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.

Take The Good With The Bad

It hurts but you have to grit your teeth and just DO IT!!!

It's been 52 days since my surgery! I woke up and actually felt better than ever. What a relief to know there is hope in sight. Maybe this is the beginning of the end. I did wall slides at home yesterday and couldn't get my knee to bend very far. Really discouraged me but hey, it's a mix of good and bad days. Take what you can get. I have another month of the same and I promise not to give up. This is all I have and I will do my best. My surgeon said he would do his best and now it's my turn. Got 98 degrees today and I'll take it!!!!

Wall Slides

Use your other leg to push it back up straight.
See how far you can bend it??
Start here. Go easy now. Inch by inch let it go down but have your other leg ready to help.

When you have a PCL surgery, you can't use your hamstring muscle. So how do you get flexibity? Great creative!! You can use the wall and let gravity help you bend your knee with much less strain and if done correctly keeps the hamstring out completely. Use the opposite leg to help you get your knee straight again.

This is week five and I'm not much further than I was at week one. Last measurement was 95 after much straining in PT. The good news is my knee is pretty straight. The bending will come in time.