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See that? I'm going down my first stair!!
It's been 150 days since I had surgery. Reached 130 degrees range of motion today! That's right, 130!!!
I'm still going to rehab 3 times a week and still using my CPM device three hours a day along with my tens unit three times per day. I was fooling around with it the other day and shocked myself. ha ha, serves me right!
Stay tuned for more PCL fun! Drop me a note, it's always good to hear from you!
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18 comments:
Congratulations!!!! That had to feel good.
Dan just finished his 2nd week of PT. His range of motion started at 60* and now is at 70*. That seems a bit slow ?????? His PT would like to see him at 90* by the end of next week. They unlocked his brace to allow 30* of bending . . . another milestone. Also, he can put weight on while using his crutches which feels much better.
I just found your blog after searching for info about PCL injury/surgery. I was in a motorcycle accident and tore my PCL, ACL and LCL ligaments in my left knee. Surgery is in 2 weeks. You look like your doing very well.
Keep it up!
Linda,
Please tell Dan that nothing in rehab is slow. We all heal and go at our own pace. He's doing great so keep cheering him on! Please give him my best as well!!!
Backoffu,
Welcome! Please, feel free to comment and for sure come on back to let us know how you're progressing after your surgery. As you see after reading my blog, the pcl is not an easy recovery. It takes a lot of time and work.
You've got a lot more going on in your knee so the rehab will probably be a bit different.
I can only imagine how bad that motorcycle accident hurt you. Did it knock you out? Wow, that's very serious. I fell on the ice and it hurt so back it knocked me out. Nothing fun about this.
Try to keep your spirits up. Do your rehab. Good luck to you!!
Do you have someone to help you after surgery? Get it lined up now. You really need someone to help you.
Linda:
Dan is doing great! In my experience, the amount of flex in the early days is directly connected to how well the swelling is controlled. If his OS and PT say okay, keep icing, icing, icing and don't push it.
Backoffu:
Ow! It hurts just reading about your injury. Skinnygurl is so correct - you will need help, at least for that immediate two-week post-op phase. I injured my PCL/MCL and had both reconstructed 10 months ago. I've kept a log of my surgery and rehab experiences, and am happy to share it with you. If you (or Linda) want to read it, I can email it to you. You (and I and Linda and others) have a great support network here - thanks to Skinnygurl's efforts.
Backoffu:
There are a few things that you can do before the surgery to make your post-op life a lot easier. You can obtain and install aids such as a sturdy walker with a basket, double handrails for stairs, elevated toilet seat, transfer bench for the shower, blanket lifter, hand-held shower, etc. I've described everything I did in my log.
Oh, and Skinnygurl - YOU ROCK!!! Pretty soon you'll be scampering up and down stairs. At ten months post-op, I can walk up and down normally without pain - at least when I'm not carrying anything. When I have to haul something, I still have to take it one step at a time.
Molly, Thank you for sharing your log. I would love to read it. My email is: gallin3@comcast.net. Thanks,
Linda
- Skinnygurl - Yes, it was a bad accident. Oh yeah, I was knocked out alright. I was life-flighted as I almost bled to death at the side of the road.
I'm still recovering from a broken Rt femur, which now has a rod/screws in it. A broken (in 2 places) RT ulna, that now has a plate and 6 screws.
My lft hand had displaced meta-carpals, that had a few pins in it. (which are now removed).
And my lft knee, which has the torn ligaments. Its already been a rough road (going on 3.5 months), been thru rehab/PT, now I am on crutches and getting around pretty
well. Kinda looking foward to the knee surgery, I just want to get this over with already.
- Molly - I already have help lined up. I've got the best friends. The have really come thru for me already. I have the elevated toilet seat
and I have been using a stool for the shower. Sure, I'll take a look at your log. Thank you. email to backoffu@hotmail.com
- To all - my name is Chris. Thanks
Chris,
Wow, you sure have been hit with it all. At 3 1/2 months already and a lot more ahead of you. I sure hope this blog has helped you in some way. That's why I made it. I had no idea what to expect when I had my surgery so I just started typing and look where we are now. Glad you found us.
Molly,
This going down stairs thing is hard! So far I'm practicing 2 inchers just one step on a board. I can't even imagine what that feels like going down a whole flight yet! I wish I had hand rails to I could practice here at home.
Before the injury I wound scamper up and down the stairs, rarely holding onto anything. I can't imagine recovering from this surgery without the rails. You are a tough cookie! My ex-husband installed two new (sturdy) rails for me prior to my surgery - one on each side of the stairway.
