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Skiing WITH torn acl

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avocado.
Posts: 262 - Karma: 247
i have a fully torn acl since december, and skied for a week and blew my knee again. now it is obviously time for a surgery, but doctor said that i should be just fine without one. apparently i am still growing so the surgery would be more complex and risky.
soo, anyone out there skiing without acl???
May 8 2012 3:41PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
the doctor said it was fine..........so go wild
May 8 2012 3:44PM
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
I don't have much advice for you, but I did work with a guy (ski instructor) in his 50s who tore his ACL when he was younger and never got surgery, and he says his knee is perfectly fine and even feels stronger than before it was torn.
May 8 2012 3:47PM
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Bateman
Posts: 8593 - Karma: 8,600
If his name is ralph and lives in an alley, then i dont think he's a ski instructor.
May 8 2012 3:55PM
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 467
Well he didn't say he could ski, he just said no surgery
May 8 2012 3:55PM
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SpliffyJ
Posts: 778 - Karma: 565
if the doctor says that its fine then just go ski, but if it still hurts when you ski then talkk to your doctor again
May 8 2012 3:56PM
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snocompton
Posts: 2014 - Karma: 270
are you seeing an orthopedic doctor or just your regular physician? you should be actively doing physical therapy as well.

im currently rehabbing a torn ankle.
May 8 2012 4:21PM
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WadeM
Posts: 33 - Karma: 14
That should prove just how good of an idea it is if you blew it again. The ACL keeps your knee together so that it doesn't get dislocated, every sudden change of direction is a huge risk of fucking it up real bad. Because you lose so much ability to take impact on your knee the mcl, pcl and the soft tissues tare easily if you for example land sideways or your ski doesn't dismount right away when you fall etc.

Before I had surgery on my knee it was quite sketchy to do anything but walk with it and I still managed to slightly dislocate it a couple times in the 6 weeks I didn't have an ACL. You can live without one but definatly not go skiing even if you take it mellow in the park.

Get the surgery and rehab it like hell, without one you might be in for a bigger operation in the future!

Sincerely, a recovering acl, mcl and meniscus patient
May 8 2012 5:06PM
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garrett.
Posts: 9304 - Karma: 3,670
you dont NEED an acl. but you do NEED one if you plan to: run, cut, jump, land, ski, anything fun for that matter. get surgery.
May 8 2012 5:14PM
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Davy.Crockett
Posts: 5373 - Karma: 324
don't ski if the doctor says not to, you will regret it
May 8 2012 5:37PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
I skied all last season just fine with no ACL. I was wearing a Donjoy Defiance brace the whole time and didn't ski any park, but I skied fairly hard all over the whole mountain without any issues. Just don't venture into the park, don't do anything dumb, and if it starts to talk to you, go home for the day.
May 8 2012 6:01PM
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3451 - Karma: 11,688
The park manager at my local hill tore his acl when he was younger and never got surgery now his knee is fucked up forever and he can't extend it all the way.
Jan 22 2013 10:54PM
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eheath
Posts: 61648 - Karma: 123,472
Your muscles can compensate for a your acl but its very easy to tear your meniscus and damage your other ligaments. I skied for about a month with no acl (didn't know) and there are notable pro skiers like john spriggs that have skied with out an acl too
Jan 22 2013 11:00PM
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Washow
Posts: 343 - Karma: 463
i'm not a doctor but how the fuck is not having acl okay? i mean i guess it's okay if you are fine with being a cripple for the rest of your life but i ain't having that shit
Jan 22 2013 11:01PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,010
my dad did it for 35 years with a brace. just be careful.
Jan 22 2013 11:02PM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
I tore my ACL on december 15th, in complete honesty, the only time it hurts is when I crouch real low and it buckles every once and a while and it pops sometimes. I have NOT skiied since the injury and have surgery soon.
Jan 22 2013 11:07PM
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One.2
Posts: 674 - Karma: 3,310
id ask a doctor
Jan 22 2013 11:16PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,269
I did it for like three days. I skied lightly, no park. It's doable with a lot of exercise, and you have to keep your muscles strong all the time I've heard. Skateboarding was what killed me though. One wrong twist and I was rolling on the ground in pain. Probably would need a brace. But ask a doctor.
Jan 22 2013 11:41PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
One of my friends skied without an ACL for a while, as she didn't realise she'd done it, she did then tear her MCL though. I'd say it's possible to ski for sure, but certainly not the best idea.
Jan 23 2013 1:49AM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
im in my second season of skiing without an acl or mcl, doesn't hold me back in the slightest but i have had to put in a ton of hours in the gym keeping all my leg muscles strong.

get it fixed by a good surgeon.
Jan 23 2013 2:18AM
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mikemac
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 3,707
I tore my acl in high school and my doctor (an orthopedic surgeon that I saw post-MRI) recommended getting surgery asap so that I could resume full activity. I followed his advice and got surgery about 2-3 weeks after I tore it and the recovery was actually pretty straight forward. Spent under 1 week bedridden, 1 week on crutches, then walking and serious physical therapy for about 6 months, followed by about 4-6 weeks of easing myself back into running, lifting and cutting. About 9 months out I was 100 percent with a brace doing every thing I used to do. Tore it in late December 2010, missed 1 lacrosse season, but after a spring/summer of hard work I was playing football at 100% by September 2011. The next December, basically 1 year after my initial injury (almost to the exact day) I was skiing at 100%. I was skiing comfortably all over the mountain while nailing my old tricks in the park and progressing my skills.

