age 51.

I put mine off based on the advice of my doctor that I would be able to do most everything, but using a brace for some active sporting events. He advised that the longer I waited, the more likely it would all be eventually able to be done arthoscopically. (That may be the case now, haven't checked.) He told me either way, I was going to end up with arthritis in the Knee probably as I got older.

I do think you have a choice and I'd definitely recommend the second opinion and see what your therapist says. I've been okay with what I did, but it would be nice not to have to strap on a brace everytime I "get physical". If I were you, I'd probably opt for the surgery. Things have changed dramatically in the last 10 years and recovery time is shortened quite a bit.

Good luck,

BigTom

 

[DonM]

But then.... I do not want surgery either.

Who does other than the surgeon?

... my husband has the opinion that... I will be fine and be able to do everything I want.

I first hurt my knee when I was in HS (I'm 55 today) then reinjured the same knee 10 years later. I did not have the surgery because:
1)The Dr told me I wasn't going to be a professional athelete and if I did some weight training I'd be fine, and
2)They really didn't have reconstructive surgery at that time- they just reconnected the ligament if they could do it within 2 weeks of the tear.

My experience has been that I had to give up basketball because it was too much risk of reinjury. I did get to play most other sports as long as I wore a knee brace. I still would have some swelling after I played- but nothing too bad at all.

Today of course I'm not as active but I hike, swim, bike etc. I could still play softball if I wanted to- all without a brace or even thinking about my knee. I believe that I still have the risk of reinjury because the knee isn't as stable as before the injury- I just don't put it at risk the way I did in my teens.

I want to be plenty active, I ski, jog and bike. He said without the surgery jogging and biking would probably be fine. So... basically I could give up skiing.. which I suppose I could live with.
Sue

If I had had the option of reconstructive surgery, and knew what I know now I think I would have had it- even though you are not 18 you sound pretty active- I'm sure plenty of people your age have this operation every day.

Good Luck

 

[calgal]

I tore my ACL completely three years ago skiing and was offered the same options and considerations that you heard. I elected not to have the surgery because of the lengthy rehab involved. I have found that running and biking are fine, but activities with a rotational knee component like tennis are not. I also gave up skiing immediately. There are 2 options for repair, both of them open knee surgery as far as I know. One is to use cadaveric tissue, the other is to use one of your own leg muscle ligaments and graft it to the damaged area. When you speak to the surgeons, find out which technique they recommend. Rehab is easier with the cadaveric graft, but there is a slight chance of infectious diseases (like hepatitis) with it. I have been OK with my decision although I do miss skiing. Next winter I plan to try snowshoeing since I don't think it has much rotatory component to it.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I say do the surgery, if and only if you are prepared to work your ass off in rehab. If you can do that, then I say do it, because after the surgaery and rehab, ou will be as good as new with the advance of surgery today.

I blew my knee out playing football in college when I was 20 in 1985. I didn't have full surgery, just scope so I didn't completely correct the problem. My competitive football was over, but over the years I've competed in competitve softball and basketball with a sturdy brace. I was about 90% active to where I was.

If this happened now, I personally would get the surgery, even at 44, because I know I would do the rehab and be as good as new at some point. Back then the surgery was more complicated, and I was scared, but today i personally would do it, because I hate being limited in any way.

 

[suesam]

Thank you so much for your responses!
I really hate to be limited. I really did not start to exercise, jog, bike a lot, ski until I was in my mid 30's so really hate to give it up at this point in the game. I am way too young! At least in my mind. I feel like I am just getting started in this fitness, athlete thing! I feel like my knees should be in pretty good shape because I did not abuse them in my youth that is for sure.

Snowshoeing is fun, I really like that as well and it is a fabulous workout. The thing with skiing is that it is so exhilarating to challenge myself with fun runs. The day I fell I was doing so darned good!! I just hit some powder, got out of control and that was the end of that.

It sounds like jogging and biking would not be an issue? How about cross country skiing? Would that work at all? I really wanted to run a 10K this summer. I did my first 5 k two years ago at 42 years of age and loved it!

Before the injury I went to the gym about 3-5 times a week so I think I could do the rehab.... I am pretty determined that way....

I am soooooo confused but you guys are really helping! Thanks!

Sue

 

[MULTIZ321]

ACL Reconstruction after 40 - Mayo Clinic Podcast

Intra-articular ACL Reconstruction in the Over-40-year-old patient - from Knee Surgery,Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Journal



Richard

 

[ctreelmom]

My dh had arthroscopic surgery for a torn ACL twice on the same knee in his 30s. Two different injuries, both line of duty while he was a NYC Firefighter. After the first surgery the City put him back full duty; offered him a desk after the second. As far as recreational activities (he's 50 now) he could do pretty much whatever he wanted (except fight fires professionally), which was mainly softball (with a brace) and bowling, neither of which he does anymore. I do remember the surgeon asking him if he was a skier--the answer was no, and the surgeon replied, "Good. Don't start." He's not a complainer, but I will often notice a limp if we've done a lot of unusual walking or standing or if he's been more physically active than usual. Damp weather affects him too. Life-altering? Well, yeah, if you count it costing him the career he loved, but as far as everyday activities, not so much.

 

[Zac495]

I blew out my knee young - never had the repair. I've had 2 meniscus surgeries since - who knows if they're completely/partially/or not related to the ACL tear...

Last time I was told that the ACL tear could be completed -but the doctors didn't recommend it SINCE I am a in-gym exerciser - I like aerobics, STEP, running - I don't ski anymore. They said at my age (I'm about to turn 50, but this was 2 years ago) - it wasn't worth the pain and suffering - that I'd do fine with rehab.

I had the meniscus surgery done - I'm fine for the work outs I do (and they're brutal - but not skiing).

It's a tough recovery, but I have friends my age who have done it.

 

[Jimbo]

Go for it!

I tore mine about 11 years ago when I was 27 yo and have done fine. Got right back into Softball and with care started to ski again.

I ditched the security blanket, knee brace, within 3 years (probably 2.)

The PT was a pain in the butt but I had the Petelar Tendin option and think due to that it took much more to recover. I was approved by my insurance to extend my PT by a few weeks. It must have been 12 weeks total!!

I'd opt for the gadaver option if I was doing it again.

In the last 3 years I got back into running after a 15 year hyatis. This has been tough on my knee and last year I had orthoscopic surgery to repair a miniscus tear and clear out some arthritis under my knee cap. Not a bad recovery either as I was back out running within 3 wks. Related to the original injury - most likely as the doctor says since your original equipment was replaced and the equipment was not original parts.

If you are active and want to continue being so, then go for it.

 

[Nikki B]

Hi Sue(I think that's your name),
I'm a 47 year old (although I don't think I'm old) woman who completely tore the ACL whilst snow skiing last July 08. It caused me to lose my stability totally. I couldn't stand in the shower without my knee collapsing so.....I had no choice but to have surgery.
Now, 5 months post op I am walking properly, running in small bursts but still cannot squat (duck walk) yet, I will get there, my surgeon says I'll be back skiing come June 09. The rehab is quite intense but I know I have to do it... to stay fit as well.
I couldn't have imagined not having the op. I think I would have needed a walking frame otherwise!
I am an active person even in the work I do as a contract cleaner...I run my own business with my husband and each snow season we are carving up the mountain. So, what I am trying to say is, I had the surgery and would not hesitate to say to anyone considering the op, 'Have it' Find a good surgeon & discuss the graft options. It's well worth it.