Question - Timeline for Recovery (ACL,MCL, PCL, LCL)

by Amy
(Ga)

7 months ago I tore my MCL, ACl, PCL, LCL and medial meniscus playing soccer. I had surgery 4 and a half months ago to fix it. Will I be able to go back to running and playing soccer? What's the usual length for someone being able to return to full mobility?

I have one more question which is different. I have pain in the upper right side of my calf just below the knee. What could this be caused by?

Comments for
Question - Timeline for Recovery (ACL,MCL, PCL, LCL)

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 09, 2008
Rating

what did they fix
by: Bart - SII

What kind of surgery did you end up having? Did they repair more than just the ACL?

An ACL reconstruction usually takes 6-9 months to recover from and return to activities - if you have other injuries and surgical repairs, that can change the timeline a bit, but most likely still somewhere around 9 months.

The pain in the back of your knee is likely due to the surgery and the healing you are going through.

Bart

Oct 19, 2008
Rating

fed up
by: Anonymous

I have had every thing but the meniscus. I am only at 70 degrees in my 5th week of recovery. I absolutely do everything I am suppose to do at home to. This knee is just not wanting to do anything. Im very frustrated. Is there something they can do to speed the process up.

Mar 30, 2009
Rating

DON'T GET FRUSTRATED
by: Anonymous

Don't get frustrated, u must know that it is a matter of work, not a matter of time. Keep on doing the sets the therapist told you. It needs patience and don't give up. I have passed through all this, and i know how painful it is but as long as you are commited to the sets, be sure you will be able to come back isa.

Apr 28, 2009
Rating

ACL/MCL/PCL/Meniscus
by: Matt

I dislocated my knee, tore the acl,mcl and pcl and also the meniscus whilst playing football. I underwent surgery 10 months ago which included a replacement of the acl with an artificial ligament attached with a screw, the pcl removed and replaced with muscle fibre removed from my hamstring and also 50% of the cartlidge removed due to the damage done to the meniscus. I subsequently had to undergo a further 4 operations in the following month due to an infection that was picked up during the original surgery. It is now 13 months since the I sustained the injury and I am still some way from returning to full action. I follow everything given to me by the physios including plyometrics and weights and am also regularly taking part in light running and rugby training. However, I am still lacking in muscle mass and power in the affected leg and still can't 'open-up' when running. Turning is also a huge problem and there is pain when attempting to do so. I am feeling extremely frustrated and was wondering whether anyone had been through anything similar and had any tips they could pass on?

Apr 29, 2009
Rating

Be Patient
by: Anonymous

I know how you feel sad foe being away for 10 months. I want you to know that those who have torn acl and meniscus take up to 9 months to come back, and someone who had torn acl told me it takes about year and half. I am not tellling you so to stop excercising, i just want you to know that it takes time and work. Look at ronaldo and think of the number of operations he did, and you will know you will be able to do it. Rehabilitation differs from one person to another, Have faith in ALLAH and don't stop

May 06, 2009
Rating

be for real
by: Anonymous

i did not tear the allah, i will keep faith in the medical profession. keep religion to the proper forum. this is not the place!!!!!

May 06, 2009
Rating

I am so Real
by: Anonymous

It seems you got my message in a wrong way, i told you not to stop excercising and to be patient. You have to keep on rehabing, and to be commited to the medical instructions. i was just telling you to have faith in ALLAH at the end, that was not the whole message.

May 20, 2009
Rating

speedy
by: mike

I had Acl, Lcl and Pcl surgery. Im at week 3 of my recovery and my knee is at 90 degrees and im walking(slowly. Your recovery should not take 9months if you work hard and do what your suppose to do.

May 25, 2009
Rating

not so speedy
by: slowmoving

I just had my ACL PCL and MCL replaced and have been talking a great deal with a seemingly highly competent doctor... He has made it very clear to me how different every surgery can be. Even repairing a single muscle can be done in 100 different ways, and there can be 100s of different styles of tears, pulls, etc....

It is for this reason that I must state that even if one is diligent in their exercises, if 9 months does not bring you to complete recovery, don't fret! Everyone is different, and I for one will absolutely not recover in that amount of time... So Keep your chin up, and good luck!

