GOOD NEWS: Today, my son and I earn our yellow belts in Tae Kwon Do after 2 months of taking lessons.


BAD NEWS: During my test, I did jump side kick and landed wrong. When I landed, I heard my left knee POP and immediately felt extreme pain whenever I tried to stand up or put any weight on my left leg. Luckily, that kick was my last part of the test except for breaking a wooden board (which I did with my fist).

After spending 2 hours in the ER, I was told to go see an Orthopedic doc as soon as possible and get an MRI to see what the real damage is to my knee. Hopefully its just a bad sprain, but who knows. The ER sent me home on crutches and pain pills. Still hurts like heck even after taking the pain meds. Who knew that a yellow belt test could be so dangerous?!? lol

On the bright side, I'm very proud of my son...he broke the board on his first try (he kicked it hard).

Happy trails...:)

Dang Mike. Hopefully its nothing serious. It can be a real PITA, Trust me. lol If you need a great Orto doc let me know. The guy who did my knee is really good. Plus he has the therapy, MRI, surg center etc.... in house. It really helps speed the process up.

Thanks for the referal David.  I called that doc, but could not get in to see him until tomorrow, so I chose another local doc instead.  I went to see the doc today and they did the MRI (had one in house)...I go back tomorrow for the results.  Doc said he would not know the exact damage until he gets the MRI, but he suspected it may be a damaged ACL based on my description of how the injury occured.  I'm anxious to find out the results so I will know what kind of treatment and recovery time I have ahead of me before I can return to a normal life. 

Wish me luck!

If it is in fact a tron ACL only, you have a few options. One is to do nothing and in a couple of weeks you will be able to walk etc... The down side is once it is torn, it will never heal and therefore occasionaly pop out and cause you the same symptoms as now. I know people who have lived with a torn ACL for years. Your muscles will compensate.

The second is to have surgery. With surgery you will be in rehab for 6 or more weeks. By doing this it will eventually be something like 168% stronger than original (if you use cadavar ligaments which I suggest) The reason is, it is less tramatic on your body provided you don't reject it etc....

The third is to wait until the timing is right to have it repaired if now is a bad time.

In any case you have some recovery ahead of you. Hopefully it is only the ACL, which is pretty straight forward now days.

Be sure and ask the doc how many ACL repairs he does a month etc... You want someone who does so many it is a routine deal for him.

Keep us up to date and good luck with it.

David

David,

I just returned from the doctor's office and its bad news.  I have a torn ACL and I also damaged one and/or both of the meniscus (little pads between the bones) and also bruised the bone too (the bruising will heal on its own). My surgery is scheduled for Monday, Feb 2nd at 2pm. I'm nervous b/c I've never had major surgery before.

The doc gave me 3 choices on how to replace the torn ACL:
1) use a ligament from a cadaver,
2) use part of my own ligament in my knee that attaches from the knee cap down to the lower bone (something like that), or
3) use part of my own hamstring.

 All options had pros and cons, but I have heard some good things about the 1st option and that is what I chose. I sure hope it goes ok.

***Please say a prayer for me that the surgery and recovery will go smoothly.

Happy trails...:)

I've had 2 acl's done, trust me, do the first option! Less healing, less down time and stronger repair.

UPDATE: 

I made it thru my surgery ok.  Unfortunately, the doc found a little more damage than what the MRI showed, and I'm told that he drilled a hole in my knee cap to help it heal better.  The good news is that I didn't have to stay the night in the hospital after my surgery (altho I have not been able to sleep much at home due to the pain/discomfort).  I go back to see my doc tomorrow, so I hope to find out what exactly the additional damage was that he found in surgery.

They gave me a nerve block/pain pump after surgery and it worked ok...but I had to remove it this morning and now I'm down to just using pain pills.  I can really feel the pain/soreness now that the nerve block is removed...not good.  I start physical therapy on Monday.  I can't wait to get off these darn crutches...they are no fun!

Happy trails....:)

That's a bummer. How long before you're mobile again?

Good question!   I am planning to ask my doctor that question when I see him tomorrow morning. 

Not only does this injury keep me from normal duties at work/home, but it also puts a damper on my ATV riding/racing for a while.  That is very frustrating, especially since I wanted to start racing in the STX-ATV series that begins in March.  Not sure when I'll be able to start riding/racing again, but I hope it won't be too long.

Happy trails...:)

Well I'll be thinking about you when I'm tearin' it up in Bryan.

BAD NEWS...

I'm going in for a 2nd knee surgery on Wed, Aug 12th.  My doc is going to do a scope on my knee and see if he can find/fix the problem I'm having.  For some reason not yet known, my knee never fully recovered following my ACL surgery 6 months ago.  (it hurts to walk on stairs, can't jog or run, etc.)  Got an MRI yesterday, but it didn't show anything wrong...that is why the Doc suggested me getting a scope on the 12th.  I just want it to finally heal so that I can finally return to a normal life (whatever that is! lol)

Please say a prayer for me if you don't mind!

Happy trails...:)

 well mike I am sorry to hear about your situation.  Hope it all works out for you.   What doctor/clinic did you go through?  

I tore my miniscus up last winter, opted for physical therapy instead of surgery.  Its ok for now, but still bothers me some.  Im just delaying the inevitable (surgery) want to make sure I steer clear of your place...

Thanks. 

As far as I know, I can't really say that my 2nd knee surgery is the fault of anyone.  My doc did his job for the first surgery and I did the physical therapy ever since that time to help with recovery.  Its just one of those things I guess.  This has definitely been one of the worst years of my life...not just knee injury/problems.   Hopefully things will turn around for me soon.

Happy trails...:)

Mikeyboy_esq:

 This has definitely been one of the worst years of my life...

I say that every year... 

Mike,

I know the feeling. Stairs are a real PITA to say the least.

I have just about come to the conclusion mine is a life long injury. I cant run, jump etc.... just yet anywqays hopefully one day again.

One thing that has really helped me the last few weeks is riding my bike. No pounding on the knee but good muscle work out.

BTW I've had 3 on my knee so far. The last scope I was back to normal the next day. The scopes are far less invasive and the recovery is quick. The last one did not even have  a drain tube so..... Before anyone says its the doc's fault or something he is doing , my injury should have left me completely crippled for life based on the severity of the injury.

Prayers sent your way Mike. Please let us know how its going.