| Author |
Topic: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ? |
srunnergirl
Member |
 posted Sep-28-2006 12:47 PM
   
I have a question for those recovering. I am in my 7th week of recovery. My PT told me to keep working out and doing exercises and come back at the end of my 10th week. She said my knee looks good and I seem to be strong. Depending on how I feel in my 10th week, she wants to try light jogging when I come back, but it won't be decided until that day. Is that when others started jogging?
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rojewski
Cool Runner |
posted Sep-28-2006 12:58 PM
srunnergirl, I would say listen to what your OS has to say. I had a cadaver tendon used for my ACL. My surgery went well and had no complications afterwards. My OS had me on a treadmill running 5 weeks post surgery. My PT's were amazed at how well I recovered. But, I use the term running loosely. I was running for 1-2 mins and then walk and built up from there. I also had to promise that I would stay on a treadmill for a month + -. So I'm just saying that your OS will know what you can and can't handle. Good luck and hang in there you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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Vintagerunner
Cool Runner |
posted Sep-30-2006 11:59 AM
Hi runners girl, listen to PT trainers and it all works out I had my ACL repaired att 44 in 1994 and still running, fixed it with one third of my patella tendon. Fixed 1-18-94, walking on rds. 2-15-04, lite running on treadmill under Pt supervison 2-18-04.
Did the cororate cup 9-18-04, 10k at Mahoney Stare Park
10-8-04, and 10k at omaha Riverfront Marathon 11-6-04, so if you follow the trainers rules you can make a complete recovery, I hurt my knee playing basketball and that next winter was back playing full court with out problems even though my wife would rather I dont play sports.
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kpoppers7
Member |
posted Sep-30-2006 01:31 PM
I have a question about scar tissue, did you guys have to rub out your scars to prevent the build up of scar tissue? I have really hard spots where my scars are and some people told me to rub them out, others not. It just feels really tight and my skin puckers if i push down on it, so i think the scar tissue is sticking. What would you recommend?
P.S. Its been almost 3 weeks since surgury and I am walking around pretty good  I have a slight limp, I feel like my knee will almost catch if i fully extend it when i talk, is that normal also?
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Oct-01-2006 08:56 AM
I have been massaging my scars (Ix/day)since the 4th week with unscented massage oil and it has made a world of difference. My incision behind my knee is the only one that is hard right on top of the incision and when I started, there were very large hard areas. This was was at the recommendation of my PT. My OS asked me if I was doing this, but at my 2 month check up. He thought they were doing well with only one point of connection to work out. I am glad that I did not wait until my OS said something. I am not sure at what time post surgery this should start. Your PT is probably your best source.
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Oct-03-2006 02:46 PM
Has anyone gotten orthodics to prevent pronation? Can you share your experience with them?
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skypenny
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-04-2006 08:57 AM
Regarding scar tissue - I did the same thing - scar was major league ugly - but I massaged it all the time with oils or creams or nothing but my fingers - it is a non-issue now - you can barely see it. Therpaeutic massage on legs, including scar area, by professional also helped a lot. Also, BTW - I am back on DL with pelvic stres fracture !!!! (OUCH) Lesson to learn folks - DO NOT COME BACK TOO FAST ! I here are other injurioes lurkgn out there. I was a year and a half out from and thought I could increase up to 50 mpw - WRONG. I realized I am not a Kenyan. It will be months before I can run again : ) (but my knee feels fine : ) ) I hope you are all going your leg lifts. Peace and love to all.
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srunnergirl
Member |
posted Oct-04-2006 12:31 PM
Would you explain what exactly you refer to as "leg lifts?" Skypenny, I can't believe you're off running again for that long? How exactly did you injure yourself? Sorry to hear about it. I am also noticing a "clicking" behind my knee. Has anybody else had this? I can also feel it, but it's not painful - just a strange feeling. Anyone? Anyone?
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Oct-04-2006 06:26 PM
SkyPenny, I would like to hear, too. I am so sad about your new injury and when your knee is feeling so good. They must indeed be related. Is it the same as the other writer who earlier described her pelvic injury?SRunnerGirl, yesterday on the bike (especially when I moved up really close for the last couple minutes for more bend) each time around my knee clicked. I could feel it and hear it. It was loud! I also have experienced some while doing low weight leg extensions (sometimes those actually hurt, but just a bit). My PT says it is normal...fluid and things moving around. Be sure to check with your PT, though. Also, the leg lifts..tell me if I am right, SkyPenny, are the straight leg lifts (one leg at at time) for the quad, abductor and adductors, glute/hamstrings. I am doing 3 sets of 15 with a 5 pound weight (ready to graduate in weight). If these aren't it, could you please explain yours? I want to be sure to do all that I can. Still having trouble getting fully straight. Any suggestions, anyone?
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kpoppers7
Member |
posted Oct-04-2006 09:06 PM
I am also sorry to hear about your new injury, that really stinks. The leg lifts you have been talking about are the ones I am familar with too (quad strenghtening).
