12 days out here and totally jealous. Watch your back cuz I'm gunning for you. :biggrin:
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12 days out here and totally jealous. Watch your back cuz I'm gunning for you. :biggrin:
Feel free to pass me - this is one game I'll be happy to see my friends do well in!
Keep on keepin' on!
Stiff upper lip ol gal,you're gonna make it.I'm coming up on a month of limping ,I can relate!
Today it felt like I didn't have to limp,but I couldn't stop limping anyway!I must retrain my body!
Just over 4 weeks out . . . went on my first outdoor bike ride on Saturday and have hit the pool a couple of times for some pulling and light swimming. It sure does feel good to be outside!!! I am freaked out about just about everything, and have been working at not working the left leg too much. I am amazed at how tired my body gets though - I was WORKED after my ride. But I suppose that's part of the game.
I can get full extension more regularly now, though I can't keep it, and still have a limp. Flexion is good - good enough to ride a bike with no cheating, so I am not pushing it.
The big headache and stress is that my insurance doesn't seem to value PT - I have been to 2 appts. since being back in CA and neither has involved therapy. It's so frustrating and totallly robs me of any mental energy. So, I guess I'm just gonna "buck up" and pay out of pocket, because it seems worth it.
Anyhow, just another sleepless night, so I thought I'd update - I am going to get worked tomorrow at work with minimal shuteye . . . should be fun. :frown:
i hear your frustrations kellie. try and keep the head up. i think getting the PT situation settled will help.
is it that your theropist would give you treatment (stim, massage, ultrasound, ect.) but your insurance doesn't specificly cover those treatments? or is it that your theropist doesn't recomend treatment?
PT's are pretty much like any profesion. Some of em really care and enjoy what they do, and others just show up go through the motions and collect their paychecks. My better 1/2 is the former rather than the latter. Dealing with comp fakers and hyprocondracs wears on her, but people who want to get back to their favorite athletic endevours make her day.We have a portable Tens/stim unit. About the size of an old school walkman. Will ask her for info when she gets off work tonight. Feel free to ask any other rehab questions and I will get her to answer. I am a herbal self medicator and it works for me, but may not be your cup of tea. Rehab hard and get well soon. Insurance companies "suck large cow balls" as we like to say in the roofing bidness anyway, but thats another rant.
It's the latter - My HMO is overwhelmingly passive. I have a standard copay, regardless of treatment, but they don't seem to see the point in any rehab beyond going to a gym and doing excercises. But even then, they don't take the time to show you the excercises, make sure you're on the right track, etc. In my experience, they don't treat the patient - they make sure they get you out the door.Quote:
Originally Posted by basom
I am so over this entire experience. Somebody please tell me that when it's all over, you get to find yourself again.
kellie, when its all over, you get to find yourself again. i promise.
remember that phone conversation we had, a week or two before your surgery, when i told you how large an impact it would have on you, and your daily life, how it could consume you and change you? i think you thought i was insane, crazy talking. i think now you can see what i was trying to explain.
there will come a time, down the road, maybe in six months, maybe in five, maybe in nine, when your mind will no longer be consumed by all of this.
i will say about your theropists lack of treatment, it doesn't seem right. but, one of the doctors on my team (the guy who helped me manage my PT, got me in with my theropist, was a resource for PT related questions) while in favor of treatment and specific excericises to re gain your leg tone, he also said it was not necessary. aparently if you are in good enough shape, and have extension, and do some minmal progession with leg wieghts and the like, you should be fine. it just takes a much longer time to get back to your sport. he didn't recomend this for me, as i was trying to get back in a certain amount of time, my goal was being on snow as soon as possible. His candid opinion was that sometimes these guys (PT's) pushed too hard, and end up not having your best intrest in mind (get em in, get em out kinda attitude). he really only thinks it compleately necessary (PT) for people with no motivation to work on it themselves. i wanted the support, and an agressive schedual, and my doc was able to pair me with an amazing theropist who really went the extra mile with me who my doc was comfortable with and works with almost exclusively. so i was lucky.
what i'm struggling to say is that even if you never get treatment, and let your knee do its thing, working slowly and diliberatley, it should come back. eventually. obviously you want to get this the fuck over with and should be on an agressive schedual, but there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel which ever schedual you are on.
*continued luck to you in this process kellie*
You do! It gets better, I promise!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kellie
But you need to find a different PT. Don't pay for that crap. I know it's common for appointments to be short, but you at least need to be getting something out of it. We're so lucky to have a great PT office right by our house - where the therapists care so much that I've had many multi-hour appointments and I can stop in and ask questions without an appointment (and with no charge) whenever I need anything. It's a small place, and I think that helps a LOT - maybe that's what you need to look for. Less office management types pushing for them to hurry up and get you out. If you lived out here I'd bring you over and make sure they took care of you! :(
Damn K...bummer. You really need to get a new PT. Don't settle for anything less than what you want. who have you talked to regarding your coverage? HR? The actual insurance agency, the larger insurance company? There has to be an advocate you have not contacted yet that can get you on the right path. Squeakey wheels get the oil so start making some noise.
Gotta admit that this thread is helping me through too. I felt bad when I saw you at the Powder to the People thing at the Moose. I'm about to schedule the surgery, been doing pre op PT for about 2.5 weeks now and getting 8deg extension and 113deg flexion, with extreme pain in the process. Diagnosed with almost the same scenario except for added small meniscus tear. Totally ruptured ACL, bone bruise and slight fracture on the tibia plateau, strained hammies and MCL from the hyperextension and edema in the knee and leg.