May 26, 2009
Rating

patience is the hard part
by: cindy

I am brand new to this process....... one week post op. I had reconstruction of my acl and pcl, menisectomy, and 2 other procedures to clean stuff up in my knee. I have seven incisions because the surgeon said there was a bit more complexity to the surgery once he got in there. I am not in much pain, stopped taking the pain killers after the 3rd day, just 1/4 of a dose at bedtime because i am having trouble getting it comfortable. I worked out at the gym daily before the surgery and am getting restless. I can tell that I am able to do alot more than i am allowed to do at this point. The hardest part for me right now is just waiting for the healing process so I can get back to working out. My leg is in a locking brace to walk and that is relatively pain free.

May 28, 2009
Rating

ACL MCL PCL surgery
by: EG

I was injured 03-31-2009 in a ATV accident and recived surgery 4-16-09. Its 2 weeks post op. I had acl & pcl grafted and the mcl reconstructed. So far the hardest part is being laid up. In my case I am a firefighter and my surgon told me 1 year befor I could return to active duty. Currently I am in a imoblizer locked. My next visit I should have the brace unlocked and begin regaining movement. So far this is the most challenging injury I have ever had. What type of Pt will I be facing and will it be at home or profecionaly done in a office type setting?

Jun 07, 2009
Rating

acl pcl lcl
by: Anonymous

it's such a long process.....i'm 6 months post op from acl pcl lcl and some post lateral corner reconstruction and i'm havimg major ROM problems cannot bend my leg more than 110 degrees with major painno matter what i try. The sergeon says i have scar tissue and can't do anything cause it will just return. I also don't have full extension. Anyone experince this?

Jun 08, 2009
Rating

understand your pain
by: Anonymous

My Daughter had a ACL, LCL, and PCL injury, almost 1 year to date.

Her recovery was slow to start with, before her 3rd month after surgery she had not regained enoungh range of motion to satistify her Dr.
He then schedule a scope , they went in and cleaned out scare tissue, and manipulated her knee while she was under. THIS WAS very successful, she has regained range of motion to 120*. We are very hopeful that she will be released from The Dr. care in Aug. which will be one year from her surgry.

Jun 08, 2009
Rating

Jun 09, 2009
Rating

acl lcl pcl
by: Anonymous

wow thanks so much it gives me much hope for my recovery and I wish your daughter a great recovery this is a horrible injury for anyone to indure.

Jun 10, 2009
Rating

Brace
by: Anonymous

I am recovering from ACL, PCL, MCL replacement surgery... I am currently at around 6 weeks post-surgery, and I have a large rehab brace on which I keep straight at all times, but I also must sleep wearing it. Did anyone else need to sleep with the brace on, and if so, for how long? I see my doctor in a few weeks and will ask him as well, but it is getting quite frustrating I dare say...

Jun 10, 2009
Rating

acl lcl pcl
by: Anonymous

hi there............the brace your talking about is either a brace to get you full extension or a brace to protect your new ligaments, it all depends on your surgeons post-op plans. I had one for extension for the first 2 weeks, once I got to 0 degrees (straight) I was given a brace for flexion to wear at night. They are both very uncomfortable.......most of the time mine ended up chucked across the room in the morning. Let me know how you are doing, I'm really interested in others progress with this type of injury.

jess

Jun 17, 2009
Rating

ACL, PCL, MCL complete tear
by: Sara

2 1/2 weeks ago I completely tore my ACL, PCL, and MCL with non-displaced tear of my meniscus. I managed to do all that damage from my ankle rolling out when I was jumping on our trampoline. I go see the sports medicine surgeon in 2 days. In the meantime my local orthopedic surgeon prescribed a jointed knee brace. He recommended the "passive" treatment that was to live with the brace and not have surgery. I chose surgery. Has anyone gone without the surgery? If I take off the brace,my knee cap will dislocate with slight movement.(dislocated 3 times in the first 2 days) I'm 30 with 6 kids and can't imagine living like this the rest of my life.

Jun 17, 2009
Rating

acl pcl mcl
by: Anonymous

I'd go with the surgery.....the mcl has good blood flow and can repair itself in many cases but the cruciates cannot and you will have huge instability, but honestly the rehab for ligament reconstruction is not a walk in the park so make sure you have a good sergeon who has done multiple ligament reconstructions and a good physiotherapist.

