My ACL Surgery! Video - Page 8

wow, great pics and x-rays. I was given a set of pics, but no x-rays after the surgery.

I'm sitting at week 16 and a day (Feb.1 of this year) after ACl surgery on the right leg, getting around pretty good. Wear the brace all the time still, partly because I am busy all day, and would try to take short cuts now and then and not wear the brace and of course hurt myself. I do an hour and a half of re-hab twice a week and may try for three times. I'm O.K. to ride road bike but no clips and no hills (I need to talk to the surgeon about the hill part and hiking, get some better defined guide lines).

I've started excercising both legs as the PT people have reminded me that I need both legs in shape for next year. Most of what I am doing now is just good general excercise for the left leg. I like the side steps with the elastic band, do that about three cycles of 15 and you know you are making better muscles.Balance board is fun, also just to keep general balance in shape. Heel lifts on one leg, step-ups and the bike riding are all things you can actually do at home (I was just up living in a tent for two weeks in Pullman, Wa. and did most of the excercises at the campground) along with the still standard leg lifts and quad sets. The hamstring curl and leg press are done at the re-hab center, all though I am sure you could find someting to do at home that would accomplish close to same results. Road bike three or four times a week, 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. 

Pain has basicaly gone. Now I am more likely to have some strange feeling, not so much hurt as annoying. Once or twice I have had aching problems a day after a  walk or ride, but that was mainly when I was just starting riding and long walking (about three weeks ago). As everyone eles has mentioned the ice box cold pack is amazing. While I hope I never again need it having one on the shelf is nice back-up.

Had a few stitches but everything is healing very nice. Where the pin was placed, below the knee on the inside of the leg, the bump is slowly becomming less obvious as the bone is healing. Just a slight bump as the pin becomes less defined. The other scars from the cuts are almost gone, not noticeable at all.  

Glad to hear that everyone has positive news on healing, slow but hopefully well worth the wait in the long run.

Great news on getting back on the bike Ron.  How is the ankle doing? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSloan 

I'm jealous. I have started PT and we're still just working on heel slides, straight leg raises (in all directions), calf raises, and quad fires. I'm able to do all of it without a problem, but I feel it for the rest of the day. Have been bearing full weight on the leg when it's locked out at zero; however, if I have the brace unlocked (I'm allowed to flex to 60* when seated) and forget and then stand up, I pay for it. Dearly. I think the knee is fine when that happens because I can't over flex, but man does it hurt! Also, if I've been up and around for a lot of the day, I'm exhausted by evening. That part kind of sucks. On the up side, it's a great excuse to go take a nap when I'm stuck at the in-laws' on a holiday weekend like this one!!!

It sounds like you're making good progress, considering you're only 2 weeks out of surgery.  I bet its good to see someone who is only a few months out of surgery doing as well as Finndog is.  THAT is a great window into your future progress. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finndog 

well its 11 weeks but who's counting.  

 

D' just don't overdue it. It does tire out very quickly and then you are just aggravating it. Sounds like rehab is good but painful (it will get better) . Ice, Ice, Ice.  Advil Advil Advil.... Just remember to walk heel to toe, heel to toe. Shorten up the stride. You are doing great

Bite me. I can't take any form of ibuprofen for the next two weeks due to the Lovenox. So, ice, ice ice . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSloan 

 Have been bearing full weight on the leg when it's locked out at zero; however, if I have the brace unlocked (I'm allowed to flex to 60* when seated) and forget and then stand up, I pay for it. Dearly. I think the knee is fine when that happens because I can't over flex, but man does it hurt! 

The likely reason to have it locked at 0 when weight bearing in the meniscus repair- you want to be careful with this, especially the first 6 weeks or so.  I was on crutches for about 6 weeks post op because of my extensive meniscus repairs (both medial and lateral), but different Drs have different protocols.  Best of Luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finndog 

I was not on any thinners.  Interesting.

 I assume you weren't/aren't taking birth control pills, either?

Seriously, though, with contraceptive pills/patches/rings comes an increased risk of blood clots (even without surgery), so the blood thinners are a must post-op. The choices were Lovenox and Coumadin. The former requires subcutaneous shots (in the abdomen) every day (for 21 days post-op for me), and the latter is a pill that one takes daily AND requires blood work every couple of days. So, I went with the Lovenox. Rather give myself a shot every day for three weeks rather than haul my ass to Quest Diagnostics every few days (with a bum knee and an infant).

I have some updated pics. Will post soon.

Glad everything went well. Get well soon mate 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSloan 

 I assume you weren't/aren't taking birth control pills, either?

 

Seriously, though, with contraceptive pills/patches/rings comes an increased risk of blood clots (even without surgery), so the blood thinners are a must post-op. The choices were Lovenox and Coumadin. The former requires subcutaneous shots (in the abdomen) every day (for 21 days post-op for me), and the latter is a pill that one takes daily AND requires blood work every couple of days. So, I went with the Lovenox. Rather give myself a shot every day for three weeks rather than haul my ass to Quest Diagnostics every few days (with a bum knee and an infant).

 

Hmmm, my husband did the shots and I don't think he's on birth control pills either, but maybe I should ask. (He does have a family history of clotting and the like, however, so I assume that has something to do with it.)

I don't think he did his that long, though, maybe just a week. I think he started before surgery, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by segbrown 

Hmmm, my husband did the shots and I don't think he's on birth control pills either, but maybe I should ask. (He does have a family history of clotting and the like, however, so I assume that has something to do with it.)

 

I don't think he did his that long, though, maybe just a week. I think he started before surgery, too.

I didn't think everyone who took the drugs was on birth control pills, but I know that was a factor with me. I would imagine that family history (like in MrSegbrown's case), age, weight, etc. all come in to play in determining whether or not people have to take it. I do wonder, however, if the length of time I have to give myself shots in my love handles (awesome, by the way) has to do with the contraceptive. Hmmm . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finndog 

no birth control pills but I did have my tubes tied.   that makes sense.  I had to wear those old lady support hosiery for about 3 weeks though. I had a lot of deep bruises on my tibia from the drilling.

No old lady support hose for me. Just shots. Ya win some, ya lose some, right?

I promised some pictures, so here are updated shots. These are all from yesterday - exactly two weeks post-op.

It's hard to see with the brace on, but I figured a few of these shots were necessary so I don't get scolded by Finndog.

Here's a closer view. I still have some steri-strips on because the incision for my meniscal repairs is so long (top incision in this pic) AND the incision for the ACL repair is kind of botched (bottom incision below). They definitely didn't have a plastic surgeon sew me up (not that I care, but there'll be an interesting scar there).

Close-up without the brace.

POV without the brace. Nice shot of my dead quad, too. Depressing. <sigh>

On the upside, minimal bruising and the pain is more of a constant ache than anything major. Looking forward to the day I can take some ibuprofen . . .

Oh yeah. And then there's the reason that I have been bearing full weight on the leg from early on and walking way more than I would like (note the brace in the background):

It's a good thing she's cute!

(sorry for the shameless kid stoke)

D heal fast. We look forward to skiing with you and Mr.DSloan this winter. You are the leader of the Springs group. We should have some planned GTGs this season.