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.
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6 comments:
Love your blog! Inspirational to say the least. I'm considering the same surgery right now. I had a bad fall off a platform and the initial diagnosis is torn PCL and some meniscus damage. I'm heading in for the MRI on Monday to confirm. How long were you in bed after the initial surgery? I don't want to be bedridden for too long. Lots of work to do! I'm probably going to do some physical therapy before I have anything done because Ive been limping now for almost 6mos.(procrastinating) Not much quad left to speak of. Keep up the good work and good luck!!
Skinnygirl and Marcel:
If I learned anything it's not to procrastinate. As you wait to repair the damage, you create more and more damage. I don't mean to freak anyone out. But, if you are going to do something about it, and can do it sooner rather than later - then what are you waiting for?
I found the entire bed-ridden phase to be theraputic in many ways. I was out and grocery shopping within ten days, so I wasn't really bedridden very long. But it was a real struggle. I believe I would have had a difficult time going back to work within 6-8 weeks (keep in mind I had two ligaments recontructed and my immune system complained mightily).
During my acute rehab phase, I was able to evaluate where I was in my life and what I wanted to do with it going forward. It was a forced introspection; it has made me a better person. I enjoyed the quiet time, and watching lots of movies, and reading lots of books, and resting (which I hadn't done for many years). I was lucky because I had the luxury to do it.
Today I just realized that I am recovered. I am ready to go out into the world as a healed person and take on the next adventure. And I'm anxious to do it.
Skinnygurl is an inspiration, that is for certain. I was thrilled to find another person going through this. We should form a club. I would wear a T-shirt proudly. Dan and Benjamin's son could use one, too, I suspect. Let's make them sleep shirts, so we can wear them during our recovery period.
P.S. Hey Skinnygurl, have you set your goal date for taking a run? You're getting there now (think "slow jog" on a flat even indoor track).
Hi Marcel and welcome to my blog.
You sound just like I did before surgery. Hurry, hurry, hurry! I want to get on with my life. If it's one thing that will knock you off your feet; it's this surgery. Go back to the beginning of my blog and see. I'm the girl that was going to run 900 miles this year! I'm barely getting up the stairs and today is 129 post op!! I still don't have enough range of motion to go down the stairs with a bent knee but I keep working and someday it'll happen. You see, unlike an ACL the PCL is a longer, harder recovery.
I urge you to quit limping around and get this done. You might end up with more damage or worse yet, arthritis. Please post with an update! Stick around, you are very welcome to join the fun!!
Molly,
Love your idea of a t shirt! How cool. Thanks again for jumping in with your wisdom. I have such knee envy!
Running for me, eh? Well, I'll tell ya. He told me 6 months post op so I'm not getting anxious about it until then. I'm been slammed down so many times that I now trust his word over my desires. He wants me back without injury and if it means a couple more months, then that's just fine. My summer is pretty much shot anyway. Fall is coming so that's a nice time to ease into running again. Hey, did I tell you my new motto? "The year 2009, is MINE". Well, yours too. ha ha
Take care and keep posting!!
PS Thanks a ton you guys. Never fails, when I'm feeling down, I come here to get a boost of new attitude.
Hi Marcel. Glad you found Skinnygurl's blog . . . it has been a huge help for us. We moved a recliner to our main floor, so Dan was "recliner ridden" for a good 7-10 days. We would do short outings for his sanity, but he tired very quickly.
Dan's MRI showed that his PCL was fully severed. At that point, they ordered a Breg brace for him to prevent further joint damage while we waited for surgery. . . he'll wear the brace again in a few weeks.
Molly, I'm thrilled to hear you reached recovery! Congratulations.
I'm so proud of you. You've created a wonderful resource for others. I've always checked out your pages but never the comments. This is really great. Love ya girl,
evil twin #1
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