Jun 18, 2009
Rating

acl pcl mcl meniscus
by: cindy

I am 4 1/2 weeks post op now from acl pcl reconstruction, and medial menisectomy, as well as 2 other clean up procedures. I am finally feeling much more encouraged. My PT has unlocked my knee brace, I am riding the stationary bike for 20 minutes 2x daily, can do all the arms, abs, and straight leg raises that i want to. I can even do pushups again if i lock the brace. My quad is still pretty atrophied ( it is freaky how fast that happens) but it was very strong to begin with so i have good stability now. I am also doing brisk walking in the pool. I feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't had any pain since week 1, just major stiffness. The hardest part is not pushing it too hard while it heals..........waiting game, for sure.
Good luck to all of you dealing with this stuff!

Jun 18, 2009
Rating

PCL/ACL/LCL 2 Weeks out
by: Adam

Hello everyone, I had PCL/ACL/LCL all allografts and I am two weeks out. Doc says no physical therepy until week 6 and then the fun begins. How long did most of you stay out of work for? I feel pretty good and going back to my office job on monday, 2.5 weeks out from surgery. Just wondering if I'm rushing it too much. I have a straight leg immobilizer and will be able to post up at my desk for most of the time. Any tips? This is my second time around on this one so I am really hoping it all works as planned...

Jun 19, 2009
Rating

acl pcl mcl meniscus
by: cindy

hey adam,
I have spent countless hours researching this stuff and my understanding is that if it is acl alone, the rehab is much faster than your surgery. I had acl, pcl and meniscus along with 2 other clean up procedures and because of the pcl, i have to wait the 12 weeks of healing before i can really work it hard or bend it too much. They told me that if it was the lcl as well, it would be even longer of a wait before rehab. I returned to work after 2 weeks and started rehab the first week after surgery. However, I am only allowed passive exercises, no hamstring work, and no bend more than 90 degrees. I am 4 1/2 weeks out and started riding the stationary bike this week with the seat really high.
Good luck..... for me, it started getting much easier when they allowed me other stuff to do, like abs, and arms....... i was also allowed to do a cardio bike that you use your arms for..... not too thrilling but better than no exercise!

Jun 19, 2009
Rating

acl pcl lcl
by: Anonymous

Adam I'm suprised your going without physio for so long I had the same ligaments done and I was in physio a couple days after. I'm sooo struggling with range of motion even at 7 months so i;m pushing to have a second surgery to remove scar tissue. You guys should join the kneeguru site it has so much info and great people.

Jun 28, 2009
Rating

surgeries sucks and the road to recovery is long
by: justin

ive had 3 reconstructive knee surgeries in the past year 2 replaced acls and 1 acl and lcl reconstruction and all 3 had major meniscus damage the bottom of my femur is ground flat from not having those ligaments all of you that have doubts keep your chins up acl surgeries can take up to a full year or more to recover im looking at a 2 year recovery time after a surgery 3 months ago! keep your heads up high and try to be optimistic i know it sucks but youll be get better

Jul 03, 2009
Rating

post PCL reconstrction pain
by: Anonymous

i had my left knee PCL reconstructed last November.
it's been 7 months now i still feel a lot of tightness and sharp pain in my knee, whenever i jog, swim and especially when i bend/squat. the pain limits my exercise to a very short time (e.g. a maximum 10min jog with a lot of pain) I've stopped physiotherapy 2 months ago as there was no improvement for sometime already.
any clue what is wrong? will the pain go away in months time? did something went wrong during the surgery? please help me out. thanks

Jul 04, 2009
Rating

Speed
by: Anonymous

After 2 weeks im at 105 bending and walking with a small limp.. I do what the terapist has me to do, and my own at home very hard.. and i was told even tho the knee feels like it is about to bust, it never will, so i just push as hard as i can.

Jul 06, 2009
Rating

LCL donor reconstruction 5 months after ACL donor reconstruction
by: jen

in jan i had total disruption of the acl, grade 3 lcl and mcl, and grade 2 meniscus. did donor acl and repaired everything else. after 4 months of very hard therapy, my knee was still unstable. my LCL did not heal back, so as of June 26 they had to remove scar tissue, fluid, set my knee cap straight and remove my LCL and use donor. had NO clue how this surgery was gonna be different the first, but not being able to bare weight and being completely dependent on someone to help with everything is taking a toll on me!! did 4 months of therapy for NO reason, my quad is completely gone and never would strenthen...no sure how long this recovery is but being told not to get in hurry!!! if anyone has an idea please write me cause they only tell you bits and pieces.
cenlasluggersmom14@yahoo.com

Jul 27, 2009
Rating

Sports after acl, pcl, mcl reconstruction?
by: peg leg B

Hello all,
I am three weeks post-surgery after having allografts to rebuild my acl and pcl and also a reattachment of my mcl - all were completely torn. My PT says that I may never run more than once/week or return to Tae KwonDo at the balc belt level. Can you tell me what you have heard or experienced as far as returning to high-level sports after this type of injury and surgery?
Thanks.

