J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by caron-a

Hi Sue. I have a clear head now :mrgreen:. Sorry, it’s a bit epic…

So, from this thread you can see that you can have a good result either with or without surgery [slamb :thumbup:] so, if you're given the choice, it's down to personal preference. However, I know of a lady that came to my knee class for 6 months to try and avoid surgery but saw no improvement and ended up having the op. On the other hand, someone else that comes had the op and it failed and had to be done again. There's no right answer.

My experience was that it was my left (mcl) leg that gave me the most trouble and I was, initially, wearing a brace given to me by the french doctor. I came back home and booked in with my gp who immediately referred me to a private consultant who had operated on 6 of the 8 doctors in that surgery (good recommendation I think!). A few weeks after the accident my right (acl) knee started to give way. This was the point when my consultant decided to do an mri which confirmed the tear.

He gave me the choice of whether to operate or not and I spent a few weeks deliberating. However, after reading a Pavel thread on here one day I knew I wanted to have the operation. The knee was giving way at regular intervals by this point. [I did do a teeny weeny little bit if skiing in tignes in march but both knees were very, very sore afterwards. don't tell anyone ;)]

So, I had the op on 18th April 2008 and was told 9-12 months total recovery. Unlike Gareth I didn’t have an arthroscopy and mine was a patella graft so my experience was a little different.

Nine months and one day post op I went to niederau for three days with the intention of sticking to the nursery slopes. That didn’t happen! Within half an hour I was up the mountain and gradually (and with the immense help of a few of the fantastic guys from this site) I skied as well as, if not better. Life is once again normal :thumbup:

In answer to your questions: I would definitely go private if you want to ski next season; I couldn’t drive on my mcl leg post injury for about 4 weeks (borrowed an automatic), post op I couldn’t drive on my acl for 2-3 weeks; I didn’t wear a support after coming back from france; pre-op I was limping badly on my mcl but not acl; hmmm, not sure about the riding/walking in july; I could swim on holiday (4 months post op) but wasn’t too comfortable with breast stroke; I take glucosomine and chondroitin sulphate and cod liver oil, who knows whether they’re doing anything but it can’t do any harm (apart from to the pocket!).

I really, really feel where you’re coming from. Any help I can give you would be a pleasure.

oh my goodness! Claret, I'm with you. Now feeling a few obergurgl allies :mrgreen:, it's only taken me a year...

so now we've got m, n, and o :lol:

p must be next :?:

I don't mind, as long as I can watch him while he's being egotistical :twisted:

Gareth Fair wrote:Thanks Adele :D

ditto :D

I've been reading this thread and think it's better if I post in more detail tomorrow if you can wait, sue. I've had two glasses of wine (having not drunk all week!) and I'm more inclined to look at men in lycra at the moment :lol:

seriously though, in the meantime, take heart... I was you in January last year, left mcl and right acl. however, nine months and one day post op I was on the slopes. there is light at the end of the tunnel...

and the people on here helped me through it big time :thumbup:

you're on the wrong thread mate :lol:

we're off out for a meal with our two boys [ :D] but, in the meantime, he's found out that I've bought him croissants/pancakes for breakfast, a fresh bloomer loaf for sandwiches, pork pies, cocktail sausages, bubbly, etc, etc...

I've found out that he's bought me strawberries and is about to melt some chocolate to dip them in and leave to set overnight :mrgreen:

I've got the better deal :thumbup:

KevinC wrote:I'M INSULTED :cry:

so sorry kevin. that wasn't directed at you, I was just missing bode :D