The sleep thing just seems to get better with time.
Wife has started finally making good progress with range of motion. PT has cleared her for riding a bike on level ground outside. We don't have much level ground but still good progress.
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The sleep thing just seems to get better with time.
Wife has started finally making good progress with range of motion. PT has cleared her for riding a bike on level ground outside. We don't have much level ground but still good progress.
The surgeon said that I would be on my feet sooner if he took the graft from the opposite knee, the idea behind that is so in instead of having one really bad knee that takes a while to be able to bear weight, I have two kind of bad knees that can bear weight pretty much two days after the surgeryQuote:
Originally Posted by MMP
I took half a pain pill before bed and then another half at about 2 or 3 a.m. until I was about three weeks along (didn't need any during the day). Also, sleeping with a pillow between the knees helps a lot if you are a side sleeper.Quote:
Originally Posted by lasereyes
I need some advice for a knee brace. Left ACL is shot and not to be replaced. I want to keep skiing (no stunting, just cruising groomers and decent pow), am 50ish, and fit. Anyone had experience with OSSUR CTI OTS? Seems it is the only good knee brace sold in Chile, so any reviews are useful.
THANKS!
Interesting, and amazing how far things have progressed in orthopedic medicine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin_mcbride
I had surgery this morning. Nerve block, so my leg is dead and feels bizarre. They used a hammy graft which they recommended, knowing me, my age, activity level, etc. They used 3 lengths rather than the typical 2, and were able to harvest 10cm grafts rather than the typical 8 cm.
Disappointed to miss spring and mtb, but grateful for my health, and life in general.
So here we go.
MMP I'm sorry to hear about your injury, and props for the positive attitude. Heal up quick manQuote:
Originally Posted by MMP
Thanks Pete, I appreciate it.Quote:
Originally Posted by kokomas
Thanks yeahman. We replaced our mattress and the sleep is getting better. Not sure if it's the change of mattress or just the leg becoming more comfortable. Still waking up 2 or 3 times, but at least able to get back to sleep. Almost 4 weeks since surgery now. Walking around ok, but leg still feels stiff despite having good range of motion. And almost perpetual cracking of the knee-cap when I walk. Went for an hour long walk and felt pretty tired at the end (and I can normally walk 10 miles without any problem). So general conditioning will take a while also ...Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
Big thumbs up - positive attitude is really half the battle. Best of luck to everyone rehabbing along with me!Quote:
Originally Posted by kokomas
I have an appointment tomorrow morning to get my knee assessed.
I keep on going from "it feels great (not bad anyway)" to "eek! it's not supposed to move quite that far".
MCL doesn't feel so good.
Going in to see Dr. Purcell at the Colorado Center of Orthopedic Excellence; fingers crossed.
Good luck!
^^^ thanks.
X-rays look good.
Doc says that the right knee definitely has more motion within the joint than the uninjured left knee.
Also, when immobilizing the upper leg and moving the pushing back the lower leg to check for motion w/i the joint, the left knee had a definite stopping point (at which point it almost made a click).
The Doc said that click is your ACL stopping the movement.
He went on to do the same thing with my right knee: more motion than the left, and no click.
He thinks MCL level 1 (pain on inside of knee when squeezed); ACL level 2/3 (probably 3).
Awaiting an MRI.
On the plus side I do have full range of motion in my right leg.
Although I still won't kneel on my right knee as I once did.
No doubt about that. I'm about five and a half weeks along and things have been going well but yesterday had a setback when suddenly started having shooting sharp pain up and down my leg from my ankle to my ass. Could hardly weight the leg. Went to PT this morning and she said probably sciatic nerve pain, so she worked me good and loosened it up a little (digging her elbow into the nerve) and then applied a few strips of tape to the knee as a very mild "brace" (although it's amazing how much it helps). She said it'll take two or three days for pain to fully go away so I'm laying off the exercises until then, except no-resistance spinning on the bike.Quote:
Originally Posted by lasereyes
Also seeing my chiropractor tomorrow because he often adjusts my hips to relieve sciatic pressure. I suspect I'm pretty out of whack from all the compensating you do when walking on a compromised knee.
I'm not even sure how good regular walking is for you as exercise until you really start to build the muscle mass back. Could be it wears on joints in a funny way.
Anyway, PT didn't think it was a big deal, she said everybody has setbacks during rehab.
Started PT today. Good flexibility, no real pain.
My back on the other hand, from limping, crutches, the nerve block, whatever it is, is pretty uncomfortable. I've had sciatica but control it with exercise, inversion, hot tub, but I feel like I've been kicked in the balls for almost 2 weeks and it's pretty demoralizing. I'm out of Percocet and they really dont want to write more.