Jul 30, 2009
Rating

ACL, PCL, MCL & LCL all shot!!!
by: Anonymous

I dislocated my knee & tore all four ligaments on 06/21/09. After dealing with the incompetent & inept PCP & HMO I was able to get to a sports medicine specialist/ortho on 07/29/09.

He told me what I already knew (need surgery), but he said he would only repair the acl & pcl and possibly the mcl, but not the lcl. He said the mcl seems to be healing judging by some movements/exams he made with on my leg. He said he might repair the mcl if necessary once he was in (surgery scheduled for 08/06/09).

However, he said he wouldn't repair the lcl because it may not be necessary. WTF? And that it might cause complications. I don't understand how I'm supposed to walk again if the lcl is not repaired.

This is extremely frustrating. I'm seeing another MD on 08/03/09 and see what he says.

The first MD said it will be about 4-6 months before I could return to normal activity. This is not good.

Jul 30, 2009
Rating

acl pcl lcl mcl
by: Anonymous

hey there,

I would definately get another opinion, if the lcl is completely severed then it needs to be replcaed, if not you can end up with severe arthritis down the road not to mention instability. The mcl can somtimes go without being reconstructed because it carries the most bloodflow of all the ligaments so it can sometimes left to heal, in rare cases the lcl can as well ut only if it is not completely torn, your most likely dealing with a sergeon who is unfamiliar with lcl reconstruction which can also be refered to as "plc" or post lateral corner which is made up of a bunch of different small ligaments and muscles that surround the lcl. check out the KNEEGURU site and they have tons of info there.

goodluck

Jess

Jul 30, 2009
Rating

Jul 31, 2009
Rating

LCL donor
by: jen

5 weeks post LCL donor replacement...never thought this would be like this...not weight baring and not sure when they will start me to walk. they say around 16 weeks i should be able to walk with crutches, but i hate not knowing how long things are gonna be. had a game plan when they did ACL(donor), MCL, MENISCUS and LCL repair back in jan, but this LCL donor, well i have no clue what to expect!!! they said i will learn how to walk again...im so confused on all this!!

Jul 31, 2009
Rating

knee injury
by: howie

I was involved in a motorcyle accident April 18, 2009. As a result, I tore my acl, pcl, and lcl. I waited until May 27 to undergoe surgery. Reason being, to give my leg time to reduce in swelling and regain whatever mobility I could possibly muster. I began PT as soon as I was approved which began July 22. I progressed from crutches to a cane. My mobility is at cc120 degrees. I limp when I walk and my knee has buckled a few times. I can't help but to think when my knee used to be healthy. I could only hope through time and excercise my knee will be close to what it once was. I have to face the fact that this was a profound injury that removed 35 years of experience... I could only hope and meditate for the best outcome.. Good luck to everyone who has sustained this injury. One thing is for certain, we will be better human beings in the end; for whatever that is worth. :0)

Jul 31, 2009
Rating

impatient!
by: Cindy

11 weeks post op now from acl, pcl reconstruction, and meniscal repair among other clean up stuff. Other than some hamstring pain, I feel ready to do a lot that I am still not "allowed" to do. I have been doing the stairmaster and riding a stationary bike for 1 hour daily along with balance and strength exercises for my leg but I am anxious to start jogging , using the elliptical, jump rope etc. What have some of you experienced with this and when did you start doing more intense cardio? I really miss doing cardio interval training but dont want to screw up now!

Aug 07, 2009
Rating

Thanks for the hope
by: Beth

"Good luck to everyone who has sustained this injury. One thing is for certain, we will be better human beings in the end; for whatever that is worth. :0)"
This is a quote from Howie that makes me feel a lttle better. I have been pretty depressed about my chances for returning to my "normal" life of activity after MCL, ACL and PCL reconstruction. I still don't know if I will ever be able to return to my former activities ( martial arts and running) but I guess being a better human being would be a benefit as well. Any one who has been through this - can you give us some idea of what to hope/fear? Thanks Howie - your comment is one of the few things that has made me feel better about this situatio.

