Surgery date Ho Ho Horrible

Well, as expected I received a phone call for my next surgery. The downside is that it is on December 23rd, 2011. Hoping that he will see what is bothering me, scar tissue, meniscus etc... Let everyone know the outcome over the holidays

Funny how things go ... I've reposted Sept 23rd, 2010 post ... Imagine That!!

"As much as things change, they remain the same" ... I'm back at work half days as I wait for surgery.  One year ago, this was my post ... September 23rd, 2010 I said, "Well, the waiting game for a phone call regarding surgery is eating away at me.  I was told that I should be receiving a phone call this week but I'm not holding my breath because I know how busy the orthopedic surgeons are in Ottawa.  I guess my anxiety is due to the fact that if I get a call - it's reality.  Although I'm managing fine right now, the knee needs fixing.  I think I'll head out for the day and hope that there's a message when I get back home."

Going in again!!!

Waiting for the date this fall for the OS to go in and try and clean up scar tissue etc..   At my latest visit, I was in absolute pain when my leg was straight out in front of me.  He said we need to go in ASAP.  So.....  I just wait again and start this whole thing over again.  He said he wants me to recoup a good 6 weeks after.  We'll see how I feel after this!!! 

Ouch again!!!

Something is definitely wrong with this knee. I'm sore and not happy. I see my OS September 7th. I'll post when I know more.

I'm Sore!

To quote my words as I entered my Physiotherapists office this morning, "I'm Sore!!".  That was to respond to his question, "Why are you limping, you should be running in here by now". with some sarcasm in his tone.  We both know that this has been a very long haul.  I'm 8 months post surgery and 1 year 7 months post accident.  Anyhow, I buckled my knee a few weeks back in a pot hole walking and again had sharp pain swimming in the pool just last week.  At first we were thinking it was a patellar issue but now the pain seems more meniscus like.  There is concern so I called the OS and they have pushed my appointment up a few weeks, other than that he is on holidays for three weeks and not much can be done until I see him.  I'm a bit fearful of the visit because I don't have full extension - issue #1 and there may be an issue with my unresolved PCL - issue #2.  I guess I just have to take it easy, not to irritate the meniscus and ice it when needed.  Any thoughts out there on what could be going on please share.

This is a real pain in the **&^% .... KNEE!!

Okay, so same old thing, working on extension, cramping in calf after sitting too long, aching in area where pattelar tendon was removed, numb areas, I'm just tired of it all. 

I really just don't know what to say anymore.   Oh yes ... my daughter dislocated her kneecap three weeks ago and we're just starting to get back to running and soccer.  Just what I needed, two reasons to go to physio.  At least I enjoy it there!!

Anyhow, I'm back to work three mornings a week.  I tackle the stairs with great ease.  Easier to go up then down.  In my own little world I'm doing okay but in reality I really don't move very fast.  I'm the lame turtle!

The freedom of riding a bike - one that moves!!!!!

Okay, so here we are in the second week of April and we've hit a warming spell.  So, out came the girls' bikes and my own.  The thought of heading out biking was a bit scary but exciting at the same time.  Last summer was 6 months post accident so I was no where near ready or steady enough to head out on a bike.  But, this April, 6 months post surgery (ACL/MCL reconstruction), I feel as though I'm ready to head out and try to get some cardiovascular exercise going.  A little practice with stopping and putting my good leg "knee" down first took some getting used to but it was a success.  When you've spent 16 months doing little to no physical activity, the freedom of getting out on the bike was AMAZING!!  My neighbours looked at me a bit strange because they see me hobbling around, but I can bike like a SUPERSTAR!!  I experienced no pain, stiffness or knee cap tracking issues at all.  By the end of my short ride, I could feel it in the hams and quads, which was great because it was a reminder that there are some muscles in there.  Anyhow, I'm excited about continuing biking, with caution, as a form of exercise (I need it!) 

As for the knee and leg when I'm not on the bike ... we that's another story.  I continue to work on regaining my full extension but I know it isn't going as everyone had hoped.  I told my PT about pain in my shin area.  I'll talk to my OS on May 11 at my next appt.  He plans to have x-rays taken to look things over and show me what's in my knee.  Perhaps the screws in my tibia are causing some of the pain ???  Anyhow, until next time ...

Progress????

I am sore today and last night my left leg was so crampy it felt like I had just run a marathon.  I need another 5- 6 degrees of extension to make everyone happy (including me) but I know it's going to be very hard to do.  I think I pushed it too much on the slider yesterday at physio because I am a bit sore across the patellar tendon area.  I just need to find the strength to stretch this leg out.  My goal is small - walk without pain and the limp.  Running and all that other stuff will just be a bonus.  I know I can do this!! 



I have a kneecap that moves just like the other one!!!

