Dog attack, torn ACL, and St. John

ColoradoMom · Post by **ColoradoMom** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:12 pm

I was walking my dog one evening last week when another dog raced out of some people's house and tried to kill my sweet border collie. Up side, she's fine (she can hold her own, believe me). Down side, my ACL is torn from when they careened into me and I went down like a disastrous horse at a steeplechase, with my leg flopping backwards. They didn't put me down though, surgery is in two weeks. Please, someone, lie to me and say that I will be able to fully enjoy our trip to St. John this August. (you know it, that's one of my biggest concerns right now!!)

augie · Post by **augie** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:18 pm

I had surgery for a torn meniscus eight weeks before our recent trip to STJ, and the knee wasn't an issue at all. I realize that repairing an ACL is more intensive, but you also have longer to heal.

I don't think you'll be ready for a trial 8 Tuff Miles in August, but I'd bet that you'll be able to enjoy your trip just fine.

No lie...

ColoradoMom · Post by **ColoradoMom** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:38 pm

thanks augie, I needed that! I think I will hop on one foot into Francis Bay if need be.

SOonthebeach · Post by **SOonthebeach** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:48 pm

My brother has had 3 ACL surgeries and is running the Boston Marathon Monday. Not that it isn't a tough recovery (from what he says it is) but you WILL be just fine for August!! You'll just need plenty of limin' time

Glad you and your pup are OK. That must have been scary......

paulandtracie · Post by **paulandtracie** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:22 pm

Oh my gosh I feel so bad for you and know how you feel, last summer my mild mannered yellow lab was attacked randomly by 2 pit bulls, he was hurt badly and I inherited 7 stitches from them as well, luckily we both are fine now, I couldn't dive when we were in St. John but made the best of it. Sending good thoughts to you and your dog!

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:26 pm

So sorry to hear but glad your little pup held her own. I had a bad break a few years ago which also blew out ligaments all around my knee. They pinned them together but the key to my rapid recovery was a simple technique offered by the physical therapist for the Bruins who I met in the hospital by chance.

I'm not a doctor, I just play one on the internet so take this as such but it worked for me. The doctors told me I wouldn't walk without a limp for six months. They were wrong. She, the PT, told me that the key to healing tissue is good blood flow. Ligaments don't have a lot of blood in them so you have to encourage the blood to go there. To increase the blood flow alternate ice and moist heat one immediately after another as much as you can stand it or have time for.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

loria · Post by **loria** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:17 pm

Wow, glad that you are (somewhat) okay rotater cuffs are painful!!! but you will be all set to go come August---and swimming is proably just the right thing! --my MIL was walking her Kerry's (3 of them--bascially all champion obedience and agility dogs) when a rotweiler (who had been poorly kept and abused) jumped the fence of the property he was 'guarding'--two of her dogs were severely injured (one almost died) and she was severely bitten and sustained a number of injuries--

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:37 pm

In 2009, my guy had a complete avulsion of his hamstring. He basically ripped the hamstring from his pelvic bone while waterskiing. We went to STJ 8 weeks after his reattachment surgery. Although it was a challenge, it was an awesome trip. He moved very slowly, had to be extremely careful while walking in the sand, and the worst part was not being able to kick his legs in the water. Fortunately, he was in great shape and had a lot of upper body strength so was able to snorkel with a noodle - it is tougher than you think to just use your arms. We had to scale our trip back a bit - no hikes or much snorkeling but it was the most relaxing trip we have ever taken. The villa we rented had no stairs and we spent a lot of time just hanging out there. It will be a great trip for you - just listen to your doctor and to your body.

Tracy in WI · Post by **Tracy in WI** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:28 pm

So sorry to hear this - for you and your dog. I was hit by a car many moons ago and tore my ACL and MCL. Back then they weren't able to fix them as well as they do now. My ACL re-tore sometime over the past 25 years and since I have been doing well without it, I haven't had it repaired again although I researched it a few years back after I tore my meniscus.

From what I understand, it does take some time to heal, but the best thing I read is to do whatever your PT tells you to do! Even if that means less than what you think you're capable of. I would think that by August you would be good to go. I have a friend who had hers repaired about two years ago and was back playing tennis not too long after.

Good luck to you!

Barb Y · Post by **Barb Y** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:06 pm

So sorry to hear of what you and your pup went through. I hope you have a speedy recovery topped off by a great trip to STJ.

RkyMtnHi · Post by **RkyMtnHi** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:47 pm

Glad your border collie is ok (I have one too-they are definitely tough when they need to be!) and that you are too! You should be fine to travel in August, although you may not want to put too much pressure on it (serious hiking or major stairs). I tore my ACL (I think it's a rite of passage for all Coloradans, actually!) and what helped me recover quickly was 1) using that d**! traction machine to constantly keep the knee moving (even when sleeping-hard, but doable), 2) keeping ahead of the pain and taking the medication on schedule 3) getting a good leg-brace made to avoid further injury 4) taking advantage of a PT if you can and last, but not least, using a cadaver ligament instead of having one taken out of my quads. That sounds weird but it's less surgery. You can't even see the scars on my knee and leg anymore.

Regardless of what you choose, I am sure you will be just fine to head to St. John and that is no lie either!

SOonthebeach · Post by **SOonthebeach** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:37 pm

Rky- very great advice! My brother did all of those things on all of his surgeries and has recovered really well after each (he only keeps tearing them again from all his running- crazy fool

)

I remember he hated that machine but it really does work.....

ColoradoMom · Post by **ColoradoMom** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:01 pm

Oh my goodness, thank you all for the good advice and encouragement! Feeling like I should've put this in OT

but I really appreciate it! My "prehab," to get my leg straight b4 surgery consists of laying on tummy, both legs off the bed at mid thigh, and the wrecked one trying it's best to sag down straight. Holy bleep, OW, it hurts! If only painkillers went well with painkillers

Thanks again, STJ or bust!

RkyMtnHi · Post by **RkyMtnHi** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:30 am

At the risk of being a newbie and going off-topic...
I tell ya, I think mouth-tooth-throat pain are equivalent to knee injury--you really can't appreciate it until you have felt it.

I don't even know you Colorado Mom, and I can envision you hanging over the bed trying to make your leg straight-ugh! So what! It will bite, but keep thinking about St. John and make it a goal to get better for it!

I can't wait to try my first "official" painkiller, by the way! SOonthebeach: my husband is a runner also--ironically he tore his ACL playing soccer years ago. He only got it fixed because marathon training was proving to be a problem. He had Dr. Frankenstein for his doctor in 2001 so I learned a whole lot (he had no rehab, no machine, no brace and stitches that look like a 4th grader did it...that are still there!).

usvi-on-line

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Dog attack, torn ACL, and St. John

Dog attack, torn ACL, and St. John