Post-Op ACL Reconstruction Surgery

[Skibumtress]

So here I am post-op ACL reconstruction (knee surgery number two of 2006). Had the cadaver allograft surgery eight days ago (6/14/06). Day after surgery I didn’t think I would see the light of day. Days two and three were a bit better with the pain and I was able to cut back on the pain meds (didn’t have to wake up during the night to take them). Day four and five the pain was back again but not as bad as the day after. So, here I am still on the couch with my CPM machine (up to 80 degrees) and ice machine. Started PT this week. First day of PT was o.k. but second day was torture.... who would have thought that trying to bend your knee with a strap around your foot could be so freakin’ painful. PT gal was really pushing me which I guess was good but I wanted throw things at her and call her every name in the book for a brief moment.

Doc informed me on his follow up call that he needed to put three screws to affix the new ACL. Said he could have left it the way it was if I wasn’t physically active and if I was older but he was not 100% satisfied so he put the three screws in. He said the reason why the screws were put in is because even though they get the donor tissue to fit the patient, mine was still a little long. Said it’s cause I’m small boned and short. Two are on each side of the ACL and will dissolve into the bone, the third is attached to the tibia and is a metal screw. He said that sometimes this type of screw will eventually “pop up” and I’ll have to have it removed. However, if it doesn’t bother me I could leave it alone. Has anyone had this type of screw put in and had to have it removed?

Saw Doc’s assistant (assisted in the surgery) today and stitches were removed and more x-rays. Assistant said he is shocked that after a week and a day that I have full extension. Also said that the swelling is ahead of schedule.... thank you ice machine and lots of pineapple (thanks AltaGirl for the advice on the pineapple). So one more week in the immobilizer brace and then to the DonJoy brace until God knows when.

Still on crutches and will be two-four weeks but I am weight bearing. Was from day one. Before surgery Doc said possibly no weight bearing for one or two days but after surgery said I could bear weight (guess with this metal screw this new ACL ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon).

Asked about driving and he said maybe next week after I see the Doctor. Man, I hope so ‘cause I hate depending on folks to drive me places. Anyone have ACL surgery on your right knee..... how long was it before you were able to drive?

[beaterdit]

I have that same screw in my L knee. It's been in there for eight years and hasn't given me any trouble.

I had my R done six weeks ago and I was driving after a few days. I drive a stick so I traded for a month with a friend who has an automatic. Left foot braking works fine once you get used to it.

[ctarmchair]

Glad to hear you're doing well! Stay religious with the PT!

[nancie2k]

i was ecstatic the first day i got out of the house-freedom!!!!
but it was 3 months for me before i could, so be happy!!!!!
keep up the good work and don't over-do

[home_piece]

I had mine done last October. I drove for a bit after about 2 weeks, but it resulted in a LOT of high calf (behind the knee) stiffness and pain. Surgeon said this was normal, and wait a few more weeks before trying again. Take it easy, and go by feeling. Your body can do a lot of talking without words.

[altagirl]

Unless I'm non-weight bearing, my docs have always let me drive as soon as I was off the real painkillers.

It also depends on which knee and what you're driving (manual vs. automatic).


Glad to hear you're doing well!!

[Skibumtress]

Unless I'm non-weight bearing, my docs have always let me drive as soon as I was off the real painkillers.

It also depends on which knee and what you're driving (manual vs. automatic).


Glad to hear you're doing well!!

It's my right knee.... my driving knee and I do drive an automatic. I'm not taking the hardcore painkillers during the day anymore (although I did yesterday and today.... must be the humidity and the rain).... only at night and after PT if needed. I do feel like I could drive so hopefully he'll give me the o.k. on Thursday when I get rid of the damn immobilizer brace.

Hit 98 flex today (through gritted teeth), however I may have gotten more when PT gal was bending my knee while it was hanging off the table (and I was cursing at her in my head ). Now here's my dilema..... I think I may have to change PT places. This is a different place than I went to after my first surgery. Long story short, this isn't the place for me. Had an iffy feeling about this place from Day 1 but figured I'd give them 2 weeks when I was able to do a bit more..... still have the same feeling. My Doc has never worked with the first place I went to but I'm going to tell him I need to switch places. From observation and experience I just like the way my first place does things.

[Skibumtress]

Two Weeks Post-Op:
115 degrees flex (lots of improvement this week - Monday 98 - dgrees; Wednesday - 107; Thursday - 115). Comfort zone today was about 108 degrees.
Out of the immobilizer and into the Donjoy. Have "stoppers" in the Donjoy so I don't have full extension or will it allow me to fully bend the knee. Even though I'm comfortable with 0 degrees extension I'm still not permitted to fully extend it 24/7. Guess this is so the new ACL can "settle?" Doc still wants me to sleep with either the Donjoy or the immobilizer. As much as I dislike the immobilizer, I think it'll be more comfortable to sleep with.

On Monday PT gave me a new exercise..... standing on my good leg and bending the bad knee back. When I do this I get a shooting pain deep inside below the kneecap, between the front of the knee and the inner side. Only when I do this exercise do I feel this type of pain (weird tho, 'cause lying down and bending the knee I don't have the same pain). Had a feeling it may be the metal screw that Doc put in the tibia. Explained the pain to PT gal and she massaged it some around the area and she said it's the screw and said she sees this happen often on folks who get the metal screw here (said she saw it lots with the hamstring graft). After she massaged the area.... bingo... not sharp shooting pain.

And the best news is..... I drove today!!! Only locally to the store but I drove! Ahhhhh...... freedom!

[roscoe]

ya i have had my r knee done twice the second time was more painfull but feels bomber. as for driving on the first time i was driving with in like 3 days. and for the second time since i had a micro fracture on the head of my femur it was six weeks before i could drive a stick but for the automatic it was 2 weeks.

