ACL buddies

Sounds about right. I did quad leg lifts in the brace for about a week and then started PT. Straight leg raise, side leg raise, back leg raise (on stomach) 25 two times a day along with patellar mobilizations and quad hangs off the edge of the bed. It's a long slow process.

I am six days post-op. I am impressed with your flexion! I am able to fully extend but have a lot of trouble with flexion. I am only allowed to go to 40° until I see the doc on Wednesday. That's hard to get to - I can get to about 30°. The leg lifts aren't a problem, though. Now, to be clear, I had an ACL reconstruction and a repair to my meniscus, which it appears I tore radially and laterally (that's different every time I type it - I was too drugged up post-op to remember what the doc said and MrDSloan isn't much help in that regard - I'll find out for sure on Wednesday). I stopped taking my pain meds two days ago - I wasn't such a fan of the side effects. So far, I am doing well with just icing and no meds. The night before last I took one to help me sleep, but didn't do that last night. Once I fell asleep, no problem. Falling to sleep took a bit longer, I have to admit. Otherwise, going without the meds is fine. I sort if wish I were able to take some low-dose ibuprofen, but, alas, that is off limits. So, ice is my only form of pain control right now. We'll see.

Good luck to everyone else!!!

Yeah, I'm doing pretty well off the pain pills. Yesterday was a long day because we went to my in-laws' house and it was just a LONG day without drugs or much ice.

What kind of repair did you have? I had the allograft.

4 days 90*? . That's about all you should be doing. Have you started rehab? that should be scheduled unless the doc has instructed otherwise. I wouldnt advise any excersie on the leg unless its under the supervision or instruction of the THerapist or Dr.  Boredom? Its a tough one, I worked remotely so that helped but I was off pain meds after 3 days. Read, watch movies (especially ski porn ) for keeping you motivated. I kept working out to what ever extent I could. Core, arms, etc. the mental part of this can become very challenging. careful not to let it get ahead of you. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by alig 

I know there is alot on here about ACLs already but they have all got v long and confusing, so I'm afraid I am starting another one.

 

I am 4 days post reconstruction and was wondering if anyone else using the forum has had theirs operated on recently as it would be good to share pain/ exercises /experiences/ boredom etc!  I'll start...

 

pain is manageable now as long as I keep taking all the painkillers and anti inflammatories.  Flexing is going well am just about at 90 degrees but don't have full full extension that I know is really important.  The physio has given me static quads and flexing exercises supposed to be 10 times every hour.  Other than that icing lots as its still pretty swollen. 

 

how does that compare to others out there?

 

Thanks, Ali

I'm swollen but no real bruising yet. I may not get purple - maybe just really yellow? Who knows?

Finn did the allograft as well (double bundle, though), and he was off the pain meds quickly, too. I wonder if it is the hamstring that makes it worse. I really need to work on my flexion - your posts motivate me, though.

As for the boredom, I have been working my way through the movies on our server and the best HBO and Netflix have to offer. Have been trying to figure out if I like Parks and Recreation . . . it gets funnier as the days go on. I've also been working my way through some classics: original Star Wars trilogy, Stripes, and some other random movies that entertain me and don't require a lot of focus. Fortunately, I also have these forums and some online work that I need to get done this week to help assuage the boredom. Oh yeah, and a 3-month-old daughter for which to care. That keeps things interesting, too.

typically, the followup with the surgeon is within a few days and you start rehab within the same time.  Once you get past that first 3-4 days, its time to get it moving. It will feel better too.

I see the doc tomorrow morning and PT shortly thereafter. I am REALLY looking forward to that first shower and getting moving. Can't wait. Although I know it is going to hurt, I'm done with this straight leg/40° thing. I'm ready for some real movement . . .

Oh! Speaking of the 40° flexion, that's going well. I think the swelling must finally be down quite a bit because I was having a lot of trouble flexing my knee past 25°, but all of a sudden I could do it without too much trouble. Soooo . . . I guess that's a good thing.

Stitches out tomorrow. I'll take lots of pics. Right now not much to post in that regard. Knee is still swollen, but not much bruising.

Stitches?  what year did you have your surgery?  1984?  

get going on the PT!! 

