I will have one more day,Friday, to cut and finish a big cottonwood project before I go get my knee repaired again. I had 4 big ol cottonwoods to drop and cut, only 1 left and it goes friday. Then wait till 12-11 and get my knee o/h again. I tore the ACL off and dinged up the cartilage, bummer. I have heard that this is not much fun. I ahd the thing repaired, just a meniscucal fix and a clean out in Feb of this year, it was nothing. I got a bad feeling about this though. I will have at least one good day out cutting before then though and I can check it off of my list. We have harvested about 10 cords of dry, white standing cottonwood so far and there is about 3 left to get. My Blaze King, Kings love the stuff. Happy Thankgiving to all!!
One last day of cutting before knee surgery
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North of 60
Minister of Fire
Good luck on your recovery. Get involved with a decent physio clinic right away after the knife. Been in your shoes and physio was the big difference to have the confidence to kick a soccer ball with my two sons again. 
Good luck with the surgery. I second north of 60's comment about physical therapy afterwards....you don't want to go through it again!
The trees will be waiting for you when you are able again. Good to know you have plenty on hand already. You will stay nice and warm.
The trees will be waiting for you when you are able again. Good to know you have plenty on hand already. You will stay nice and warm.
I have been showing my bride the in and outs of the blaze king, she seems to have the grasp of it, now I have to get her tuned up on the shop stove. Man I am freaking out a bit over this. I just wish that Dr. WOOD could make the whole thing just go away!!
weatherguy
Minister of Fire
Good luck with your surgery, let us know how it turns out. Ive been putting off getting torn cartilage in my hip repaired because I dont want to be down for any length of time but the pain will eventually force me to do it, isnt that when most of us give in.
Best of luck. By the sounds of your ambition for cutting wood I think the hardest thing you will have to overcome is following the doctors orders and keeping that leg out of commission as he says.
Just be sure to follow his orders so you don't have to go through this again. It sounds like you've got a good Mrs. to help you get through.
pen
Just be sure to follow his orders so you don't have to go through this again. It sounds like you've got a good Mrs. to help you get through.
pen
burntime
New Member
Had the unlucky triad myself, acl, mcl, pcl, and of course a horn tear in the meniscus. It sucked. Mine was torn 2 eeks before my son was born. Walking the halls with parts missing is no fun. One thing, when your surgery is done make sure you put the leg up. Up as in you lie flat on your back on the sofa and the knee is up 2 plus feet. I went thru a lot of pain thinking a recliner was up when it was not. Make sure you do your exercises twice as much as they want you to. The schedule they put you on is for wimps. Its gonna hurt, like watering eyes, but after 3-4 weeks you will make it thru it. Now 2.5 years I still get soreness but I just walked 35 miles up and down the hills of Ky for a hunting trip last week. The last day I had pain and swelling, but that was an expedition! Good luck! Break a err... :lol:
Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I have fifteen years on my reconstructed ACL, and I still play basketball and other athletic things. Be consistent with the stretching and exercises, and never stop doing the essential ones. It's all about maintaining flexibility and strength. If you are getting some of your patellar tendon cut to use as a new ACL, do everything they tell you to do to reduce scar tissue (that's my biggest problem--my patellar tendon has too much scar tissue in it--it cracks, rips and creaks, and it gets sore from overuse sometimes). It's a wonder what they can do with medicine. If I had torn my ACL twenty years earlier, I would have been out of luck (for a while).
Last Dec. 12, 08,I broke both my Tib and Fib, each in two places. Lots of breaks between the knee and ankle to heal, particularly being that they were segmented, and the supply cut off, very slow to heal. Did this cutting firewood,,so please be careful. Five months into it all, during theraphy, the plate they put in my leg broke! :snake: I`m released to return to work on Dec. 17, 09 after 1 year of cabin fever and constant pain. You will be in my prayers today at Dinner, so forget those bad feelings, they can be overcome.
