Anyone tear their ACL in their slide leg? I find out Wednesday for sure if I tore mine but the doctor was pretty convinced ahead of the MRI that i've managed to do it.

Anyone tear their ACL in their slide leg? I find out Wednesday for sure if I tore mine but the doctor was pretty convinced ahead of the MRI that i've managed to do it.

Did you feel a pop, and it feel like you were hit with a baseball? This happened to me last season, but lucky for me,  I didn't tear mine. I was off for 4 weeks. I hope you are as lucky?

It can take up to a year with surgery and rehab.  I've never torn an ACL, but did tear a tendon in my knee once.  Even though it's not as bad, it's still not pleasant.

I had ACL replacement on my slide leg and while there are many factors leading to getting back on the lanes, it's generally 12 months. I worked my ass off in rehab and lived in the gym for six months and was bowling at 7 months. That said, it probably took another 8 months of bowling and exercise to compete at a high level again. Your current fitness level has a lot to do with recovery time, but make the most of rehab and push yourself to do the exercises and stretching.

Please take this advice: Do not try to hurry back. Look at the big picture. Even if it takes a year, at 27 you have plenty of excellent years of bowling left. Follow the instructions from your doctor, do the proper rehab.

I have seen people that where in too much of hurry to get back to their bowling or softball season, only to damage their foot, knee, shoulder, elbow, or back even worse.
 

You should brace your knee when you return to bowling. Do not purchase a knee brace off the shelf at Wal-Mart. Work with your orthopedic surgeon who will write you a prescription for a real knee brace. Good luck.

+1

20 years ago mine was about $1200 as I recall, but it's important to get the right fit as well as the right kind.  Mine had different "wedges" that I put in the hinge to make it more restrictive at first, and less over time, but they all made it impossible to hyper-extend the knee, which is the cause of many ACL tears.

Wish you a speedy recovery.

Just a quick update, had surgery on August 26th, so i'm basically a month past. Doctor convinced me to go Allograft instead of Autograft, which from what i've heard is a little uncommon for my age (26), regardless the doctor knows what he's doing and so far so good.

In therapy i'm doing tons of single legged exercises, one legged leg press (just the sled, no additional weights) among other targeted muscle exercises. Been doing standing elliptical and stair master quite a bit as instructed and actually started light jogging this week. Pain is minimal already but my leg is super weak. Doctor told me February return to bowling is very realistic but i'm trying to stay pessimistic and write off this entire season because i'm scared of a re-tear.