My 14yo is going to have ACL surgery

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

So we found out two days ago that my 14 yo daughter is going to need ACL surgery on the 27th of August for a torn ACL and torn miniscus.

We are really bummed (obviously because of surgery) but also she is going to miss out on a lot of her freshman activities -- no Volleyball, no marching band, no soccer reffing. Luckily school doesn't start for us until after Labor Day so she shouldn't miss any due to the surgery.

So does anyone have any advice or tips? Especially for a teenage girl?

She asked for a new pair of shoes, something sturdy that are slip on which we found last night. I've been trying to decide if her backpack is good for carrying her books to class or if she should have a smaller shoulder bag for that. She is also going to be the manager of the volleyball team, so she will go to the games and keep stats.

Thanks for any help!

 

[jen0610]

Not real sure what surgery the kid had, but one of DS band mates can't actually "march", so instead of being on the field moving around, he is up in the pit area sitting on a stool playing his horn. Lets him still be part of the group.

She'll have fun being a manager for volleyball.

 

[undertheradar]

Sorry that she has to go through this. DS tore his ACL in 8th grade(he is now a college sophomore). The surgery is the easy part. The rehab after the surgery is where you will experience the work. Expect physical therapy appointments multiple times per week. My DS' high school was very good about his getting around campus. Your daughter's schoolmates will surprise you at how supportive they can be. Good Luck!

 

[golfgal]

The good thing about this surgery now is if she does her rehab her knee will be more stable then it was to begin with. The rehab is the hard part but the more she does of whatever exercises they give her the fast she will heal.

In our band they would also have her stand in the pit area and play (assuming this is a field show band and not a parade band).

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

Thanks, it will be "fun" doing rehad with a 14 yo. Luckily she doesn't have a lot of the teen attitude, but things usually come easy to her. I think this is goign to be a tough road for her.

But good side -- I heard from her band director and he thinks she would be great on Bells/xylophone. She can sit or stand and those players do not march.

Now to find PJs with capri bottoms for the hospital and I need to rent a reclining arm chair. When my husband had his ACL surgery that was the best $18 I spent. For one month I had a recliner and delivery was free -- it as great for elevating the leg.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

My son had ACL surgery back in April and we are still in the recovery phase! Therapy takes a long, long, long time. Didn't realize how long it would take. It takes a long time to build back the muscle mass that is lost.

My suggestion is to make sure she does the exercises. Is she going to have a CPM machine? We had DS on our pull out couch in the bonus room and it worked well because there was alot of room for him, the machine was stable on a large surface, and it was easy on my back to move it in and out for him.

Best wishes for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery

 

[shortbun]

A friend of ours, 26 and an athlete, had the ACL surgery in February and is still recovering with 3X weekly rehab. Last week he told me he thought it would take a year or more for him to feel 'normal' and have good use of his leg. He's rehabbing a house and works on ladders a lot so he's really been giving it a workout as well as doing the therapy prescribed. Good thing is he's still very positive about getting his sports mojo back.

 

[jen0610]

But good side -- I heard from her band director and he thinks she would be great on Bells/xylophone. She can sit or stand and those players do not march.

You gotta love band directors. They'll figure out something to keep a member apart of the family.