2nd ACL Injury

[OKWAKEBDR]

I just got some of the worse news I have ever heard today. I know, I know - it's not as bad as someone dying, etc. - but - I have just sustained my 2nd ACL injury.

I tore the ACL in my right knee wakeboarding last year, and after surgery, rehab, etc. I was pumped up to come back this year. I traded in my '01 X-Star for a brand new special orderd '05 210 TE. The boat was incredible, and this summer has been incredible until 4th of July weekend, when I went down with an injury to my left knee. The results came back from the MRI today - torn ACL and torn miniscus. Looks like I'm in for my 2nd knee surger in about 14 months.

I know it could be worse - i.e. I'm not paralized, etc. but this is still the worst news I could imagine. My riding was really progressing (especially thanks to the new 210). Plus, this is really ALL I do. I work, and I go to the lake. Actually, most would say that I work SO THAT I can go to the lake.

I am so disheartened with this. On one hand, I don't want to go through any more surgeries, but on the other hand - I SURE don't want to have to give up wakeboarding. I would take up slalom, but I'm too short to be competitive.

Anyway, I just thought I would share my thoughts and see if anyone has any advice or has had similar problems.

By the way...my boat is for sale. If I decide to wakeboard next year, I will buy another one.

[darrel409]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

Ouch, just reading the title to your post makes me uncomfortable. I had complete ACL reconstruction and miniscus removed 10 weeks ago, i kno how you feel and what you're about to go thru. You feel it all, disheartened, disappointed, frustrated, POed, and depressed and a lot of pain 1st couple weeks. My doc says it will be 9 mo or so to get back close to full strength. Physical therepy bites and its a real long summer being just a boat driver. Mine was from wakeboarding too, i have also had 2 other significant injuries from wake boarding. I made the tough decision not to wakeboard anymore, but im probably older than you too. As fun as it is im not willing to take that risk anymore, too much responsibility... However, last week i started surfing behind the boat again and am starting to think about a wake skate in the future. Its special just to get back on the water ..even at 1/4 speed. I think what causes injury (knee/ACL) are the bindings, they're made to not release even on impact.
On the plus side everyone ive talked to who have had ACL surgery says that its worth the time and pain to get it fixed. You also get some pretty cool scars. At this point i am still very frustrated but happy to be walking w/o pain or assistance. Best of luck, and i hope you have better med. insurance than i do.

[OKWAKEBDR]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

Thanks for the encouragement. Sorry to hear about your injury as well.

I am only 25, so I don't really want to give it up. I do wakesurf, but I just don't enjoy it as much as wakeboarding.

I do have good insurance, though - thank goodness for that. Insurance paid close to $10k last year for my 1st ACL reconstruction - it only cost me about $1200 including the knee brace, therapy, MRI, etc.

[sperbet]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

I am really sorry to hear that. I am rehabbing a strained MCL right now and have missed the last two weeks and it is driving me crazy. If I had to miss the rest of the season I don't know what I would do. Good luck on the rehab and don't worry you'll be back in action. Dont' give up wakeboarding!

[Alan-S]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

I did the "triad" 2 years ago (ACL, MCL, Lat. Miniscus). I messed it up on AUG 22nd 2003, surgury on AUG 29th 2003, and was snowboarding by December, I am not bragging but all you have to do is work hard in PT. I am curious though about how everyone blows their knee. I was doing a "huge" tantrum off of a double up, misjudged my landing, and landed with my front knee locked. Needless to say, it was pretty nasty looking, but mostly painless. That was in the morning, and since i had some friends on the boat we ended up spending the rest of the day on the water, so they could ride and I just iced my knee. What would bindings have to do with injuring knees? The only way I can think of that would cause a binding to mess up your knee is if one comes out and the other does not, this is why we don't use sandal bindings anymore. It is a good thing that our feet dont come out of our bindings. Sorry for ranting but it scares me to think that there are other ways to hurt my knees. Everyone, including pro's that I have talked to blow their ACL the same way I did, locked knees. In my head, I can not blow another knee as long as I conciously think about keeping my knees bent on landings.

[TylerO]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

OKWAKEDBR- I feel your pain and frustration. Best wishes for a strong recovery.

Alan-S - I sprained my knee badly this year (primarially miniscus) on a simple FS W2W 180. When I landed I just twisted wrong (knee was not locked) and whammo I had my first knee injury. I'm no expert but besides rehabing to getting the strength back prior to over doing it I believe in two recommendations. Setup your bindings the way your feet naturally land when jumping off an object. Anything else is unneeded twisting. Secondly STRETCH prior to your run. It's too easy to slap on the board and hit it without warming up. If your already tired and don't stretch your asking for it.

-Tyler

[Alan-S]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

I have really noticed a big difference when I stretch, the older I get the better I feel after doing it.

And by the way, I am sorry to hear about your second knee injury OKWAKEBDR, didn't mean to steal your post. Its not often you see KNEE INJURY topics, must be taboo to talk about, because its pretty common. We only have a couple ACL Virgins in our group, sadly enough its almost like an initiation.

