Ruptured ACL - want to ride this weekend.

[chrismay17]

About 4 weeks ago I landed a small jump just out of a corner hard with my leg out and felt a pop and obviously had to stop. Limped around for a few weeks then went to see a knee specialist who suspects I have ruptured my ACL in my right knee. I have an MRI scan booked in a week or so but I need/feel I want to ride this weekend.

I know the right thing would be DON'T RIDE you fool – but I only need 1 more point to move up into the experts and we don't have many races left this season.

I own a pair of EVS knee braces from an old injury - if I strap my leg up and where the EVS brace will that give me some protection? I am going to ride the practice session and see how it feels - I just wanted to get this of my chest.

Any advice from DR Mark would be great!

Cheers for listening.

[brentktm]

I jacked up my knee but have still been riding just got some pod knee braces and they support just fine, but it is a little more painful to walk after for a couple of hours

[sirhk]

IMO use your common sense and go have fun! I tore my right ACL back in 2000. MRI was done and all... It's torn. Hasn't slowed me down one bit on the bike. In fact I won an Enduro state championship in '07 on it. Every once in a while in a blue moon it may go out on me or hurt a little but it's never been anything that I've found to hold me back. Now granted, I don't play basketball or soccer on it and have no intentions to either!!! I can jog on it though without any issues.

Dr. Mark will tell you a brace is useless and won't help you one bit. I know wearing my braces I've had some minor tweaks and can see where he's coming from. There's certain motions that our legs can see in some cases where no brace is going to save you... But, my braces do add quite a bit of protection and stability and I can see the advantage of them 1st hand. I'll take my 1st hand experience wearing them for 7 years now over anyone that tries to tell me they aren't affective and are a waste of time.

[Scrambles]

People ride without ACL's all the time, just be carefull and try to use a brace. I wouldn't do it too often though.

[chrismay17]

Thanks for the advice guys.

[mawzer308]

i would refrain from any hard riding until youve had your op and done your rehab. because if you keep pushing it every time it gives way your doing more damage to the outer cartiledges. i had to have them done aswell as my acl when i had my reconstruction. 12 weeks later im able to do a light run and will be back in to full running/sports after the 6 month mark youve gota think about the future man you wanna be riding for the years to come.

[sirhk]

Like I said, tore my ACL new years weekend of 00/01. Have the MRI on disc and actually sent them to DR Mark years ago for his review/opinion.

I ride as hard as I ever have in my life. I jog, ride mtn bikes, live life normal... I never was into sports that really involved "cutting" moves to begin with so the torn ACL hasn't bothered me 99.5% of the time in the past 8 years.

Put it this way, this plate was earned, not given in '07. That's 6ish some years after my tear... And for the record the current tear is in my right knee. I tore my left one when I was 15 back in about '92 and had it fixed right away. It typically hurts more post riding then my currently torn ACL. LOL

From my experience, just go ride and see how you do. You may get lucky like me and find that it doesn't affect you at all. Or you may feel super unstable and have to go get it fixed ASAP. We're all different but I'm going to trust my body and the way it feels before I listen to anyone else that's for sure.

[chrismay17]

UPDATE.

Rode at the weekend - race two, wasn't pushing to hard running a comfortable second. Little kicker going up a hill, foot wasn't on the peg correctly and pop. Loads of pain and a burning sensation. That's the end of my season. Gutted!

Have my scan this week, going to have the op ASAP - hopefully riding again around March time...

Cheers guys.

[mawzer308]

hope all goes well! stick to your rehab and youll be right.

[Jeremy365]

Like I said, tore my ACL new years weekend of 00/01. Have the MRI on disc and actually sent them to DR Mark years ago for his review/opinion.

I ride as hard as I ever have in my life. I jog, ride mtn bikes, live life normal... I never was into sports that really involved "cutting" moves to begin with so the torn ACL hasn't bothered me 99.5% of the time in the past 8 years.

Put it this way, this plate was earned, not given in '07. That's 6ish some years after my tear... And for the record the current tear is in my right knee. I tore my left one when I was 15 back in about '92 and had it fixed right away. It typically hurts more post riding then my currently torn ACL. LOL

From my experience, just go ride and see how you do. You may get lucky like me and find that it doesn't affect you at all. Or you may feel super unstable and have to go get it fixed ASAP. We're all different but I'm going to trust my body and the way it feels before I listen to anyone else that's for sure.

Didn't read much after this post. Dammmmm look at that dent in the pipe!!!!!

[sirhk]

LOL, I spend my time using my bike, not polishing it... The funny part is everyone always gave me crap about that dent. It was in it for that entire season and I usually spanked everyone that gave me crap for it. And further more, that's the small dent. You should see the bottom of the pipe, it's totally flat! After I had to weld up the 3rd crack in it I finally replaced it.

[schrode]

UPDATE.

Rode at the weekend - race two, wasn't pushing to hard running a comfortable second. Little kicker going up a hill, foot wasn't on the peg correctly and pop. Loads of pain and a burning sensation. That's the end of my season. Gutted!

Have my scan this week, going to have the op ASAP - hopefully riding again around March time...

Cheers guys.

try to ride a bicycle as much as possible. it will help with range of motion and strengthening without further compromising the ligament. the stronger and more pliable the joint is going into the procedure the quicker you'll recover. good luck with the fix.

[Bryce418]

Didn't read much after this post. Dammmmm look at that dent in the pipe!!!!!

bah that's nothing, I have ridden with far worse pipes than that. it's just "custom" pipe tuning.

Bryce

[chrismay17]

Just had my follow up consultation with the knee specialist - turns out its a bit worse than first suspected. Hopefully going to have the surgery on the 6th October - keeping the bike, hopefully this time next year I will be fully fit and racing again. Cheers for all the advice guys.