Re: TORN ACL- 2 SURGERIES OR 1

Dear Berta, I tore my ACL in spring and just had my reconstruction surgery a
week and 1/2 ago.  My first piece of advice is to talk to at least two docs.
Ask friends or other docs if they know of anyone who does a lot of ACL
repairs.  I saw two doctors who came right out and said they don't do them
and then recommended me to ones that did.  Secondly, why are you so dead set
against doing nothing about it?  You didn't say how long ago you tore it,
but unless you have to get back to a certain level of sports activity give
yourself a little time to see exactly how unstable it is.  The surgery is no
picnic.  I still am up every night with pain and have not resumed even 1/3
of my " normal activity level".  Not that I expected to be 10 days post op,
but looking back my knee wasn't that bad, I was able to go jogging with a
support brace and it only gave way on slippery floors and quick sideways
movements.  Only time will tell if I am going to be better off having had
the surgery or should have just accepted it as apart of aging( I am 39).  My
doctor scoped out the rest of the knee for uncaught tears right  before he
began the reconstruction, so two operations were not necessary.  Good luck
to you, and whatever you decide remember it will take patience.
"berta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Just got my MRI results.
> > >
> > > Bad News - Torn ACL
> > > Good News - NO damage to other ligaments or cartilage.
> > >
> > > Options according to my doctor.
> > >
> > > 1.  leave it alone - that not's gonna happen
> > > 2. Have 2 surgeries.  One to check the knee for anyting the MRI missed
and to check the knee for ACL Reconstruction.
>  3.  Go straight to ACL reconstruction - use hamstring tendon with
> > > absorbable screws and leave the old ACL in my knee to promote blood
> > > flow in the new ligament which will be put right beside the old one.
> > >
> > > The MRI is 90% accurate so i really don't see the point in getting 2
> > > surgeries done.  I am opting towards going straight to the ACL
> > > Reconstruction. If there is a small tear that the MRI missed, the tear
> > > can worked on at the same time anyway.
>