| Author |
Topic: Coming Back after ACL Surgery ? |
skypenny
Cool Runner |
 posted Nov-27-2006 01:57 PM
  
That is great news d.horsesitter. Congrats on new foster baby ! Isn't it amazinhg how eventually the knee does adjust to the graft, My knee NEVER hurts anymore. I am, however, back on the shelf (arthritis !!! in lower back) and I think my big miles days are behind me - but I am grateful for the patience that ACL recovery taught me. I am back in PT for the new injury and am finally building up those core muscles I neglected while running the big miles. Peace and love to all.
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niana
Member |
posted Nov-27-2006 02:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by skypenny:
That is great news d.horsesitter. Congrats on new foster baby ! Isn't it amazinhg how eventually the knee does adjust to the graft, My knee NEVER hurts anymore. I am, however, back on the shelf (arthritis !!! in lower back) and I think my big miles days are behind me - but I am grateful for the patience that ACL recovery taught me. I am back in PT for the new injury and am finally building up those core muscles I neglected while running the big miles. Peace and love to all.
hey sky penny ,
u know i was told when i turned thirty by my doc tht i have arthritis in my lower back..i think in the begining it really hurts but then eventually u get used to it..lol..its been 10 yrs now..it has not held me back from doing anything..i do taekwondo..i ran ..not like u people run but miles every day/5 days a week...work out with wts etc..tore my acl this may..had surgery in june ..{ hammy } and just last week my doc n pt showed me the green flag ..i can go back to taekwondo....and guess who inspired me all the way when i was injured n low...U...thanx for all ur posts ...u helped me in a way not even my pt cud or my doc cud have done....mentally i got stronger after reading ur posts tht always reflected ur positive attitude...
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skypenny
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-27-2006 03:24 PM
THANKS NIANA !!! that is SO great to know I helped you - and now you helped me when you tell me that spinal OA didn't ultimatley hold you back form running : ) The kind of mileage you describe is exactly the kind of mileage I am hoping to get back to. I try not to be nostalgic about "what used to be" because then I am less connected to "what is." Life is great.
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Deluxehorsehitter
Member |
posted Nov-28-2006 10:25 PM
Skypenny-
I know it can get depressing thinking about "the way we were" [to quote an old song]. My advice would be to redirect or refocus on what you can do. If you can't run ultra-marathons then run marathons, if you can't run marathons run half-marathons, if you can't...well you get my meaning. I'm focusing on runing to the mailbox and back! [Hey it's like 200 yards round trip! LOL!] Have you thought about PR's in the 5k or 10k? Despite your injury I'm guessing that you are in prime physical shape and winning in either distance wouldn't be that hard for you.
I remember when I first started. I would run two minutes and walk eight, then three and seven, and so on until I could run one-half of an hour. I eventually got up to three hours non-stop and now since the layoff I'm lucky to walk for ten minutes on the treadmill. My point is- we adapted once and we can do it again. Train smart but don't let your injuries get you down!!! Okay, enough preaching. I would like to ask everyone to do something. I know it is going to sound corny, but I believe it will work-
The next time you [the person reading this] go for a run or walk, or anything that requires physical effort, take a moment to think positive thoughts about the world, or more specifically, about your fellow runners. Think about everyone one this site being healed and running effortlessly with healthy bodies. I know it sounds a little too Tony Robbins-ish, but I think it just may work. The power of positive thinking. ?!. Just might work.
I made a list of the posters to this thread and when I get on the treadmill I think about how I'd love to join everyone at a race, how we would all be of whole bodies and youthful knees. And just for a moment we are all gliding along beside each other, all smiles and happiness. And I feel good for a long time after. THINK POSITIVE!!!!!!
DO GOOD!!!!!!
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skypenny
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-30-2006 10:44 AM
Deluxe - what nice thoughts - I am still on the shelf but swimming (just did a mile : ) ) and enjoying the fact that it is not my knee that hurts. I need to set the record straight on one thing you mention in your e-mail - I never won and will never win any race of any kind. (I did come in 3rd once in my age group for a mile open water swim but there were only 7 in the group !.) I am (was) a back of the middle of the pack (probably adjsuted upwards a little for my age.) That's what I loved most about distance running - finishing was the victory. Peace to all. Think good thoughts. Do good deeds.
