Question for Docs or PT's

Thanks for the comments. Have appointment today, will be asking lots of ??.

Just got back from first consult. Went better than I thought. Appears I don't need a new knee, yet, but may need ACL reconstruction. I am ok with this. This time I will be able to do my PT in it's entirity vice cutting it short and screwing myself up again. I go back Tuesday to sit down again and slate the date. Once again, thanks for all the input from everyone including the PM's.

Scott

A TKR is a last resort option for most MD's that know what they are doing. They will go the steroid shot, scope sx route first before they do a TKR. Focus on as much hamstring strengthening as you can before going into sx and make sure you go in to sx with full knee extension. If you are lacking 10 degrees pre-op, it will be much harder to gain full range post op. And your hamstrings perform the same function as your ACL, so the more strong and reactive you get them, the better off you are.

Did he discuss cadaver vs hamstring or ankle tendon graft?

Yes, suggested cadaver and said that the tunnels from my prior recon look good enough to use again. Obviously he won't be sure of that until he gets in and sees it but x-rays look good. He did voice to me the need to get my hammies as strong as possible. Also stated that he didn't find much, umm, play in it (I forget the word), oo, instability, thats it. Problem was that I automatically tense when he goes to move it so he said the only real way to know how much play there was is to knock me out.
Plan right now is to go talk to him next week, if we decide surgery he will check for instability when I am out, go in with the scope, see what he thinks and be ready to replace the ACL. MRI shows some fibers so I DO have an ACL, just a matter of what it looks like. Says he has a tendancy to listen to a patient that says their knee gives out over a hard to read MRI.
Wants to look at my ACL op report and talk to me on Tuesday. I just want to get a new one and rehab the correct way.
BTW, I do have some degeneration on the backside of my patella. He plans to look at that while in there if we do the surgery.

Side note. For those looking at a total knee replacement someday, as someone said before, they don't say you can't run again, they just suggest not doing it. He gave the example of a car. They all have shocks, but if you want the shocks to last longer, don't go extreme off roading.

Most of the docs I know say never, ever, ever run again. But, I work for a region hospital thats not a sports specialty area or anything. So, I'm there are docs that say its ok to do. The hammies get more reactive when you don't have an ACL, so you will naturally guard against the translation. Its tough to get a true positive ACL test unless its a fresh injury. Good luck though man. Just go through the full rehab and realize it make take a bit longer since its your 2nd one. The races will still be there when you are ready for them.