Lori's ACL and meniscus surgery

by Lori
(Tucson, AZ)

I wrecked my knee while out dancing with friends about a month ago. The floor was slippery, and that's really all it took :) The MRI shows a torn ACL and bucket-handle meniscus tear. I go in for surgery this week. I have been working through deciding whether to go the patellar or hamstring graft route, and I think I will be choosing hamstring.

I find that I am more nervous about recovery and rehabilitation than the actual surgery. I have had surgery before (non-knee), so I have an idea of what to expect of the day. For recovery, I just don't know what to expect, and long-term, I want to be able to do all the activities I love, and not have to stop doing something because of this. I do have a pre-op appointment with the surgeon, and he has been great about answering my questions and thinking up things I wouldn't have thought to ask.

My biggest short-term fear is that I live on the 2nd floor (no elevators). Being able to navigate stairs soon will be important! Fortunately, I have a number of people around to help me out.