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Riley1
Member |
posted Dec-01-2006 02:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by skypenny:
Deluxe - what nice thoughts - I am still on the shelf but swimming (just did a mile : ) ) and enjoying the fact that it is not my knee that hurts. I need to set the record straight on one thing you mention in your e-mail - I never won and will never win any race of any kind. (I did come in 3rd once in my age group for a mile open water swim but there were only 7 in the group !.) I am (was) a back of the middle of the pack (probably adjsuted upwards a little for my age.) That's what I loved most about distance running - finishing was the victory. Peace to all. Think good thoughts. Do good deeds.
I have been reading this thread and it is hard to imagine that my knee will ever be the same. I tore my ACL snowboarding and have been doing PT, scheduled for surgery next Friday and AM TERRIFIED! The hobbling around has been bad enough and now it starts all over........
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Deluxehorsehitter
Member |
posted Dec-02-2006 08:31 PM
Skypenny, you'll always be the leader of the pack in my book!Stay safe!
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Dec-06-2006 07:44 AM
Hi Everyone,
Sunday I felt like trying, so I ran some steps while doing my treadmill. Interesting. My knee felt OK, the muscles in my leg felt weird, but I did it!! Monday I did the same thing. Yesterday, though, I ran for a minute to a minute and a half then walked a couple minutes 8 times!! I am a bit in awe and a bit afraid, a bit giddy and a bit ecstatic! I do meet with my OS tomorrow to see what he says, but if I go slowly with this...  Thank you all for sharing. Riley1, I know that this is scary. It has been one of the hardest things I have had to do and still working at it. You can recover. I think your surgery was this past Friday, so it may be awhile before you think to come back to the site, but please know that this can be done and you can do it. During the hard times, read these posts and then do your exercises. Cry if you have to. Don't over do. Re-injury is even harder. Keep us posted on how you are doing. There is a great deal of encouragement and inspiration from the folks on this site.
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mookiebarras
Member |
posted Dec-18-2006 07:32 PM
just ended up here(i am a member though) after searching for ACL stories. i tore my ACL in april while snowboarding. scheduled surgery and had it done on may 27th. started therapy after two weeks. insurance only covered 6 weeks but joined a gym after that. lots of leg presses. started treadmill walking with hills in september. had my final dr's appt on november 15th and he gave me the ok to run. have been doing about 20 miles per week. some soreness, but not very bad. planned a trip to colorado to snowboard (dec 9-15th). dr. said it was ok. i was no way near as good as i used to be, very disappointed. i ended up switching my riding stance from goofy footed to regular because of the pain, but was happy to be out riding again!!! hopefully get all my strength back by the end of the ski season!
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Riley1
Member |
posted Dec-26-2006 04:24 PM
I replied yesterday but, not sure what happened......thanks Auntie for all you kind words! It has been almost three weeks since the surgery and man, did that ever hurt! First few days were just awful and then it gets better everyday. Still prety sore, really sore by the end of the day. Looking forward to not being on crutches anymore......can't get a thing done at home and it is really annoying! House is a mess! I went to PT this morning and extension was between a 0 and 1 and then flexion was s 97 so, a ways to go but, better! It is a good thing for perspective......I used to be so disappointed that I could not be a faster runner and now I just want to WALK! I hope I can be back on the slopes next year and not be afraid! Thanks to everyone!Heather [This message has been edited by Riley1 (edited Dec-27-2006).]
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dskier21
Member |
posted Jan-02-2007 10:23 PM
Hi all, well I'm 4 months into my ACL reconstruction using hamstring graft, partial removal of my lateral meniscus, and repair of my medial meniscus. Initially my recovery seemed to be going well but now I have a surgery scheduled a few weeks away for my OS to scope out what scar tissue he can. I still can't fully straighten my knee and my ROM sucks - 105/110. My P/T can get me to @ 130 but I am in tears or very close to them. Has anyone else experienced any complications? I'm starting to lose faith... I'm 29 years old and I was in excellent shape. I tore my ACL playing soccer and my OS found the meniscus tears during my ACL reconstruction surgery.
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Jan-02-2007 11:10 PM
dskier21, Keep on...I had a knee surgery at about your age (not ACL and meniscus repair which I had in late July). At 3 months I had to go back in to have scar tissue removed, because I could not bend past 90 even with my PT's help. I woke up on the moving machine that second time and things were much better with therapy etc. Some people develop scar tissue internally much faster than others, and I happen to be one of them. I am completely amazed that this time a second surgery does not seem necessary, but my strength and feeling of normalcy are still awhile in coming. This has been a major thing. The meniscus repair adds many layers of care and treatment that a straight ACL repair does not have, as grueling as that is alone! I know your discouragement. I have felt it, too, but this will be a point in time at some point. A point where you have become a overcomer. Where you persevered. Where you can see how you've grown. Your strength will return. Your athleticism will come back, and you will be stronger than ever. You cannot work on some of the strength exercises until the ROM is there. Get the scar tissue out if that is the problem. Initial recovery from that is not nearly like your ACL et al. Keep us posted on how you are. Riley1, how are you doing? Skypenny, are you still there? How are you? Is your other injury all better?
