Crash and Burn ACL

Life has a funny way of telling you to slow down sometimes.

Shortly after my last blog post back in October, the winter season kicked off. I was already ramping up for winter fun and looking at buying a new set of skis. The set of skis I have been using for nearly the last 5 years of living up here were given to me by a friend. They were great considering I still was not 100% confident on skis to begin with.

3:00am Morning after Surgery

This year I decided, I deserve new skis! Also, I had purchased a pair of AT boots for back country skiing the winter prior- to then never use them due to lack of snow on the ground. The fall came and went and before I knew it we were getting dumped on with snow storm after snow storm. Everyone was out getting their first turns of the season in and I was anxious to do the same.

A few of my friends invited me out for New Years Eve night skiing for locals at Bretton Woods. Given it was one $12 for 2 people it was well worth the money spent. I met up with a friend Caitlin and carpooled to BW with her while the other 2 girls were running a little late and were going to meet us there.


We put our boots on and skis and hit the chair lift.

First run, I was being a bit cautious as I was trying to get a feel for my new boots and skis all at the same time. I started carving to hard and boom! Just like that my left ski popped off. I got my ski back on and continued down the ski trail.

Day 2 Post Op

We hit the chair lift for our second run of the night. I continue to tell Caitlyn how odd it was that my ski just popped off and maybe my bindings were set correctly. Then, I continued to tell her a story from the first time I ever strapped anything onto my feet when I was a kid. It was a snowboard and i went down and tore quite a few ligaments in my left knee.

We got off the lift, she went to the far left and I stayed on the ski trail. I decided to take it a bit slower this time around and really focus. My right ski boot was too tight and my left was feeling loose. Things weren't feeling good and before I knew it, I was on the ground.

Day 4 Post Op

Yelling every cuss word in the book. I had gone down, and this time injuring myself. A ski patroller coming up on the lift had seen me go down and skied down to me to see if I needed help. I explained to him it was my left knee and yes, I needed help. I was in severe pain.

He had me just lay there for 20 minutes, in the same position I went down in. The pain sharp and shooting directly up my leg and into my back. I just let tears roll down my eyes, remembering the time it happened to me as a child. The same feeling of pain, I knew I had done something pretty bad to my knee.

3 Days Post Op

Day 5 Post Op Bruising

Eventually, someone came with the ski litter, packaged me up and skied me down the mountain and back to first aid. Put a splint on my leg and sent me on my way.

After an ER visit, an appointment with an Orthopedic SHOULDER specialist, and finally and MRI almost a week later, I had made an appointment with the best ortho surgeons in NH and found out I had torn my ACL. A common injury that happens to a lot of skiers.

1 Week Post Op Stiches out

I was in a brace for a week, and on crutches. After visiting with someone who actually knew what they were talking about- I got back to doing everything as normal. I started running, biking, and hiking again. I wanted to push the surgery out for as long as I could, but it was not advised to do so.

On Thursday June 22, 2017 I had an ACL Autograft reconstruction and meniscal tear fixed. So far the recovery hasn't been all that bad. Minimal pain, and a little bit of swelling. So far the most discomfort I have been in has been the itchiness where my stitches are.

I have no doubt I will be back at it as soon as the doc gives the "Go Ahead".

I had my Surgery done at Littleton Regional Hospital by Dr. Kauffman from the Alpine Clinic in Franconia. I have to say, LRH by far was outstanding with how well I was treated and the unique care they have.

Photos of my ACL/Meniscus Repair

Six months later, I thought I was finally on the mend. I was given the "okay" to resume activities slowly. However, I just knew there was something wrong. I was having shooting pains down my entire lower half of my leg, loud cracking noises at random times, lots of stiffness when keeping my knee bent for long periods of times, and the worst of it all was the loss of my full extension I worked so hard to get back too.

6 Months Post Op working on Extension

I spent those six months seeing my doctor every 3-4 weeks. Finally in early December I asked to have a second MRI done just to verify there wasn't anything in there. 

Results came back fast and sure enough a giant ball of scar tissue had lodged its way in-between my bones. It was called a Cyclops lesion.

Definition: Localized anterior arthrofibrosis (cyclops lesion) is the second most common cause of extension loss after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

After much research on this, I found out this is very rare for patients to get. But it sure as shit happened to me. Nonetheless, my doctor scheduled me in for a second surgery, this time arthroscopic to remove that ugly one eyed monster that formed in my knee.

I was back on crutches for another week, and this time quickly healed.

Over one year later after my surgery, I am finally on the mend but not without pain and a little bit of scar tissue still lingering. I am please with the results and come to the realization that I just have crazy fast healing powers! hah.