Welcome To My Blog

Just wanted to peak in and say hello. I'm now featuring others with their own story of PCL Surgery and Recovery. If you have a story, e-mail me.

A special thank you to my friend Suhaimi for featuring my story on his blog.
You can read it Here

If there is anything I can do to make this blog better just let me know.

Skinnygurl

Speedy and His Story Of PCL Surgery and Recovery

Two Years Ago Today! It's been two years since my surgery. This blog now belongs to the world. It's my pleasure to introduce to you Speedy.

Walking gingerly on crutches while the two "spotters" look on in case I fall down












I spent a lot of time with this remote







At home 5 months after the surgery
(no contact happen during this game...the guys were kind enough never to tackle me)








Mount Kinabalu.....hope the knee will hold when the time comes






Here is his story..
My PCL incident happened during a rugby practice on 23rd Feb 2006. As a result of the injury I couldn’t run at all, and I normally needed to sit down even after a mere 20-minute walk. I tried physiotherapy for two years without much improvement to my condition. I finally had the PCL surgery on 25 Feb 2008 (at about the same time as the blog owner, Skinnygurl). I discovered during the surgery that my PCL was completely severed from the incident.

Post surgery recovery was agonizing especially the first two weeks when my leg was put on a cast. I underwent physiotherapy religiously at the hospital for about 9 months. Initially, I did a lot of resistance exercises using elastic bands, then slowly migrating to various other exercises to improve muscle strength and flexibility. I started to run again at about the 4-month point. At first I tried doing multiple short distances in various modes (forward, lateral, backward etc.) before gradually increasing the distance.

I have now regained full ROM in my knee. It’s still painful especially after an exercise, but I can now jog for up to 5 km at my own pace and complete a round of golf without too much of a problem. I am also actively involved in rugby coaching which requires me to be on my feet for at least 2 hours for each session. Glucosamine is a supplement I can’t live without now and ice pack is my best friend after an exercise.

My life has definitely changed after the PCL incident. However, I am glad I never gave up, both after the incident happened and especially after I had the surgery (believe me......there were many reasons to do so). The pain is something that I am accustomed to now, and I have to be content that there are many things that I can probably never be able to do again like playing in a full contact rugby match or sprinting after a ball in a soccer game. However, I can’t count my blessing enough for the progress I’ve accomplished now two years after the surgery.

My advice to you guys who are in your own battle towards PCL recovery; be realistic with your target and your chance of recovery, believe in yourself, work hard although the progress is slow and last but not least, have faith........we need a lot of that to keep us going forward.

I wish all the best to Molly, Hamlet, Chris and the rest of you PCL survivors out there. Thanks Skinnygurl for allowing me to share my experience in your blog.


It's My Pleasure To Share Your Story Speedy. I love forward to the day you climb Mount Kinabalu
Skinnygurl
Click Here to read Speedys Blog

Life Goes On

Thank you to my Entire Medical Team.
Thank you to my Donor and Family.

I am speaking April 13, 2010 to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation.
You're invited to attend.
Iowa Methodist Hospital
1200 Pleasant in The Hill Auditorium
Des Moines, Iowa
7:45AM and 3:45PM

Chris - His Story Of PCL Surgery And Recovery

This Is "The" Bike. After the accident.









Oh wow, lots of riding in the back seat with this surgery.











Taking a break from that itchy brace. It's pretty much 24 hours and 7 days a week.








In June of '08, I was involved in a motorcycle accident. Broke right femur (in 2 places), right ulna, right elbow, dislocated the metacarpals in left hand, broke left ankle and last but not least, tore PCL, ACL and LCL in the left knee. After a 13 hour surgery to fix all my broken bones, two weeks in the hospital and almost two months resident in a rehab center I was able to walk again.. as long as I had a brace on left leg to keep the knee somewhat stable. The doctors did not repair the ligaments during the first surgery because of too much swelling and they wanted to wait till the right leg was healed/strong enough to handle "full weightbearing". Needed a good leg to stand on, right??
Originally scheduled for Oct, then mid November, the triple ligament reconstruction surgery was in Dec '08. To use the words from Molly's story, it is now a "nice tight knee". So far so good, it's still pretty "tight". Lost some ROM (can't touch heel to butt anymore), but it's all good. I've been hitting the gym hard to get back in shape. Also been riding the bicycle, started doing short runs and scuba diving. Two weeks ago I did a 12 mile hike in the mountains. The knee felt sore after that! Then last week we just did a 5 mile hike. No more motorcycles....at least for now..
Had awesome doctors who literally put me back together and the PT crew who helped me get moving again. Can't thank them enough. Oh, lets not forget the nurses who made sure I was comfortable and of course the donor There are so many more people to thank, but I think I've said enough.
- Peace.

Hamlet - His Story of PCL Surgery And Recovery

Still In Wheel Chair After Three Months








Muscle Stimulation Using Machine









Going Out For Some Fresh Air, Wearing Brat Brace








A brief of my simple story
By Hamlet.

Surgery date : 21st November 2008
Currently still strengthening my right thigh muscles.
I can't squat or do flexion yet with only my right leg.
I can run but will still look cripple.

Thank You Hamlet. I wish you the very best of Luck.
Anyone else that wishes to share their story on my blog please leave a comment and I will get in touch with you.
Thanks
skinnygurl

Molly, A PCL Survivor And Her Story

This Is Molly and her story.

It’s a simple story, really. Ride bike Dec 06, fall down. Ow, ow, ow! Surgery #1 Mar 07 (arthroscopic cleanup and lateral release of patella). Lots more bike riding. Knee is really loose, so Surgery #2 Oct 07 (PCL reconstruction with allograft, MCL repair). Developed arthrofibrosis, so Surgery #3 Mar 08 (manipulation under anesthesia with removal of lots and lots of scar tissue). Nice tight knee. Pretty new Breg brace. More bike riding. This photo was taken 4 months post-MUA after 64 miles on the bike. Tibia itching and aching, so Surgery #4 Sept 08 (tibia screw removal). More bike riding. PCL disintegrating! Knee very loose now: PCL 2+ laxity. Rats!

Update 3 years post op. screw removal


Skinnygurl

Two Years Ago Today

Hi Everyone,

Two years ago today, I fell on the ice and tore my PCL. What a journey this has been. I've met so many awesome people and want to introduce them.

Anyone who would like to share their story and even pics, please e-mail me at Sprinter2fun@hotmail.com

This blog now belongs to everyone and if there is anything I can do to improve it, just let me know.

Skinnygurl