Jason's double pop...

by Jason
(Greece)

Greetings from Greece to all you fellow-sufferers.
My acl story began on 03Nov2008 during an amateur basketball game. As the ball rebounded off the board, I moved towards its direction, suddenly my foot got stuck on the wooden floor, my leg extended and all of my weight (220 lbs) fell right on my right knee, double pop, I knew it was a torn acl, had seen many team mates blow their knees over the years.

After an MRI and two clinical examinations, the acl tear was confirmed, however reconstruction surgery took place on 08Jan2009. Although no damage was done to my mcl or meniscus, unfortunately I was informed that I had sustained severe loss of cartilage and underwent arthroscopy on 13Jan09 (yes 5 days later!)to harvest a sample of remaining cartilage cells and send them to a special cell culture lab in Germany. The next step involves transplant of the cultured cells back to the knee. My next arthrotomy will take place in two months.

As far as the acl is concerned, I am day 6 post-op with major discomfort.
I have began flexion, extension and isometric exercises. Extension is 0 degrees, flexion is 95-100 degrees.
I try to keep on one crutch and can bear my full body weight at a standing point.

A hamstring graft was used for the reconstruction.

I am quite anxious to get back to work, does anybody have an idea how long it takes to get rid of the crutches and start walking perfectly again?

Best regards,

Jason