The Trials and Tribulations of an ACL Reconstructed Runner

I tore my ACL in 1997 while playing basketball.  After a patella tendon graft and six months of physical therapy, I was able to continue playing volleyball and basketball competitively with no problems.  Tendonitis was always a problem, but nothing a little ice couldn't fix.  I hadn't had any problems running until I started running seriously -- by that, I mean I started running longer distances to train for the 2008 Honolulu Marathon.  All of a sudden, something happened in my ACL knee.  For a while, it hurt if I bent or ran even a little on it.  I tried stretching, icing, and a couple of those knee strap thingeys, all to no avail.  I tried one physical therapist then another.  My second therapist gave me a diagnosis of poor biomechanics.  I had a weak hip, which was causing my knee to collapse inward every time I ran on it.  Inflammation from the poor tracking of my knee cap in the groove below it caused my quad to shut down, further weakening my leg.  After several months of PT, I got better.  But it still comes back -- mostly, it crackles whenever I bend it and sometimes hurts when walking down stairs.  Sometimes it feels like a pinch at the back of the outside part of my knee or feels like it needs a good crack, then the discomfort's gone.  I don't know what that's all about -- I just know how to make it go away temporarily, more or less.  Feels like cracking my knuckles.

I just read Born to Run and was thrilled at the thought that perhaps there was still hope for me to run injury free.  The problem is that people hardly ever talk about runners who have had ACL surgeries.  According to my first doctor, I shouldn't be running more than five miles at a time.  I told him that wasn't very realistic for me.  My second doctor seemed to think I could keep running as long as I keep my leg muscles strong.  I don't really know who to believe, but I know I'd rather believe that running is a part of my future.

If you've got bad knees like me, unfortunately, I think we're just more susceptible to injury, whether it's to further injure our knees or incur compensatory injuries elsewhere.  But for me, at least, I'm willing to sacrifice some speed for more sustainable running.  I've taken to trails and walking down hills as much as possible.  I try to cross train a bit, mixing in biking, swimming, surfing, and hiking, and rest even when I feel like running.  One of my therapists taught me to stretch my hamstring by tilting my leg to one side then the other, instead of just keeping it straight like most people do.  I also use a TriggerPoint roller for my IT band on both legs.  That seems to help me ACL knee feel better when walking down stairs.

If running gives you this much joy, you want to do it as long as possible -- even if you can't go that fast.  So preserve your body.  Perhaps it's a blessing that you can't run pain-free for as long and fast as you'd like; maybe it means you have more time for family, your significant other, friends, and other people and activities.

If you've got other ACL running stories or tips, please share.  I'm curious to find out how successful (or unsuccessful) other ACL runners have been at running long distances over a long period of time.

Below is a picture of my scar.  You may also notice that I'm bow-legged, so that probably complicates my biomechanics.  I guess I wasn't born to run, but it's not like I'm letting that stop me for now...