Getting boarding ASAP after busting knee

So after trying to clear a table top I dislocated my knee, somehow managed to control the landing while experiencing the most pain ever (and I’ve experienced pain) before collapsing, I was in and out of consciousness for 1 min before the pain started to ease. By the 3 min mark I was able to finish the boarder X and even put in some decent turns.

So that was a few days ago, I drove to Sydney this week and had an MRI today.

Before seeing the Dr in Thredbo - I thought I had a fracture and bruised the fibia on the tibia (2 bones in your shin stupid) maybe some ligament damage on the outside of the knee. After seeing Doc Steve and an Xray there was no fracture and he wrote a referral for a knee surgeon 100% sure of ACL damage.

Back to the MRI -
- SIGNIFICANT BONE BRUISE IN THE POSTERIOR TIBIAL PLATEAU LATERALLY WITH A POSSIBLE CRACK FRACTURE IDENTIFIED.
- POSTERIOR HORN MEDIAL MENISCEAL TEAR.
- SIGNIFICANT JOINT EFFUSION.
- ACL RUPTURE.

I had been checking out braces with a physio I know so I can finish the season but with this outcome I’ve been ordered to see another specialist, one that a friend pulled strings to get me in tomorrow, before ordering the brace.

It’s time I took a Panadine Forte as now I know how much damage I’ve done it seems to hurt more. I should have 2-6 months before it starts to be too late for surgery and recovery will take much longer than 6 months.

I told a mate on FB last night I have ninja powers and plan to recover much quicker, that I WILL BE boarding this weekend.

out
Ninja spaz

Ask your doctor about the LARS surgery. They use a synthetic ligament instead of using your hamstring. Back to full action in 12 weeks rather than 12 months. Becky had this done on her ruptured ACL and was competing overseas for soccer about 4 months later, playing 90 minutes a game. I’ve emailed her this thread so hopefully she will come on here soon.

thanks, I will.

The “specialist” I’m seeing tomoz I’m told is the best knee surgeon is Australia. Forgotten his name right now, the description my GP gave was when it comes to knees he builds them better than God. My GP has great respect for religion and wouldn’t say that without believing it.

I’ve had 3 ACL repairs in my short lifetime, so I understand what you’re going through..
Basically, your MRI says you have torn your cartilage (very common with ACL ruptures), ruptured your ACL and also have swelling in the knee joint (also common with ACL ruptures)
Not sure if you know much about the anterior cruciate ligament- in a few words, it is the one of the major stabilisers in the knee. So, without it, you are not going to have a lot of stability. People can certainly live without an ACL, however, if you are into sport, and especially sports involving side stepping/pivoting/stability requirements- you are going to need surgery!
Types of ACL repairs- you can either have a graft from either your hamstring tendon or patella tendon or the LARS ligament. You may want to speak to your surgeon about this option. I know not all knee surgeons perform this method. It was used back in the 70’s but was not very successful. The method has since been revised and refined and is commonly used, as rehab is a lot shorter!! The synthetic ligament used it stronger and healing is much quicker.
In the meantime- get the swelling under control, and when pain allows, start gentle strengthening..
Hope that helps.
Good luck with it all. Becky.

Thanks Becky,

Dr Doran Sher (sp?) said I was ready for surgery now, that I had done 6 weeks healing in 5 days. So it seems I do either have Jedi or Ninja powers People wont believe me when I tell them I heal fast especially radiologists and general practitioners - It was so good to hear the surgeon tell me.

The big thing we talked about is braces and that no matter how good they are the wont prevent the knee from dislocating again when a pivoting motion occurs. They really only give a psychological advantage and help ease the pain. A cheap neoprene brace is as good as a $1000 brace.

Get the swelling under control.
This I’m an expert at as I’ve a rare condition called “Cold Urcharia” It’s an allergy, of sorts, to isolated temperature change on my skin which also effects my muscle and joints. Basically I can’t use ice to reduce swelling and have learned various methods of getting swelling under control.

There is massive pain from the bone bruising and crack fracture but pain is in the head - with the help of medication every few days I’m handling it and began strengthening the muscle to support the knee today, as he confirmed this would do more to resist rotation than a brace. I asked if he thought it was possible I could train my muscle to not allow rotating motion and he thought I could only try. Ninja/Jedi power. I can board now.

The outcome was I can board out the rest of the season but to be super cautious as it will dislocate when it rotates and the cruciate ligament isn’t complete to stop it.
When I showed him the motion that caused the dislocation he suggested I board backwards, so tomorrow I’m resetting my board goofy.

Did you talk to him about LARS?

You are going to need a good pair of really good braces after the dust has settled. You will be pay big dollars for braces which will protect your knee all day, everyday. I wear a pair design for Motocross but can also be worn in the surf and snow. Totally water proof, carbon fibra with neoprene strapping. Will Stop any twisting in your knees and stop overextending. Also can set the overextending with 5 different setting. But you will pay about $1400 for a pair or about $900 on the inter-net If your interested They are call CTi you can buy a single Left or right in 3 sizes small, medium and large.

Spaz, I feel for you buddy, I’m sure Finney does too. We were both riding on knee injuries over in Whistler last season. There’s obviously people that know a lot more about this than me on here but I have to tell you what all the Canadians over there told me.
Get on a bike!
As soon as your mobile again start riding a bike on roads or cross country tracks that aren’t too extreme. My knee didn’t get better the whole time I was snowboarding over there (actually it dislocated again) but once I started riding that’s when it started getting strong again. The motion is up and down and won’t pull the knee sideways but it does strengthen the knee like doing hours worth of squats. I was recommended this by a doctor also when I first got checked out.
Obviously talk to your doc about it first but I thought since it helped me so much I better pass it on.
Quick recoveries bro

I agree with Andy, make sure you don’t lose strength in your quadriceps muscles as these are the major muscles (along with the ligaments) involved in knee joint stability.
When you damage your knee, you will start favouring the other leg and as a result the quadriceps muscles (vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis & rectus femoris) will gradually waste away.
Bike riding is an excellent way to maintain strength, and as you improve more some gentle resistance work (knee extension exercises) will be useful.