Do double those exercises, and use that ice to control the swelling, so that the healing process may begin. I found it so critical this last year for the healing process. Heat in the morning to get things lossened up, and ice periodically during the day. Your muscles wont lay dormant for months losing mass, so they will be strong and ready for you to fight through the pain, You`ll be fine and toting wood soon. Seems you might have a little time for the Forum Keep us posted, and if you have any oak to cut, keep a close eye on it for they are a mean critter 
Luck to You
Do double those exercises, and use that ice to control the swelling, so that the healing process may begin. I found it so critical this last year for the healing process. Heat in the morning to get things lossened up, and ice periodically during the day. Your muscles wont lay dormant for months losing mass, so they will be strong and ready for you to fight through the pain, You`ll be fine and toting wood soon. Seems you might have a little time for the Forum
Keep us posted, and if you have any oak to cut, keep a close eye on it for they are a mean critter Luck to You
Last Dec 4 my knee was grossly dislocated at wrestling practice and I ended up with the unhappy triad. When they said it would take 9 months to a year to be 100% recovered, they were not joking. Hopefully you are far enough ahead on firewood that you have next years split and stacked becuase you may not want to think about it for quite a few months. You age, the orthopedic surgeons skills, and your rehab will contribute to how quickly you recover. Tackle it head on buddy.
Thanks guys. i am 41 now, sometimes feel like 20, then the next day feel like 90. I have been doing what I can to strengthen the ol leg, hard to do a bunch when it hurts a bit to put a load on it. I own a detail shop, so physical activity is just the norm, I have 3 weeks scheduled out, it better be ready for work after that, as I will HAVE to get back to work at that point. I figure that I will go and spend some time in my kids classroom each day and get a feel for thier world and I imagine that a bunch of time right here just talking about how much would I usetacould cut. I have plenty stocked up, I will clean the chimneys the day before. I am using the 10+ cords of cottonwood that needs noodled and split for my motivation to get back at it. The pile is right out my window. Man I hope that this goes well, I am nervous as heck this time.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Stihl man, what you are experiencing is very normal. That is, most of us who undergo surgery on any part of the body would rather not have to go through it at all. The worry is sometimes worse than the operation. Face the fact that it will hurt some after surgery. Why not? After all, it is a wound. But you will stand on that leg and walk with some pain but in the end it will be worth it.
fwiw, both my wife and I had hip surgery and we both were concerned; after all, we are both in our 60's. I had mine done first. Two weeks later my wife had hers done and I walked in the hospital without crutches. Now I rarely even think about it and sometimes have to think about which hip it was they worked on. I also rode my bicycle over 3,000 miles this year with no problems. So what I am trying to say is to look forward to the healing part and then you will be thankful for what you went through.
Best of luck to you and we hope you heal fast.
fwiw, both my wife and I had hip surgery and we both were concerned; after all, we are both in our 60's. I had mine done first. Two weeks later my wife had hers done and I walked in the hospital without crutches. Now I rarely even think about it and sometimes have to think about which hip it was they worked on. I also rode my bicycle over 3,000 miles this year with no problems. So what I am trying to say is to look forward to the healing part and then you will be thankful for what you went through.
Best of luck to you and we hope you heal fast.
I wish you the best of luck with your surgery. I had my left knee replaced in 9-07 and it got infected and had another knee put in on 6-08. Still not right after 3 surgeries and wont be from what the doctor says. So take care of what you got as you never know as I did. Was never in the hospital in 57 years at the time and now my life is changed.
Shipper
Shipper
fespo
Minister of Fire
I hope all goes well and Just do WHAT THEY SAY , no more or less. I need my meniscus repair again, I had it done on the left leg now on the right. I have put that off for a few year now because I major work on the right shoulder done. They said I would be off of work for 6 months, I did what the PT said to do, no cheating and I was back to work after 5 months. I was going to get the leg done but now i have kindey stones, fun for me. I dont know if the left leg will every get done.