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skypenny
Cool Runner |
posted Jan-03-2007 10:22 AM
Hi Aunt Feffie - I am still here. My knee is doing fine (dskier - I reinjured my knee 4 montsh after surgery and was so discouraged - but time will heal - have faith.) I have not really been able to run for about 4 months because I got that femural SF while training for my fall marathon.OS sent me to a running chiro who bent me around and said that gaits get slightly different after ACL and that contributed to the SF. (he recomends new orthotics - old ones are apparently no good since surgery.) Anyway, he has me working on building back 2 weird muscles ("soaz" and "periformis" (sp?)) that apparently went lax during ACL recovery and which contributed to the stress fracture and the MAJOR KILLER BACK PAIN (which I at first thought was from spinal arthritis that came up on the bone scan, but specialist says all 50 year olds have some arthritis) - and the back pain was from 50 miles a week with those weird muscles being out of shape (despite tons of PT for every other leg muscle.) So he gave me a whoel new bunch of new PT stretches and told me to lay off the big miles. I am going out for 3 miles tomorrow and see what happens. I think my marathon days are behind me (?) and I am OK with that. At least my knee works : ) and causes me no pain. And the back pain is abating. Thanks for asking. Stay well. Be happy. Love and peace.
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kpoppers7
Member |
posted Jan-03-2007 07:29 PM
Hi everyone and Happy New Year!
It has been almost 4 months from surgery. I have to admit going though this whole ordeal has been one of the hardest things for me both mentaly and phyicaly expecially because I had to sit out my senior year of Cross Country. I just wanted to thank you all for your encouragement, it has been extremly helpful. Today I am doing some light running and have been doing some sort of PT about 5 days a week. I feel like I am getting stronger and its so exciting. My knee doesnt feel "normal" but its getting there. I can now walk around and not think about my knee every 30 seconds. Sometimes I have to stop myself from doing things because my knee feels alright, then I remind myself to take it slow, to prevent having to go through all of this again. Thanks again to everyone! Hasn't it been almost a year for some of you? wow! so there is life after tearing you ACL! How is your knee feeling?
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dskier21
Member |
posted Jan-03-2007 09:49 PM
AuntFeffie and skypenny thanks for the words of encouragement. I have definitely made progress along the way. I am building muscle back and with the exception of walking down the stairs normally and running I can do a lot of activities now even with the scar tissue buildup. The past couple days my knee has been really sore but your encouragement helps. It is nice to know that I am not alone... Hopefully this second surgery will work.
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Jan-03-2007 10:11 PM
Kpoppers7, it is great to hear how you are doing. I am a month ahead of you in recovery, but you have age on your side. Still, I don't think anyone wants to have to redo this, so stay steady and strong. I like those moments, too, when I completely forget my knee, because it feels pretty normal. I am looking forward to more and more of them.Dskier21, when is your scar tissue removal scheduled? I have not taken the time to exercise since Sunday (it is Wednesday), and I definitely feel it. So...tomorrow am bright and early. I am committing to daily for 5 days, cross training with the bike, treadmill, elliptical and 2 days of weights. It is necessary for my continued recovery and mental attitude regardless of all the other commitments I have in my life coming at me. I am building up my running time, and I do not want to lose that for sure! It is good to hear from so many.
