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So...good news and bad news re the knee. Good news is I can do headstand
Bad news is the MCL and ACL are completely torn and the meniscus is partially torn. Surgery will have to wait until beginning of Sept when I can fully bend the knee, as of rt now I can only bend it about 70%. Doc will use cadaver which I’m fine with BC I want to other leg intact. Getting a Don Joy brace soon.
Recovery time is 6-9mo which most of you prob already know. Any advice is welcome my mtb friends

 

Advice, don't do it again?

 

You and @Mikie can take turns shuttling us on Mt Pinos.

 

Tomorrow...?

 

Don’t injure your spare leg. Go for a pull-up PR. Eat and hydrate well. Let over-use injuries subside. Visit a dispensary. Summon patience. Seek support from those you trust. Be okay without an edge. Easy, eh?

 

I’ll do my time it’s only fair.....let me know

 

Easy peasy

 

The only advice I can offer is to continue hanging in there like you have been.

 

Hmm if I remember correctly @UPSed has a birthday that should be coming up soon??? We had a play hooky from work/shuttle fest a year or two ago and it was darn fun. I’m down for this again...

Seriously though @Mikie & @mountaingirl sara just take the time and make yourselves 100% healed and healthy. Don’t overdue it and set things back. It’s just strange to be the sole rider sporting the Canadian flag. I’m kinda at a loss without my riding buds.

 

I can drive no problem! Seriously a few hrs isn’t a big deal

 

Beer.

 

Can't do tomorrow.

Yes! September 9th! It falls on a Sunday this year so no one will have to play hooky.

 

My advice?
Just stay amazing...

 

Oh Mikie

 

More signs of a roadie.

 

More like, signs that you're NOT a roadie.... HAIRY!

 

Oh yeah.

 

Ugh. Sorry to hear! I don't know what extra is involved with MCL and meniscus tear, but I'm sure it's more than just ACL. All you can do is take it one day at a time. For now lots of ice. Looks like you've got the keeping the leg elevated part down.

You sound like me and aren't good at sitting around the house. It's just a few weeks after surgery where mobility is really limited, then you can start tooling around the house and neighborhood. I lined up a bunch of projects and other things I could work on - books to read, movies to watch, places to go check out. I was able to start easy rides around the neighborhood after about a month once I got my brace, which helped immensely with sanity. All that on top of regular rehab and your time will be pretty well occupied. You'll be back riding again before you know it.

 

I get those marks on my calf too, but there is sometimes a lil' blood mixed in.

 

Whew!
I thought you got a tattoo without me!

 

That’s perty Ed

 

Yeah, sitting around is not for me! I do have some good adventure books to keep me occupied, and watching mtb vids on YouTube is fun. I’m planning on doing the same as Mikie with a trainer for my road bike as soon as I can bend my knee! And yep, the inversions def help to get a little workout in and elevate the leg just don’t tell my doc!
So one month after surg and you were riding, thats not terrible! I’m assuming/ hoping you’re back to normal riding?!
Thanks for taking the time to share Evan, encouragement is always appreciated

 

I am riding but not normal riding, definitely taking it very easy and walking hard parts - anything that has higher risk of a crash. Need to avoid hyper extending the knee. Should be ok while wearing brace but I'm not cleared to ride trails for another month (4 mos total). Apparently that is the new standard for ACL recovery, with brace on during activity for 8-9 months.

You'll definitely want the trainer.

 

Great post Evan!

 

Whoa, this is news to me, 8-9mo with a brace! Good to know ahead of time tho. I’ll def be staying on my local well known trails for a while..I don’t need the risk factor either. It will be like heaven just to be back into the mtns.
Hope the rest of your recovery goes fast and you’re on the trails soon!

 

The technical term for that is "Fred tat."

 

I have been wearing the brace for two months now. It honestly isn't a big deal and Id say I feel more comfortable riding with it than without - it provides an extra bit of welcome support. It only bothers me on "longer" rides over 15-18mi, and mainly then because of the sweat factor. Once I'm back riding more normally I'll probably be selective where I wear it. Long fire road or non technical singletrack climb I probably won't wear it, then put it on at the top.

FWIW I never had a brace following my first ACL tear. And I was back riding after about 2 months. That surgeon was totally unconcerned that I might re injure it. It was all about getting back range of motion and strength. I think now they know more and recognize that the third month is where the graft is at its weakest. For the cadaver graft since it is basically dead tissue it takes longer to fuse together. That is why I went with hamstring. They normally take that from the injured leg but since I already used that one the first time surgeon suggested we could use hamstring from my good knee, if it didn't bother me ethically to disturb a healthy limb
He recommended against patellar tendon being a biker since repetitive motion if biking could cause irritation having used that tendon.

 

I can see how the brace would add peace of mind. I’m hoping like crazy to trail run again, this is why I’m afraid to use parts from my good leg. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to decide tho..I’ll do more research.
So you re-injured the exact same tendon??

 

Yup, it was the right knee both times. 15 years apart.

Normally if doing hamstring they would take it from your injured leg. I didn't even notice that the first time since the ACL and recovery had more effect. I think it is unusual to take a tendon from your good leg, and we only did it as it seemed like the best option for my circumstances. I'm hoping that by the time I tear it again they'll have developed something synthetic to use so we won't have to decide.