Hi,
I have been looking for a place that would give honest feedback and support. I was glad to find this thread yesterday during a very down part of my exercising. Right now I am waiting for my password so that I can send this along. So I will type as I wait.

I tore my ACL, medical meniscus, and had an MCL sprain June 4 playing sand volleyball. I had surgery on July 21 (6 weeks out right now) with a hamstring graft and meniscus repair. Non weight bearing for 4 weeks. I started PT 12 days post op but did exercises at home starting on day 1 post op. I have been working very hard at pt 2-3 days per week and alsoo at 2 full sets a day at home. My OS really lit into me at my 4 week check up. I was at -7degrees and 100 degrees at the time. He just blew me away. Now I am 2 weeks away from that appointment and am at -5 degrees and still 100 degrees. Will I ever break through?!!! I am very discouraged, yet want to persevere. I have been weight bearing and practicing with one crutch since yesterday.

The recumbent bike has saved some of my sanity, since I can get on that for 20 minutes a couple times each day. Working on inching my way forward to increase bend in my knee.

Am I being too impatient? Is the repair a factor here that makes a difference in recovery? I hear of ACL repairs walking within days of surgery. When does one know if scar tissue is a limiting factor?

Re: incision care, I have been massaging my 2 incisions and 4 scopes with massage oil each day. I can feel the hardness around them breaking up, but right on top, especially the one behind my knee is awfully tender. I am sure this takes time.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences, strength, and hope on this site. This recovery is not for the faint of heart, but it is helpful to connect with others going through this also. Thank you.

AuntFeffie:

Are you still very swollen? I?m 3.5 weeks post-surgery and still swollen and half of my knee is still completely numb. It?s actually warm to the touch. I also wonder if that stops my mobility. I?m surprised you are still at 100 at 6 weeks. Were you instructed to start doing exercises the next day after your surgery? I also started PT 12 days after surgery, but I didn?t do anything with it prior to that appointment. I?m now at 130 and 2 after therapy this morning. Everybody heals differently though. My co-worker?s son just had the exact same surgery 1.5 weeks ago and they put him in PT the next day. His brace is much smaller than mine and he will be off crutches by the end of this week. He is also 20 years old. I?m 28. As far as the painkillers go ? I?m out. I used all of mine within the first 2 weeks. Now I take Motrin all day. My leg aches constantly. I can?t sleep more than 2-3 hours without waking up. I finally decided to take my brace off so I have a little bit more mobility at bedtime, but it hasn?t really helped that much. It?s in constant pain ? about a 4/5 on a scale of 1-10 at bedtime. I just have to put up with it because nothing takes the pain away but the painkillers and I?m out. I go for my follow-up Friday with my OS. I haven?t seen him since 4 days post-surgery. I hope I can ditch this huge, bulky brace. It is such a pain. Good luck and keep posting your progress. I hope it gets better.

Srunnergirl and Skypenny,
Thank you for your replies. While I have many around me for help and encouragement, none have gone through this. It is like I've joined a special club. Strangers will come up to me and ask "ACL?" When I reply yes, they'll point to a knee and tell me quite specifically how far away from surgery they are. I have heard anything from 6 months to 5 years. Apparently it is quite a unique experience and a life impacting one, too. I can now see why.

I am not sure if I am supposed to be surprised at my rom or not. Yes, I started the exercises day 1 post op. My knee is still somewhat swollen, at least it does not look like the other one, yet. I am not sure how much of a factor this is. I really hit a low emotional point over the weekend, but yesterday, I figured that I am doing everything that is asked of me, regardless of my OS reaction. I don't know why my knee is not responding, nor do I know at what point I am past these exercises making progress. I wonder if I have already passed it.

I will call my PT tomorrow to schedule a consult with some specific questions I have. My PT appointments are the same things I do at home, so I wonder about the benefit of continuing going there (even though I will go back).