There is another person at my school who tore their acl also and is having trouble getting back full extention. Our athletic trainer is having her lie on her stomach with her legs hanging off a bench then puts a weight (maybe 2-5lbs) on her ankle, this way your knee is being extended with weight and also with the help of gravity. You might already be doing this, but I thought it might help.
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Oct-05-2006 08:28 AM
Here is a rehab program that I found (not to replace PT) for information. It does indeed talk about the 6-12 week mark where the graft is at its weakest. Be careful.
http://www.kneeclinic.com.au/papers/documents/ACLRehabProgramme.pdf
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Deluxehorsehitter
Member |
posted Oct-07-2006 06:40 PM
AAARRRGGHH!
Geez it seems like everyone has had a run of bad luck lately. I was doing lunges in therapy and did "something" to my knee, now it feels like a knife is being jabbed in it every time I bend it. The pain is directly under the scar.
I was feeling so good and now I can barely walk up and down stairs (which I do constantly at work-over 106 steps every half hour). I had the ACL reconstruction and a "bucket handle" repair on my meniscus, now my knee pops ALL the time.
Just when I thought it was going good..... Stay safe and healthy everyone.
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Phatdaze
Member |
posted Oct-08-2006 10:08 PM
I had ACL replacement in Feb of 2003 and understand the aches and pains you all must be going through. When it gets painful, often I would try something lower impact. I always tried to keep my legs moving and mixed in some strength training a few times a week. My biggest issues with scar tissue were when I first tried to complete a full circle on the stationary bike, for me that was more painful then my injury. My injury happend very fast during a skiing competition. After my first few weeks of PT and gaining my full range of motion back I have not had any issues with scar tissue. Orthodics are something I do use, and I try to get a new pair every year (if your insurance allows). Have your surgeon refer you to somebody. I currenty have two pairs and use them both, I always have a dry pair. About a year after my surgery I began training for my first marathon and finished it in June of 2005. Last week I finished my fourth marathon and plan to continue running. I'm not advocating my path for anybody, but for me if I just keep pushing though the tough times eventually things improve.
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Oct-09-2006 07:44 AM
Thank you for the feedback about the orthodics. I think I will call my insurance to see if they will cover part of the cost. I feel like I joined the "million dollar" club! Deluxehorsehitter, I am sad about your new injury. From what I am reading from everyone, we need to go slowly and expect set backs. It is not easy. I hope you feel encouragement from here and from those in your life around you. I went for a walk yesterday with a friend around a track. I was told to use the treadmill for gait only, so I thought 2 laps would be all, but we were able to go 8-10 (lost track while talking!) laps before I started to feel like I needed to rest and stretch my leg in extension and flexion. I felt good but I was a bit worried that I had overdone. I iced as soon as I got home and then again after the bike and my leg lifts. Today my leg is not swollen and feels pretty good. I am glad. I would love to begin using track with a friend a time or two a week. However, I do hear everyone, and will continue to use the bike and my exercises as my main source of exercise. Still working on that full extension...grrrrrrrrr.
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kpoppers7
Member |
posted Oct-09-2006 07:19 PM
what have you guys done about weight training? When can you start, and what would be the best excersies? I have always been a lifter during my sports and want to start getting some strength back in my quad and calf muscles...what should I do. It has only been a month since my surgery so I dont want to push anything.
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first timer
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-09-2006 09:35 PM
It has been about 14 months since my surgery and I was able to run my 1st 5K within 9 months post-op.. I stopped running for awhile and took up cycling. I biked to work almost every day this past summer and would go out for a ride over my lunch hour. My thighs are quite muscular now and I've started running again. There is no pain in my knee and I feel stronger than ever...even stronger than before my surgery. I live in a river valley, so there are hills everywhere. I cursed them all summer long....I have a love-hate relationship with the hills around here. I hate riding up them, but I love what they were doing for my legs. Thank goodness I decided to ride my bike more this summer. It really did wonders in getting my thigh muscle strong again and that in turns helps my knee. It truly made a HUGE difference.
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Phatdaze
Member |
posted Oct-09-2006 10:15 PM
For weight training I mainly stick to the leg press, you need to be carfeul on this as you can mess up your back.I press the lower park of my back flat against the back rest of the leg press and do not arch my back at all to avoid injury. My OS suggested the leg press and hamsting curl only, although I rarely do the hamstring curl. I worked on the eliptical machine and leg press and other upper body work up until the day before my surgery and I think it was about six weeks afterwards that I started back up.
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pusher7
Member |
posted Oct-11-2006 04:43 PM
I'm in week five post ACL replacement (cadaver) and Meniscusectomy. I see a lot of people here pounding themselves and pushing their bodies to the limits which is ridiculous. I thought I would learn something here. What I learned is how much the body takes before it breaks. Buried in there is the proof that in time, with common sense and safe practice, you can run again.
I went back to my medical books from my brief but in depth classes as a paramedic which I took at Stanford. I also spoke in depth with my PT.
My workout now at five weeks are: I stationary bike with the seat low for range of motion and do three runs of speed with heavy resistance, then leg press 100 lbs two legs, then leg press surgery leg alone with less weight with focus on keeping knee over foot (no side movements), then calf press and stretch, then I speed power walk fifty yards pulling weight (my PT resisting me with workout bands) x 10 (I’m leaned over hard and pulling him hard, he even is winded when we’re done. He has to lean back real hard to hold me back and he’s 200 lbs).
