Cruciate ligaments :
Basketball 4 months - - Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 28 December 2004
Hey all,
I went back to the doctor today... I got great news! I was released for sports! I took the strengthning/function test on the machine and there is no defecit in my hamstring on my bad leg compared to my good and there is a 4% defecit in my quads on my bad leg compared to my good. Thats okay though because he wants it lower than 15%. He said I can go ahead and play basketball and that I did outstanding with rehab. I'm going on 5 months post op. here soon so I think i did pretty good. Got any questions... just ask
Posted by Aubz87 (Aubz87), 28 December 2004
Glad to hear that your back in sports already! I must say that i've never heard of anyone going back so soon!
You really must have had some amazing progress!
Any post-op work out techniques you'd wish to share?
FYI: I'm just about 6 mnts post op acl n meniscal repair.(allograft) and I'm still working on returning to playing soccer again this spring.
Best of luck!
Aubrie
Posted by Shiinshi (Shiinshi), 28 December 2004
That's great, I think all the *kneegeeks* who practice sports enjoy reading that, I know I do and am glad for you.
Will you be wearing a brace when you start again?
Happy healing all, take care and good luck.
Posted by heather_k (heather k from wales), 28 December 2004
Bballbaybee, well done, thats fanastic news!!.
Take it easy and enjoy your new knee!,
Heather 
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 28 December 2004
Yes i will be wearing a ACL brace for 7months to 2 years
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 28 December 2004
BBY - that is great news, congratulations.
I have a few questions, What type of graft did you have? What kind of brace will you be using? What level of baseketball? High School, college, street? How many games per week?
Keep posting your results. I know many of us kneegeeks will be interested to how you're progressing.
thanks,
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 29 December 2004
jbluestein,
I had an autograrft done... i have to wear an ACL brace... the company that makes it is DONJOY... its high school basketball... the jr. high level... i didnt think playing varsity would be a very good way to slowly get back into things... its one game a week on sundays... its a winter league... the regular season is august-october... i'm a little nervous about getting back into playing... but i'm ready and i trust my knee... if ya have any questions feel free to ask... GOOD LUCK!!
TO ALL KNEEGEEKS- I know there is a lot of frustration that comes along with rehab and surgery... but no matter what... NEVER give up... keep working hard... trust me it WILL pay off!
jbluestein this link takes you to a pic of a similar brace that i have to wear...
http://www.donjoy.com/products/DonJoy/physdistrep/detail.asp?id=20
Posted by Shiinshi (Shiinshi), 29 December 2004
Bballbaybee2110, I think that with what you've been through (as we all have) it might be a good nervous than a bad nervous (if that makes sense), cause right now I'm feeling the bad nervous (until I heal properly).
P.S. Kudos on the spirit, stories like your's give all of us KNEEGeeks hope for a better tomorrow. Once again, thanks.
Happy healing all, take care and good luck.
Posted by Elly (Elly), 29 December 2004
I have to say that is lovely to hear.
I'm due a hamstring graft acl recon soon in England. I'm an OT for the NHS so Physios are my best buds anyway - hopefully this will mean much sneaking into the gym at lunch time once I'm back at work!
I'm a Capoeirista (Brazilian martial art..anyone..no?) and it's lots of twisting/cartwheels as well as junping/kicking/spinning stuff. I doubt they'll let me play within 5 months but I'm setting my goal at 9 if all goes well!
Take care of yourself and don't forget to give the knees a bit of TLC x
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 29 December 2004
Today was my first practice back in nearly 6 months... it felt good... knee didnt hurt a bit... i came home and iced it anyway... which i think i'm going to do for a while just to give it a rest... ran a lot... didnt bother me at all... at first i was a little timid but after awhile i got into it... played some 3 on 3, 1 on 1 and all went well... not really afraid of anything... well except for my game on sunday... which i'm hoping goes as well as today... i have another practice tomorrow... i'm really used to the brace... i honestly forget thats it there sometimes... my words of advice for anyone on this site with any kind of knee problem that is keeping you from doing something you love... just dont give up... dont ever give up... i know its a lot of work and time... but i never thought i would be playing basketball at just about 5 months post op! i mean anyone out there can do it in 5 months! just keep believing... and dont let people get you down... as soon as you start letting people get to you... you might as well give up... dont let them say... oh you cant get back in 5 months or whatever... it isnt worth it... its your body and your the only person who knows how it feels... so good luck to everyone out there... your in my prayers 
never give up!!