I did have orthoscopic surgery on this same knee from a basketball injury 20 years ago (I am 44 now...maybe that is why I am struggling a bit, but mentally I forget my age and don't expect it to be a factor. I just want to be active again). Recovery then was difficult, too, with a second scope 3 months later to remove scar tissue due to limited flexion. I did tell my surgeon and PT that from the beginning, but when I mentioned it again last Thursday to my PT, it seemed he heard it for the first time. I am thinking of scheduling my second OS appointment sooner than later (currently the 26th). I am wondering why wait if I will go no further in the next 3 weeks. So, I will talk with my PT tomorrow.

Thank you for your input re: meds. I am not a pill taker, either, and I also wonder if I go through a sort of withdrawal late afternoon from the ibuprofen. I am not prone to headaches and seem to get a shower cap one each day around four or so. It goes away when I take my next dose in preparation for my next exercise session.

Wow! This is quite something. I do so appreciate being able to talk with you all. I found another thread with some folks and a couple who experienced trouble in the first couple months, too, but it was dated a year and a half ago. Not sure what happened to them, but it felt comforting to know that I am not alone. I was glad to then find you all on Cool Running. I can't wait to get back at it. I know that my whole attitude and focus is changing, prayerfully for the better. I have been doing some light upper body weights, but I think I am ready for some more extensive workouts there to strengthen all around. Thank you for your encouragement and your sharing. I was so grateful to read your responses today.

Thank you; however, my OS said no swimming for minumum 4 months post op, probably due to the meniscus repair. Had an interesting session with PT today. He did some pressure on my joint in extension and flexion. Only I had been doing that prior. It was useful to have someone else pressing (hurt, but it was good, too). Also got on the treadmill crutch and brace free to work on my gait, weight bearing, etc. He told me to go crutch free now, work on my gait. Gave me some orthodics to prevent pronation, which immediately helped take pain away from the medial part of my knee. He also suggested an OS appointment sooner than later. I still have to call. I have been working with 2 PTs at this facility, and I think I will stick with the one I met with today. I am willing to work hard and also be patient. One step at a time. Your feedback is so encouraging, especially as you share about your own progress. Thanks!
Christy

Srunner girl ,

u know i am exactly like u...i had my surgery june 22..acl reconstruction....i was very very scared of gaining wt too..i have been active all my life n have never had wt gain issues...i like skypenny have hired a personal trainer at the gym....and am working out 3 days with him..upper body....which i did before the injury too...but now its like am totally focused on it..have not gained a pound since surgery...am still going for therapy 3 days a week ...and also riding the bike n doing the elliptical for like and hr every day 5 days a week.....i also felt exactly like u during the first few weeks of surgery..but u know wot..IT ONLY GET BETTER WITH TIME.....take one day at a time and do not lose hope..keep on working at it..even i feel so much flabby...am 40 yrs old...never been this flabby in my entire life....but for all of us....skypenny is such an inspiration...if she can do it.....we all can too....i read somewhere....some have success because they r destined to but most of them have success becoz they r determined to and we r one of them....

Well, just by way of update, I went to see my OS this morning. I am nearly 4 weeks post-surgery now. My ROM is 135º/2 º and I?ve stopped using both crutches and just walking with my brace. I?ve been in PT twice a week. I?ve mentioned before that my OS is pretty conservative. Anyway, he was not really happy with me today. His instructions were to NOT put weight on my leg until 3 weeks after surgery and at that point be able to bend at 90 º. My PT thought differently and had me putting as much weight as I could stand the first day of therapy. He says I am waaaay ahead of the game and that I need to slow it down. He cut me down to one day of PT. Says I can wean my leg from the brace over the next week or two, and over the next 2-3 weeks work up to riding the bike for 30 minutes. My knee is still pretty swollen and wants me to continue icing it twice a day and TO BE PATIENT. So, there?s a huge difference in doctors and how they treat the same injury. I will do my best to follow his advice, but it?s hard because it seems that other people are so much more active and using the elliptical, swim and bike for long periods of time. It?s just his opinion that a slow recovery brings better results.