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dc76
Member |
posted Jan-05-2007 04:55 PM
dskier21-
Your situation sounds pretty similar to mine. On 9/26 (a little over 3 months ago) I had R ACL reconstruction using my own patellar graft, and also had lateral meniscus repair. You replied to my post back in late October - we were comparing restrictions from the meniscus repair, and found out we were had pretty similar guidelines... well it looks like we've had somewhat similar results as well. A month ago, the best flexion I could get was 105 degrees - and that was after warming up, and with the PT pushing on my leg pretty hard. I seemed to be stuck at that point. I was working at it really hard on my own (30 mins/day on the bike, and pulling on my leg really hard during prone quad stretches). One day, I overdid it on the quad stretches (pulled really, really hard) and strained my quad - it hurt pretty bad. After that, I couldn't even get to 90 degrees flexion, and I had to take it pretty easy for about 2 weeks. Since then, things have actually started to improve.. I don't know if I loosed up some scar tissue when I pulled on my leg so hard that I strained my quad, or maybe the 2 weeks rest recovering from the quad strain did me some good... but now after I warm up I get to 122 degrees flexion (and that's not painful). Without warming up, I'm probably more like 105. I just started walking down stairs using both legs last week (although it's still kinda awkward looking, partly just because I'm nervous about it). My PT is very encouraged... she said that if I can get to 130, I could be pretty functional (my good knee does 145 if I pull on my leg). But I have a follow up appt with the OS on Monday 1/8 - we'll see what he has to say. Before my recent improvement, I was convinced I was going to need another surgery to remove scar tissue - now I'm not sure. I still may; we'll need to see what the OS has to say. When you say you can't straighten your leg, how far off are you? I'm about 4 degrees off from straight. PT says that the last few degrees are the hardest to get. Between your story and mine, I'm starting to think that meniscus repairs that are done during an ACL surgery are a terrible idea - they should just do partial removal. No repair means no restrictions post-surgery, which means you can get the ROM back quickly before scar tissue gets a chance to build up... add to this the fact that I think my meniscus is still torn (I still have the same pain), and I'm really wishing they had just done a partial removal. I've also had some other complications... my quad did pretty much nothing for the first 2 months post-surgery, despite working at it really hard. My quad contraction was barely visible. The PT is convinced that I had nerve damage when they did the femoral block after surgery (they put a big needle into your leg near your hip to try to numb all the pain in your leg, and they might've accidentally damaged the nerve that carries the signal from your brain to your quad to tell it to contract). In the last month, my quad contraction has finally started to look somewhat decent.. but I'm way, way behind in regaining strength in the quad because of those first 2 months where the quad pretty much didn't work. My patellar mobility is also terrible... there's scar tissue in there because I used a graft from my patellar tendon - and since my quad didn't really work for 2 months post-surgery, it didn't pull on my patella / patellar tendon to help keep it loose and mobile. We'll see what OS says... So dskier, don't lose heart... I know it's tough to read all these stories of how smoothly some other people's ACL recoveries are, when we're having all this trouble. Hang in there, work hard at it, and I'll sure we'll both come out of this OK in the end.
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Jan-05-2007 06:02 PM
dc76, I am with you, also, on the lack of quad function. I worked at that faithfully from day one, and I did not really get results until well into my 3rd month and that was also with a portable electrical stimulator at home 2-3 times a day in addition to PT. For my first 3 months, I did exercises and PT 3-5 hours total a day. Things started to kick in after the 3 month mark. Many discouraging times. I wonder about the meniscus repair with the ACL also. It seems that those of us with hard recoveries had both done.I am 5 months post op and still need to work on my extension and sometimes my flexion (functional at 130+). My other knee hyper-extends, so, 0 does not feel normal. Often when I begin walking, I need to really concentrate on getting it straight for a number of steps. Stairs were quite awhile in coming, and sometimes still looks a bit awkward. But, when I look back a month, I do see progress. I hope you do, too.
This is a long haul.
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skypenny
Cool Runner |
posted Jan-08-2007 10:37 AM
dc76 - You actually sound pretty good for being only 3 months out. I am 1 year 8 months out and it all seems like a dream - my knee feels tight sometimes and I can't squat down to get things out of the bottom shlef - but that is really it. No knee pain. (Other aches and pains I won;t bore you with.: ) ) I fly down stairs. The fact you are doing stairs is a good sign. Also, don't regret your meniscus repair - I think you did the right thing - you are lucky they saved it - otherwise you woudl be in big time pain later when your bone rubbed agaisnt your bone ALL THE TIME. A gal I work with ges artifficial cartilege shot into her knee on a regular basis because she has had so much meniscus removed from sports injuries and had chronic debilitating pain. Also, the best time to get the repair is with the ACL because there is so much blood in the area and that is what nourishes the repaired cartilege. Meniscus repair (microfracture surgery) is, in and of itself, w/o the ACL , a pretty big deal. YOu had 2 big surgeries at once. It's no wonder you haven't bounced right back. But you will. In 2 more months you are having a whole diffeernt conversation. Peace.
