At 6:45 tomorrow morning I’m having ACL reconstruction (revision) with allograft. This means they will graft a piece of tendon (with a piece of bone at each end) from a cadaver into my knee to give me an anterior cruciate ligament. This will be my second knee surgery this winter. In November I had a partial meniscectomy and microfractures (to promote regrowth of cartilage in the knee). My doctor is looking forward to being able to observe the efficacy of the microfracture procedure, since it is rare to be able to do so (he’s never been able to, and hasn’t heard of any cases). This will be my third overall knee surgery. In 1987 I had an acl/mcl reconstruction surgery but I reinjured it at some point in the early 90s.
For years there has been no acl to stabilize my knee, and I’ve lived with a lot of pain, limited mobility and hassel. Although this is moderately serious surgery (general anesthesia for 90 minutes minimum) I am looking forward to it. I’ve had so much trouble with my knee for so long that the prospect of it being even close to normal is almost too good to be true.
I’m taking a week and a half off from work, and I’ve made arrangements to work from home for a couple weeks after that. I’ll actually spend two days on short term disability, but that is pretty much unavoidable.
Anyways, there you have it. I thought about starting an “Ask the guy who just had knee surgery” thread, but I think I’ll be too wabbed out on pain meds to post much. I’ll try, though.
Good luck, hope it goes well.
I have always said that if I was going in for knee or some other surgery where I have two of something, the night before I would get a red sharpie, and on the good knee put arrows pointing to the other knee and write “Other knee, Einstein” or "Wrong knee!
I had ACL replacement a few years ago. The doctors used a portion of my hamstring and fastened it in with screws. Almost as good as new. The only trouble I have now is if I whack the end of the screw on something.
A fellow here at work had knee replacement surgery recently. The surgeon was in the day before and signed his name, the surgeon’s that is, on the correct knee to ensure no errors.
I’ve also had three arthroscopic surgeries on my ACL-free knee. Two just to suck out the debris and trim off the frayed ends after the ACL tears (they could not repair it – the technology didn’t back exist then). And one partial meniscectormy about 10 years ago.
However, despite this, I have had none of the painful symptoms that you have had. Yes, my left knee is a bit wobbly when the doctor sets me up on the exam table and tugs the joint around.
And my knee is vulnerable to hyperextension. But so far, even with a full schedule of baseball games in the summer (30+ games, for 15 years or so) and soccer games on the weekends, I have no complaints. :: **Spiff ** knocks on wood ::
There are two reasons for this: 1.) Luck, and 2.) An exercise/physical therapy program that I adhere to religiously that strengthens every other remaining ligament and muscle surrounding my left knee to compensate as much as possible my absent ACL.
However, I know that at some time I will blow out my left kneee, and I will need the same surgery you are having today. (In fact, if I’m calculating correctly, you may be under the knife as I write this, or in the recovery room).
So, my question to you (finally!) is this: Why did you go for the allogeneic (cadaver) ligament and not the autologous option, i.e., taking a tendon from your own leg?
Quicker recovery and greater . Obviously there’s some risk but the benefits make it worth it. In an autograft scenario I’d be recovering from two significant injuries, and weakening the tendon from which the harvest was taken. I learned while researching this that when an acl reconstruction revision is performed autograft is the preferred mothod for the reasons I just mentioned plus the possibility that the tendon would have already been used.
Hope it went well, Winston. My 19-year old nephew had this surgery, with the cadaver-donated parts, about 6 months ago and he’s doing really well. He’s a big, athletic guy and his doctor says he’ll be able to play college basketball and should be able to use the knee just fine for the rest of his life.
BTW, the surgery went well, and there were no surprises. I’m in a LOT of pain, but that’s to be expected and I’ve got pain killers. They gave me a nerve block on the front of my thigh to help with the pain and I’m afraid when it wears off tomorrow I’ll be a mess. But I’m a mess already, so I guess it doesn’t matter much.
Hope all went well for you. Had quite a few surgeries myself over the years, including a ACL - then and ACL/PCL replacement a few years later. This was 20 years ago and I know they’ve improved the process a lot. My knee can even take running and jumping these days (it’s my lungs that complain), so they should be able to fix you up pretty well.
So how do you like cadaver parts? I’ve tried artificial ligaments and the cadaver parts and the latter seemed to be more successful. Except, sometimes my knee tells me to kill people … but who listens to their knees?
May the Force be with you Winston. Good as these doctors are now, you’ll be fine. Maybe you’ll get lucky and get Jim Thorpe’s knee bone stuff. Or genes. Or something!
Jack
I bet you’re in pain. I had this surgery (except they grafted a strip out of my own patellar tendon) a few years ago, and spent the next week in a drug-induced haze. But it’s as good as new–after rehab, I was right back on the soccer pitch.
