Downtime Suggestions-Advice for ACL/meniscus knee injury - Snowboarding Forum

Ang227 · 03-24-2012, 02:14 AM

I've been snowboarding for over a decade and been lucky enough not to have anything serious until recently.

I went up boarding to celebrate my birthday with friends, didn't have enough speed on a jump and ended on the flat/knuckling it and wrecking my right knee that took brunt of it, popping knee out from under me (I'm goofy)- it was the worst pain ever! (I've put my body through some abusive stuff and jujitsu instructors once told me I have a high pain tolerance while demonstrating moves on me and not getting the normal reactions). So an ER trip followed by an ortho dr visit later- it was the most memorable and worst birthday ever.

Long story short- ACL tear, complex tears on both meniscus, impact fractures on lateral femoral condyle and medial posterior tibial condyle, kissing contusions everywhere, patella dislocated and the list goes on but you get the jist... so my right knee is messed up and I can't bear weight on that leg. I'm done for the season and my friends are hitting the slopes now with fresh pow-I'm jealous.

It's been about 4.5 wks since accident and I'm slowly going nuts. I've got an upcoming doctor appointment to decide my treatment but I'm limited in my mobility and using crutches currently. Any wisdom from folks who had a similar experience-suggestions on the down time or how long did your physical therapy take til you were able to snowboard or resume rigorous physical activities again? I know it varies on situation but I just wanted to see how long people have been out. I miss the ability to move like running or even driving. Plus my left knee was actually my bad knee before accident due to prior injuries and now by default it's the good knee-has been acting up lately. I was a pretty active person before but now I don't really move.

Qball · 03-24-2012, 06:19 AM

If you need surgery get it ASAP. You won't be able to snowboard for about six months after surgery so get it done now so you can be ready for next season.

Edp25 · 03-24-2012, 07:27 AM

I agree with Qball. Treat asap and use the therapy to get back and stronger. I tore a labrum a few years back and I am stronger since because I learned so much in physical therapy

david_z · 03-24-2012, 09:29 AM

^^agree with these guys. Surgery, rehab, PT.

buddy of mine blew out his knee playing basketball right before Christmas in 2009. He finally had surgery in August of 2011. Needless to say he has not been on a board since 2009 - he's missed our last three annual ski/snowboard trips (which included 2 pretty rad trips to UT) and he gained about 50 pounds. No joke.

mtl20 · 03-24-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_z

^^agree with these guys. Surgery, rehab, PT.

buddy of mine blew out his knee playing basketball right before Christmas in 2009. He finally had surgery in August of 2011. Needless to say he has not been on a board since 2009 - he's missed our last three annual ski/snowboard trips (which included 2 pretty rad trips to UT) and he gained about 50 pounds. No joke.

my brother blew his acl playing ball too, got surgery in october 2010 and he is still not 100%. So i would get surgery as soon as you can because the recovery is pretty long.

Ang227 · 03-25-2012, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qball

If you need surgery get it ASAP. You won't be able to snowboard for about six months after surgery so get it done now so you can be ready for next season.

Thanks for responses. Planning on doing surgery, but the docs just wanted to wait to let my knee's swelling/bruising go down a bit so upcoming visit is for them to assess it better.

And yeah I'm concerned about packing on the poundage too--joints already have it hard enough.

Hammer31 · 03-25-2012, 09:59 AM

Bad injury, dont even worry about boarding right now, this is something that will affect the rest of your life.
What are their plans with the meniscus? What type meniscus injury is it?
Since your ACL went it makes it easier to repair the maniscus since they can really open the knee joint during surgery.
Ice the hell out of it and get into surgery ASAP so you can start recovery.
DO NOT PUSH IT! Rest it! Follow Doc's orders to the T.
When i have my bad injuries i play sim games on the internet to pass time. lol
If your interested give me a PM

BarrettDSP · 03-25-2012, 05:04 PM

Sorry for your injury. I tore my ACL playing basketball in September and had my ACL surgery Oct 15, 2011. I told my PT to push me during therapy and I did everything they wanted me to do and more. Was discharged from PT 2 months post surgery and did a gym workout since then. I unfortunetly had to cancel a Dec and Jan trip but I was able to get my doctor to clear me to ride for my trip this week to Vail. Today was actually my first day riding since surgery. Rode for about 4 hours before my knee told me it had enough. Do not push your knee when you come back, most people take about 2 years to feel 100% back to normal after the surgery. If your insurance will cover it make sure to get a Don Joy Brace. I used mine today riding and it definetly helps. Good Luck with your Recovery.