Aug 07, 2009
Rating

Hoping for thei best
by: Anonymous

I know what you mean about being down & not knowing if you'll be able to return to your normal activities. I for one have many concerns & hope that I'll be able to run, hike, snowboard, etc., just as I have in the past.

I'm still waiting for my surgery, but I've walking with a brace. Painful, but necessary. Good luck to us all!

Aug 11, 2009
Rating

Recuperation Timeline????
by: Anonymous

My daughter had MCL repair surgery on Aug 4/09, also patella realignment, debridement and some scoping. She's currently using a CPM machine twice daily and using crutches while wearing a straight brace. The CPM machine goes back on Monday and she doesn't see her surgeon until Friday - so what can she do in the meantime? Can she ride a recumbent bike yet? She has quite a bit of range of movement with the CPM machine and does that relatively pain free, just tightness. When will she be able to walk or drive (right leg) as university starts back up Sept 8/09 and she needs to be able to get to the campus. She knows very little right now as she got into surgery on a cancellation and didn't even see the surgeon until the operating room. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Aug 23, 2009
Rating

A change in plans...
by: Anonymous

My 17 year-old son unfortunately sustained a serious knee injury this past week during football practice, tearing his ACL, MCL and LCL. Our orthopod is still determining the surgical approach (1 or two surgeries). It looks like his football career is over, but he's also a sprinter. Wondering if anyone on this board has experienced a full recovery or knows of someone who's recovered to their pre-injury competitive sports level with this injury? We're in the info gathering phase right now and accepting that God's plan for our son has changed. Thanks to all.

Sep 09, 2009
Rating

Dislocated Knee Recovery
by: Natalie

Hello All,

I dislocated my knee (tibia and femur) playing rugby last October, tearing my ACL, LCL, PCL, Hamstring, Meniscus, Popliteal Tendon, Iliotibial Band, Peroneal Nerve, and some other stuff I can't remember - 11 things in all.

It has been 11 months since the surgery. I have full range of motion in my leg, but very little stability. I gained full range within 4 months, I would say - able to put full pressure on the leg within 5 - able to walk more or less within 5 or 6.

I may never run again. This is due to my torn nerve however, in combination with the knee problem. Although this injury has turned my world upside down, I am thankful for the experience because it has given me (forced, actually) trust in others, patience, reflection, and faith in God to use it for good.

Anyway, don't despair, even though it can be boring and awful! I have several friends who tore their ACLs, and they were back into rugby within a year. They say that the repaired knee (in ACL cases) is often stronger in the end than the other knee!

- Natalie

Oct 06, 2009
Rating

torn acl, mcl,pcl, meniscus, tibia fx,
by: sunrise

I was playing kick ball with my grandson and fell and torn my ACL, MCL, PCL, Meniscus, and fractured tibia and fractured socket in the hip. I am currently in therapy to get my knee moving before they can do surgery. They expect it will take 6 months or longer for recovery. They have to replace the meniscus and repair all damage to the knee all from one simple fall. And I didn't even get a cut scrap on me.

Oct 15, 2009
Rating

REPAIRED ACL AND MCL
by: SHAWNA CHANEY

My daughter had her acl and mcl repaired on Sept 4,09 and I want to know will she be able to play basketball this year.How long will it take for her to heal.

Oct 18, 2009
Rating

Torn ACL, MCL, PCL, Medial meniscus
by: Anonymous

I tore my ACL, MCL, PCL, and Medial Meniscus four months ago and had surgery right away. They replaced my ACL and PCL with donors, and repaired my MCL and meniscus. It took me three months to walk without anything, I'm still only on a stationary bike, and went for a couple "hikes".

I still have pain every day and my knee makes all sorts of noises. I have full extension and 130 flexion. Yoga has helped with extension. Patience, diligence, and a lot of swearing got me to my flexion.

I was given a year to full recovery, when hopefully I'll be able to trail run again in the mountains. Yoga has been helpful, acupuncture has been amazing, and swimming, both laps and aquajogger has kept me sane. The aqua jogger was great for mid-level flexion.

It sucks to be sidelined, and it takes time. Finding new outlets is key to keep sane. Good luck.