[Skibumtress]

Three Weeks Post-Op:
A bit frustrating and a bit painfull day.
First time driving more than a mile and on highways. Pouring rain this morning so had to brake a lot because NJ is hell to drive in when there's traffic and bad weather.
First day back at work and although I could stretch my leg out some and elevate it some at my desk, it wasn't enough.
Had PT and fell behind to only 112 degrees (less than last week and each day last week there was lots of improvement at PT).
PT Gal put me on the bike and I though o.k., I can do this....... NOT (the pain actually brought tears to my eyes)! Just felt kind of frustrated that I couldn't even pedal one revolution at first. Had to go as far as I could backwards and forwards for 10 minutes. I cheated and stood up and was able to make a few turns forwards and towards the end I was able to make a few turns backwards while still sitting on the bike (just cheated a little by shifting my butt on the seat a bit). Oh well, guess this is all part of the long haul, right?
Guess I don't need my bike tuned anytime soon.
Don't have a stationary bike but my Mom has one of those pedal gadgets that sits on the floor. Wonder if that will help some.

[altagirl]

After your first day back at work, that's to be expected. You're bound to have some extra swelling and that translates to less ROM.

Don't sweat it. Just ice and elevate whenever you can.

[upallnight]

Three Weeks Post-Op:
A bit frustrating and a bit painfull day.
First time driving more than a mile and on highways. Pouring rain this morning so had to brake a lot because NJ is hell to drive in when there's traffic and bad weather.
First day back at work and although I could stretch my leg out some and elevate it some at my desk, it wasn't enough.
Had PT and fell behind to only 112 degrees (less than last week and each day last week there was lots of improvement at PT).
PT Gal put me on the bike and I though o.k., I can do this....... NOT (the pain actually brought tears to my eyes)! Just felt kind of frustrated that I couldn't even pedal one revolution at first. Had to go as far as I could backwards and forwards for 10 minutes. I cheated and stood up and was able to make a few turns forwards and towards the end I was able to make a few turns backwards while still sitting on the bike (just cheated a little by shifting my butt on the seat a bit). Oh well, guess this is all part of the long haul, right?
Guess I don't need my bike tuned anytime soon.
Don't have a stationary bike but my Mom has one of those pedal gadgets that sits on the floor. Wonder if that will help some.

Hang in there! I have a different injury, but it took me a while of sitting on the bike going forward and back before I could even make one revolution.

Stay strong!!!

[Skibumtress]

Five weeks post-op and it feels a lot longer..... more like five months.

Still in the Donjoy out of the house. At home I’m without the brace and stairs are getting easier. Upstairs is no problem and at times I’m able to go downstairs without looking like a total gimp. Pain is still there and of course when I over do it, I feel it. Here on the EC we’ve had some real humid days and those are the days that it swells up like a balloon.

As of yesterday at PT I’m at 137 ROM as my comfort zone (little disappointing because last week I was at 130 and had lots of improvement from the week before). I can get to about 142 or so but through gritted teeth and some four-letter words. Did a mile and a half on the bike yesterday in 10 minutes but only had a pace of 9.2 - 10. One thing that concerns me a little is that since the beginning I get this deep shooting pain when I bend my leg back to my butt. I get it when I stand and bend it back and when I’m laying on my stomach and bend it back to my butt. Both PT and Doc said it’s my hamstring..... maybe but I’m not sure (I’m a runner and former professional dancer and have had hamstring issues before but this just feels different). PT gal said to do extension exercises but it doesn’t bother me when I do them.... only when I do these two exercises. The pain is on the inner side and almost to the back but more on the side of the leg and slightly below the back of the knee. The pain is deep and when I feel it, it almost feels like something is going to rip. Does anyone have any insight to this??? It’s gotten somewhat better but not much.

The good thing is, is that both Doc and PT said I’m where I should be and perhaps even a little ahead of schedule.

So..... when’s opening day?

[SkiDork]

Bum-in-a-tor: How is the knee after Saturday's rock climbing?

[Skibumtress]

Sorry Dork... didn't see your post until today.
Ah yes... the little bit of rock climbing and the hike through the woods. Although I was in pain all weekend, I think that was the best thing for me to do because that week at PT, I reached full range of motion! Since that day I haven't reached it again but I've only been a few degrees away.

Now this week, I may have had a set back. PT on Monday nite, gal was massaging the knee as she usually does. Now this particular gal massages deep and hard. Honestly, I'm not comfortable with the way she massages. Anywho, I was flinching the whole way through. Got home and my knee locked on me twice. Painful lock. Long story short, since Monday I've had experienced pain that I haven't before and the stability has been pretty bad. I'm constantly hyper-extending it. The knee is very swollen and so is my calf down to my ankle. It's gotten a bit better since Monday but not a whole lot. Talked to the Doc today and I'm scheduled for an ultrasound next week. Because of the swelling in my leg below the knee he wants to make sure I don't have a blood clot. If I still have this pain after the weekend, I'll have to go into the Doc's office. Oh well, guess this is all part of the healing process of a new ACL.

[upallnight]

*sending some positive vibes*

[lucubrator]

Any updates? Out riding yet?

[beaterdit]

Jeez bumtress, sorry to hear about your setback. Hopefully it's minor. If it's any consolation, with both of my reconstructions I've been absolutely sure that I'd jacked it up at one point or another during rehab. I was wrong every time and things resolved. Hopefully that's the case for you too. Good luck and vibes your way.

[dinesh]

i tore my ACL in my left knee last march while playing rugby, its been 5 months since my surgery but i still have difficulties running. studying and living in a country where docs dont speak english doesnt help either :-( is it normal to have pain while running? does anyone have any idea how long it would take before i could actualy start playing again?