Vibes J, sorry to read this and hope the recovery is quick and full! Beers on me next time you are up this way...bring some wormtown please! Was down your way for a bball tourny for our kid a few weeks ago and searched high/low but couldn't find any of that or night shift.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMP
Have you considered acupuncture? My dad had pretty bad back issues a few years back and acupuncture was the only thing that worked. He said his back felt 20 years younger.He still has an issue now and then but occasional "tune up" appointments help.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMP
vibes on the recovery
Thanks.
I have had acupuncture and it made me feel light, in the wallet. My brother swears by it but my results weren't good.
Doc looked at MRI results:
Torn ACL (not sure if it's 2 or 3).
Tear in Lateral Meniscus (not sure how bad).
I will speak with him next Thursday to examine options (does it always take ~2 weeks to see a damn doctor?).
That sucks Pfluff....vibes
My wife is past her ROM issues and progressing well. 3 months out and can ride a road bike outside with flat pedals and no hills. She's hoping to get hill riding clearance next week and fire road dirt (flat pedals) in May.
Chiropractor practicing the Blair Technique cures all my back issues. That's kind of a personal thing though, everybody is different.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMP
But be prepared for everything being thrown out of whack. My post-op issues haven't been with my knee but with muscles being tight, knotted, all f'd up, causing nerve pain, weird stresses on muscles and tendons leading into the knees, etc. Like yesterday my PT said my kneecap was healing a little off to the side, so he reefed on it to loosen it up, then taped it in place. So today all the muscles feel really weird because the kneecap is in a different spot.
My best friend right now is a rolling pin. I've been using it (on advice of PT) to loosen up all the fascia surrounding the leg muscles because it was pulling and causing the muscles to not fire correctly. Also works for the knots in the muscles. You really have to work hard with the rolling pin and it's not pleasant, but it's really been helping me so far. Other than those issues the knee feels strong six weeks after surgery.
The setbacks are demoralizing, no doubt. Today I took the whole day off work just to work on rehab at home, then went down to the tap room for a few brews. That helped.
I had some back pain that wasn't quite as bad as you describe, but I could still tell I was out of wack and muscles were spazzing. I went and got a 60 min massage that focused on my lower back and hips and that helped relax and stretch things out.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMP
Sorry to hear. Feel betterQuote:
Originally Posted by pfluffenmeister
Before and after meniscus
Attachment 166244
Attachment 166245
After ACL
Attachment 166246
I am absolutely getting a massage soon. Also going to consider a chiropractor. I'm not familiar with the technique you mentioned but I'll look it up. Appreciate you sharing your experiences.
The PT helped with the back yesterday. More Saturday.
Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by montanaskier
I feel like an idiot.
I suppose once I'm anointed by the blade, I'll be a true skier.
Thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMP
Nice pics.
What kind of graft did they use for your ACL?
Hamstring. Tripled it up.
ACL Class of '14 here... I'm 7 months post-op and I'm still out of whack. Over the course of my recovery, I've battled a tight piriformis, tight hip flexor, tight IT band and a tight popliteus. I still get knots in various muscles in my leg and I've lately been battling patellofemoral pain due to an imbalance in my quads. My PT has me focusing on strengthening my VMO to get the knee cap in alignment.Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
The foam roller has been my "best friend" (it's a love/hate relationship) but sometimes it's either too much pressure on the knots or not enough (I can't seem to get good leverage to roll out my calf). So, I'm curious about the rolling pin you've mentioned. Are you using a regular kitchen rolling pin or one of those massage specific sticks?
I'm using a regular kitchen rolling pin. PT said it works fine, and it's easier to manipulate than the foam rollers cuz it has handles.Quote:
Originally Posted by spanky
You might try ART if you have a chiropractor nearby who practices that (Active Relieve Technique). Today I was still having funky, shooting nerve pain in my leg (not the knee), and also knotted muscles etc. Went to my chiro who has recently been trained in ART. He pushed super deep and hard on the multiple "nerve entrapment" areas of the leg, and while he does it he moves the leg and stretches the actual muscle fibers. It hurts like hell but I walked out of his office feeling like I was walking on air. Amazing--haven't had a twinge of pain all afternoon. We'll see how it does over the weekend. Got another appt. with him on Monday to have him do it again for good measure. Check out this link about Peyton Manning and his neck injury and how they treated him with ART--Doc Leahy is the guy who invented it.
http://www.pureprecisionchiro.com/pe...se-techniques/
Wife was cleared to run on flat ground! She's an über runner so she's stoked!
