Six months post op ACL -- and playing!

[puckmeethoof]

So I gave in... and I've found the light at the end of the tunnel.

January 31st, I had private surgery to repair my fully torn ACL. At 6 months post op I'm approved to play out and do most regular activies (except net and skydiving/bungee jumping, pretty much to err on the side of caution and let the graft heal more). I skated out, and it felt great aside from being out of shape.

I couldn't resist and rigged my gear over my fancy schmancy donjoy brace.

NO PROBLEM. It was easier and stronger in net than skating out. The brace holds well, limits my movement in certain ways, but doesn't prevent me from facing the pads. I'm not a butterfly goalie, and that's mostly why this still works. I have bflied a couple times, but in sticking true to my goaltending fashion, leave the five hole wide open anyways so it's minimal strain on my leg.

I can't get over how slow I am mentally. I've always been slow physically, but my first session back, it was all I could do to keep an eye on the puck. Sessions since have been varied, some good, some not.

My angles are way off and so are my reflexes, but I'm playing position better. I'm getting lit up at drop in, except for breakaways (for whatever reason, I'm stopping all the breakaways?)

So back to playing twice a week. The knee feels *great* (I even hiked the Grouse Grind this week), and I'm excited to pick up some new equipment (CCM vector pro CA being customized to fit my midget proportions). Now all I need is a new mask.... and glove...

That's awesome that you're back out there and giving it your all with your new bionic knee! The hockey vision will come back soon enough. Don't worry too much about it. At least you're out there.

[Timberwoof]

Well, good for you! I remember reading about your injury a while back. I"m glad your recovery is going well.

[klemmer35]

Congrats on your return!

The timing is the first thing to go, but you'll get it back quickly... The important thing is that you're seeing biscuits again!

[influenza]

I really think you should heed to the doctors orders and discontinue playing in net. It's just stupid to go re-injuring it again, you're not a professional goalie.

[goalies-r-us]

Go, go Katie, go go go Katie! (from a McDonald's commercial here)



Way cool that you're doing so well! FWIW, skating is *excellent* proprioception physical therapy, too!

[puckmeethoof]

Originally Posted by influenza

I really think you should heed to the doctors orders and discontinue playing in net. It's just stupid to go re-injuring it again, you're not a professional goalie.

I haven't reinjured it (yet) and you're not a/my doctor. Thanks.


Leg feels great. I played today even after riding, and with the brace, it's strong. I'm struggling more with my left leg. I had it repaired years ago, long before I started playing, and still subconsciously protect it more than I do the recent surgery. For some reason I can't get my brain to figure out dropping and moving left, but can to the right?

I'm spending lots of time just watching pucks go by and standing there looking surprised. Not doing a whole lot with my knees. Well, to be honest, I don't do much with my glove, stick or blocker either

[puckmeethoof]

Originally Posted by goalies-r-us

Go, go Katie, go go go Katie! (from a McDonald's commercial here)



Way cool that you're doing so well! FWIW, skating is *excellent* proprioception physical therapy, too!

LOL

Actually, that's my theory. I've been doing lots of rollerblading and guarded squats, incline work, jogging, and riding with shorter stirrups, I'm getting stronger pretty quick. As long as I play smart and guarded (it's a men's drop in, they all refuse to shoot on me anyways!), I'm using it as physical therapy.

Just making sure I"m ready for Richmond women's hockey *eyeroll* in a few months...

And yes, whenever I stop anything, one regular always calls whoever the guy was "Nogoalov". But then again, I get a lot of patronizing-but-well-meaning comments

[Goalies29]

I had both ACL's done and 6 months after each surgery I was back on the ice with no problems. My second one was done in 99 and I haven't had any problem with it ever playing net. Skating out for fun was harder as there is the support of the pads there to keep me as stable and I only wear neoprene braces for support.

[puckmeethoof]

Originally Posted by Goalies29

I had both ACL's done and 6 months after each surgery I was back on the ice with no problems. My second one was done in 99 and I haven't had any problem with it ever playing net. Skating out for fun was harder as there is the support of the pads there to keep me as stable and I only wear neoprene braces for support.

I hear ya man!

Never had problems with the one I had done in 2000, though I'm always protective of it. I agree 100%, skating out feels way less secure than in net. Skating out, I wore the brace and rigged my shin guard over, but it felt like I was always a c-hair from making a wrong turn or getting run over. In net, there's no explosive moves (not for me anyways!), no sprinting, and in my session, certainly nobody crashing my net (the guys are all very chivalrous?). The couple of times I have been thrown back or thrown my leg out there, it was fine. I also chalk some of that up to horse riding though -- my knees are used to being contorted and torqued, and I've been back on the horse since 6 weeks post op.



