Advice: ACL reconstruction and MORE

[Galileo]

Dr Jim, thanks for giving your take.

AAS do not selectively favor joint/collagen strengthening or remodelling...this makes perfect sense.

However, if one does NOT push too hard & too fast, ie. approach training more rationally with knowledge in mind that one may be more disposed to injuries by "virtue" of the chemical aid, then it does seem an extremely potent tool to facilitate repair of injuries.... case in point, Branch Warren's knee or the many other examples through time. Any thoughts on these?

 

[Dr JIM]

No!

 

[Dr JIM]

There is no research documenting AAS as selectively (as an independent variable) aiding MS rehab, but rather examples of individual anecdotes which are not clinical trials and the two must never be confused, since while the latter is often deemed sufficient evidence to alter clinical practice the former is NOT!

 

[Nemesis RR]

Surgeon friend of mine operated on someone that was on heavy doses of AS and HGH. Surgeon ended up having to go back in. Surgeon stated he couldn't believe the level of healing in just two weeks. Inner sutures showed healing of months.

Having healed both naturally and on AS before I can tell you I would never attempt to heal natural again.

BUT if you have never used AS before now is not the time to start.

 

[Dr JIM]

The discussion posted was about AAS and NOT GH which is an entirely different matter. (that's called comparing apples to oranges)

I believe it is also important to emphasize tens of thousands of patients healed just fine without AAS or GH and until a formal GH study is conducted all these reports of success remain anecdotes and NOTHING more and must not be confused with EVIDENCE.

OP my suggestion follow YOUR surgeons advice period!

 

[makinov]

Dr. Jim, there's nothing to get from the surgeon. I live in a very steroid-hormonal-treatmeant adverse society with a very one-sided and un-nuanced public debate. His answer will be: natty.

I am undecided still.

 

[makinov]

I decided not to try this time around. Rehab will be all natty; going very well, I might add.

Hyperextension - week 3-4
Full flexion - week 5-6
Swelling/inflammation at nill - week 4-5

Currently in week 6. Have started high volume squats (full ROM) at 20% 1RM, will begin occlusion protocol (Kaatsu) with similar intensity for quadriceps hypertrophy.

 

[MattAOG]

Wow I wish I saw this post when it started so i could follow. I had acl reconstruction april1st 2012. I cycled about 2 months post surgery so I could get all the muscle I lost back. Which was about 4 inches of loss.

The loss made me so depressed but pushed myself in the gym and got it back.

I thought about if this happened againi would possibly cycle through the whole process thinking it would help prevent the muscle loss. Such as a test/tren cycle. But I don't even want to think of this injury again!

 

[makinov]

And how did the rehab process go then?

 

[Dr JIM]

Matt
You are highlighting the very nature of the problem for rehabilitating any joint and it's associated musculature.

The lag period of collagen growth compared to that of the supporting joint musculature.

The FACT IS ligament transfers take up to ONE YEAR to revascularize yet the reversal of the involved joints muscular atrophy, a matter of WEEKS to MONTHS.

Consequently strength training during the first few months of rehab does little to improve collagen stability AND if performed in an un-structured manner often leads to RE-INJURY and a more prolonged period of convalescence.

After over 15 years of dealing with all levels of sports medicine, the most difficult component is confronting those whom are overly aggressive during rehab.

Their comments are categorically identical "I'm loosing all my gains, strength, quickness, acceleration etc.

The point of the matter is relatively straightforward, the healing process takes time and so does rehabilitating an injury.

The key during "joint rehab" is to ensure all strengthening exercises are preformed in ONE PLANE, and any form of torquing, rotational, lateral shear forces are avoided until collagen stability has reached the 50% percentile, at roughly 3-4 months (for an ACL)

Understand a combination of these forces are invariably responsible for
ACLS tears and a POST-OPERATIVE AVASCULAR graft is even more susceptible to TEARING during this period.

Lastly since very few if any Meso members are professional athletes, comparing the VERY STRUCTURED and ADVANCED resources at their disposal to Meso's weekend warriors is an naive benchmark and an unequivocal recipe for disaster!

My suggestion is relatively simplistic for those your age: start low and go slow, and your recovery will be expectant and uneventful!

Jim

 

[MattAOG]

Jim,

I did take it slow. I didn't do anything till my dr released me and said I could go as heavy as I want. Even then I nursed that knee. I was very careful not to exert it. I even gave up my career potential of playing pro paintball. I am finally starting to play 21 months post surgery. I feel great and can outrun some of the faster guys on my old team..

But seeing loss of strength and what I normally took for granite everyday drove me insane to depression now for awhile. Knowing I lost so much after the injury occurred.

Using AAS allowed me to build my body and focus at something else I enjoyed.. plus the confidence while having my body in the shape I liked and having girls and etc helped me mentally through a hard time...

In the time of running a few cycles I met a gym owner who befriended me and showed me a lot of different styles of training and helped the recovery of my knee even more..

So my initial use may of been immature and irrational its opened my eyes anf helped me through a hard couple years.