Anyone else have a similar surgery date? It's great to hear the stories and suggestions of those who have been here before. It would also be cool to track progress with someone with a close repair date.
I look forward to hearing back and venting with a fellow gimp...
Kgm-
I had my ACL repaired on my left knee on July 8th, so as of today I am 11 days post op. This is the second time I have had my ACL repaired on this knee. I feel like I am pretty lucky as of right now. Besides the repair my surgeon did a small meniscus repair, took out some bone spurs and removed a screw from my previous surgery. As they had previously used my patella tendon I had an allograph this thime around.
I have had two rehab sessions and can straighten my knee completely and bend it to 100 degrees as of this morning. I can walk with a limp as of now but have been utilizing one crutch throughtout the day as my leg gets tired. I use that cryocuff like crazy and have been icing about 4-6 hours a day with 30 on 30 off, I usually go to sleep with it on and it has really been a help. I finally get the staples out tomorrow.
Since I have been through this before, though a while ago, I know that quad strenghth and straitening your leg are the two most important pieces, and yes it hurts! Keep working, it will get better.....yet slowly.
I had my ACL reconstruction on 7-13-10 with allograft. I also had significant removal of meniscus and shaving of cartlidge tissues. Today I walked without a crutch for the first time and drove my car for about 15 mins. I can walk with a limp and I'm extremely careful with steps or slope. I had 4 sessions of PT already. The pain is beginning to dissipate slowly. I am working hard to build my quads. My extension is almost full and I can bend about 92 degrees. I am happy with my progress. So, for those just starting the rehab process, cheer up. Things do improve and if its a slow progress, don't despair. It will be well worth the wait. Thats how I'm approaching this.
Thanks for the responses ronek and nightowl. We are definately all in the same boat. I am 28 year old and I had a hami autograft. It seems the allograft is more proinent from what I've read on this site.
I guess I am with yall as well in regards to pushing hard for rehab and the "no pain no gain" attitude. I am ahead of you both by 1 week and 2 weeks post op so it will be good to try to ensure I am keeping up with you both in regards to progress. My ROM seems to be pretty good (I need to get it measured tonight at PT) at just under three weeks post op and my mobility is steadily improving. I have a slight limp but not too bad. I work during the day (sales desk job for oil and gas) so I am unable to rehab and ice until I get home at night. But I typically hit it pretty for a couple hours while watching TV at night when I'm not at PT (2 or 3 per week).
Lots of varying instructions from surgeons it seems in reading about people's treatment. Some folks are incouraged to stay on srutches for weeks while I was encouraged to get off ASAP. I went down to one crutch after about 5 or 6 days and without any for the first time 12 days post op. Also, varying dr. theories of post op support as well. Some people do not have to wear a post op brace at all while I am stuck in one for a minimum 6 weeks. What about you guys? I keep wondering if I would be screwing up to stop wearing it? The brace and I are not exactly friends. Maybe if it weren't so huge I could deal a little better... I guess I just like bitching about it.
Look forward to more posts... take care.
There are a lot of different protoclols regarding the use of a brace. I just met with my surgeon this morning to remove the staples and he was really encouraged by my range of motion and progression in the last 12 days. I am happy that he choses not to brace most of his patients post op but I guess you have to dance with the one that brought you. I was braced for my first ACL and was miserable for six weeks and I recall the atrophy I had to deal with. Not so bad this time around, but the road is long. Great to hear about your progress so I can benchmark my own recovery. Good luck and look forward to hearing more.
I had surgery 7/2/10. I'm 35 and was playing soccer twice a week on two competitive soccer teams. I had a complete tear of my ACL and had a allograft & autograph (cadaver and hamstring). I am now 18 days out and have 0-120 degree range of motion. Today is a tough day though. It's a lot more sore than it was yesterday, but yesterday I did do a pretty long PT session. I've been cleared to do flat service biking and was told today by my doctor I can enjoy the pool, just no kicking. What's interesting is to hear how different each person's experience is and how different instructions from doctor's are.
