Aub's ACL Adventure

by Aub
(Pittsburgh, PA, USA)

Hi. I am a 35 year old female. I tore my ACL on 2/16/9 doing nothing remarkable during a soccer game. All I did was run towards the player with the ball, turn slightly to my left and gradually slow down. I never had a pop but I had pain. MRI confirmed my ACL said adios. Surgery is scheduled for 4/16/9.

During physical examination doctors (I have seen three separate doctors) all seem to feel my knee is "looser" than just an ACL tear. I think they believe I may have tore something more (meniscus, other ligaments?) However, all agree that the MRI does not suggest anything else is wrong. They also advised me the MRI is not 100% at detecting everything and that more will be known during the surgery.

I have chosen a surgeon who is technically brilliant and specializes in ACL reconstruction and meniscal repair. However, as I was warned, his personality leaves something to be desired. Abrupt, abrasive, uninterested in interacting on a personal level would all describe his bedside manner.
My surgeon never asked how athletic I am. Thankfully, I know several of his patients that have said, despite his lack of bedside manner, if they ever had another problem, they would return to him in a heartbeat. There outcomes have been great.

I want to return to soccer, downhill skiing, track and field (high jump, long jump, hurdles). I am choosing the hamstring graft but am having second thoughts. Will I be able to rehab my hamstring enough to return to jumping events in track and field? I do not want the patellar tendon due to its shortcomings with pain many years later. I have also read the allograft is the weakest of the tendons and may not be strong enough for my activities.

Will I be able to return to my pre-injury (albeit weekend warrior) levels and continue to strive for improvement?