Goalies29 -- how far apart were your surgeries? Did you find yourself being protective afterwards? I notice, even now (8 years later), I still guard my first surgery like crazy (even though I was on rollerblades 3 days post op). This one I don't feel I guard as much because I've been using it, though it's been a much more intensive recovery and tougher surgery.

[Goalies29]

I did my knees about a year and 1/2 apart, I actually find I guard the second one more as it doesn't feel as stable as the first one but that is mostly when running. I had 2 different doctors for the surgeries, the first one was done by the Edmonton Eskimos Ortho, the second was done by a military Ortho specialist and he used a different procedure.

I think recovery has more to do with drive and how good a condition you were in prior to the surgery for your recovery. There is a study being done on guys retyurning wounded and the relationship between the health levels of the individual and recovery length and scope. I had a great deal of drive to be back on the ice and pushed it as hard as they would let me to get it in shape. I only use my "hard " braces when running or rollerblading for extra stability. For net I use the soft ones to stabilize and leave me some flexability.

[puckmeethoof]

Originally Posted by Goalies29

I did my knees about a year and 1/2 apart, I actually find I guard the second one more as it doesn't feel as stable as the first one but that is mostly when running. I had 2 different doctors for the surgeries, the first one was done by the Edmonton Eskimos Ortho, the second was done by a military Ortho specialist and he used a different procedure.

I think recovery has more to do with drive and how good a condition you were in prior to the surgery for your recovery. There is a study being done on guys retyurning wounded and the relationship between the health levels of the individual and recovery length and scope. I had a great deal of drive to be back on the ice and pushed it as hard as they would let me to get it in shape. I only use my "hard " braces when running or rollerblading for extra stability. For net I use the soft ones to stabilize and leave me some flexability.

hmmm.

my first one was done by an olympic orthopedic guy ('96 and '02 games). Second one done by Joe Schmo here in Canada who was willing to go private.

The first time I was in better shape (a teenager), and 6-8 months post op, was in the best shape of my life. Squatting 300lbs (I was 105.) This time, I was fat and lazy and out of shape prior to surgery, and surprise, still slightly fat and lazy I had formal rehab 3x a week for 6-8 months on the first one, and only 6 rehab sessions the whole time the second time (I like my PT back in Florida, didn't like anyone here and didn't have the cash to put out).

The leg doesn't always feel stable, I can distinctly feel the weakness and lack of development/conditioning(in BOTH knees) at times, but I felt that even before I ever blew the knees.

When I took up snowboarding (how I blew the first knee), I had a near panic moment. "I'm going to blow one or both my knees doing this, I know it". Two more times up the mountain, and *poof*.

Anyways, thanks Goalies for the insight. I've always been curious about guarding the leg that's had surgery, especially in people who have had both knees done. My right (recently done) knee is dominant anyways, so maybe that 's why? It's just killing me, because I want to be able to push, drop and slide to the left!

[Goalies29]

Do it in the pre-game time off to one side. Just push and do drops that way to get your muscle memory working and get over that edge of unsureness and insecurity of it.

To think I was in the area last week visiting old friends in Chilliwack.

[hamstercaster]

Originally Posted by puckmeethoof

I haven't reinjured it (yet) and you're not a/my doctor. Thanks.

He/she's only answering by what you said: At 6 months post op I'm approved to play out and do most regular activies (except net and skydiving/bungee jumping, pretty much to err on the side of caution and let the graft heal more).

You haven't been cleared to play nets but yet you go against doctor's order which is pretty much the point he/she was making...

[puckmeethoof]

Originally Posted by hamstercaster

He/she's only answering by what you said: At 6 months post op I'm approved to play out and do most regular activies (except net and skydiving/bungee jumping, pretty much to err on the side of caution and let the graft heal more).

You haven't been cleared to play nets but yet you go against doctor's order which is pretty much the point he/she was making...

And MY point and response was that I wasn't asking an opinion, just sharing the experience of being back in the net after 6 months off. It's a nice feeling when people aren't on their high horse giving opinions you didn't ask for or answers to questions never asked. When somebody tells me I'm stupid and adds a hint of snark with "you're not a professional goalie" when I didn't ask an opinion in the first place, I will rebuttle with something equally short.

Did I say "this is what the doc said, what should I do?" I didn't ask "Do you think I'm stupid?" "Is anyone here a doctor?" No.

I'm aware that my old PT wouldn't be pleased, but he's given me the best opportunities to keep safe knowing that I'm breaking the rules. The doctor on the other hand? Haven't seen that jerk since the 10 day post op.


In other news, hockey sucked tonight. The guys played like they had been neutered. No drive, no desire, no hustle. I was ready to skate out in my gear. I was so angry that I'd bothered to dress out. I played 75 minutes of hockey and my hair wasn't even messed up.