The ACL Repair Forum Firsthand accounts of ACL surgery and recovery

1. 

   zumbagirl
   Member
   Posted 2 months ago #
   

   Hi JagCat, if I recall, you and I were very close in terms of date of surgery. I had my allograft ACL reconstruction on 4/16/10.

   How are you doing now? I continue to have difficulty getting full extension when I walk or stand; when I am laying down or sitting on the couch, I get full extension. I am not yet doing any jogging or hopping exercises in PT, but they just had me start doing some single leg lunges with the TRX.

   I have a tiny bit of swelling still so my MD doesn't want to force/push flexion. . .I'm not exactly sure what degree I'm at currently but I am able to slide my heel to my behind in a laying down position. Standing and bringing my heel up to my bum is not the same story.

   I do feel stronger and less unstable; was even recently able to do some short hikes in Yosemite on some of the paved/hard pressed dirt paths.

   Hope all is well with you!
   Zumbagirl

2. 

   jagcat
   Member
   Posted 2 months ago #
   

   Hey zumbagirl, yes I had my patella autograft on 4/14/10. Were you ever prescribed a functional knee brace? I got mine last week and wore it over the weekend but they are taking it back because it fits really tight and the condyle pad presses hard on the inside of my knee. I hope to get it back soon after they make some adjustments.

   I actually had my 2-month follow-up yesterday and I am scheduled to have another MRI done next week because I am still experiencing the "catching, impingement" in my knee. Nothing I've done up to this point has seemed to resolve the issue. I did everything that everyone suggested in my other thread and still no luck. I have just been carrying on as normally as possible but it still frustrates me and I'm constantly concerned and worried about it. Doc says there's still a good bit of swelling. We'll see what the MRI turns up, I hope it does show something because then I'll really be concerned if it doesn't.

   Anyhow, other than that, I've been doing well PT-related. I've had full extension since day 1 post-op, no problems for me there. Had to work hard on the flexion and have been able to fully flex since about 5 weeks post-op. Shortly thereafter I was able to fully squat down and bear full weight on the knee. It took maybe a week or so to be completely comfortable doing that with no pain or discomfort. I haven't done anything that involves my feet leaving the ground. I've been on the bike and eliptical machines at the gym but not the stairmaster as that seems to aggravate the impingement feeling. I've also been on the leg press machines slowly adding more weight and doing lunges as well. Yes, standing and bringing the heel up is not as easy, rather difficult actually. I've been working slowly on getting my hammy muscles up and running again. Have you been doing wall slides? That's where I noticed a significant increase in my flexion, got a good stretch doing those and it didn't take long to get to full flexion.

   I feel the same, a little stronger and more stable everyday. I'm just so over this impingement issue. I really hope it resolves itself. If it wasn't for that, dare I say...I'd feel close to "normal". Keep working on getting full extension, I read/hear that is key. Try letting your legs hang off the bed (or couch) while laying on your stomach. Let gravity do some work. Let me know how you're progressing. Keep working hard and good luck!

3. 

   zumbagirl
   Member
   Posted 1 month ago #
   

   Hi Jagcat, hope the MRI went okay and that there are no new/additional issues. I'm not sure what a functional knee brace is. I was given this large black apparatus prior to my surgery and after which I had on for about two weeks post-op. It was my security blanket for some time. . .

   Good for you on the full extension! That is amazing. I'm going to try to let gravity do some work as you suggest above. When I am laying flat on my back or sitting, I can get full extension. But standing, I notice that it's not fully extended which is really irritating to me. I am so aware of it and yet I have a hard time controlling it when standing.

   I've started "jogging" a little on the treadmill. . .my PT calls it jogging. I still feel like a horse clomping along flat footed! It feels like the brain and the body are not quite in sync! I still have to think "heel, toe, heel, toe. . ."! :)

   I'm progressing slowly but surely; started jump-rope hopping without the jumprope last week which was amazing. . .I swear I was giddy doing it. My PT started me up on agility movements. . .flat ladder on the floor and drills up and down the ladder.

   I had that "catching" for awhile too, especially walking on the treadmill. Then, as time passed and my quad and surrounding muscles got stronger, it seemed to lessen. I notice it only when I walk too fast on the treadmill, or when I have overworked my leg for any particular day. I hope it gets better for you!

   I saw my surgeon last Monday and he "cut me loose". . .e.g. don't need to see him again unless I have some problems. . .just continuing with PT. My goals with my physical therapist are to get me back to baseline in terms of teaching Zumba. My surgeon did show me a move which I should avoid for at least a year post-op (step and pivot inward). . .which, unfortunately, is incorporated into a lot of my choreography. I'll have to figure out a way to "fake" that move or improvise it on my affected side. I'm hoping to gradually get back into teaching in a couple of months.

   What's your "thing". . .eg. what you want to get back to do? For me, it's Zumba. . .and skiing (that's how I injured my knee).

   Hope all is well and let me know how the MRI went. Good luck to you!

4. 

   jagcat
   Member
   Posted 1 month ago #
   

   Hello again!

   Functional brace = a custom brace usually prescribed for you so you can actually have some "protection" of your graft while you are rehabbing your knee. Some popular brand names out there; Donjoy, Ossur CTI (which I have), Townsend, Bregg, etc. Unlike the post-op brace they provide you can use this functional brace while exercising.

   I had that feeling as well when standing, my leg didn't seem to extend fully but I think that's just lack of muscle strength. I noticed maybe in the last week or so it's improved a bit and feels a bit more "stable". I think it just takes some time so continue working out your legs. You're a lot further than me when it comes to "jogging". Because of my issue, my feet haven't left the ground except to get into bed. I certainly feel unable to any kind of running. All I've done is the bike and elliptical, not even the stairmaster as it seems to aggravate my issue still. I'm definitely not ready to do any hopping or jumping either. Hopefully this next surgery will take care of everything and my setback really won't be extensive.

   My "thing" is just to get back into running regularly, snowboarding whenever I get the chance, and maybe the occasional pick-up basketball game, nothing too exciting. I just want that confidence back that I used to have with any activity I'd partake in. Be careful with your Zumba, I know how intense that can be. Just be sure you're not trying anything too early. I'd hate to hear about an unfortunate incident.

   Keep up the good work. I'll be sure to let you know how my surgery goes.

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