Day 136 PCL Surgery And Recovery

Yup! That's me working my leg!!! I get to do so many more things now!!


125 degrees range of motion, all by myself at rehab today! My leg was measured for strength in all directions and rated good or level 4. Five would be better but I'm working on that! See? All this hard work is really paying off and it's only been 136 days. I'm turning corners now!!!!

The acute soreness I felt earlier this week is normal. I'm engaging muscles that have been dormant for months. It's a different kind of pain than what I experienced after a really tough workout back in the day. Not like lactic acid pain but more intense. So much more intense that it shot me back to using crutches for a couple days. So beware.

I'm still icing a lot and use my cpm device three hours every day. My gait looks better but I catch myself gimping when it hurts. I guess that's just me trying to protect it. Probably normal. I'm still struggling to go upstairs but it's getting better. Haven't been able to go down even one stair yet but it's something to shoot for.
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Today Is The Beginning Of Week 20 Of My PCL Surgery And Recovery

You feelin okay Mom?? Dagan is a ditz, I really wish you could play with me instead. Love Haley.

In rehab I threw the ball again. Standing on the foam balance pad is a lot harder than it sounds I mostly used both legs but I'm trying to stand just on my bad leg. I didn't hit my rehab buddy with the ball so I'm improving.
20 weeks starts today. Day 134. I've come a long way. Mondays rehab session pretty much did me in and Ive been limping. I've been using ice and really taking it easy the last two days. I'm glad to have my crutches on days like this.
Massage and light exercise today. I'll keep icing it and give it a break.

My doctor appointment is next week and I don't want to go limping in there. I better back it off a little bit. I'll do cartwheels later. Like next summer.

Day 132 Of My PCL Surgery And Recovery

Strengthening.
One leg!!! I wanted to mention how important straightening is. I really haven't talked about it much but I spend a lot time every day on this bench letting my knee relax down and fully lengthen. See how it looks pretty bent there? It is. After 20 minutes or so it'll come back to straight but I have to really coax it. Lots of massage, lots of baby bends and lots of time.

We're switching gears and going to spend more time on strengthening and balance.
Six to eight weeks should show some pretty good quad strength improvement.
I actually broke a sweat on the bike today. Yup, I rode a bike for the first time in over six months. We lifted the seat to allow my leg to go around all the way. I even used the balance ball for mini wall squats!! If anyone out there doesn't know, I'm a gym rat. I go crazy for fitness. This knee thing really knocked me down but I'll get back up.
To say any of this has been easy would be a lie. It's been pretty awful. But, I would do it again.
Drop me a line. Let me know if you have any questions or would like to see anything different. Stay tuned for more PCL fun! It's coming!!!

Day 129 Of My PCL Surgery And Recovery

Check it out!!!!!
That, my friends is a whopping 125 degrees!! See that?? Hard work and lots of it got me 125 degrees today!!!

I wanted to mention my friends at physical therapy today and how I could not have gotten this far without their help. I won't mention names but they know who they are. This has been a struggle to say the least for everyone, not just me. I whine, I cry and I struggle but they keep pressing forward and make it happen. Just look at that! Thanks you two. You know who you are. I can't wait to see my doctor to show him how far we've all come. Together. We're doing it! Never give up, ever.

Day 127 Of My PCL Surgery and Recovery

There's an elastic band on my leg and what I'm doing here is while keeping my heel down, lifting the top of my foot and flexing my quad, keeping my knee as straight as I can. All at the same time.
It's a great way to relearn how to walk correctly. I'm having a little trouble getting my knee straight while taking a step forward with the heel strike. There sure is a lot more to walking than swinging your arms but with practice it'll start looking normal again.

WOW, things are really moving forward now!!! I was measured at 115 degrees today in physical therapy! Before warming up! All by myself!!!
You know for as 'stuck' as I was for as long as I was, I am really breaking records now! I'm finally turning corners. The guys at physical therapy said "their baby is finally growing up". ha ha ha, I'll agree with that! Anyday!!!
Hang in there everyone. Just like Molly said, it gets better. It really does.

These are the bands I used in rehab. Many different strengths and they helped me a lot.

Day 126 Of My PCL Surgery/Recovery

I can do so much more now that my hamstring can be gently used!
Dagan The Doberman. See why I have to be so careful in my house? He's like a small pony!

I'm using my CPM Device three times a day for an hour at a time and it's really paying off. So far, I'm able to get all way the to 108 degrees towards the end of the hour long session. I started off barely getting to 90 degrees.
I am still icing my knee, especially at night. I'm practicing my heel strikes when I walk and trying to follow through the walk with pushing off at the toe. There is so much to remember when learning how to walk. During physical therapy I was asked to walk without my crutches and it's been so long that I walked stiff armed! I forgot how to naturally swing my arms while walking which just cracked me up! I had no idea I was doing that until pointed out. Well? It's been months! You're bound to forget some things!! Things are getting fun now!!

Four Months Post Op Recovery - PCL Surgery

Would I do it again? Heck yeah I would.

Todays the day, four months post op! Wow, what a journey. It's been demanding to say the least. I will list what I can and can't do at this point of recovery.

