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

November 8th, 2009 One Year 7 Months Post Op

Where am I? I have reached maximum medical improvement. Whatever I get now, is on my own. My skilled surgeon and rehab team have done everything possible to help me. Now it's my turn to shine and show case their work.
So what am I doing these days?
I'm pushing myself to reasonable limits within what I think I can do. Sometimes a bit out of the circle to get bigger gains. I can run like the wind, squat moderate to heavy weights, and feel confident walking into any gym. How's that??? I'm happy!!!!!!!!!

I had over 100 rehab sessions in addition to daily homework. Don't rush this process. Do what your rehab teams tells you to do! Oh and after, you have to keep working on your flexibility. I tried to skip for a week. Nooooooooooooo, every day. Keep stretching.

One Year Five Months Post Op

What a journey this has been. I'm running and lifting weights again. Every day gets better and I feel stronger. There were some days I just didn't think I could go on but I had no choice. I wanted to get better.

I have found everyone's injury is different. Every doctors protocol varies. Even the rehab team has their own ideas on how to treat the PCL.

I welcome your comments. I will try to answer you personally.
Your journey could be much different than mine so when you read my blog, please remember this is my experience and we're all different. Good luck to all of you.

If there is anything I can do to help make this blog better, please let me know!

One Year Post Op PCL Surgery And Recovery

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.

Seven Months Post Op PCL Surgery And Recovery

I had hoped to say I was running but I'm still struggling with pain around my knee cap. I'm waiting for the orthovisc to be authorized. My rehab has been cut to two days per week. Fridays exercises sent me to bed with ice packs again. The pain on and around my knee cap was unexpected and high level.
Seems like I'm getting used to getting around better without my brace but going down the stairs is still a struggle.
Last range of motion was 137 degrees.
Stayed tuned, I haven't given up and I hope you don't either.

Day 205 Of My PCL Surgery And Recovery

Ditch the brace. Well unless I'm doing pivoting sports. Rehab is reduced to twice a week at this point and I no longer need the CPM device. They're picking up the tens unit and ice machine as well next week.
My knee isn't much more than 130 degrees and not exactly straight when extended. Perhaps without the brace that will change.
Upon my surgeons examination yesterday, the PCL surgery appears to be a success!! No laxity although I am still experiencing that crunching sound but have been denied any further surgery to clean that up. I am still waiting for Orthovisc to be authorized.
So at this point things are getting back to normal after more than six months of recovery.
At times I still have pain in the knee cap area and will continue to work on more range of motion. I am looking forward to gaining strength again.
Pretty close to 30 weeks which is a really long time! I am glad it's behind me.
I'll post more updates as my progress continues.
Stay tuned and drop me a line!

Day 148 Of My PCL Surgery and Recovery

Five Pound Weights!
Ride The Stationary Bike For 10 Minutes!
Mini Wall Squats!

40 Calf Raises (ouchie) Feel The Burn

Quad Strengthening

So much to do!

I'm still icing a lot. I don't have enough range of motion to go down stairs yet.

I'm using my CPM device for at least three hours a day. My tens unit three times a day too. This is a lot of work. Things like working on balance and all my exercises. This surgery takes a huge commitment. Did I say a lot of work too? Yes, it sure is.

I did leg raises at home too. This is not a part time recovery!

Doctor Visit, Day 141 Of My PCL Surgery And Recovery

See where he made that injection? Ouchie for a couple days but it'll help. I thought the flag band aid was cute. Closed Kinetic Chain exercises. Hip kicks done in all directions. Forwards backward and both sides. I have to use the chair sometimes for balance but it's getting better. Yet another mile stone! In the second picture you can see where my knee is a little bit swollen. It felt pretty tender too. Ice, Ice, and more ice.

Wow, what news I have! I hope I can remember it all.

Let's first run down the list I have from my doctor.

Yesterday was day 141 post op!

Okay:

Continue using CPM device three hours a day increasing 5 degrees ROM each week for the next six weeks. I just bumped it up to 115 degrees *range of motion* ROM (felt tight but that is to be expected) so in six weeks that puts me at 140 degrees. My goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just six more weeks. Should be Oct 15 or so.

One injection of xylocaine,macrcaine,depo-medrol and steroids. Whoa, the night and day after is big time ouchie.

Getting authorization for Orthovisc which will help with ROM/Pain. Pretty expensive stuff. 400.00 for each injection and I'll need three injections for the first round but hey, lasts for six months!

Continue rehab and concentrate on strengthening my quad muscles. I'm lagging behind here. I'll tell you what! My muscles are really getting worked these days. Lactic acid is back! LOL Sore, sore, sore!!! Feels good though. Well, lol, kind of!

Getting authorization for a TENS Unit to be used for pain management. Not to sure what to think about that. For those of you that don't want to click on the link. It's electric current. Ick, nevermind. just click the link to see, please!

I'm walking up 4 inch stairs and struggling to get up 6 inchers but progress is progress. I still have to get to where I can go down a stair. That will be a day for much celebration! I simply can not wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay tuned for more PCL fun. LOL, yes, I still have my sense of humor! No one can take that away!!

I found the coolest web page while looking something up for our blog. Yes readers. This is becoming a place for us to share stories and ask questions. I'm am thrilled so many people have joined in. Please feel welcome to post.

So here is the page.PCL Reconstruction Protocol . This is a very interesting, explaining what you can expect regarding healing and milestones. Give it a read, you'll be glad you did.