Oct 18, 2009
Rating

acl reconstrution
by: j

whats up everyone i had ACL reconstruction with a medial meniscus repair and a lateral meniscus removal. i slightly tore my ACL playing football (didnt know) then blew it out playing basketball, none contact, just cut the wrong way. my doctor used my patella tendon for the reconstruction. everything went well after surgery which i had early september. i wasnt allowed to go past 110 degrees for the first 4 weeks because of the extent of the damage and repair of my meniscus(normally they give you 2-3 stitches, i received 6). last week was the first time i was allowed to remove my brace (which is the most annoying thing ever!!! no sleep, cant get comfortable) as of now i am walking good and can put full weight on my bad knee. the recovery time is annoying because of how long it is. since i was allowed to go past 110 degrees this week PT was horrible last week (the PT was bending my knee back to my butt and all you hear is scar tissue breaking away, lots of pain) i saw my doctor about a week ago (my doctor is the lead surgeon for a NFL team, i actually saw him on TV today lol, luckily he took my insurance so to say the least i went to the best doctor money, not mine, can buy) i asked him how long until i can return to basketball and he told me 6 months which i found odd cause my first dr i saw said 9-12 months so i asked him to explain. he said they did a study on a 29 male who died. he was 5 1/2 months in and his knee was 95% back to normal, so i said isnt everyone different which he agreed but if you pass all his tests at 6 months which 90% do you can return to full sports. i truly believe your recovery time goes hand and hand with how good of a dr you get so i urge you to get the best dr you can afford if you want this thing to go smoothly. just as important as your dr is your therapist. if yu ask your doctor they will refer you to the best place they trust, so again if you can afford it listen to him.her and go to where they say. so to rap this up, im about 5-6 weeks out of surgery and i am just starting to get back to even keel. if anyone wants to know anything about the actual surgery i.e. what to expect day of and after and how long and how much pain your in just ask, ill check back in a few to see if i have any takers but everyone on this page keep going, youll get back soon just hammer out the PT!

X Close Editor

Oct 18, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: j

Title

Comment
whats up everyone i had ACL reconstruction with a medial meniscus repair and a lateral meniscus removal. i slightly tore my ACL playing football (didnt know) then blew it out playing basketball, none contact, just cut the wrong way. my doctor used my patella tendon for the reconstruction. everything went well after surgery which i had early september. i wasnt allowed to go past 110 degrees for the first 4 weeks because of the extent of the damage and repair of my meniscus(normally they give you 2-3 stitches, i received 6). last week was the first time i was allowed to remove my brace (which is the most annoying thing ever!!! no sleep, cant get comfortable) as of now i am walking good and can put full weight on my bad knee. the recovery time is annoying because of how long it is. since i was allowed to go past 110 degrees this week PT was horrible last week (the PT was bending my knee back to my butt and all you hear is scar tissue breaking away, lots of pain) i saw my doctor about a week ago (my doctor is the lead surgeon for a NFL team, i actually saw him on TV today lol, luckily he took my insurance so to say the least i went to the best doctor money, not mine, can buy) i asked him how long until i can return to basketball and he told me 6 months which i found odd cause my first dr i saw said 9-12 months so i asked him to explain. he said they did a study on a 29 male who died. he was 5 1/2 months in and his knee was 95% back to normal, so i said isnt everyone different which he agreed but if you pass all his tests at 6 months which 90% do you can return to full sports. i truly believe your recovery time goes hand and hand with how good of a dr you get so i urge you to get the best dr you can afford if you want this thing to go smoothly. just as important as your dr is your therapist. if yu ask your doctor they will refer you to the best place they trust, so again if you can afford it listen to him.her and go to where they say. so to rap this up, im about 5-6 weeks out of surgery and i am just starting to get back to even keel. if anyone wants to know anything about the actual surgery i.e. what to expect day of and after and how long and how much pain your in just ask, ill check back in a few to see if i have any takers but everyone on this page keep going, youll get back soon just hammer out the PT!