Welcome kickit. I'm jealous of your recovery already! Just yesterday I got on the stationary bike for the first time and it was a challenge. It sounds like you are doing very well.
I've inquired about the pool as well. Has the pool for you been cleared for summertime lounging or have they recommended it as a form of PT?
I cannot do any kicking in the pool, so no PT. However, he said I"m fine to swim laps, just no kicking. I love to swim, so this was good news as the breast-stroke without legs is a great upper body workout.
I still struggle with the bike, as getting that fixed knee to bend that much is quite a challenge, whoever, I find usually after a few minutes it starts loosening up. It's crazy the different ways each therapist and doctor approaches an ACL injury. I showed up to PT on day 5 and was told they usually start a day earlier and that I should have started to get off the crutches. So after that I was down to one crutch for a couple of days and that was it. On Day 7, no more crutches. I still have trouble going down stairs as the leg just doesn't feel strong enough yet, but I can go upstairs. It's frustrating because I just want it to be done.
Every doctor is different. I started PT on day 2 (day after surgery) and today (day 9), I have full extension and 85 degrees bend. I was hoping for more at this stage, but I suppose my age has a lot to do with it. I have been using the CPM machine 6 hrs a day with setting of 100 degrees max. My doctor wants me to continue crutches for 2 weeks at least. I use one crutch although I could walk without it. The bulky leg brace makes my leg very tired especially if I walk a lot. I find it very stifling. My quads are getting stronger as I am doing more difficult exercises than before. I still use my pain meds (vicodine), otherwise its very hard to use the machine.
Thanks everyone for the updates.
I was shocked when my doc said that "CPM's are a thing of the past for ACL reconstruction". From what I've read and even from freinds who have experienced this the CPM is an integral part of recovery, especially in the first few weeks. It is absolutely wild at the different approaches from the docs about this recovery.
Yesterday my hamstring began burning like crazy. It literally feels like someone has a match lite behind my knee, particularly when I bend or extend my leg. Anyone else had this going on? It is not only painful but scary as well since I had a hamstring autograft. It has me walking all kinds of weird ways to avoid causing my hamstring to pull... not good. Today I am trying a tightly wrapped ace wrap around my hami, hoping some support will help.
Its day 10 PO for me now and I had a follow up visit with my doctor to remove my staples. He was going to remove every other one and he went ahead to remove all. He was pleased with the healing. He also measured my flexion which stands at 95 degrees, so he said I don't need the CPM machine any more. He wanted me to apply more pressure on the knee while bending even if it hurt. He suggested that I take valium as a muscle relaxant.
Overall, he was quite pleased with the progress and wanted me to continue wearing the brace and use the crutch. My next appt is little over a month away. My goal is to reach 120 degree bend within the next week.
I ran into a problem yesterday. My hamstring just behind my knee got very tender and swollen. And everytime I extedned my leg or “energized” my hami I would feel a horrible very localized burning sensation, very painful. It stopped me in my tracks each time it happened.
I happen to have PT last night and they could easily see it was inflammed and very tight. They seemed a little concerned about it actually, especially since I was doing very well prior. They worked on it during the entire PT. Still very painful… hopefully its nothing to worry about.
Anyone experienced this before? It does not help mentally that I had a hamstring autograft…
I am now 15 days post and was cleared to jump on the bike yesterday. I was able to get full rotation and rode for about 10 minutes. I am able to get to 110 degrees and can straighten the leg completely. I iced for a half hour after and it was a little sore but nothing major. Well now it has swollen up and I am now concerned it is going to keep up this pattern. Two steps forward one step back. Seems to be what is happening to most people on this thread. All I can figure out to do is stay positive and keep pushing.
I had my surgery exactly 2 weeks ago today. Compared to the rest of the posters here, my progress is relatively slow. I got on the stationary bike yesterday and could only go half circle. My ROM is still limited (about 100 degrees) and I have some swelling and pain. I am not pushing it too hard with the fear that it might damage the inside. The healing from outside looks relatively good. I am hoping that ROM will be complete in a week or so. Tomorrow, I hope to go full rotation on the bike. I am not discouraged at all considering my age (56) and steady progress with therapy. I hope I can improve my ROM and gain some strength soon. Overall, I am pleased that my doctor and the gradual improvement with motion. Once the pain diminishes some more, I can go harder on the exercise routines.