The focus is on keeping the knee in control directly over the foot. There are few supports and muscles around the knee to begin with. Building muscle above and below require focus, time and work. When pulling, running and handling uneven surfaces any miss-control of the knee to allow it to move outside the confines of the spot over the foot, only increase the chances of injury.
I do a lot of single leg balance on half balls, leaning against bands, and step ups. I also do ham workouts with the bands in a leg curl like exercise. The idea is to work every possible muscle group in the leg, leaving no muscle group out. You can’t get this from running, biking, walking or any of those aerobic exercises. Focused muscle training on no impact light to moderate weight exercises are the way to go. Extreme emphasis on warm up and lubrication of the knee joints and full range of motion stretching with no impact, slow gentle movements is key. If you are arching you back or contorting yourself rather than working specific muscles in the leg than you are way off base. No running yet, but he promises that it is coming. My biggest goal is to be able to put on 60 lbs of firefighting gear, pick up 80 lbs of hose and run up smoke filled stairs in old Victorian buildings that are on fire, then fight fire and make rescues.
Running a small marathon would be nice too.
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skypenny
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-12-2006 09:17 AM
People post-ACL have been through a lot. Everyone's body is different. People are different ages, have had different effects from surgery, and have different goals.
Please dont use the word "ridiculous" in the context of discussing anyone's come back. It is hurtful and makes you sound arrogant which I am guessing you are not.
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Phatdaze
Member |
posted Oct-12-2006 07:43 PM
Pusher has a good point about the calf work, that combined with the leg press is pretty much the only leg work I do. There are many different machines that work the calf, pick one that fits your body and go with it. I'd personally be careful about one legged leg presses, as you can mess up your back. I try to keep both of my feet about shoulder width apart while using the leg press, thats just what works for me.
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swbgal
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-13-2006 01:38 PM
What a great thread. I had acl reconstruction from my hamstring and repair of bucket handle tear of the menscus on August 1st. My knee has been VERY stiff ever since. I was initally doing PT 3 days a week for the first four weeks and I was making some progress, the my OS took me out of work due to swelling and stiffness and put me in PT for five days a week, I was unable to get my leg straight. I was having to take pain medicine just to work my leg and my therapist was pushing on it big time - NOT FUN.
I had additinal surgery on 9/19 to remove scar tissue and to remove some bone in order to make the tunnel at my acl larger. My knee has been much looser since that, but I still don't have all my extension.
I saw my OS yesterday, and he feels a bit better, but he has admitted that my acl is just to short, he has given me a month to work in pt and see if it gets any better. What he wants to do is go in and remove my acl, let my knee heal for about six months and then go back in and replace my acl, which will also mean doing some bone graffing.
This has been the most frustrating injury for me, I have worked and worked hard, and I just can't seem to get back to normal.
The one positive note is that today in pt I am going to be allowed to jog for the first time - which in a way is scary since I have not run since the day before my injury which was 7/1.
Anita
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dskier21
Member |
posted Oct-14-2006 05:05 PM
Hi all, I'm just over 6 weeks into recovery from right knee ACL reconstruction, a partial meniscus removal, and a meniscus repair.I guess I have some scar tissue on the lower outside of my knee which is really hindering me from bending my knee further and fully straightening it, although I am only about 3 degrees off from straight. My PT told me to do the bike as much as I can even though it hurts like heck to work out the scar tissue. I have made progress in my knee bending doing this - it seems to be slowly but surely making a difference. However, talking to people no one has ever heard of this approach for trying to get rid of scar tissue. They've heard of deep tissue massage... Has anyone else been told to do the bike or ellipitical to help with scar tissue?
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Oct-14-2006 06:36 PM
Yes. The bike. Lots of the bike. Along with massaging my scars to loosen the tissue from the bones, the bike has been the exercise of choice to loosen things up.
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Oct-18-2006 02:18 PM
Good news! I measured 0 and 130 today! Now it is continuing my exercises gradually building up resistance, endurance on the bike, and speed on my walking on the treadmill. I see the OS next week. I wonder what he will say.Any feedback on the custom braces? At 2 months, my OS said to get fitted at the next appointment. My PT thinks my hinged sleeve would be fine, and to save the expense. Others who have rehabbed have varying experiences and all acknowledge that the brace does not stop the knee from twisting. So...what does it actually do if I am not going to play contact sports? I do want to get back to running, golf, but also tennis. I would love to hear your thoughts.
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andrewp
Member |
posted Oct-19-2006 02:04 AM
hi everyone, i just injured my acl and will have reconstructive surgery using my patella tendon. i also have meniscus damage and a bone bruise. I did this during a football game two weeks ago. Surgery is in two weeks. I will rehab hard to try to get my knee back into shape. I would like to play basebal or even workout with the track team in April or May with my ultimate goal of returning to the football field in full gear by August. is this realistic and what can I do to progress through my rehab.
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