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Riley1
Member |
posted Jan-08-2007 11:55 AM
I am here, hadn't checked in a while. I am now over 4 weeks out and there have been ups and downs for sure. I have PT once a week and that seems to be going well. It feels good to be doing something. Last Wed, I was at an optimistic 0 and 107 flex. Still on freaking crutches! So, so soooooooo tired of crutches and it is hard to believe that I will ever just walk again but, I am reminding myself to be optimistic. The scars look pretty good, small......kind of makes me feel silly for being so darn sore. Has anyone else noticed that there seems to be different mentalities about how fast to get off of crutches?? My friend at work had the surgery years ago and was off crutches after 4 days! Maybe I am just a slow healer?? Maybe I am not pushing myself enough. Also, did anyone else feel like their knee was still buckling afterwards?? I swear mine is buckling and I worry that it is not reall fixed......sounds irrational?? Anyway, thanks for the info, it is helpful. Otherwise I would have nowhere to turn!
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dc76
Member |
posted Jan-08-2007 02:06 PM
Riley-
It was about 6 weeks after surgery when I started walking (very slowly, very gingerly) without the crutches. My quad just wasn't strong enough, and my knee didn't feel good enough, to try it any sooner. Re: your knee buckling - I didn't really have any knee buckling before the surgery (my ACL wasn't completely torn), but I have had some "buckling" type sensations since the surgery... but it's not so much a structural instability in the knee - it's more just that my quad muscle doesn't quite work... so I'll go to take a step, and my quad just doesn't hold up, and my leg kinda buckles - but it doesn't buckle at an odd angle, and it's not painful, it's just that the quad muscle doesn't quite work enough to hold up my weight. I mentioned it to the dr. today (had a followup appt), and he didn't seem concerned. I've noticed that it's happening less and less as my quad gets stronger.
Also, you mentioned that you have PT once a week. Do you do exercises at home any of the other days?Skypenny-
I'm not sure, but I think maybe the meniscus repair that I had and microfracture surgery are two different things? My meniscus repair was just stitching the meniscus together to try to give it a chance to heal... I thought microfracture surgery was where they drill holes into the bone to encourage the body to grow new cartilege. Not that a meniscus repair is nothing, but I think microfracture surgery is more serious. AuntFeffie-
Sorry to hear that you had quad strength problems as well, but it's good to know that I'm not alone. You're right about looking back a month - if you look back a couple of days or a week it might not be much better... but look back a month, and there's definitely improvement!
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Riley1
Member |
posted Jan-08-2007 04:10 PM
Thanks for the response, it is so helpful! My husband thinks I am being a big Sally and is threatening to hide crutches. It has been really frustrating lately. I just really need to be off of these things. In response, I have PT once a week and then exercises that I do every day (side leg lifts, adductor and abductor), one where I stand on the step with my bad leg and practice going up and down (that one is a killer), practice putting weight on and practice walking (holding on), rowing machine. Also, walking on the treadmill.......get a good gait. Can try the pool soon, blah! So far has lost 7 lbs so that is good (probably all muscle).The buckling thing is really strange and I think deep down that it is just fear. It buckled before sugery and hurt just a TON so I think I am afraid of that happening now. Today is really sore, especially underneath (not sure why). Hopefully I will have a knee that works soon. THanks for all your support! Heather
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dc76
Member |
posted Jan-09-2007 02:23 PM
Riley-
Had one more thought re: the crutches... are you at least putting some weight on the bad leg when you're using the two crutches? That's a good first step. Once you get comfortable putting at least some weight on the bad leg with two crutches, have you tried just using one crutch? Put the crutch on the side of your good leg (which seems wrong, I know - but that's the way you do it). When you're stepping with on your good leg, swing the crutch forward - then, when you're stepping on the bad leg, lean on the crutch. It's a good way to transition off the crutches... one crutch is harder on your leg than two, but you still have that one crutch to lean on for some stability. Definitely check with your PT or OS before starting on that, but that's what my PT had me do.
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Riley1
Member |
posted Jan-09-2007 03:22 PM
dc&^Thanks, I have been using leg since 4 days out.....first with two crutches and now with one. It is funny what you said about the wrong side, I have been doing it the way you said but, a nurse at work HOLLERED at me about that being the wrong way. Everyone has their opinions I guess. It feel a lot better to use the crutch on the side of the good leg though. I am trying not to be discouraged. I have PT tomorrow and I always feel better after that. I will just work harder I guess. Was doing the step down exercises on the step last night and just crying! They hurt so bad! Uff da! Thanks again........it will just take time. Heather
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AuntFeffie
Member |
posted Jan-10-2007 08:54 AM
Riley1, using the crutches on the good side is correct. When we walk normally, we swing our arms forward opposite our legs. Therefore, for balance and support, that motion needs to be continued. Keep on going. I am praying for you. I know this is hard.
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