First time poster, long time lurker:
2021 ACL tear and Surgery Due Diligence
FS grind in 9' "pool" deep end, should have been a standard shoulder slam, but stiff legged it straight to hell. Carried out by the homies, sat on the side and eventually got home. Couldn't sleep, drank a shit ton of beers, passed out, woke up and knew it was on.
I have insurance, so here's the vibe for anyone thinking about this procedure:
Hit the insurance company website to find orthopedic surgeons that specialize in sports medicine and "participate" in my plan. Found one, went for an appointment. Threw down the credit card for $340 dollars. She said it was clear my knee is fucked, had to get an X ray. X ray was covered by insurance, went back to the ortho, and determined bones are fine but something is definitely up. I held out that it was some sort of "sprain."
Paid $40 dollars on the credit card for an MRI. Brought MRI to the doc, and the 'nosis was "ACL is torn, Meniscus needs cleaning" Surgery is recommended.
First question was "do you want to just live a sedentary lifestyle" and i would rather not.
This ortho recommended me to Dr. Mandelbaum in Santa Monica, CA. I'm from NJ, but just moved out here to LA for a job. Dudes office has signed soccer jerseys, signed MMA posters, etc. He's also the "medical director of US Soccer." I don't know what any of that means, but figure an actual recommendation might be worth something to CA people.
Got the surgery. He took part of my quad muscle and made it into an ACL and cleaned up my Meniscus. Everyone's different, but there's also the achilles "transplant." I trusted the dude with the quad and here we go.
First day, whole leg doesn't feel. And they asked me to get a little "pedlar" bike and i was doing motion stuff same day home. Second day, leg feels like dogshit, like you just had surgery. Agony.
Week out, crutches are no big deal, pain and depression, but it is what it is.
Two weeks out, walking, on the exercise bike, chilling, but sore.
Three weeks out was today, i can ride a bicycle to work, walk, and i go to PT 2 times a week for 3 hours. (also.. insurance)
My leg is at (-2) degrees (hyper extension) and (+120) degrees of flex. Working towards -4 and +145.
Will update this thread on skating, but if you're here and you're like me, you're looking for some details to stay motivated.
Doc says i'll be "skating" after 6 mos. But i'm going to take it real easy, bought a new guitar, got the bicycle going, etc.
My deductible is $1250 and my out of pocket max is $2500. This type of thing, i will be paying at least $2500 and i have fire insurance.
Make sure you find a sports medicine surgeon. Soccer, football, basketball, MMA, these people are taking care of their shit, so those doctors treat you pretty cool. First appt, I was asked "so do you have a competition coming up." that felt pretty cool.
Keep your heads up buddhays.