Skiing after InternalBrace Ligament Augmentation

Posting this for the Snowheads ski forum thread

https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=130739

This is the first time I’ve went back to Lake Louise since being injured there. One of the reasons I wanted to go was to overcome any mental barrier remaining about skiing there.

This photo unintentionally has the ridge & shelf where it happened way in the background. I plan to get up there, but have been skiing with looser buckles to train through another problem I experience skiing which requires different runs that I would usually be on. Waiting for the next day it softens up to go back before the hill closes for the season.

How ACL Tear Occurred

Why I post this information:

Upon realizing Canadian orthopedics was 8 years behind current practices and unnecessarily removing ACL ligaments from patients clearly eligible to regrow them, I decided to make the information available to patients.

Here’s the start of how I found out orthopedic practitioners has not been informing people of their options, and in many cases do not even know themselves what is happening in their field.

Here’s the injury

March 17, 2018

Went skiing on backside of Lake Louise, marked where one gets off the lift, skied down and traversed

Top left shows where these pics were from with route there from front side

a couple pics of route marked & my friend making it up a steep

wide angle with route marked & on right you can see where the actual Lake Louise is & Fairmont hotel in relation to ski hill.

black line on right side shows route to this from back side; next pic is looking north

after travers, looking north (I think) from spot in previous pic

Where the previous pic taken from. Chateau Lake Louise in background. Not sure it bowl behind me goes to road or hike out needed - would like to know from someone who’s done it. Travers & skiing direction marked in green. video that wouldn’t upload here on my insta @ryancartiers

Not sure which of the 2 spines it was, recall the same curve marked in background to ski to ridge & drop in

on the way down after skiing 1st pitch, still up high, looking east I think. Snow was alright.

Found this pic online and only see 1 spine. Not sure where other is - looks like the curve though with face showing on either side below. Black is traverse, green is skiing.

Dropped in over shelf, landed ok - thought I was off but kept it together. Snow a bit cruddy. Caught left inside edge pulling the front of my ski out & behind me, bailed. Scramble to stop slide before rocks below. Had to use pole to undo binding. Couldn’t put enough pressure down left leg to lock into binding, so after a few tries picked up ski and slide across the steep below rocks on right side to reach flatter slope.

From pics pieced together this is my best guess where it happened.

Red is roughly the route out to make it onto the ski out.

1st pic friend took while waiting for me, just after fall, which was to the right of the rocks near the top right side of photo (outside of pic). Tried again to lock in binding, wasn’t happening. at 50% running 1 Nordica ski, knee hurt and still enjoying Lake Louise mountain life!

closer pic friend took while waiting for me.

trying to figure out if I need a month for this to heal and still ski May long weekend at Sunshine Village

…and skiing down to get onto ski out…

took a few breaks for the right leg heading down the ski out (route in next pic) - must have taken this photo on one of them. Told my friend to get a few more runs in when hit Paradise chairlift.

She had videos will post if we can find

Arrived at bottom for last chair (to get over to the front side). Liftees didn’t fuss about me keeping one ski in hand on the lift - much appreciated!

video that wouldn’t upload here on my insta @ryancartiers

off chair at top and over to gondola.    Ski patrol asked me if everything ok & liftee helps w skis - thank you

1st time I can recall downloading on a gondola when skiing an option.  For those who've never been here, sharing the view at Louise

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walking in ski boots doable, from gondola to front of Lake Louise lodge;  waiting for friend to get car and give me a lift to end of parking lot.  Great #view from here.

curious if getting boots off will be difficult, went ok.

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since this was my friend's 1st time in LakeLouise I said we should drop by Chateau LL

Was a slow walk to the front.

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stayed Deerlodge next to Chateau Lake Louise - took the evening pic while icing

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End of day March 17, 2018

Started icing Deerlodge - they have an outdoor deck w hot tub on top so its easy to sit in the snow on the side and #ice.

Stairs are less easy; manageable though.

sleeping was a challenge, finding a position not too painful long enough to fall asleep; seems like only a few hours Morning experience stiff & more painful.

I think it's just a sprain and may be able to recover for slushcup; friend has had a few ACL injuries in the US & typically sees the doctor, has an MRI next day, and surgery (if needed) within a week or so, starting recovery weeks from injury - I expect Canadian Healthcare to be at least comparable to US delivery whatever the diagnosis is. 

Guess what happened...