Sending you the very BEST thoughts and good wishes for a speedy, painless recovery!

I still can't believe you went a year on a torn ACL, LOL ... That's really something! I hurt my knee jumping out of the bed of my truck on the 4th of July. I caught the bedliner w/my foot and it flipped me over - I was lucky I didn't literally break my neck (further proof that God looks after children and fools ) - landed on my right leg first, heard a loud "pop" and landed on my back on the grass. I was also lucky that my trainer's wife's Dad, a former EMT, was there with ice packs! I spent 6 hours in the ER until they could see me (small town ER - only a few beds and on a holiday!). They just did an X-ray (nothing broken thank God!), put me in a full leg brace, gave me crutches and said to see my Doctor. Took that week off from work but went back the following week.

Saw the Surgeon's PA on 7/6. He moved my knee forwards and backwards which was fine and then side to side to which my knee kind of went "blooop!" and wiggled and said, "Oh, that's not good!" Then sent me for an MRI. Saw the Surgeon on 7/21 and he said,"you have BIG trouble" that I had to have surgery and he wanted to do an allograft if he could not repair it with what was already there. He said there was less recovery time (only one surgical site) and it was a faster surgery. Otay by me. He said if we did that I'd have the arthroscopic surgurical incisions and then one on the inside of my leg just below the knee.

Had outpatient surgery on 7/31 - it was a little over an hour and when I woke up my knee's all bandaged - they asked me what I was dreaming of and I said,"riding my horse, of course!" Was off work for three weeks (could have used 4). Was able to shower three days after surgery, but that was a real production. Be sure to get something in the tub/shower you can sit on, make sure you get a hand held shower head and make sure you have sufficient bars or other means to hold on coming in/out of the shower/tub - your balance will be totally off and you will have a hard time lifting your bad leg.

When I took my shower I had to take all the dressing off. I found there was another large incision on the upper outside of the leg, in addition to the arthroscopic holes and the one on the inner lower leg. Found out later that my lateral meniscus was also torn and he can to go in and clean it up too. What was a surprise too was the staples in my leg - it looked like Frankenstein! So now, three months later I'd suggest this for those going through surgery:

Make sure you have someone to take care of EVERYTHING for at least the first few days after surgery.

Start doing the exercises they give you as soon as they say you can do them (usually a day or two after) - it's hard to get the muscles (especially your quads) up and going again, so the sooner you start the better.

If they let you start bending your knee, start doing that asap. That's my problem right now, getting my knee to bend. And let me tell you, in PT they WILL force it to bend and it WILL hurt. So the more you can start the ligament moving, the better for you!

There is alot of people who have gone through this surgery; I'm sure you've heard their stories! Most of the people I"ve seen who has had this - or similar surgeries- done have come through it fine. They say a year to 18 months to get really back up and running. I'm a little a head of schedule in some ways (my knee is VERY strong, LOL), but not others (having flexion problems). I started feeding my horses about 2 weeks after surgery, although I was still on crutches so it was slow. I started driving 3 weeks after surgery. But I'm doing pretty good now ... just the bending thing is giving me fits!

I know you're surgery will be fine. It's the recovery that's hard ... just take it slow and get as much help as you can right after. Let me know when you schedule it and if you have any questions!

I see you replied to babeesgirl wanting a horse. If you search her threads you will find she constantly posts wanted to buy ads but appears not to even have $50 to her name.

Just to let you know. Sl

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. I think I had told you wrong about how many years we had him. I belive it was 15 years. I was 12Yrs old when we got him. Moonie was 16 yrs old at that time. I have all of pictures of him in my room and in my shop and I see him when ever I want.

How is everything going with you? I have some sad news to tell you. It is about my gelding he died last Thursday at the age of 29 years old. I don't think that is bad age for a horses. I have had for 14 years. He taught me everything about horses. I hope to chat with you sometime.

How are you doing? today?

Thanks for meassage.

Thank you SO much for your donation, I appreciate it so much!!

Cool I like your mare she is very pretty. I hope she is having fun in the Snow.