[Zakuraba]

Hey fellow Sherdoggers,

I am in a bit of a jam right now following a complete ACL reconstruction surgery, so please bear with me and see if you can offer any advice/help.

I recently had an ACL-reconstruction on my left knee after completely tearing my ACL. I had a cadaver-procedure done, and it has been 10 days since my surgery. I've got a full on leg brace with flexion/extension adjustments on it.

Here is my dilemma. The doctor who preformed the surgery (and the one I am still going to), does NOT seem to give a fuck about my rehabilitation or recovery post surgery. Immediately after my surgery he left me NO post-operation instructions, I had to get these from a nurse at the hospital, and prior to the surgery I had NO CONTACT with him until I had to call him to make an appointment.

At the appointment, he took off the guaze and removed the staples from my knee. He put on bandages over the incisions (some of which were still a bit fresh) and put back on the brace, only telling me to keep the brace on and that he'll see me in 4-6 weeks. He also told me that he would put in a request for my rehabilitation process.

Now, here is my main concern. It has been 10 days since my surgery, and I have had NO phone call or information at ALL regarding my recovery process. I am deeply concerned, as all that I have gathered through independent research about ACL surgery is that the rehab process is THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING you can do to get your knee back into shape. I am just concerned that perhaps I have been waiting too long already to start the recovery workout/excercising process.

Has anyone had any experience with ACL surgery and rehab, and if so how long did it take for you to start rehabilitation on your knee with excercises/rehab? Again, I am very concerned because I want to have the best possible start on recovery so that I can hopefully one day grapple/roll again at optimum ability.

Also, would anyone be able to recommend a healthy diet while I am rehabbing. Right now I'm eating whatever I want (I know, horrible) because I have no started my recovery process, but I know I'm going to have to stop this shit if I want to get back into shape.

Again, PLEASE, ANY input/advice would be appreciated.

[The Jake]

Find another orthopedic surgeon specialising in knees ASAP.

I have an idea what rehab is involved but don't want to say for fear of giving you bad advice. But whatever you do, find a new doctor ASAP. Even if you need to ask this doctor for a referral to another doctor. Riing him up and do not stop until you get an answer. Sounds like you're seeing a real fuck head surgeon. Sorry mate.

You are dead on about the post op follow up being critical. I would have tried to get my hands on that info before going under the knife but thats just me.

- J.

[rotten apple]

Yo i feel your pain man, ive had to go through the exact same thing, minus the bad doctor. But right now you should be trying to move it around. Try to SLOWLY bend it as far as you can, and then straiten it, keep doing this as much as you can, ofcourse dont over due it. The sooner you go to rehab the better, but 10 days its cool it took me about a week or 2 if i remember correctly.

try to find a SPORT rehab center, becuase the people there cater to athletes specifically.
It hurts like a bitch for the first couple of weeks, so just make sure you take it like a man and keep SLOWLY bending and extending it.

I suggest you take it easy on your knee for the next 6-12 months depending on what the rehab person says.

i didnt get back into sports for almost 4 years becuase i was stupid to stop rehab, so DONT STOP. im still regretting it today becuase my knee still bugs me a little, but is slowly starting to get better.

good luck man and remember not to take it over board, baby your knee until your 100% confindent in it.

[The Jake]

Don't stop rehab. Rehab is your priority.

I say it again because its important enough to be repeated and never forgotten.

- J.

[Zakuraba]

Thanks fellas, I really do appreciate it.

[kaleikaumaka]

started my rehab about 2 weeks after. i would recomend starting earlier because by the time i started i had so little muscle left in my leg i could barely support my weight. dont worry too much about moving weight and getting stronger, that will come in time. focus on the range of motion activities even though the suck the worst. at straight, you NEED it to be atleast at 0 degrees and hopefully reach -5 degrees (important for running). they will use weights to get it there. at bending, try to improve the bending angle by about 10 degrees or so every week eventually touching your heel to your butt or approx 165 degrees. my rehab sessions were like 2 hrs each time, and the ice at the end was sooo awsome. i sat out about 4 full months and then got back to LIGHT rolling WITH the restricting brace. got back to full speed rolling after about 7 months. its been 14 months since my surgury and the only thing that still bothers me is the last few degrees of bending range of motion. good luck with the recovery process, you will be back hungry and with a new level of intesity and desire to learn. after all, we gonna have to catch up to all those peep that were rolling the whole time

[Timbaland]

You need to focus on moving the knee around like others said. When you got the operation done using a part from a cadaver, they generally replace your acl with the achilles tendon of a cadaver. This is much, much stronger than your acl.

A couple of my friends tore their acls before. Moving the knee is important to prevent scar tissue from building up. My friend didn't really do this because it hurt but then the scar tissue built up and he had to go in to the hospital to get it broken. I wish you the best of luck man.

If the doctor doesn't call you, you have to call them. You can't sit around and wait for a call.