GLTA.
Nightowl,
Have you tried going backwards on the stationary bike? When I started on a little pedal machine, my PT told me to try going backwards when I couldn't get a full rotation going forwards. He couldn't explain it either, but he said that for some people, it's just easier that way. It took a few tries before I built up the confidence to do full rotations going forwards because I thought my knee was going to explode from the pressure. When it's ready, your knee will work, and no, it won't explode. I went from a miserable 70 degree bend to 135 within a couple weeks. For some people, it just takes a little longer for the swelling to go down. Ice, stretch and do your leg lifts, as boring as they may seem.
Squid is so right, Going backwards on the bike is way easier at first and it gives you the confidence to push forward. I will be three weeks tomorrow and got to 120 degrees yesterday and am biking about 15 minutes a day. I am still pretty swollen but I guess ice and time are the only constants.
Today, I was able to go full circle in forward motion on the bike. It was only for 5 minutes and low speed (max rpm 20). But, it was a confidence builder. When I go back on Friday, I expect to go for 10 minutes. Squid and Ronek, knowing your experiences and progress gives me hope that I am not that far behind. The swelling is going down as is the pain. I am hoping to be off crutches completely in a week to 10 days.
Thanks for your sharing your experiences.
GLTA
So I am now 26 days post op. When I went to the PT on day 21 I was at 125 degree ROM with full extension still. However, I'm away for work, so I'm doing PT on my own. Unconformable my work is requiring me to be standing for long periods of time. My leg get stiff and swollen and a lot more sore than it has been recently. Very frustrating. I really wish I had my ice cooling unit, but it wouldn't fit in my suitcase.
Glad to see everyone seems to be doing relatively well at the moment. Find a way to ice it kickit, especially if your are on your feet a lot. My knee gets really stiff too, whether it is straight or bent for any extended period of time. I try to keep it moving as much as possible thoughout the day. Standing up all day can't be good- I feel for ya.
I'm now 28 days post op and feel like I am having one of my best days yet. I was walking a realtively long distance (maybe 300 yards total) while at work today almost without a limp. That was a really good feeling, even had two folks comment about the lack of a limp. I think ultrsound, messaging and muscle relaxers has been the difference maker with the hami issues I was/am having. I may be speaking too soon but it seems that the pain I was having may be starting to regress.
Still in the post op brace but no need for crutches now for a couple of weeks. I hope to get relieved of the brace at my next doc visit 8/10. I'm FEEL like I'm almost ready to get back in the gym and start doing some additional PT on my own (more than leg lifts and heel slides). My upper body is obviously bored as well. Two PT visits per week seems like not enough, even with the work I'm doing at home. I guess I am just impatient.
I'm NOT looking forward to the 5-12 weeek mark where progress seems to stand still. I've read plenty of people mentioned this time period being that way... its tough b/c I think I feed really well off of seeing progress. I've read that at 12 weeks most people are getting ready to lightly jog- if so, is this with a functional brace? Does anyone know the scoop on the whole custom brace subject- when? pros vs cons? Helpful during 3-6 month recovery?
Yep. I am nine weeks post-op tomorrow. The last two weeks have been tough. I was thinking I would get to do more. No. I have been depressed and frustrated. Last week, the knee started to swell and was stiff. I saw the Dr. on Tuesday, and his comment was: "You have a LONG ways to go." He was also concerned that the PT was too agressive, and said to back off a bit.
I am riding a recumbent bike every day, with low resistance. All the standard exercises. I have full extension and flexion. I am still in pain; it is like a bad toothache. I am backing off on stuff like lunges. Dr said the graft is fine, and the pain and swelling is from meniscus damage and arthritis. I decided that I need to adjust my attitude and expectations. Last week, I took a few days off and did no exercises, no walking, no riding the bike. I had much less pain and the swelling decreased. As soon as I started back up...the knee puffed up and the pain returned.