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Oct 19, 2009
Rating

acl pcl lcl
by: Anonymous

Hey! I tore my ACL PCL and LCL completely playing soccer about 4 years ago. I knew something was wrong immediately and of course the trainer at the game came over and showed me that I had at least torn my ACL and PCL for sure. Pretty depressing.
A month later I got surgery replacing all three with donor ligaments attached with screws.
Had physical therapy for nine months. I went 6 out of 7 days of the week for nine months. It was incredible that I could do it for that long. But its a very slow process and if you have a therapist with any sports knowledge they'll really get you going in the right direction.
What comes first is getting the swelling down. This entails biking with no resistance, just for the movement. The PT will manually bend the knee to keep track of mobility and measure it. You'll get lots of electrical stimulation and ice to help with swelling as well. The main thing with knee injuries (ankle, wrist, elbow...) is that swelling causes pain. So, when swelling decreases you automatically have less pain.
After you get some movement in there you'll start lifting and bending your knee on your own to start using your muscles again. Don't be afraid at how little they've gotten in all the months you're off your leg on crutches and what not. The muscle will come back with the right exercise and protein.
Make sure you don't try anything stupid like running before the doctor says its okay because someone else told you they did the same thing. These people go to school to learn how to effectively treat patients, and they get to know you so that they can treat you accordingly.
Once you get some strength in there its up to you to keep getting more and more back into shape and keep adding muscle to that puppy. Just compare it to your other leg. Most likely it will be smaller. The main muscles to work on (that still bug me sometimes) are the quad, hammie, shin muscles, and inner and outer thigh muscles. It is so important to keep icing that thing to get rid of swelling because a) swelling causes pain and b) swelling weakens the joint and gives way to injury.
Within nine months I was back playing soccer with my team and played for the remainder of high school. I can now work out and run with ease and don't really worry about my knee becoming totally injured again. Though I wouldn't play football or rugby, just to be safe. If someone ran into that thing shit would go down. It does hurt when it rains (some weird effect of pressure change due to surgery) and it hurts when I don't exercise enough because it starts to get weak.
Good luck with everything. Find the right physical therapist and don't sacrifice anything early on because you have your whole life ahead of you with this new joint. Eat right, exercise, take care of yourself and have fun! You'll end up great

X Close Editor

Oct 19, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Anonymous

Title

Comment
Hey! I tore my ACL PCL and LCL completely playing soccer about 4 years ago. I knew something was wrong immediately and of course the trainer at the game came over and showed me that I had at least torn my ACL and PCL for sure. Pretty depressing. A month later I got surgery replacing all three with donor ligaments attached with screws. Had physical therapy for nine months. I went 6 out of 7 days of the week for nine months. It was incredible that I could do it for that long. But its a very slow process and if you have a therapist with any sports knowledge they'll really get you going in the right direction. What comes first is getting the swelling down. This entails biking with no resistance, just for the movement. The PT will manually bend the knee to keep track of mobility and measure it. You'll get lots of electrical stimulation and ice to help with swelling as well. The main thing with knee injuries (ankle, wrist, elbow...) is that swelling causes pain. So, when swelling decreases you automatically have less pain. After you get some movement in there you'll start lifting and bending your knee on your own to start using your muscles again. Don't be afraid at how little they've gotten in all the months you're off your leg on crutches and what not. The muscle will come back with the right exercise and protein. Make sure you don't try anything stupid like running before the doctor says its okay because someone else told you they did the same thing. These people go to school to learn how to effectively treat patients, and they get to know you so that they can treat you accordingly. Once you get some strength in there its up to you to keep getting more and more back into shape and keep adding muscle to that puppy. Just compare it to your other leg. Most likely it will be smaller. The main muscles to work on (that still bug me sometimes) are the quad, hammie, shin muscles, and inner and outer thigh muscles. It is so important to keep icing that thing to get rid of swelling because a) swelling causes pain and b) swelling weakens the joint and gives way to injury. Within nine months I was back playing soccer with my team and played for the remainder of high school. I can now work out and run with ease and don't really worry about my knee becoming totally injured again. Though I wouldn't play football or rugby, just to be safe. If someone ran into that thing shit would go down. It does hurt when it rains (some weird effect of pressure change due to surgery) and it hurts when I don't exercise enough because it starts to get weak. Good luck with everything. Find the right physical therapist and don't sacrifice anything early on because you have your whole life ahead of you with this new joint. Eat right, exercise, take care of yourself and have fun! You'll end up great

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Nov 02, 2009
Rating

Timeline for Recovery(ACL,MCL,PCL,LCL)
by: Anonymous

In Feb. 2007 I tore my PCL, MCL, partial tear of my miniscus and partial tear of my ACL. I was 48 years old at the time. In April of 07 I had an allograft of my mcl and pcl with a repair to the miniscus and acl. I completed P.T. in July of 07, by that time I was jodding and biking with a brace on. By October of 07 I was once again playing ice hockey with a brace. I only wear the brace for hockey, otherwise I run, hike and bike without it and work as a professional Fire Fighter. Hang in there and work hard and work throught he pain in P.T.