Okay so we are .... almost 5 months post surgery (ACL/MCL Reconstruction) and I've made the amazing discovery that beneath the swelling and puffiness there is a kneecap!  Okay, its always been there but things are just looking a bit more normal. My ROM is coming along (-2) extension and 125 for flexion - YEH for me!  My physiotherapist has been pushing the extension and it seems to be working.  I'm heading back to see my OS on Monday.  I really thought I'd be further along at this point but I guess it's still early for the type of injury I sustained and surgery I had.  I was never a runner (well one 5km), but I really just want to move - faster than a walk.  I mentioned taking out my bike and my physiotherapist said "stationary ???" so I think that it may be a bit early.  Too cold since it is still snowing here today!  I'll stick to my stationary. Anyhow, I'll give everyone an update on Monday night after the next visit to the big city!

My knee felt better before surgery!!

As the title of this post states, I'm a bit frustrated.  Although I had a very unstable knee prior to surgery, at least I was walking normal (with my brace).  I'm very frustrated with this and I know its because I need to get this leg straight.  Every time I take a step, I feel a pull where the patellar tendon graft was taken.  Things just don't feel right.  I see the surgeon in two and a half weeks and I'm going to talk to him about all of this.  I know recovery is long but I thought I'd feel better at this point.  I still have swelling across my knee and at night the MCL area on the inside of my knee is very tender to the touch, like a bad bruise.  When I use my JAS brace, I get excruciating aches up and down my leg.  I guess I'm just tired or this whole thing.  Any word from ACL/MCL reconstruction people out there would help!

Three months Post ACL - MCL Reconstruction

Okay, so here I am 3 months post-op and I just had my 3 month visit with my OS.  Things are moving along but I really thought my knee would be feeling a bit stronger by now.  However, according to the surgeon, things are moving along as planned - EXCEPT for my EXTENSION.  Okay so I have this JAS brace to help me with this along with physio and it's still a struggle.  I get excrutiating pain up and down my hamstring and calf muscles when I'm extended.  I'm at -7 for extension and he is concerned.  He says that I can manage with my flexion at 112 degrees and my new ligaments are doing well, but my lack of extension will cause me problems.  That's why I can't walk properly right now.  He said he could go in (AHHHHH!) and clean up scar tissue but he feels as though there is nothing stopping my extension.  Basically I have 6 weeks to get this leg straightened up and then perhaps he may do something.  When I brought up the issue with going back to work, he said we won't consider that for at least another 6 weeks.  He says I should notice progress in the next 6 weeks with regards to leg strengthening etc...    Anyhow,  this is surely the longest and hardest ordeal I've ever gone through.

Moving forward at a very slow pace!!

Wow, I can't believe how fast time is going by.  As long as some days are, I am already 9 weeks post-op and things are moving along well.  I think my greatest problem is the fact that I actually feel as though I can do more but after I do it I realize that I've done too much.  I need to remember to take things slow and not push myself too soon.  I saw the surgeon last week and he gave me the ok to put more weight down on my leg.  I was max. 50% weight bearing since 1 week post-op on surgeon's orders.  I am still to use my crutches to assist with the walking but he wants me to get the weight down and work on the natural walking motion.  I've also been given the ok to start muscle strengthening.  Other than that, my flexion is at 106 degrees but I have issues with extension.  He is putting me back into a JAS brace for the next month or so.  JAS brace is a "Joint Active Systems" brace which I also used after my skiing accident to get my flexion and extension.  It's quite an interesting contraption, check it out on the web!!

While at physio the other day I was doing an exercise and my knee kept on catching/clicking.  My physiotherapist said it was a kneecap tracking issue and should resolve itself when I regain some of the lost leg muscles.  The area where they took the patellar tendon graft is tender and easily gets swollen.  It is a very warm area on the knee that even the coldest ice doesn't cool down.  Time, icing and rest will help that!  I still have a large section of numbness (the size of my hand) on the left side of my incision. When I asked the surgeon and his resident, they explained that my MCL reconstruction required a lot of work in an area where the nerves cross over to the other side of the leg and the feeling may or may not return.  It may be 6 months or so before I know!  Talk about a wierd feeling.

As for my PCL, I guess its still hanging in there!!  He decided to do the ACL/MCL reconstruction in hopes that it provides enough stability.  HOPES??????  Anyhow, the posterior sag isn't too bad according to the surgeon but I think my shin has fallen far behind the tibia and looks rather ridiculous.  He'll keep and eye on this I'm sure.  Anyhow, I'll add some photos when I get my new JAS brace. 

The thought of doing anything other than my slow walk seems too far into the future it's crazy.  I've been like this for a year now and this seems to be the norm and everything else seems out of reach.  I had a dream the other night that I was running and I was as light as a feather on my feet - WOW what a feeling! 

www.jointactivesystems.com/         (JAS Brace information)
http://www.mysportphysio.com/      (My Physiotherapy Hangout)