10 weeks for me, there's a thread on Trip reports I started with a video. Bruising is normal.  Mine was quite extensive and even after 10 weeks you can still see a slight amount.  I am doing well, I had other injuries as well that are holding me back slightly but I am doing well.  I just past my 1st "test". I had to do one-legged squats past 90*. I got to 95* so I am on target.  Once my ankle heals up more, I will be able to be much more aggressive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finndog 

Stitches?  what year did you have your surgery?  1984?  

 

get going on the PT!! 

There may not be stitches. Although that's what one of the nurses (who wasn't terribly with it) at the out-patient clinic said. I was also on drugs.

I would be surpised if there were any on the outside anyway.  a little glue and a steri-strip is what I have had on my last few surgeries. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finndog 

I would be surpised if there were any on the outside anyway.  a little glue and a stri-strip is what I have had on my last few surgeries. 

That kind of looks like all I have. I don't know why I was thinking stitches . . .

Wow!  Staples? yeah, they don't use those here.  Incisions are very small.  You will get there! just keep up the hard work. don't think of short term or you will go crazy!

Hi ACL buddies!

I am 5 weeks post op and so definitely over the worst of it, but still on crutches for another week (due to very hyper-extending knees causing a delay in applying weight to operated leg). Starting to walk properly and quads looking pretty strong.

I was really lucky and spent over 3 weeks directly post op in a rehab centre for athletic knees (mostly athletes) where we were spending up to 6 hours a day doing physio (but not intense!). I now have 3 weeks at home before going back in for another stay in rehab hospital in a weeks time. It is great being amongst 30 or so others in exactly the same situation and having that level of care and physio.

Good recovery to you all!

England? 

nice rehab protocol.  You should be in good shape.  How do they do recon's there?  Allograft, Autograft?  single or double bundle? 

Just posted some yummy pics over on this thread.

Here's a preview:

That picture is actually misleading - the bruising isn't that bad. I just liked that photo because it looked pretty nasty. This one is actually much more accurate (it looks even better now that I've had a shower and the Betadine is washed off):

So, my flex is up to 60* now, but that's only because the doctor has me locked out at 60 until I start physical therapy (next week). Overall, it's feeling pretty good. I can bear full weight on it. I was cleared to bear as much weight as I could stand yesterday, and I was only putting about 60% on it until I spoke with Finn and he told me that part was mostly mental. So, then I started just walking on it (in the brace, locked out at 0, of course). Overall, things are going well. Just got in my new skis for next season for motivation. Full steam ahead!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSloan 

That picture is actually misleading - the bruising isn't that bad. I just liked that photo because it looked pretty nasty. This one is actually much more accurate (it looks even better now that I've had a shower and the Betadine is washed off):

 

 

So, my flex is up to 60* now, but that's only because the doctor has me locked out at 60 until I start physical therapy (next week). Overall, it's feeling pretty good. I can bear full weight on it. I was cleared to bear as much weight as I could stand yesterday, and I was only putting about 60% on it until I spoke with Finn and he told me that part was mostly mental. So, then I started just walking on it (in the brace, locked out at 0, of course). Overall, things are going well. Just got in my new skis for next season for motivation. Full steam ahead!

Isn't it amazing how fast things start falling into place! (Well, usually) Swelling doesn't look too bad, either, but it's hard to tell from photo.

So much of this starts and ends in your head. I found myself limping or favoring the leg when I didn't need to. You have to start trusting it. The other mental thing I had was a real paranoia of some one running into my knee. Not so much anymore even though its probably weaker than it was a month ago.

the swelling is always misleading because you lose so much mass in your quad and upper calf.  so it may look "normal" but its actually pretty swollen and that swelling is making up for the loss in mass.  Here's my knee at day 5. it looks "normal" but after the swelling started to really go down, you start to see how much you lost in your quad. I am still 1.5" smaller in my right quad!

loading pic's:

here's the simplest way:

1-save the target picture on your desktop

2- hit "reply" here to open a new message window.

3- type in whatever you want to say in the new message window; hit return a couple of times to space the copy from the picture

4- Click on the "INSERT IMAGE", a Square shaped icon on the tool bar up by the smiley face and the film clip looking icons. Hover over the icons if you are not sure which one is the "INSERT IMAGE" icon.

5- a window will open up and select "BROWSE COMPUTER", then click on the "choose File" button.

6- select the image on your desktop and hit "submit"