Dec 30, 2009
Rating

torn acl,pcl,lcl
by: howie

its been 7 months since i underwent the multi ligament reconstruction...i just returned to my job which consists of me working aloft lifting and climbing.. my knee and leg has become stronger, however,still significantly weaker than my healthier knee which only underwent a medial meniscus repair...my balance and agility is well below par..the nerve along my lcl still gives me funny sensations on my ankle and foot. i can walk up and down the stairs better but still cant take the stairs like i used to...basically still a long way from home but heading in the right direction 4 sure...by the way Beth u made me smile.thanks.. good luck to everyone with grade 3 knee injuries..and if you feel down some days, just know u should..u screwed up your mobility!! :0)

Jan 28, 2010
Rating

acl, mcl, pcl
by: Anonymous

i have a similar story to yours. i play soccer too but i tore my acl, mcl, and pcl due to a dislocation. my surgeon said about 9-12 months recovery where ill be back where i was. im still wondering too if ill be able to go back. soccer is such a wonderful game and not being able to play would be a great disappointment.

right now im 21 weeks past surgery and i have about 130-132 degrees of bending. i still have occasional pain but its mostly bcuz pt or over using it.i started building my quad up again; my pt said thats going to take the longest. ive been dong mostly strengthening stuff and recently started jogging/swimming. ive been doing all my exercises so that really helps.

good luck to everyone! and everything happens for a reason!!

Feb 01, 2010
Rating

full knee dislocation acl/pcl
by: Anonymous

my 9 year old daughter is 5 weeks post surgery for complete reconstruction of all her ligaments following a sledging accident on 29th December 2009.

she has a cast on just now which is due to be replaced by a full leg brace at week 6. reading these comments give me hope for her to get full range back.

would be great to hear any comments on how long she has to wait before she starts weight bearing. as you can imagine it has been heard for her to go from gymnastic training 5 times a week to nothing.
look forward to hearing from anyone who can give us a light at the end of the tunnel

Feb 01, 2010
Rating

Feb 07, 2010
Rating

Ideas
by: Bernie

I fell skiing on Friday, I fell becuase i felt something in my knee snap or pop. After I fell I tried to get up and fell when it felt like my knee slid to the side and would not support my weight, I'm a little short for my weight 5'7" 220lbs, however I am a expert level skier and was racing when this happened. It was no consolation but I won the race.

I was never in any pain but terrified to walk i tried three times and fell all three when the above happened. I went to the hospital had some xrays and nothing broken,( i knew that). I have been elevating and icing all weekend and hope to see an ortho on the morning. Any words of advice. The knee is very swollen. However still no pain to mention.

Feb 19, 2010
Rating

There is always hope
by: Allison

I am 24 and have been playing soccer and snowboarding my whole life. I had my third ACL surgery (my second on my right knee) 6 weeks ago. My first knee injury was almost exactly 5 years ago and I completely blew out my knee (ACL, MCL and PCL). I had surgery that summer and was playing college soccer a year later. It took me about 4 months to start running and training but my motivation and dedication payed off.

This being my third surgery it has been the easiest but the longest recovery considering I used a cadaver and my meniscus was repaired. I am still on crutches but will be off next week. I do my strength and ROM exercises multiple times a day, since it is VERY IMPORTANT if you ever want your knee to feel "normal" down the road.

A positive attitude also makes the process a lot better...good luck to everyone!

P.S. Despite what people keep telling me I WILL keep playing soccer and doing the things I love:)

Feb 24, 2010
Rating

meds
by: Ace

i dislocated my knee by fight with my brother about 5 years ago,we are both big people; however i had to have an emergency room pop it in but before the did it reminded me of a football.after they popped it in i didnt have surgery,but i did recover for about 6 months, with no surgery.occasionally i would tripp or jump and pop it back out and i can pop it in, but i would have to stay off of it for a couple of days. It keeped happining , and then started doing it in my sleep just from being to loose. so i finally had surgery turns out ive had a torn acl mcl, and pcl and they did allogrifts and and they fixed my meniscus, however i have been out of surgery for 10 months, and i am still having pain and worring my docter may stop prescrbing my pain pills how long do you noramally get pain pills or will it be for the rest of my life.