I am finding this to be a very frustrating and demoralizing experience. When I started to cry at PT on Tuesday, the therapist told me that depression was VERY common after this surgery. Of course, everyone tells you to find other things to do, but when you are used to be being active and fit, sitting and waiting for the healing is so very hard...I know it is an investment in the future, but...it is very, very hard.
E
Elaine,
You have my sympathies. I am only on day 18 today and the pain bothers me to the point that I cannot get a good night's sleep. I feel like I am making progress, so I try to stay positive. I rest my knee a lot. Being a college teacher, I have the luxury of keeping a very light load in summer. So, I only go to college couple of times a week. Yesterday, I had to walk quite a bit from one building to another with the heavy brace. The swelling went up as did the pain at night. I am looking forward to the lighter knee brace in a few weeks. My doctor told me that I would have arthritis pain in a few years due to significant meniscus damage. I just started on the bike and my knee is still stiff. I suppose it is to be expected at this stage. If your graft is fine, its good news. Did he do an MRI and X-Rays to determine it?
All I can say is that hang in there. There are people I know who were miserable for 6 months and very happy 2 years later. Thats my hope. The pain and suffering will be well worth it in the end and you will have a stronger knee especially if the graft is strong.
GLTA.
I too, am worried about arthritis. I had significant damage to the medial menicus, and the Doc had to remove most of it. There was also some slight damage to the articular cartilage. He tested out the knee, and is sure the graft is fine; I have not broken protocol, and haven't twisted the knee or anything. He is sure the pain and swelling is not related to the graft. The knee is making all sorts of "crunchy" noises, too.
I am 58, and had a total knee replacement done on my other knee in 2007. I injured it in High School, and had 30+ years of wear and tear on it, with significant arthritis, so I am familiar with that scene. This was always my "good" knee, and it is devastating to have injured it, especially when it was so stupid...just a 16" jump off a platform.
I know what the future holds for the knee, and hope I can get some functional years after the ACL reconstruction. I know this is an investment in the future, and it will get better. Right now, I am working on lowering my expectations. It IS a long haul!
I appreciate this forum, as we are all sharing our stories and supporting each other. Most people have no idea what is involved with this surgery and recovery. They see you two months later and wonder why you are still in pain and gimping around.
Good luck with the brace; my Dr does not advocate use of a brace, other than at night for the first two weeks. OMG...I hated that! Sleep? Forget it. One of my best moves was to get a Walkman and download books on tape. It did not require an effort to read, and often I would fall asleep while listening. Now, it is my salvation as I spend 30 minutes a day riding the "bike to nowhere". I can tune out and pedal away.
E
I'm 56 and never took care of my knees all my life. Played soccer, tennis almost all my life and jogged on hard surfaces. And then a careless mis-step from the stairs damaged my medial meniscus and tore my already stretched ACL. Now, I'm worried about the good knee which is being asked to take so much more weight. I talked to my banker's wife who had the same surgery from the same doctor. She assured me that if you followed the entire course of rehab, the knee will come out just as strong as before. My doctor gave me the bad news about arthritis the day after the surgery due to the removal of much tissue from inside the knee. You right so right about most people not having a clue about what we are going through. I want to push harder on the therapy, but scared that it might damage the graft. I feel like I am making slow progress each week, but the pain and swelling seems to be constants.
After I go back to work to full time on the 23rd, my options will be limited. I won't be able to rest my knee as much and will have to walk lot more. Hopefully, the knee will be stronger and more stable and I won't need the bulky brace.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hello All
Posted a little earlier about having to make a decision.
I must say, I do worry about the implications of NOT having the ACL repaired and just living with it / around it.
Have seen a few stories where this seems to lead to an injury or deterioration later anyway, as that stability is just not there.
It doesnt take anything terribly dramatic or competitive to injure these knees it seems, and I think I need to change my way of looking at it, into seeing it as fixing something that is broken rather than expecting my body to function without it.