Posted by dominatnthagame (dominatnthagame), 30 December 2004
hey,
Did you do anything special in order to get back as soon as you did other than therapy? I am 3 weeks post-op and I would love to be back that quickly. Any tips and advice would be awesome!
Brandon
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 30 December 2004
dominatnthagame,
Well... to be openly honest with you... i didnt do anything except therapy... i took therapy 2 times a week... for about 3 months... about 3 weeks before i was done with therapy i took a functional/strengthing test on a machine... and after that i had pain on my medial side... so my parents decided we should take a break from therapy because that was obviously the problem... so we stopped... and low and behold... that was the problem... i was put on limited home therapy... and i didnt do a single thing... i was pretty much lazy and thought i had better things to do (not the best attitude)... just this past monday i was scheduled for the same test... and passed with "flying colors"... i guess taking a break healed my knee... but that just might be my body... so i really dont know what to tell you... but i know that your just like me and you want to get back early... dont work too hard... i did... and it kind of set me back... take it easy... let your knee work at a reasonable pace... dont rush it... take care and good luck with everything! if you have any questions just ask! i'm always on!!
Best Of Luck,
Catie
Posted by dominatnthagame (dominatnthagame), 30 December 2004
Were you doing any basketball drills before returning? Like hard pivoting, sprinting, jumping, ect. I've been shooting around for like a week now but I can't jump with it so... I guess its just form at this point.
Brandon
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 30 December 2004
dominatnthagame,
i mostly shot... nothing else... couldn't do anything... kinda just like you... worked on my form... it was hard to try and not do anything else but you dont want to make it worse before you get surgery and have to be out even longer... any more questions just ask!
Posted by dominatnthagame (dominatnthagame), 30 December 2004
hey,
I guess you still hung out at the gyms during practices... what did you do when you started gettin antsy and wantin to be out there and play to keep from doing something you would regret, like playing which I have a feeling I will.
Brandon
Posted by waves39 (LesleyR), 30 December 2004
hey catie,
thats awesome!!!!!!!!!! congratualtions to you and good luck with your season
-Lesley
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 30 December 2004
Brandon,
I got antsy A LOT... and i mean that... but i knew my limits... i just kept shooting... i traveled with the team during games... and during the games i kept stats to keep me busy... and at halftime i would shoot... i knew i couldnt do anything else... i wouldnt let myself... so i just kept shooting and shooting... and eventually you'll realize thats all you can do and you just have to deal with it... it really sucks trust me... but dont do anything you regret... it isnt worth it at all... keep the questions coming
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesley,
Hey thanks for the congrats! I'm glad to know that people on here are excited for me! If ya have any questions just ask
Posted by dominatnthagame (dominatnthagame), 30 December 2004
Haha one more question and I'll leave you alone. Did it get easier for you to sit and watch or harder, because I've not be out that long and its killing me to sit on the bench and watch.
Brandon
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 30 December 2004
as the practices and games progressed it got harder and harder to sit and watch... i know that doenst comfort ya much... but unfortunatley its the flat out truth 
Posted by dominatnthagame (dominatnthagame), 30 December 2004
lol. yeah but I'd rather hear it like it is. thanks for being honest!
Brandon
Posted by Shiinshi (Shiinshi), 30 December 2004
Wow, see what I get for being offline for a bit?
Brandon, I can relate to the anciness of not being able to do what you love and you see it right before you and can't do anything about it but patiently wait.
