Moving Forward



An MRI image - but not mine!



So, I had my latest visit with my new OS and I was very impressed!  He actually put my MRI on the screen and went through it with me as well as the resident who was working with him.  The word "mush" came into play when he was showing me where my ligaments used to be!!!!  Since I am in a "chronic" state (greater than 4 weeks from accident) his goal is to take this three ligament injury ( AKA knee dislocation) and turn it into a one ligament injury.  He is doing ACL, MCL reconstruction, fixing the meniscus and cleaning up the scar tissue in the very near future.  Since he can't harvest enough tissue from my leg to do two reconstructions, I will be having an allograft (achilles donor tendon) to reconstruct my MCL and an autograft (my own tissue) for my ACL.  There was the option of taking a graft from my good leg but I passed on that one.  Let's leave the good leg alone please!!!

He is concerned about the PCL but at this point feels as though surgery will not get my PCL any better than it is right now.  PCL reconstruction has average outcomes and the newly reconstructed ligaments tend to stretch out.  It is a very difficult surgery drilling into the back area of the knee. It is something that he will monitor and if it's required, it may be done down the road.

I've gone into the hospital for my pre-op visit and all the paperwork is done.  His secretary told me to be on call and ready because I may find out the night before my surgery.  Sooo ... everything is in order and I'm ready to go!  I'll be staying overnight in the hospital to monitor pain etc...  I will let everyone know when the big day is ... I'm thinking in the next few weeks because initailly he was hoping for TODAY but it wasn't approved!  Here we go!