Tore my ACL wrestling in 11th grade. Same thing as catchevangelist, had a chunk of my knee used to replace it, screws and everything to keep it in place.
Like they said, Ice, Ice and more Ice. I had this cool little contraption, it was a thermos type thing with a little pump and tubes connected to a hollow ice pack. Basically put ice and water in the thermos let it get cold and then with the pack on the knee you just pump the cold water from the thermos. It starts to get warm you pump more and fresh cold water is there, the warm goes back to the ice to chill again. Lot better than ice packs.
Doctor told me that the best case would be 4 months recovery, more than likely, up to 9.
Now, I'm no case study by any means, but I'd always do more reps than they told me to do, more sets, etc. I was at wrestling camp around four months later wrestling, and beating the hell out of everyone.
I say this because it's up to you to push yourself and to set your goals. I wanted to wrestle again as soon as possible. I did that and did better than I'd ever done previously. Not to say that my knee didn't wobble sometimes, even with the brace I had, but I managed.
Since then, I've done judo (to 3rd brown) and have done kenpo for almost three years now. Both without any brace whatsoever. So, injured in 97 and 3 years or so later doing judo and kenpo with no brace. Again, occasionally the stability goes on me, and occasionally it twists and feels awkward for a few minutes (I had frayed cartilage, so that's probably more a personal concern for me and not the average case).
Basically all in all, it's up to you to make it happen. Push yourself and set certain goals and the rest will come. You might like to continue with a brace, but there's no saying you will need one forever. Again just up to you.
Hope it comes out okay and good luck with it all.
Joel
