Should I have ACL+ PCL reconstruction done??
About 15 years ago I completely ruptured my ACL, PCL and MCL in a ski accident (2 actually, tried to ski down after the first one…duh). Anyway — at that time they simply sewed what they could of the ACL and PCL, and stapled the MCL.
I’m thinking about reconstruction but at 52 wonder 1) is it worth it? and 2) could I ski again? One doctor said it would be a much better knee but I shouldn’t “risk it” by skiing on it again.
My reconstruction would not be arthroscopic and would involve cadaver graft. Any thoughts from PTs who have helpd in the aftermath, or people who have had it done?
1 Comment found
May PT
Hopefully, Mya will see this and offer her opinion, but I will throw in my 2 cents worth. I think if I were you, that I would leave things as they are, unless you really want to get back to being able to ski. The operation, and especially the rehab, will be long and intense, so you need to keep that in mind. If you have been doing everything else normally for this long, you need to think long and hard about having a total reconstruction done. The PT to get you back into a position will be long, painful (at times) and somewhat difficult. Now, if you were 18-21 and an athlete, that would be a different story, but you are closer to my age, and I would not have the surgery if I were you, and were able to do normal activies w/o problems. If Mya replies, she can probably tell you the odds of this surgery allowing you to return to being able to ski (and do similar demanding sports) like before, but my experience is that the older the patient, the less likely things will ever return to being even close to 100% of what was once normal for them. Please talk to other surgeons, PTs, and fellow “seasoned” athletes before making such an important, costly, and time-consuming decision, and let us know what you decide to do. Good luck!