[OKWAKEBDR]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

Thanks all -

Both of my ACL injuries happened while wakeboarding, and both happened because I landed with my knee too straight.

The first time, I got a little less pop off the wake than I expected doing a HS Backroll, and I landed on the hard part of the 2nd wake (instead of on the downslope or in the flats) - ACL in my right (rear) leg torn.

The 2nd time, I got a little more pop off the wake than I expected doing a 360, and I got off-axis and landed in the flats on my front leg a little bit - ACL in my left (front) leg torn.

Both tricks I have done hundreds of times, so I know how to land them - but I just got off balance a little bit. I would believe this is the most common cause of ACL tears in wakeboarders. No matter how much I concentrate on landing with bent knees, sometimes it just doesn't happen that way.

I'm told I will be able to wakeboard again next season (Summer '06) with knee braces. The season after that (Summer '07) I should be able to wakeboard without braces on either knee - but I'm not sure I will ever trust my knees THAT much. I figure I'm safer to leave the braces on forever, as long as I'm doing anything besides walking or running straight.

[darrel409]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

Good that your only 25, id rehab and be back at it too. I'm 46 so turning my wakeboard into a bench made more sense to me. Get good braces and have them fitted well. Start shopping for next years new board.

[Alan-S]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

BTW, I know a Doctor that has never had any damage to his knees and he wears a Donjoy on each knee for precaution, he is in his mid 30's and absolutly rips.

[pj]

RE: 2nd ACL Injury

Time to trade in the 210 on a 206 and trade the board in for a swerve stick (aka slalom ski) Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[pwalker]

Sorry to hear about your injury!!!!

I also sustained a total tear to the acl about 8 weeks ago, great isnt it, 2nd time in the water this year and i go and do it again.

I injured the knee last year at the same time, so that killed my wakeboarding for that season. Then i go and total it this year, ive just had keyhole surgery last week to wash out all the crap, now i have to have intense physio for two months and the reconstruction in September!!

So thats another year gone!! My wife has also undergone surgery to a disk in her spine, so she can no longer wakeboard.

Is this the joys of hitting 40?

Oh well the AIR still looks good on the water, and i hope to be back next year fitter and sronger.

All the best, youre not alone

Paul

[Cumberlandrider]

Bummer on the knee! I can relate, back in high school I tore my left ACL my freshman year playing football, came back and tore my right ACL the 3rd day of practice my sophmore year. I made a full recovery, played football Jr. and Sr. years and well as wrestled both of my last two years.

I wakeboard all the time and have had no problems with them, knock on wood. My doctor, who used to be the team doc for the Indianapolis Colts, told me that my knees are stronger than they were pre injury and there is no need for braces. I've never worn one. He says they are more for your head than your knee. I know there are many who would probably argue with me on this but I'm just sharing my personal experience.

If you want to sell the boat, thats cool, but be ready to buy another next summer. You won't be able to give it up, you are too young. Anyways, just my 2 cents.

Good luck with the surgery and rehab!!!!

[Daytomann]

DOOOODE! That sucks! I feel for ya man!
A couple of things to keep in mind...after your surgery do the Physical Therapy religiously! Do it even after your knee heals...if you have to do it forever!
STRETCH those ligaments!!!!! Talk to your Physical therapist and ask him for a few strecthes that work your ligaments....muscle strecthes are only good to do AFTER activity to keep you from getting tight and to help speed recovery. Its your ligaments that need a little stretching before wakeboarding.
Also, pick yourself up a road bicyle and hit the streets, ride as much as you can and build strength in your legs. Also, work your legs in the weightroom during the Fall, Winter and Spring. Good, strong muscles help to protect your ligaments and joints.

Theres alot to be said about good physical therapy. One of my best friends is a Physical Therapist. When ever I get injured (back, shoulder) he has given me streching excersises and weight excersises that REALY help. I have rotator cuff problems in my right arm and my left shoulder has a class 2 seperation... Last year my shoulders were killing me after some long, tough sessions. My buddy gave me a regimen to strengthen and stretch my shoulders....its taken the strain off my rotator cuff in my right arm and strengthened the muscles in my left arm to help keep my shoulder from wanting to pull out of socket so easily.... so far this year they have been great! (knock wood LOL)

My ACL and MCL have been aching a little lately, I need to fiddle with my binding positon (I'm too ducked out) but I'm getting some excersises and stretches from my buddy to help keep em stretched and strong. Nothing is going to completely keep you from blowing your knee on a bad landing but there are things that will help. Check into it with a good PT.
I'm getting a little older (34) so its important for me to stay strong and stretched, but it'll work for you too.
Good luck bro!! You'll be back!

[FatBoy]

Do like Ive done, give up the wake board and get a Sky Ski. I have had the Sky Ski for about a month now and I am hooked on that thing like it's crack. Of course I am getting a little older, I'll be 44 on September, 21st.