It's been one year since my PCL surgery. One question is "Knowing what I know today, would I have the surgery and go through the recovery again?"
Yes, I would. Looking back I realize it was one of the hardest things I've ever done but the alternative simply wasn't an option, so yes, I would do it again without question.
I am grateful to my talented and caring surgeon along with his rehab team. I would also like to mention my tissue donor. Words can not express my thanks for such a selfless gift.
So where am I now that a year has passed. I am beginning to run once again. The pain still persists and hope with time that will pass.
I have times in the day where I don't think about my knee. For many months that was the only focal point of my entire day.
I've met so many awesome people through this blog, especially Molly another PCL survivor who flew across the US to compare knee scars and stories. We had a great time.
I hope my blog continues to help and inspire others who are faced with this major surgery. It's about 8 pages now but it's such a huge recovery that it took that long to get through it!
Drop me a line anytime. I'll be sticking around.
Posts
6 years ago
18 comments:
hey, how r u doing?
happy anniversary to you skinnygurl. Im going to celebrate my 5th month post-surgery this coming 21st.
almost reach full flexion already and hope to be able to finish it by the end of this month.
currently concentrating on building up muscles and strength.
Hey Hamlet,
Thanks for the update. You're doing really great!! The hardest part is over, feels great doesn't it?!!
skinnygurl,
Never knew how extensive PCL repairs were. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing this blog-I will let patients know about this in the future. Take care
Hello there. I just found your blog and found it very interesting. I just had my PCL surgery on May 14th. So I have a long way to go. Not to mention I have had 8 other surgeries on my legs since October of 08. I has in a major car accident that crushed my legs. So this was my last surgery to correct what got ruined in the car accident. I was a bit nervous for this one due to seeing a guy in my therapy office get it done and I also have found out through all these surgeries I scar down a lot. So its nice to see others have the same surgery and what I will have to do next. Its nice to see you are doing well!
hey, how are u?
it's been 3 month since i started my therapy session n guess what, my flexion is almost complete. 130° of 140°.
but u know what, when i was about to announce the victory, sumthing hit me.
i keep complaining that i feel pain on the outside of my knee, turn out to be it is the PLC that cause it. The problem is surgeon detected it earlier but decided not to fix it along with my PCL. and now, instead of completion, i hav to start over again after the surgery.
do u hav any idea on how mad, how sad, how dissappointed i am?
i plan to get back to the field early next year n this is what they hav for me.
Hamlet:
I am sorry to hear about your latest development. My injury was a PCL/MCL combo, so the outside of my knee was okay (except for a short bout of IT band pain during post-op therapy; skinnygurl had it, too). And I've learned to live with the residual pain on the inner side.
You have every right to your feelings of frustration. Nevertheless, I'm having a hard time not starting this next sentence with "but ...", because I know how hard it can be when setbacks occur - I had four surgeries before I stabilized. It seemed that my "two steps forward, one step back" dance would never end (it did).
So, THEREFORE (see, that's better than "but"), because those of us who have gone through this know how difficult and painful these surgeries and recoveries are, you do not have to do all of this alone. We know how the whole process interferes with your life and absorbs your thoughts. We are there to help you through it and help you come out stronger on the other side.
Email me anytime, molly dot hickman at comcast dot net, for support and encouragement.
Molly
Kim:
You have hopefully reached the place where the immediate post-op fog has lifted. Congrats! Each time I had surgery, I could feel it happen at about day 10. With 8 surgeries under your belt, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
The PCL surgery recovery is long and difficult, but it is do-able, as you are finding out. Keep your pain managed and keep your lower leg from sagging. Don't let setbacks hurt you too badly - and seek out support when they occur. Become best friends with your ice machine. Make sure to vent to us - those who have gone through similar experiences. We're here to help and provide support and encouragement. Thank goodness skinnygurl is willing to host this blog. I know it helped me.
Thank you Molly! I couldn't have said it better myself.
Hi everyone. It's great to see you're here and finding support.
I hope to see many updates as the year goes by. Soon I'll be posting another update. Molly-you too!
Thank you Molly for your kind words. It somehow restrains me from what I actually feel.
I know someone out there had worst but can't believe it actually happens to me.
Maybe it's a test for me. I'll email you. thanx again for ur support
Hello Molly,
Yes thank you for the encouragement and advice. Yes I do have some advantage with having so many surgeries in a matter of 7 months. I havent started bending it yet. I am only 2 1/2 weeks out from surgery. I will definetly come here to see what everyone thinks when I have a question. As of right now I am pain free. I think its easier for me on the pain due to I had my tibia plateu fixed along with my femur and tibia. That I would have to say was pretty painful.
Thank you skinnygirl for this wonderful blog. I have read from your first day and it was very intresting. If anyone else has any other blogs please let me know. The more info the better.
Thanks again,
Kim
Hi,
I just found your blog. I'm scheduled for PCL reconstruction on Sept. 8. I'm not very excited about it. My biggest issue is going to be time off work. I only can really afford a month tops. I'm pretty scared about the whole thing. I'm not afraid of hard work. I just...I don't know. Your blog is the only site I've see that isn't completely medical. Thank you. I hope things are going well for you.
Devienne
Devienne,
Hello and thanks for your post. I will be the first to say, you're in for a long road. Please don't rush this. I took a look at your blog and see you've done your research. I'll post a link to my blog on yours and you're invited to link mine to your blog also.
Keep me updated on your progress. Molly and I would be glad to answer any questions or concerns you find yourself with.
Good luck and take it easy.
Skinnygurl.
Any chance you could contact me about your PCL experience?
Staplebox at gmail dot com
Thanks for you post Staple. I'll try to help in anyway I can. Molly is here too. She's great.
Hi,
I had PCL ACL surgery in Luxembourg 42 days ago, I have been looking to your blog, you have done hard work for your recovery and I really appriciate for sharing as well.
However,I read it before in lots ot sc. articles that there are lots of other parameters for healing and recovery, to build up to muscles : being a man and a woman different (i.e. hormon effect on muscles), Age is very important parameter that effect renewal of the cells which means a lot, beside all in the same conditions, if everything is the same every person has his/her own healing/recovery rate. There are some other reasons as well.
I remember I have come a cross the your blog at the first days of the recovery and I was feeling bad that it is going take a long time.
When I look at it I see the differences such as you put crutches out at 42, both of them, not used them at all since 2 days, you have your 90 degrees at day 69, mine was 89 at day 42.
Sure there is a way to go still, but as it is in this example there could be important differences in recovery stage in terms timing.
Please do not get me wrong, I really appreciate for taking the time and informing the people. But what I suggest is putting some sort of disclaimer whatever, to inform people at the begining of the page, which basically says recovery/healing could change in every case depending on number of reasons.
Kind regards & Thank you
Hello, this is Croz, I am a male from San Diego. I'm 30 and very fit and active. I tore my pcl and they think mcl as well. I did it playing basketball about 5 years ago. I have done physical therapy and I work out religiously and still play basketball with a brace. But it aches and sags and I WANT IT FIXED! Skinnygurl can you email me. So I can talk to you further. My email is nctrinity7@yahoo.com
thanx for your blogsite. God Bless You.
I would be glad to croz.
No worries Monkey, I'll be replying to you soon.
Croz:
You and I suffered very similar injuries. I am two years post-op and would be happy to send you my log describing my experiences with PCL/MCL reconstruction. I'll end you an email.
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