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.
Drop me a line.

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.