Truck check
Saws check
PPE check
fuel/oil check
ax/wedge check
dog check
lunch check
freinds check
toolbox check
OK I am ready for the last big day of cutting before the surgery. Man I am not going to want tommorow to end. I will drop the last 36 dbh cottonwood and cut, noodle, and haul away to the pile. I think that it will take 4 hours. I shold have 3-3.5 more cords in the pile. Heres to you guys!! Happy thankgiving. Thanks be to God!!
Saws check
PPE check
fuel/oil check
ax/wedge check
dog check
lunch check
freinds check
toolbox check
OK I am ready for the last big day of cutting before the surgery. Man I am not going to want tommorow to end. I will drop the last 36 dbh cottonwood and cut, noodle, and haul away to the pile. I think that it will take 4 hours. I shold have 3-3.5 more cords in the pile. Heres to you guys!! Happy thankgiving. Thanks be to God!!
Gunks
Member
michaelryba
Member
I injured my leg a month ago in a mountain biking accident.
Kinda eriee, I'm 41 & spend all last weekend c/s/s wood for next year. On Tues (11-24-09) I went into surgery to repair my torn ACL & meniscus (cartilage). The doc used some of my patella tendon as a replacement for my ACL. I was in a whole lotta pain when I came out of surgery, but now I am sitting with my crutches next to a warm fire & feeling better (perscribed narcotics don't hurt either). Like was said above, I have physical therapy to look forward to. In fact, one of the last things I did before leaving for surgery was to set my self up with a firebox that was ready to go with a strike of a match--so that now I can veg while on the mend.
Kinda eriee, I'm 41 & spend all last weekend c/s/s wood for next year. On Tues (11-24-09) I went into surgery to repair my torn ACL & meniscus (cartilage). The doc used some of my patella tendon as a replacement for my ACL. I was in a whole lotta pain when I came out of surgery, but now I am sitting with my crutches next to a warm fire & feeling better (perscribed narcotics don't hurt either). Like was said above, I have physical therapy to look forward to. In fact, one of the last things I did before leaving for surgery was to set my self up with a firebox that was ready to go with a strike of a match--so that now I can veg while on the mend.
Hey Pondman
Good luck with leg eh? Hurt much???? I am getting scared, I can tell because I am getting grouchy and short with everyone...UGH
I went and did my 36" dbh today, got it down , my dad#2, 30 year logger, tree trimmer, lineman, general wood nut was right there as I dropped it, I asked if he would like the honor, he said nope, get it down. The sun was once again shining on me, I cut a "perfect wedge" he knocked it out with 1 swing of the ax, gave me the confident, yet surprised, head nod, we talked a second about the back cut, I explained where I was going to cut it and why, he said that outa work, man it was perfecto
! I still get pretty pumped up and I dont even try to hide it when the big wood goes down. My 36" bar would just peek through the other side. These trees there were 4 in a clump were monsters, no bark, solid hard cottonwood, the kind that just goes klink when I stack it. I got a 4 horse trailer loaded up good and called it a day. I will have to go back out and finish the big stuff, it is all cut to length, just need to 1/4 it and load it. I can then check this off my list before the knee fix. How long did the surgery last? Dr told me that he will use my hamstring for the repair as I am an auto detailer by trade and spend a fair amount of time on my knees, kinda like being married.
I hope that in 3 weeks it will be good to go, not a lot of choice. I am going to cut up and split a whole bunch of cedar siding for kindling, scary that my house has some of this on it, burns like gun powder. Split and fill everything, I am thinking "nighters" for most of the wood that I stack and my best maple that I have been saving for special times. I am wanting long long burns so that I can chill out for a few days. I keep telling myself, 41, not 21 any more.