I had trouble with stairs until just about a month or so ago (9 months post-op). Up until then I felt a laxity and some pain under the kneecap with each step. Now it's a smooth movement with no laxity or pain. So I think regaining that movement is a function of time - the ligament needs to be strong and the bone tunnels need to fill in.
Every once in a while I find myself letting go of the rail for the last step. It's coming back quickly now for me (at 10.5 months post-op).
Your progress is faster than mine, so you'll probably be climbing and descending stairs unaided by Halloween (or Thanksgiving). But I think it would be easier for you if you could install a rail (or two).
P.S. I'm taking two indoor cycling classes, 2-3 ADAPT sessions, and at least one road ride or long-ish walk each week now. Last weekend I rode 21 miles along the river path. Next weekend I'm planning a30 mile ride with an old boyfriend. Fun, fun, fun!
My tibia aches (where the screw is). I could use some encouragement today. How's everyone doing?
Hey there Molly!
When my rehab guy said there would be good days and bad days,he sure wasn't kidding. I sure hope the good ones are out weighing the bad ones by far.
Nice fall weather and pretty colors are looming ahead. I hope you are enjoying the winding down of an exiting year. Been an adventure to say the least, eh?
Look at how far you've come. Every day getting closer and closer to your goals.
Hang in there Molly.
Molly,I hope your feeling better today. You have come so far.
Skinnygurl, how are the steps coming?
Dan has graduated to 1 crutch. His range of motion is now 85*, headed in the right direction. He loves the increased use of his leg, but finds he needs to ice a few times a day due to increased swelling.
He plans to talk with PT next week about some short term goals. He really wants to play Lacrosse this spring. We're hopeful.
Thank you skinnygurl and Linda - today is much better. Dan should keep icing often (as long as his OS and PT say it's OK). Keeping the swelling down is really important. I admire his goal. Please let him know that at 10.5 months post-op I took a long bike ride last weekend, walked 2.5 miles yesterday, took two hour-long indoor cycling classes this week, and plan to ride 30 miles tomorrow morning. My knee is stable and supports all this activity without pain or swelling. My point is that he, as a strong young man, will likely bounce back even more quickly. Just be patient and let the healing continue.
I love reading about everyone's progress.
Skinnygurl, you have come so far - it is absolutely amazing. Your gains in range of motion over the past month are absolutely impressive. You are one tough cookie.
Linda- Dan's protocol and progress sound very similar to my son's as does the desire to return to aggressive physical exercise by spring.
Molly - Thanks for reminding us to ice, ice, ice! It has helped to be reminded that those simple things can make a difference. I hope my son can be as active as you at 10 months post.
Now at almost 16 weeks post PCL autograft my son is able to walk on a flat for 30 to 40 minutes with the limiting factor being fatigue, although he still works at maintaining a normal gait with full extension with each step. He still avoids hills and walking any distance on uneven ground. He has full range of motion but is not allowed to flex past 130 degrees. To anyone observing him you wouldn't know he had recent surgery. He has no pain, minor swelling, and occasional stiffness. Per Molly's recommendation we push him to continue to ice and that has prevented swelling.
He just let us know that he has been having to deal with walking 5 flights of stairs in his college dorm because the elevator is out. I was really worried but he reports no pain or swelling of the knee.
Momofsprinter:
I am no expert, and know nothing about your son, but I can't believe he can take 5 flights of stairs without significant pain or swelling (and risk of injury). At 16 weeks post-op, I could take a single 5" step up and and single 4" step down - in the protective environment of therapy. Otherwise I took the elevator or walked up and down stairs one step at a time. I hope he's not pushing this too hard; it would be a shame if he ended up injuring himself.
Molly - I have the same worry. Before he left for school at 14 weeks, he was easily climbing the one flight of stairs at home using a reciprocal gait, however, he did not have a reciprocal gait coming down, using a hand rail on each side and basically hoping down on his non surgical leg. His PT had cleared him to walk stairs and work on a normal gait coming down.
I asked him again tonight and he insists that he is okay with no swelling. He states that he has to walk more slowly coming down and using a modified reciprocal. Fortunately, the elevator is working now and his campus is flat.
He has been very cautious and motivated to not mess up his repair but I worry about pressure to keep up the other kids at college -- I have talked to him about the others comments about the risks of walking downstairs.
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