Diary of a knee injury

Looking good Ranchero. Did you choose to have lessons to get back into skiing following the surgery? Did it help? I think I may have a lesson when I go back. I've decided not to ski at all this year, Mr Nelly is gutted but we're going to Rome instead :)

I have a bit of a problem with some knee pain at the moment so the physios are reluctant to progress me on until they know why it's hurting. I wouldn't be confident enough to ski at the moment anyway, I struggle to go around a corner with a supermarket trolley which is my guide to how my knee is holding up (bit random I know).

It's great to see people recovering from knee injuries though. One of the blokes at my ACL class has had his ACL done twice (it snapped after 9 months) and he's been told he'll never play football again. Only a young guy too.

I know it will take time, but this time next year I shall have legs like Chemmy and be chomping at the bit to get skiing :)

Hi Nelly,

poor bloke (snapping again). There is this horrible statistic that you are 7-11 x more likely to re-rupture but is heavily influenced by people not doing full rehab. Looking at your schedule this year was always going to be a challenge, Rome does not sound too bad :-).

I had a few lessons to:
1)open back up my comfort zone (basically ski more aggressive/dynamic/faster)
2)so could refocus on areas of improvement. Am more than happy to do drills myself but wanted someone to point out what to work on.

Literally spent most of first lesson trying to reduce number of turns on a set piste to match instructor and use power of the ski. Basically trusting yourself to go really quite fast again. Actually skiing now I can feel no difference between 2 legs. However between runs feel a definite tightening of whole left hand chain after few hrs at which point am stopping for the day. Yesterday really felt like a break through day when skiing strong again but today is off (was basically back to limping after skiing yesterday). Everyone told me 18 months post surgery to ski and 24 months to feel good again and seems to be pretty accurate.

Thought it was time for an update as the snow is on it's way :)

Some of you already know that I'm pretty much back to normal, by which I mean my knee, the rest of me is debatable. But the big test will come in January when I hit the slopes of Les Arcs for the first time in almost 2 years.

I was discharged from physio in June this year, had my last check up with the surgeon in May and they were all happy, although I admit to being a bit lazy with the exercises, I know that I need to up my game again before I get back on the skis and strenghten the muscles more.

I do occasionally get pain (usually after exercise) apparently nothing to worry about, my knee is solid but they have advised that I wear a brace every time I ski from now on but I can live with that.

I'm just perhaps a little bit concerned about how I will deal with actually getting back on my skis in a psychological sense, overcoming that fear of doing it again, and will I actually ski like I used to.

All normal thought processes, but I have been given the all clear to go and can't wait to get back to the mountains :)

Well done Nelly, that's great news :)
I reckon after the first anxious 5 minutes on skis you'll be fine!
After I broke my shoulder it didn't take me at all long before I was ski-ing as before.
And anyway, as I remember, your knee injury was a freak accident and nothing to do with the way you ski, so you should be fine :)

Good news that you are back to full health. My recommendation get skipping as is a great measure of both power and control, when you can skip of one leg you can tick a box in your head.
Unfortunately it took me about 4 weeks before I finally felt happy with knee. Despite believing I was pretty fit after some decent climbing 3 months before; I found my knee getting pretty tired after an hour or so. Initially it also irritated the fatty pad under my knee cap (I had hamstring graft). First week or so was spent rotating days between skiing (I think first day I probably spent max 1 hr), climbing and skinning.
On piste is not such a problem but found myself really struggling in poor visibility and choppy snow. A few lessons, some blue bird powder days and a few big crashes and was back to normal. I used a knee brace at least some of the time, despite being assured by everyone that it was pointless .
Anyway your body will let you know where you stand so as long as you listen to it; all will be well.

Hi Nelly. Have you considered a mojo? I ski with an ex instructor who's knees were so shot that for years he used( and became very competent on) a sit ski. He tried the mojo and is now back on skis ripping it up.
Just a suggestion. You do what you think is best for you and hope all goes well.

Hi Nelly,
I am booked to go skiing early March had acl reconstruction and meniscus done in mid June after accident in January, seen the surgeon today he said I would ok to ski for a few hours a day if in no pain. I've had quite a bit of physio and spent 6 weeks in the gym 3 days a week up to now. I'm in my mid 50s and am a very competent skier. Do you think I'll manage in such a short time? How long did it take you after you got back to it. Did a knee brace help?

Hiya, how funny my surgery crossed my mind earlier this evening, must be my mind reading skills. If your surgeon has said you can do a few hours I'd give it a go at least, my surgery was May and I took a year off but you sound fit and able enough to try. I still wear a brace now, so definitely invest in one (my surgeon said I must always wear it skiing), it's extra stability.

Let me know how you get on :)