It's gonna be a long road ahoe...a loooong road ahoe...

On August 16, 2014, I lost possession of a soccer ball and was checked into the boards (indoor game) for good measure. Well, I thought, I'll show that 15 year old with the fuzzy mustache! NOPE! As I lunge with my right leg extended to block his pass, my right knee buckles in a most morbid way. Since I am already in forward motion, I step with my left foot without problem, but upon a subsequent step on my right foot the knee again bends to the inside and I roll onto my back with the most icky feeling ever! No distinctive "pop" or any acute pain really, but the swelling ensues, and the chronic pain follows shortly. The game is over for me.

It took just over 2 weeks before I was able to ride a bike again, but at least I was able to tell my wife, "mmbut honey, I didn't hurt myself on a bike, so riding is ok!" After a few orthopedist consultations and a MRI, it turns out I have the "unhappy triad," consisting of a torn MCL/ACL/meniscus combo. Mind you under these circumstances I am able to pedal a bike entirely uninhibited, but falling off the bike and having to plant the right leg would just be morbid...no more of the bail-skedaddles to safety or easy breezy dabs with the right leg...I would have to ride flawlessly...yea right! On September 17, 2014 I had to plant my right leg hard and buckled my knee again. This time it hurt pretty bad., and I knew I had to do something.

Walking eventually became normal again, as did going up and down stairs, but any evasive maneuvers, full sprints, or landings from jumping off of anything was out of the question. In the long run (pun), I want to participate in my future children's outdoor activities. I plan to attend some of their weekday practices and games on Saturdays and run along the side of the soccer field yelling, "Go Darnell, Go! Go Darnell!," just like my dad did for me.

Since I had my wedding date scheduled for November 15, I decided to hold off on surgery until after my wedding so that I could ensure a first dance with my wife (I know, how romantic!).

Well here I am 2 days after surgery and the nerve block has faded. This sucks, but at least the pain is taking my mind off riding for a while. Baby steps is the name of the game now.

In the mean time, this website is the mitigating factor in my MTB life. Mikie, thank you for providing an outlet! It's gonna be a long road ahoe.

 

get well, at least you are on your road to recover and it only gets better

 

You got it, man. Stay positive!

A little pain is an easy price for getting your function back. Like you, I was not at first convinced I needed surgery. Unlike you, I did worse damage to my meniscus by being active with no ACL than by the ACL sever itself. I even tried a custom brace, no dice.

When a knee gets effed up, go get it fixed. The procedures are bomber these days. I had 17 years of grinding and hammering on my new ACL before finally going back in for a bucket handle tear that I no doubt did trying to avoid the ACL surgery. Stupid move. You? Good moves!

 

Do the rehab right Dirty. Let me know if you need any cadaver ligaments...I got relatives in China :shock:

 

That looks like a female crotch in the pic :shock: , what kinda fast one are you pulling here! :roll:

We will do our best to keep you entertained... Take your time to heal right so you can yell at me as I slow you down on the climbs... :?


Oh, btw . . . "It's a long row to hoe" it's farmer talk...

 

See, and I was going to go all Danimal / "burm" on him and let him think it's "road ahoe" forever! Alas - it is "row to hoe."

Get well and do your rehab right. You gotta earn the right to wear those Umbro shorts in competition again! Healing vibes your way. I think it worked for Danimal as he was just released from the hospital. :thumbup:

 

Thank you Mikie and Hezalot for the clarification. I guess I'm not versed in the farmstead rhetoric; I'll make this my first lesson during my sabbatical and leave my bikes fallow for a while. Here is something interesting: before I went in for surgery, I left my primary bike with my beloved LBS for an overhaul since it would otherwise collect dust. Looking at the work order, overhauling my bike would cost more than my surgery did were it not for Trek "Redshield."

 

Heal fast and well! You'll be back out there in no time...

 

Ohhh - I see what you did there! Slappin' back with a little farm-tech-talk of your own... well God willin' and the creek don't rise, you'll be countin' your chickens afore the cows come home!

And although I've never hoe'd a long row, I've rode a long ho! (actually I haven't, but it sounds kinda fun)

And lastly, with a repair blll like that, buy a new bike :shock: (unless Trek says they're paying).

Have a nice day! :wave:

 

Wait wait - one more comment...

The bottom of your receipt.... I wonder how many times bicycle shops have seen that particular work order (Replace Avid XO Trail brakes with Shimano XT Trail brakes). Supposedly SRAM finally got it right with their "Guide" brakes, but with tens of thousands of wonky Avids out there, it's gonna take them a while to gain credibility as a reliable brake.

 

Trek RedShield will pay all wear and tear costs for parts and labor for anything not rubber, hydraulic fluid, or brake pads, so all I'd have to pay for is labor for the suspension rebuilds and seatpost bleed. With the XT brakes costing almost half what the XOtrail brakes cost, I should get credit for the difference and expect to pay about $100 out of pocket.