03-24-2012, 02:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ang227 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2	Downtime Suggestions-Advice for ACL/meniscus knee injury I've been snowboarding for over a decade and been lucky enough not to have anything serious until recently. I went up boarding to celebrate my birthday with friends, didn't have enough speed on a jump and ended on the flat/knuckling it and wrecking my right knee that took brunt of it, popping knee out from under me (I'm goofy)- it was the worst pain ever! (I've put my body through some abusive stuff and jujitsu instructors once told me I have a high pain tolerance while demonstrating moves on me and not getting the normal reactions). So an ER trip followed by an ortho dr visit later- it was the most memorable and worst birthday ever. Long story short- ACL tear, complex tears on both meniscus, impact fractures on lateral femoral condyle and medial posterior tibial condyle, kissing contusions everywhere, patella dislocated and the list goes on but you get the jist... so my right knee is messed up and I can't bear weight on that leg. I'm done for the season and my friends are hitting the slopes now with fresh pow-I'm jealous. It's been about 4.5 wks since accident and I'm slowly going nuts. I've got an upcoming doctor appointment to decide my treatment but I'm limited in my mobility and using crutches currently. Any wisdom from folks who had a similar experience-suggestions on the down time or how long did your physical therapy take til you were able to snowboard or resume rigorous physical activities again? I know it varies on situation but I just wanted to see how long people have been out. I miss the ability to move like running or even driving. Plus my left knee was actually my bad knee before accident due to prior injuries and now by default it's the good knee-has been acting up lately. I was a pretty active person before but now I don't really move.

03-24-2012, 09:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
david_z Official SBF Blogger Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 3,028 Blog Entries: 5	^^agree with these guys. Surgery, rehab, PT. buddy of mine blew out his knee playing basketball right before Christmas in 2009. He finally had surgery in August of 2011. Needless to say he has not been on a board since 2009 - he's missed our last three annual ski/snowboard trips (which included 2 pretty rad trips to UT) and he gained about 50 pounds. No joke. __________________ Repping the world's smallest mountains... Mt. Holly - 12 Pine Knob - 9 Alpine Valley - 2 Vail - 4 Breckenridge - 3 Crystal Mountain (MI) - 3 Hawk Island Snow Park - 5 Caberfae Peaks - 1 Boyne Mountain - 1 aGNARchy: no rules, just gnar!

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03-24-2012, 06:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Qball Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mt. Hood, Oregon Posts: 1,273	If you need surgery get it ASAP. You won't be able to snowboard for about six months after surgery so get it done now so you can be ready for next season.

03-24-2012, 07:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Edp25 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 63	I agree with Qball. Treat asap and use the therapy to get back and stronger. I tore a labrum a few years back and I am stronger since because I learned so much in physical therapy

03-25-2012, 09:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hammer31 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 25	Bad injury, dont even worry about boarding right now, this is something that will affect the rest of your life. What are their plans with the meniscus? What type meniscus injury is it? Since your ACL went it makes it easier to repair the maniscus since they can really open the knee joint during surgery. Ice the hell out of it and get into surgery ASAP so you can start recovery. DO NOT PUSH IT! Rest it! Follow Doc's orders to the T. When i have my bad injuries i play sim games on the internet to pass time. lol If your interested give me a PM

03-25-2012, 05:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
BarrettDSP Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 104	Sorry for your injury. I tore my ACL playing basketball in September and had my ACL surgery Oct 15, 2011. I told my PT to push me during therapy and I did everything they wanted me to do and more. Was discharged from PT 2 months post surgery and did a gym workout since then. I unfortunetly had to cancel a Dec and Jan trip but I was able to get my doctor to clear me to ride for my trip this week to Vail. Today was actually my first day riding since surgery. Rode for about 4 hours before my knee told me it had enough. Do not push your knee when you come back, most people take about 2 years to feel 100% back to normal after the surgery. If your insurance will cover it make sure to get a Don Joy Brace. I used mine today riding and it definetly helps. Good Luck with your Recovery.