Good luck with leg eh? Hurt much???? I am getting scared, I can tell because I am getting grouchy and short with everyone...UGH
I went and did my 36" dbh today, got it down , my dad#2, 30 year logger, tree trimmer, lineman, general wood nut was right there as I dropped it, I asked if he would like the honor, he said nope, get it down. The sun was once again shining on me, I cut a "perfect wedge" he knocked it out with 1 swing of the ax, gave me the confident, yet surprised, head nod, we talked a second about the back cut, I explained where I was going to cut it and why, he said that outa work, man it was perfecto
! I still get pretty pumped up and I dont even try to hide it when the big wood goes down. My 36" bar would just peek through the other side. These trees there were 4 in a clump were monsters, no bark, solid hard cottonwood, the kind that just goes klink when I stack it. I got a 4 horse trailer loaded up good and called it a day. I will have to go back out and finish the big stuff, it is all cut to length, just need to 1/4 it and load it. I can then check this off my list before the knee fix. How long did the surgery last? Dr told me that he will use my hamstring for the repair as I am an auto detailer by trade and spend a fair amount of time on my knees, kinda like being married.I hope that in 3 weeks it will be good to go, not a lot of choice. I am going to cut up and split a whole bunch of cedar siding for kindling, scary that my house has some of this on it, burns like gun powder. Split and fill everything, I am thinking "nighters" for most of the wood that I stack and my best maple that I have been saving for special times. I am wanting long long burns so that I can chill out for a few days. I keep telling myself, 41, not 21 any more.
Tony H
Minister of Fire
Seems we are quite the injured bunch me included ( screw to repair my foot 7 weeks ago) good luck with the surgery and don't try to rush the rehab too much because it will backfire on you.
I've not had this surgery and I'm no doctor but - three weeks may be pushing it a bit. I had a friend who had this (ACL + something else in there - right knee) and he couldn't drive for about a month and was on crutches about that long. If you need to you should be able to get to work in three weeks but you won't be be at it 100%. Good luck to you. I hear ice, elevation and range of motion are important and helpful.
I recently passed on PCL surgery after a MC crash last spring. I tore pretty much all of the PCL but nothing else. I guess they don't like to operate on isolated PCL tears - which is fine by me since they said rehab was at least 6 months maybe a year. I'll limp for awhile and see how it goes.
I recently passed on PCL surgery after a MC crash last spring. I tore pretty much all of the PCL but nothing else. I guess they don't like to operate on isolated PCL tears - which is fine by me since they said rehab was at least 6 months maybe a year. I'll limp for awhile and see how it goes.
michaelryba
Member
I've heard a wide range of expeiences with ACL surgery. So, stick with your doc's recomendations & expectations. I plan on going to work on Tues--so only one week on the couch. My job (teacher) isn't physical, so that makes it easier. I've already figured out how to get around with using one crutch & carry things like wood, laundry, food ect.
The nurse who changed my dressing the other day was suprised I could lift up my leg already. I'm in shape from a whole lot of cycling, so that helps. I don't expect to have much stength & mobility for months.
I think there's a lesson to be learned about potentially dangerous activities--be they mountain biking or using a chainsaw. It only takes a minor mistake to produce significant injury. When felling a tree, I always walk away & reassess if I'm not 100% about the cut. Never had an accident. But getting hurt sucks, not because of the pain, but because it takes you away from the activities you love.
The nurse who changed my dressing the other day was suprised I could lift up my leg already. I'm in shape from a whole lot of cycling, so that helps. I don't expect to have much stength & mobility for months.
I think there's a lesson to be learned about potentially dangerous activities--be they mountain biking or using a chainsaw. It only takes a minor mistake to produce significant injury. When felling a tree, I always walk away & reassess if I'm not 100% about the cut. Never had an accident. But getting hurt sucks, not because of the pain, but because it takes you away from the activities you love.
burntime
New Member
Good pne pondman. I have a high pain tollerance and was seriously in pain for 3 weeks. The kind where you wait until the last minute to get up to go to the bathroom cause it hurts. They told me that I was fast moving 
hh: I sure did not feel that way!
hh: I sure did not feel that way!I finished up the cottonwood project, not it is just a matter of getting all my ducks in a row. Man I am sore all over today. We went to Thermopolis last night and swam in the hot water, boy that felt good. Thanks for all the support guys, I have to admit I am pretty nervous about this. Just the fact of gunna be down a while terrifies me, the unknown I guess is the worst.
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