Looks like I'm leaning towards the patellar tendon graft too. One ortho told me to go for it and one told me that I don't need surgery, talk about confused. But after extensive research on the web, talking to people about previous surgeries and lack there of, I'm almost convinced that I need to get this done and now.
Keep up with the PT, I think it helps a lot. I've got a good one, but it's on the opposite coast of you, doh! Good luck and keep pluggin! Thanks again for the updates!
B)
Thanks for the positive outlook on things . . . it really does help.
Today finally has become a better day - my knee is super sore and swollen from 20 minutes at a spin class yesterday . . . I hope it's just a temporary setback and that things are okay. I feel like it's almost better just to stay totally off the thing - although swimming and biking feel good for the head, I am always scared for the knee.
Mtn Man, best of luck with the surgery, etc. Sounds like you're pretty well setup with the process toward getting better and you should be just in time for the season :D Keep us posted on your progress :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kellie
I think you're pushing too hard K. I can't believe some of the things you're able to do. Seriously, be patient and take baby steps. Keep the end goal in focus and have faith that you will get there, just not all at once. Allow your body to work it's healing magic.
Patience and strength (and the odd tantrum) get us through these trials. If you believe in trans-continental conveyance of vibes, consider a healthy dose of each sent your way. :)
Sick and ashamed and happy (and you will find your way home ),
d.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gincognito
Excellent write up. Thanks for sharing that. I've already learned that I truly despise crutches and they haven't even cut me yet :eek:
B)
Thanks for getting through it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtn Man
Sick and ashamed and happy (and wish I had more of my writings during that time saved),
d.
Did you ever get any love from pig tails?
No PT yet. I have an appt. on Wedensday a.m., but that may fall through now as well. This is the headache that never ends. I am hoping it works out though, cuz I feel like my progress really isn't that good and, in the absence of "coaching" am probably not doing nearly enough for the knee. I was reading back over what TS and AG were doing at this point, and am extremely jealous! It's been about a month now since real PT.
Oh well, I suppose. Until then, it's intermittent spinning and light swimming/pulling with a couple hundred leg lifts in between . . .
FWIW, I can tell you what I'm looking at in PT.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kellie
Step ups: With the affected leg step up onto a 4" ledge and go for full extension via quad flexion then control the negative and repeat.
Slide press: Kinda like a "Total Gym" in that you are laying down with little or no resistance and basically doing a leg press. Use both legs.
Leg raises in 3 positions lying down with increasing weight attached at the knee.
Bike: I'm still working on the full forward rotation. Got the backwards so it should not be much longer.
Quad flexes...so lame.
Leg hangs...even more lame.
Stretching the hammys and calfs...I'm so tight post op it's scary.
That's really all I've got going, but that should change here soon. There is talk of mini squats and some other nonsense starting wed. I know you're further along than I am and will add to this as new fun is added to my regiment.
Assuming that was directed at me, let's just say we helped each other get through the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by truth
SaAaH (and that is that),
d.
Let me give my report from my Sat PT (Three weeks, post allograft). And Kellie, she told me that Patellar Tendon can get stretched if you push too fast, BUT allograft is much more fragile. She said in 15 years, she has only seen 1 ACL get stretched....and that was an Allograft and the guy was driving an stick and just barely avoided an accident (but stretched his new ligament).
----What have other PT graftees heard about the risk of stretching that graft (in the first couple months).
PT Report:
-lots of 1 legged balancing: balance boards, the disc things, etc. Doing slight dips while balancing.
-The sled thing (could do on a leg press). 2 legged, 1 legged, and with a ball under my foot (makes the balance a lot tougher).
-walking around with bent knees (the Groucho walk), both forwards and backwards.
-Standing on a 4 inch box with the bad leg and lowering the other heal to the ground.
-Just got approved to get on an exercise bike. I did a few rotations last night, but definately not RIDING, per say.
Hang in there Kel....hope you get some PT figured out soon.
---For the record though, when I asked my Doc about PT he said, "Oh, do you want to go to PT....we can just give you exercises to do at home." I thought it was very odd, but they just didnt seem to concerned with it. Their moto to me was, "take it easy, take it easy, take it easy". (but I am an Allografter).
I went to PT today!!!!
And it was great. We didn't do much, but it was nice to have a real assessment of where I'm at . . . I'm doing well as it turns out, and was glad to hear that things are on track (or ahead). I have some new activities, but even better a new focus, and some direction.
Until I can get benefits figured out, I'm on the once/week plan, but I'll take what I can get!
Wahoo!!!!
:yourock:
SaAaH (and keepin' it short (and real)),
d.
Nice Kellie....I am sure that is a reassuring feeling. I am glad they gave you a good report. :)
Personally I think once a week is plenty. My benefits cover more, but I am sticking with my Sat visit only. We really all know enough to get it done by ourselves.....the PT really just gives assurance and some fun new exercises.
So, when do we get to have a Tour D' Gimp? I am starting my exercise bike this week, and hoping to hit the road a week from Sat.
Tour de Gimp? Sometime in the middle of May - you two should come down and visit summer. It's quite a nice season :)
Plus, there is certainly nothing that is actually flat in Tahoe . . .