Can I dive 6 weeks after ACL reconstruction?

[SolarStorm]

My daughter is a national level athlete. She tore her ACL. The hard part during the recovery was when she started to "feel" better, but the graft was not strong enough take the physical activity. Her friend also tore her ACL almost at the same time. My daughter followed her PT her friend did not. Her friend is not playing and now waiting for a corrective surgery as she streched her new graft. (and you only have so many places to take a graft from)

My biggest fear would be your geared up, on the boat and wave rocks the boat and you loose balance. Thrust your leg out at an awkward angle and rotate to maintain balance. This would probably land you back in surgery. The other potential problems have already been answered.

The choice is yours. In 6 weeks you will "feel" good. The new graft will probably not be that strong. You simply need to quantify your risks.

Diving = fun
100% chance of success (you are diving after all)

surgery = no fun
small chance of injury, but with large consequences.

Pick a card, any card...

 

[matts1w]

Honestly, I think asking for medical advice on the internet is kind of dubious....

I wrestled five years in the Big 10, and consequently I have had been under the knife to repair 1 shoulder, 1 knee, and 2 hands. I can only offer this: no matter what you you decide about your dive trip- DO YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY. No matter how bad it sucks, and it will suck, do all of your PT. It will make all the difference.

 

[tomboyy]

Honestly, I think asking for medical advice on the internet is kind of dubious....
I wrestled five years in the Big 10, and consequently I have had been under the knife to repair 1 shoulder, 1 knee, and 2 hands. I can only offer this: no matter what you you decide about your dive trip- DO YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY. No matter how bad it sucks, and it will suck, do all of your PT. It will make all the difference.

OP stated he had ask his doctor and wanted opinions from other divers who maybe have gone thru the same thing. I think the consensus is do your therapy and make your decisionwhen time comes .

 

[caymaniac]

It depends how old you are, how the surgery goes, how good you are at the p.t., each person does heal/recover differently.
I had acl/graft, I had it done after I tore my acl off skiing moguls 5 years earlier.. I waited too long...don't be that guy. I went diving the next year and it was fine but for me total recovery took two years and I destroyed most of my cartilage because I let it go too long. So the doc says no running for me.
Can you take the P.T.? It will suck but suck it up and do it. Good luck, you can do it.

 

[john844]

I will repeat many other's advice and tell you to focus on PT. Do all of the exercises and make sure you are using proper form and technique. When walking, slow down and try not to walk with a limp. It will become habit even when your body recovers.

Underwater, I would avoid the frog kick for a little while. This kick puts more lateral pressure on the knee and can rotate the lower leg twisting the knee. I had a custom knee brace after surgery, but I can't recall how early in the process I got it. Since it is a custom fit to your leg, it would not fit over a wetsuit, and I doubt under one. I don't wear the brace now. It has been 15+ years since my last surgery. I would be very careful if you are normally wearing one, and have to remove it for your exposure suit.

Good luck with your recovery,
John

 

[lmorin]

I have a torn ACL that will be reconstructed next Friday. I have a dive trip to Saba scheduled for early July. I'm one of a group of 4, so I hate to bring everyone else down by canceling (plus, I really want to go). Doc seems more concerned with the carrying of extra weight than the diving itself. If I can scam someone into carrying my gear for me and helping me put my kit on in the water, think I can pull it off? Should I even try?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

The crux of your situation is how strong the re-attached tendon will be at the time of your trip. Your doctor is the best source of an answer to that question. You absolutely do not want to tear the transplant from its points of re-attachment. Full recovery from an ACL tear typically takes 4-6 mo. That said, there will be a lot of the intervening time when full strength is not back, but barring unusual circumstances you will be able to get around OK without damaging the knee. As others have said, and as your Doc alluded to, the most dangerous thing for you may be pulling your gear in its cases or unexpected jolts suffered on the dive boat. Go for it, but be really careful. Don't giant stride or get in the water in any way that might wrench your knee; climb down the ladder carefully. Gear up in the water. Pass your BC/tank and fins up from the water before carefully climbing out. The actually swimming will probably be good exercise for your knee. Ask.

 

[vinegarbiscuit]

Your recovery will depend on a myriad of factors, especially your physical condition prior to surgery, the type of graft you receive, whether you also have meniscus repair/removal, and your responsiveness to physical therapy. That said, speaking only from my own personal experience, there's no way I would have been capable of diving six weeks post-op. I had an auto-patella ACL graft, and although I was young-ish (31-years old), in pretty good shape and responded well to PT, I didn't ditch my crutches and brace until (if memory serves me correctly) 3-4 weeks post-op respectively. Although I had full leg-extension and regained full heel-to-butt flexion by week-4, I still needed another twelve weeks of PT on top of that to fully rehabilitate my knee. I can't imagine humping gear, climbing on a boat ladder - heck, even bending my knee to don a fin - at 6 weeks post-op. If your mates are willing to help you out, that's great, but I guess you have to decide how happy you are being so completely dependent on others to dive (I do not mean that maliciously, so please don't take offense). There's also the question of fighting currents and so on in the water - your knee may not be in a position to kick as strongly as you'd like, especially if you rock old-school paddle fins.

I saw enough other ACL patients during in my OT's waiting room and at PT to know that some folk recover at very different paces, so your experience is bound to be unique to you and your body. My OT told me about a patient who had a hamstring graft: she ditched her crutches by the end of the first week! You might be a very fast healer - I do hope so - and will be back to diving before you know it. Myself, I'd be inclined to exercise some caution.

 

[rivers]

I tore my ACL when I was 18. I wasn't diving then, but if I had been, there was no way I would have been able to dive 6 weeks post-op. I was still very much healing and barely off crutches (i think I was fully off crutches at 4-5 weeks). My knee strength at the point was no where near strong enough. But then again, every individual is different. I personally wouldn't risk it.

 

[jhayes75]

Will you be using your patellar tendon or allograft tissue(donor)? The recovery time for a graft is longer then a allograft. The patellar graft is stronger though. I have read good reports including my wifes testimony on taking Max glutathione after surgery. Her doctor even told her she was two months ahead of schedule. Athletes have been known to take it too. I would take it easy, swimming in current can be a pain in the knee.

 

[wadedeeper]

Wow...I guess I am just a little surprised that someone has to ask this question. Please know that your doctor knows better than anyone as they are the ones monitoring your progress and state. If they are concerned with something, you should really be weary....but lets say you ignore your doctor and go anyways.
Option 1: you have a great dive without issues and have a blast...you prove your doctor was being over cautious.
Option 2: you hurt yourself and end your dive trip early but everyone else has fun
Option 3: You hurt yourself and become a liability causing others to have to risk their lives to rescue you. The other divers are put into harm's way, the DM and boat captain risk's their livelihood because you were being selfish and no matter that you chose to dive anyways, the bad press will hurt their business.

I may be a little strict in this case, but I have personally witnessed what happens when a diver knew better but dove anyways. Even though its your life, remember...your actions effect many others.

If you really want to be smart...get DAN insurance that will cover your dive trip if you have to cancel. That way if you get to the week before and the doctor still says don't dive, then you can cancel and DAN can help to cover the losses.

I would STRONGLY recommend you take it easy and consult your doctor as they know you best...NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE HERE SAYS! They may have had a lesser case or less complications and as I said...your doctor will know your case best. Listen and adhere to the doctor's advice...they're looking out for your best interest.