^^^ nice.
My surgery is schedule for 5/11.
ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft.
Bored enough to be looking forward to PT.
PT 3 weeks post op. https://vimeo.com/125905627
Best wishes to everyone on their ACL summer recovery, and hoping to see you snow in 2016!
Scheduled for May 15, revision of 20 year old rebuild. Other knee has seen two also.
The wheel is turning.....
If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will. Good luck tc.
If you are around Boston or north of it for something, the guys at Movement as Medicine are worth the stop. They are by far the most knowledgeable, helpful, and best masseuse ' I have ever seen. It's kinda like seeing a PT /massage therapist combo.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMP
PT figured out my patella was not moving properly up and down. She worked it loose (could hear the pop-pop of unwanted attachment points as she did so). Feels 100% better so far, shooting pain is gone for the time being, able to do the wall sits, lunges, step-ups, etc., that were causing me so much misery for the past couple weeks. HUGE relief.
Can you give more details around what the PT did? I'm getting quite a bit of cracking/catching when releasing my leg from a full extension (like after doing a quad set, but then flexing my knee). I'm 7 months post-op and this is starting to grind on me (no pun intended).Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
First she had me on the table with knee relaxed and she started manipulating the patella side to side. She said that seemed fine. But when she started trying to move it up and down it seemed "stuck" to her.Quote:
Originally Posted by spanky
Here's a pretty good video that shows it better than I can describe it. Main thing is you need to make sure you're not just moving skin. When you move the patella you can actually feel it against the skins and see it move. Mobilization can be improved through massage etc. by somebody who knows what they are doing.
Thanks. I've come to realize that my anterior tightness/pain is due to the tightness around the patella and also the lateral side of my leg up to my hip flexors and piriformis. My PT session on Friday was uncomfortable and I was in quite a bit of pain during the day afterwards. I spent about 2 hours Friday evening stretching and massaging my leg and hip/piriformis... using the foam roller, rolling pin and manual manipulation (including the patella as in the video). Sure enough, I felt great on Saturday.Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
I believe so much of my patellofemoral pain is due to the tightness in the lateral side of my leg. My PT seems to be in agreement with my diagnosis.
OK, I gotta go stretch now.
Seriously, find somebody trained in Active Relief Therapy (ART). All that tightness you mention in your thread was exactly what my guy was working on today and it has been helping a lot.
The ART has helped relieve the pain and tightness, but in addition to the stuck patella, my PT says the lower scar is stuck so we've been working on getting that to release and become part of the skin, rather than stuck to interior tissue. She thinks this stuck scar was pulling down on my patella and compounding the other problems.
You can tell a scar is stuck by moving the skin around and pinching it and if the scar stays in one place and doesn't rise up, it's attached underneath and that's bad.
Finally, it's interesting to note that there usually isn't one sole cause for most of these problems, but it's a host of issues that all need to be dealt with simultaneously. At least that's how it's been for me.
Decided it was time to go for a hike yesterday. Went two thirds of a mile, about two hundred feet of elevation gain and then coming down, which was the real challenge. Mission accomplished without damaging anything, but I almost had a panic attack before starting up that trail. It was really weird. Like on-sighting a hard trad climb--that level of anxiety. Holy shit my leg is tired today. Good thing the derby was on so I could just veg out in the recliner.
On the one hand it was shocking to fully grasp how weak the leg is, even after all the PT. On the other hand I guess it's a start.
Tomorrow will be 5 weeks post op. My knee feels really good, and I ditched the brace. First 3.5 weeks my back was so fucked up that even though my knee felt ok, I was really not doing well. No sleep, and a dull pain in my groin from the back. I assume it was from my gait. At the end of week two I tore some of the graft-site scar-tissue (bending over to pick something up with the brace on and fully locked) and that hurt like a motherfucker for about a week. A setback I could have done without.
My brace was unlocked at 3 weeks, fully unlocked at 4 weeks and i have 130 flex, can fully extend, and have good quad control despite my legs losing muscle mass. I finally feel like a human again, and don't need any medication for pain other than a tylenol or motrin at night after a long day.
I drove to vermont for beer and the almost 6 hours in the car round trip wasn't so awesome, but I got to try the Alchemist Focal Banger, and came home with a case of Heady Topper, 12 Lawsons Sip of Sunshines, 4 -Tribute IPA (14th Star Brewery) and 4 14th Star Maple Breakfast Stout. So the discomfort was worth it.
I know I'm not healed and I need to protect the graft, but it feels good to rejoin the human race.