You are all so brave, and I am so glad I found this site.
Can't say I am not still scared though.
Hi all. I've found this forum to be so helpful--I am 10 weeks post op from an ACL allograft and 30% medial meniscus removal in my right leg. BlueTopaz, I thought about not doing the allograft and just sticking with the menisectomy (which to me was a MUST DO). But I agree with your assessment--if they're in there they might as well just do it all....and I am so glad I made that decision (I am 43 years old, active, with two small children ages 6 and 9). The first two weeks were tough, since I couldn't drive and sleeping was a little bit of a challenge ( I took a Percocet at night for the first week or so which helped alot--not so much pain as it was uncomfortable to lie the way I felt was safest for my leg).
I was driving after two weeks, and although I had to take off the immobilizer (that stayed on for 3 weeks except when I was exercising) and move the crutches (I used them for 4 weeks), I could still drive because I had the range of motion back to make that possible. I'm sure if I had gotten into accident it wouldn't have been too good for my insurance, but I was really careful and only drove where I HAD to.
I got my ROM back really quickly, and I think the pre-surgery PT I did helped a great deal in this vein. I injured my knee on Feb 14 but didn't schedule the surgery until June 1 because I'm a teacher and I wanted to be able to focus on my knee as a priority (the kids helped around the house).
My doc is rather conservative and kept me on crutches for a full month, even though I was weight bearing the entire time--just learned to use more and more weight on my right leg until when I got rid of the crutches I didn't have a limp at all. I've just been cleared to swim laps (and kick, hooray!), although the kicking does make me a bit sore. I'm taking that slowly. I go for long walks and now use the ellipse and have upped the weight training. But jogging and eventually skiing are still down the road......it's a long haul, but I feel so much more secure with a new ACL. Good luck!
Hi Everyone!
My 16 year old daughter had Acl surgery on July 1, 2010 and we chose the hamstring. We have keep up with her progress on a huge calendar we have posted in the living room to keep her spirits up. She started therapy 4 days after surgery and ROM was 100 two weeks later. Lunges and treadmill Aug 4th and she is cleared to start running next week. I have been giving her nutritional supplements as well to help her recover and strenghten soft tissue. Her biodex test is scheduled for Oct 27th, and she sees her doctor on Oct 29th. He told her that if she passes the test he will release her!!! I can't imagine her being released so soon, that just makes my stomach turn. She goes to therapy 4 days a week and has a trainer at the gym 3 days a week. The reason she is still going to therapy so much is because she needs a schedule, otherwise she would find a reason not to do her exercise. She has never really had to work hard at anything in her life, everything comes very easy to her, especially sports! So this is all new to her.
KGM how are you progressing?
Hi klmaurigim,
I had my 1st ACL surgery, on my right knee when I was 16. I'm now 32 and just had an ACL reconstruction on my left knee (july 9). Boy how things have changed in the last 16 years!! That's wonderful that you are trying to keep her spirits up. I really thought my life was over when I was 16 and had to take a year off of volleyball and softball. You mentioned that you were giving her nutritional supplements, I've been taking Omega 3 in the liquid form and I noticed a difference in 5 days. Less swelling, less stiffness, etc. I picked it up at Sprouts Farmers Market and if mixed with a little OJ, you can't taste it at all.
Anyways, good luck to you and your daughter :)
Hi klmaurigim,
Nice to hear that your daughter is recovering so well. Return to full sports at the end of Oct? Wow, I'm jealous. My doc will not release me to jog until the end of Sept. That is also when I get a functional brace to begin more strenuous activities. My recovery has gone well I guess. I get around very well and strength is building up nicely. However, I am still in pain often and can't do anything more than walking in terms of agility. MY PT says this is the "danger zone" between 8-12 weeks post op. The time where I am most suseptible to re-tear. It is also causing some additional pain I think due the graft being in a weak state.
Enough complaining by me. -That's one thing that HAS changed- I'm complacent with
the fact that ths recovery takes forever!
I MISS GOLF.
You must log in to post.