I don't know how you ski or what other physical activities you are looking forward to getting back into but I honestly believe that getting the surgery out of the way will improve your life in the long term. My (unprofessional understanding) is that it is easier for a young body to recover and get back after it at 100%. Its a tough couple months I won't lie but in my opinion a few months of pain and hard work are worth avoiding a lifetime of complications and possible further injury. I spent about 2 seasons playing sports and skiing with a brace and now I never need it. My repaired knee feels just as good if not better than my other one and I honestly am a much better skier now than I ever was before. I highly recommend getting the surgery as the best way to get back to your previous life and level of activity.

PS This is obviously a discussion to have with the surgeon if you do opt for surgery but I would recommend getting hamstring surgery. My new ACL was made 100% with tissue from my hamstring, making it easier for my body to accept than the the foreign tissue from a cadaver (a lot of people re-tear their ACL after using a cadaver graft), and also far much less painful than from my patella tendon. It is also pretty easy to build the hamstring muscle back up by biking and lifting.
Jan 23 2013 2:30AM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
Related:

4 Days of Pow from Jeff Amantea on Vimeo.



Just showing that it is possible to ski with a sloppy knee. I still totally recommend getting it fixed and crushing your recovery.
Jan 23 2013 11:07AM
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JMEN
Posts: 123 - Karma: 907
Tried skiing without one myself. For sure, it works fine just skiing around, not going to hard. But if you actually wanna ski for real again, no question go with surgery. Better to spend 6-9 moths rehabbing it and then come back a 100 %, instead of always being afraid for something to go wrong
Jan 23 2013 11:19AM
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GetCheezed
Posts: 236 - Karma: 470
As long as you work out your legs a ton and wear a brace. I skied for 4 months before i got surgery
Jan 23 2013 11:34AM
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Kervyn
Posts: 170 - Karma: 440
my buddy skied on a torn acl for a few months prior to surgery. now he has sever arthritis which defiently limits him. feel it out first
Jan 23 2013 2:24PM
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3451 - Karma: 11,688
Didn't want to make another thread but I have the same question.
3 weeks ago saturday I tore my acl, meniscus, and grade 1 mcl. I've been strengthening for a week and it's been taped up regularly since I injured it. My quad muscles aren't back to 100% yet but other than that it feels completely normal with tape on, plus I just got this weird brace for people with arthritis that's supposed to take the pressure off your knee.

Is it safe to ski? I don't plan on riding park but it'd be fun to cruise some groomers with my gaper friends from school for a couple hours.

I'm meeting with a surgeon on monday. I'm assuming he's going to tell me I can't ski prior to surgery but I feel like with a shit ton of tape and a brace there is no way I could injure my knee further. Also should mention that my mcl is almost back to normal.

Any advise? I just want to cruise around and film a bit.
Feb 7 2013 4:22PM
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Alec*Messerly
Posts: 19 - Karma: 42
without an ACL you are doing more damage to miniscus i tore mine last april and now have to wear a brace when i ski. When i tore mine i went skiing twice and only hit rails and jumps a little bit and then whent and did some powder and it blew out again if you dont get it fixed you will have problems for ever!
Feb 7 2013 5:04PM
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NPF
Posts: 5152 - Karma: 12,119
1:44 My friend Taylor Wilson skied for two months with out his ACL. He was probably the best skier to ski with out an ACL ever...
Feb 7 2013 5:47PM
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doitbig
Posts: 4818 - Karma: 315
I made it through a full season before I got surgery.
Feb 8 2013 7:33AM
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TroyAntipasta
Posts: 444 - Karma: 535
Dont ski without an ACL you will probably be fine but you good fuck yourself up
Feb 8 2013 8:26AM
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whistles
Posts: 46 - Karma: 139
I had a 70% tear and took the option not to get surgery because I was a freshmen in college and wanted to party and not be hobbling around on crutches. The doctor said I could just wait to finish it off. After a while the pain went away and it stopped feeling wobbly and 5 years later I feel fine and still have not gotten surgery.
Feb 8 2013 9:27AM
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salomontim77
Posts: 191 - Karma: 174
Idk man. I tore mine back in high school.
Rushed back to get my senior season of hockey in and it really hasn't felt the same since.
Feb 8 2013 11:59AM
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avocado.
Posts: 262 - Karma: 247
Just gonna bump this and say Tammy Whamsticks
Also, I am in my 3rd season with no acl, progressing in rails more than ever, jumps, pow, drop... No problems at all(just shit ton of leg exercising)
Mar 13 2014 12:30PM
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jibnut
Posts: 3038 - Karma: 304
Well, my friends skied forever on a torn ACL which he just got it fixed with surgery and is doing fine. He's been out all season, though. On the other hand (not ACL) but I have ripped out my shoulder a bunch of times, and broke my shoulder, and I'm experiencing arthritis in my thumb and pointer finger.
Mar 13 2014 12:55PM
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cmacrae
Posts: 19 - Karma: 48
Tore my acl mid January and still working to get back the proper range. I've been told by my surgeon and physio its a bad idea to ski without it and a knee brace still wouldn't stop my knee from slipping forwards. Supposedly within two years of tearing your acl without surgery you'll end up with arthritis. Best to get it fixed.

Surgery in two weeks.
Apr 9 2014 1:59AM
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