Elly, I hope that you can get back to Capoeira soon. I mainly practice jujitsu myself (also aikido, and arnis) and am going crazy to get back on the mat asap. It's like a part of me is missing or something... weird.
BTW, I got the 4/9 timeline too. 4 months w/ a brace, 9 months w/o. I'm shooting for the 9 too.
Catie, what else can I say that I have not already....gotta love the spirit. I hate being away and don't want to be, but am concerned about reinjurying it (can't sit still on the sideline, but because I don't like to do things 1/2 way). It's either all or nothing, so I'd rather go without for a bit than for good....
Well, happy healing all, take care and good luck.
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 1 January 2005
Hi BBY - naturally I have a couple more questions for you.
My surgery date has been moved, so, all I do is think about it and work out at the gym.
What has your surgeon said about the graft re-incorporating? How important is it to fully re-incorporate the graft before your return to sports?
I'm assuming that since your leg muscles are in good shape, and the graft is protected by the brace, you've reduced your risk so you can play. Is this accurate?
Also, did you have any meniscus problems?
thanks,
jb
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 2 January 2005
jblue,
it is VERY important to re-incorporate the graft... he said my knee had accepted the graft and that it was pretty re-incorporated and strong... he pushed and pulled and made me work before he made his decision about letting me go back... he said it was strong and ready for a work out... my muscles are strong and the brace does secure me for less possible re-tearing... what you said was accurate... i did have meniscual problems... i tore both my medial and lateral... the lateral tear was about 3 mm so it was left alone... but the medial tear was bigger and it was fixed by absorbable stitches... so far with going back to basketball everything has been awesome and i've had no pain... the brace is great... any more questions just ask
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 2 January 2005
WOW, you have amazing healing abilities.
Autograft, meniscus tears and you're rehabbed enough to start playing hoops in 5 months? THAT IS AMAZING!
Hats off to you, keep up the great work. I hope your hard pays off.
I have the same injuries, except I'll be getting an allograft. Probably a few months longer to reincorporate the graft.
After my surgery, I'll be thinking of how well you did.
Thanks for posting. Best of luck in your hoops career.
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 2 January 2005
jblue,
i guess it is pretty amazing lol... i'm just hoping that my story gives people out there a little more hope on returning back to a sport or whatever they do within 4 months... thanks for all your kind words and all of your good luck! it means a lot... how did you tear your ACL and meniscus? i'd like to hear your story if you'd like to share... thanks again for the kind words!
Posted by libertynm (libertynm), 2 January 2005
Congratulations Catie!
And thanks for sharing your success story! I'm 3.5 weeks post op (ACL allograft) and while I'm not a basketball player, I am very much looking foward to returning to dance and yoga. Your story is inspiring!
Much Aloha,
Nesanet
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 2 January 2005
Hi BBY - I tore my ACL playing baseball almost 3 years ago. It's a partial tear, torn from the femur.
I probably had an undiagnosed partial tear before that day. At the time I was 45 years old and had several knee sprains in sports like skiing and baseball.
I've tried to get by using a knee brace, but, since I didn't wear it all the time whenever I was active, it seems like I've now got a small tear in my medial meniscus.
So, I'm committed to the surgery and rehab.
In my research, I've read that the graft needs to fully incorporate before a return to pivot sports.
Apparently graft incorporation has many variables , depending on type, patient age and surgery success.
In your case, it seems you've got the best case scenario.
It looks like you've got a great start to 2005. Continued good luck and stay healthy.
Posted by Bballbaybee2110 (Bballbaybee2110), 2 January 2005
JBLUE,
Hey... good luck with your surgery and your rehab... it'll all be over before ya know it... give rehab 110% and if your knee bothers you a little bit... back down a bit... thats what i did... obviously it didnt slow down the process at all... dont try and rush things either... its not worth it... i guess god had a part in this to get me back so quickly... 2005 has been good to me so far... good luck with everything you encounter from here on out... i'll be thinking about you! Never give up!!
Updated Mon Dec 1 2008