I'm just gonna lie on my couch this month and wear out the battaries on my remote control. Good times! :| :yawn:

 

I asked the doc for a Greek cadaver, but he couldn't make any promises. Now I can no longer say I'm 100% Greek.

 

You say that like it is a bad thing. :lol:

Heal up buddy!! Take your time and do it right, rushing things will just put you further behind.

 

Today I went to my first post-op appt and took x-Rays. The doctor's initial assessment was good. As soon as I get home, the doc calls to remind me no weight bearing and to stay conservative with my rehab and limit my range of motion to less than 70 degrees for the next week. Another hour passes and I get another call from the doc. He says he kept studying my x-Rays, consulted with his partner and the factory rep who provided the replacement tendon, and he ultimately determined that the retrobutton in my femoral tunnel is not as flush as he'd like it to be.

So.....the doc cleared his schedule for this Wednesday morning (2/4/15) and I am going back under the knife! Depending on what he sees, he'll take either 20 minutes to get the retrobutton into the correct spot or 2 hours to redo the entire thing. Damn! I have to relive the most physically uncomfortable week of my life...



I told my boss pretty much what the doctor told me, "I'm sorry for the delay.

 

Sucks to hear you're off the bike. Hope all goes well with recovery.

 

@3xD - well that really sux. Sorry to hear about the tune up and potential re-do. Positive vibes, mojo, karma, prayers, healing rays and whatnot headed your way for a successful revision and fast recovery. Sounds like you were hoeing your row just fine, but Dr. Farmer said "uh, excuse me Mister, you're hoeing the wrong long row. Start over, son..."

 

That really blows... Hang in there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Oh, the doc cleared his schedule, what a champ...WTF!? If he lacks expertise or needs backup, why did he not consult his partner and vendor before the botch job? These procedures are more or less routine. There are plenty of knee specialists out there who don't become suddenly engaged in the job during rehab. And then ask for a re-do. When does this happen? Never heard of any knee patient needing that.

My complete ACL replacement lasted 17 years before I needed a cartilage trim (damage done during no ACL in place), and I did not treat it kindly. Nicholas Yaru in NB is the well known knee-only ortho who did the work. He is a long-time affiliate of Hoag Hospital. I would cut the potshots in the dark and get an opinion from a different ortho.

 

Mike, what type of graft did you get? At first I was going to get a patellar autograft but 2 docs said I wasn't a good candidate for that because of my Osgood Schlatters symptoms. Then I was looking into an allograft cadaver to reduce morbidity, then the doc had me meet with his partner who recommended the hamstring autograft. A few weeks before the surgery, the doc who ultimately performed the job informed me of the "all-inside flipcutter" method using a retrobutton and bio screws to attach an allograft cadaver. I saw 3 differnt orthos with all different recommendations/risks/benefits. Anyway I went with the guy who spent the most time with me during my office visits and who made me feel "confident" so to speak. Yea I'm pissed the first operation was botched, but I can't help but be relieved that he owned it and went in right away to fix it. All I can do is hope the second time was the charm. if this one fails, I could still use my hamstring or go beast mode like Raffi Torres and squat enough to make my quads so strong I wouldn't need an ACL.

 

Ha! I noticed the moose lips too, but oh well. Besides, those are English soccer shorts and could be considered stylish in some cliques.

I have decided that as soon as I am permitted to walk on my leg again (mid March) I will start a garden and hoe my looong rows all the live-long day!

 

Just don't use a cracked hoe, or a big dirty hoe...

<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKO_yaLL7n0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKO_yaLL7n0</a>

Straight outta Saskatchewan...

 

Will someone other than me PLEASE watch herzalots' big dirty hoe vid?
It starts a little slow, but you get "hooked" in the end...

 

<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkhcjI5Pwi0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkhcjI5Pwi0</a>

 

Ahh it's come down to me begging people to watch and asking the Godfather to intervene...

I tell you what, watch it, and if you don't think it's funny - and relevant to the sub-text of this thread - I'll give you double your money back!

Oh and keep on recuperatin' Triple D! Them long rows ain't gonna hoe themselves!

 

Got a big dirty hoe!
Crack hoe....hahaha

 

So, Danimal, did you watch it or not? I am guessing not...

And D3 - how's the recovery coming along? Any rows hoed yet?

 

Yes I watched it, I was so Hoe downed during the viewing too!

D3 will come back with one ass cheek and a peg shaped leg. But a few trips on the Mtb and he'll be good as new.

 

I don't make the time, or have the patience to scower the net for this stuff, I got to say you guys are sure entertaing!

Healing vibes Dirty Dave!

 

I happen to have been a regular viewer of Corner Gas (I am a closet Canadian), and I remembered the episode about the World's Biggest Ho. However, I did get some interesting links when I Googled the title.

 

How is it going Dirty D?