Hi.
I thought it would be fun to learn to how to descend mountains by skies. So 2 weeks ago I went to ski for the first time and I lost my left knee at resort. There is a tear in my ACL and grade 1 injury of MCL.



Then I found my teacher made 2 mistakes:
1- As It seemed that I work well he decided for me to practice in the main resort and this is seldom done for a newbie to ski there for the first time he skies!
2- He set my skie fixes at about 60 kg to release and now I found it's a very high level. my fixes did not release my feet and ... BOOOM!
Hopefully I can walk in the city now. I've visited about 8 pro orthopaeds and all of them proposed a surgery operation on my knee. I'm going to do that, but to its time, I thought I may be able go some hiking. My doctors didn't tell me ONE advise. some of them told me to do but some avoided. I want to know if anyone aware of such experience and what was the result? Does any one with such an injury had gone hiking? (from a 1600m to about 4000 m above the sea)
I'm a bit worry about that to do it or not?

With a torn ACL, the knee is unstable and too much walking will probably result in further injury or unnatural wear of internal structures.

I have a friend who continued to be active on his knee after an ACL tear and put off the surgery for too long. He can no longer ski or do long hikes and is in need of a complete knee replacement.

My advice is to get the ACL repaired as soon as possible and to limit your activity before the surgery.

Get it fixed ASAP.

I had the same injury and I put off surgery for 9 months. After 9 months, my leg was suffering from atrophy and was causing more damage to both knees. I had surgery in Feb 2003, and was in re-hab for 12 months. The longer you wait to have surgery, the longer your re-hab will be. And don't wimp out on the re-hab. The better you do re-hab the better your body will hold up. Since my surgery and re-hab, I have run marathons, become a scuba instructor, and climbed Denali. Bu dont let anybody fool you. You will be concious of your injury and have to deal with it for the rest of your life. Im sorry it happened to you, and welcome to the club.

PS - the greatest story I ever heard with an ACL/meniscus injury was Jerry Rice. Apparently at some rediculous age of 35 or something, blows his knee out Sunday during a game and is in surgery that night (note the quick turn around). Six weeks later hes back on the field catching balls. I think this happened when he played with the Raiders. Amazing...

I think if you get into surgery in the next few weeks, you should plan on 9-12 weeks of rehab and you should plan to do simple stuff (running in a straight line, eliptical, gym, etc) for 6 months after that. Within a year, you'll be back in the mountains...

Fortunately my knee is not unstable yet when walking in the city, but my doctors prevent me to climb as you said
Now they say it may not tear completely or my knee is not dependent to ACL. my muscles didn't become weak...
It seems to become a bit complicated. But as you mentioned I'd better not to waist the time and do the advised treatment.

yesterday I hiked to Toucal Mt. not that bad!

Surgery may be because the pain can again come in the future you know.
In my right knee down mountains takes much pain. Go to the doctor and he said the surgery, but I suggest you my good friend Nima Eskandari (Hamedan) taking calcium tablets and I was much better.
But I climb mountains I can not leave.
You Come and go with the mountain.