I can bend my knee max 118 degrees after being warmed up and someone pushing hard enough to make me cry.
I can finally ride in the front seat of the truck instead of being stretched out in the extended cab.
I can walk in public places with one crutch. I have to really concentrate on my heel strikes and leg extentions when I walk but for the most part I do it.
I can walk inside my home w/o any crutches but have to be super careful of my large dogs.
I finally was able to sleep on my side for a few minutes the other night after being flat on my back for so many months. Yesterday marked 6 months post injury.
I still can't walk up regular stairs but I'm beginning to get up small ones while bending and carrying my weight on my knee. I don't want to walk up regular sized stairs until I have more ROM so I don't develop bad habits. I have enough bad habits to break already.
I am getting around my house better and able to do more house work which my husband greatly appreciates.
I still use my ice machine at night and my knee aches and burns like crazy but instead of 24 hours a day, sometimes I get a break.
Anyone considering this surgery please beware, it's going to take a huge commitment on your part. You have to grit your teeth and you have endure months of pain. You know what though? I wouldn't trade these four months for anything. I am going to run again. I am going to drive and be independent very soon. I can feel it. I am so very lucky to have been given this gift. I am grateful. This journey has just begun.

Check It Out!! Day 122

Four Months! Tomorrow makes Four Months since I had surgery.

I about jumped off the table today when I was measured at active ROM.
Ready???? On day 122 I got all the way to 110 Degrees baby! All by myself! Not long ago I was struggling to get 110 degrees with someone pushing me to the point of tears.

Look at that! I'm getting there! Just wait, I'll be hopping up and down stairs before long!

Stay tuned for more fun!!

Day 120 Of My PCL Recovery

Dang it Mom! It's been 120 days since that surgery. Can we go play yet? Please???????? I'm sick of Dagan, he's not as much fun as you.

My new machine at physical therapy! That's a big step up for me!! Let me know when you want to take a turn. Hey, see that treamill next to it? I will be running on it. Mark my words! I will run again.


Well, looks like I've had a bit of a slip. I lost a few degrees in the range of motion department. No worries, that will come back. I'm learning how to walk without crutches. It feels "sloppy" almost like my ankle is having a hard time supporting my weight plus I have to remember to have a good heel strike and follow through all the way to the toes and roll off. Don't kid yourself, there is a lot of work to this walking stuff! They put me on a new machine. Today is day 120 and my range of motion is 114. The numbers are getting backwards again. Stay tuned for more PCL fun!

Day 115 Of My PCL Surgery And Recovery

See that against the wall? That's one crutch baby! We're coming right along! My knee was measured while doing this exercise at 95 degrees! Not long ago I was squirming on the table while trying to get even close to that. I can do it on my own now!!! See?


LOOK AT THAT! Wow, are things getting interesting now. Day 115 gave way to 117 degrees range of motion. I was being stretched this morning wondering how I could put into words what that felt like. Um, intense doesn't even come close. Glad when it's over, that's for sure.


I want to welcome everyone that has been following my blog or just found it. Stay tuned for more pcl recovery fun. Some day I am going to tell you that I ran really fast on a treadmill. I promise.

Day 114 And The Dog Is Still Watching Me Very Closely

That's Dagan, one of my Dobermans. If I didn't know he cared for me, I would be scared! 117 pounds of flesh. HIM! Not me. lol If he's waiting on me to keel over so I can be a meal, he can forget it. I'm winning, I winning! It's just taking a long time.


Through this whole long thing, Dagan has never once left me other than to get food or potties. It's like his full time job but he takes zero days off. What a guy. What a guy. He gets a lot of extra pats, that's for sure. The other Doberman could care less. Every once in awhile she'll step on my foot to see if I squeal. The PCM machine is part of daily life now. Range of motion is getting better too!

Graduation Day Baby! Day 113

I'm getting ready to leave these behind! Well ok, only while in the house but I can dream, right? (Using one when I'm out in the big, scary, fast world.)
So what am I graduating to/from? I made it to four pound weights today! I left those three pounders in the dust!! I'm learning how to balance while standing on my leg too.

It's been 113 days since my surgery and today in therapy my knee was pushed to 115 degrees. I know, I wanted him to stop at 113 to make the numbers match but he wasn't game. You know, day 113 and 113 degrees. Get it? Plus it hurt like you know what. I won't even say that!

The CPM machine is really helping with my range of motion. I'm walking better too! Still using one crutch but hey, nothing comes easy with a PCL surgery. We all know that by now!

Finally I'm able to start using my hamstring. Weak but will be getting stronger as time goes on. I do some hamstring raises and now even some calf raises. Mini squats too! Things are finally starting to get interesting and it's only been 113 days. Time flies when you're having fun!

Day 111

That's Dagan, one of my two red dobermans. He pretty much sticks to my side like glue.
This is the gadget I use to set my machine.

Reached 112 degrees at my physical therapy session today. Time seemed to stop every time the physical therapist stretched my knee. I am sure he held it in place three times longer than usual. Brutal, just brutal today.
I'm using my new Continuous Passive Motion device machine now for three hours a day. My knee feels stiff and sore in the morning and by later in the day it's sore and tired. I might have turned a corner but my knee is still fighting me. I wish it would just give up because I know I'm going to win anyway.

Day 108 I Have New Things To Do

I haven't got it at home yet but I think this is what I'll be using to get more range of motion. Let me know if you want a turn. LOL

Looking pretty much the same. Well maybe smaller but never fear! My muscles are waking up and pretty soon they'll be bulging right out of this brace.



My appointment at the surgeons office: Time to wake up that hamstring withsome gentle hamstring strengthening.
My range of motion is 110 today although it did feel pretty stiff. I'm going to be using a Continuous Passive Motion device at home to help with my range of motion.
Click here to see.

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