On January 11th, I went under the knife to replace my ACL as well as clean up a tear in my meniscus. Now, here we are, 46 days later (well, on Wednesday) and I am cleared to go back to work. I've gone to the gym and have lifted this past week, so I'm pretty confident that things are getting back to normal. I'm back in NH for good, obviously... so I have to find a new Physical Therapist in the area, but the surgeon had said I don't have to go 2-3 times a week anymore and that once every week or 2 will suffice. I just need to have someone track my progress and let me know when I can start treadmilling/running/squating/deadlifting, etc..
I don't know what else to write except that I've been hitting the gym every day for my knee. At least using the bike, but I try to do most of the exercises that the CT Physical Therapist taught me. But we'll see what the PT up here says!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
This post is better then the Grammy's
4 weeks and 2 days ago marks the day I had ACL replacement surgery with additional work done to my medial meniscus on my left knee. I had read many horror stories about what could potentially happen... how there could be something that happens and I feel pain in my leg for the rest of my life. Now, I felt comfortable with my surgeon, he was very relaxed and is someone who had does this sort of thing more times then I could probably imagine. It was old hat to him and that, more then anything really put me to ease about getting my knee hacked up. But the actual road to recovery was where I really started to get nervous. I had several different people giving me several different answers to the same questions:
-When should I expect to be off crutches?
-When should I start PT?
-When can I start using a bike? Treadmill? Running?
Everything was different which pretty much meant to me that I had to make my own answers. I was off 2 crutches really fast and I was able to walk on my own (sort of) in like a week and a half/2 weeks. I started driving about 2.5/3 weeks later and a month after the fact, it's probably tough to tell I had any sort of surgery at all. I still walk with a slight limp, but that was expected and I'm used to it after the last 6 months. That's going to be my first real feeling of getting over this injury... just being able to walk normally!
Physical Therapy is a God send. That was the one thing that the surgeon and everyone post-op hammered into my thick skull: GET PHYSICAL THERAPY. They trained themselves on how to get me back to normal. And they know. Even with the simple shit they make me do; it's always hammered home that it means something in the long run. This past Wednesday they put me on a bike and it was a huge motivator because shit, 3 weeks before that I could barely move my leg. It sucked that for the first week or so, I was hampered with insurance issues, but I've been doing my home exercises like it was my job and it pays off.
Over the next 2 weeks I'm going to be moving myself back into my apartment in New Hampshire as I finish up Physical Therapy. I'm looking forward to being able to get back into the gym and the first day I can do a squat and a deadlift I will probably break facebook. My next follow-up with the surgeon is 2/25 and from there I guess will determine when I can get back to work. So until then...
bigbadbowes@gmail.com
-When should I expect to be off crutches?
-When should I start PT?
-When can I start using a bike? Treadmill? Running?
Everything was different which pretty much meant to me that I had to make my own answers. I was off 2 crutches really fast and I was able to walk on my own (sort of) in like a week and a half/2 weeks. I started driving about 2.5/3 weeks later and a month after the fact, it's probably tough to tell I had any sort of surgery at all. I still walk with a slight limp, but that was expected and I'm used to it after the last 6 months. That's going to be my first real feeling of getting over this injury... just being able to walk normally!
Physical Therapy is a God send. That was the one thing that the surgeon and everyone post-op hammered into my thick skull: GET PHYSICAL THERAPY. They trained themselves on how to get me back to normal. And they know. Even with the simple shit they make me do; it's always hammered home that it means something in the long run. This past Wednesday they put me on a bike and it was a huge motivator because shit, 3 weeks before that I could barely move my leg. It sucked that for the first week or so, I was hampered with insurance issues, but I've been doing my home exercises like it was my job and it pays off.
Over the next 2 weeks I'm going to be moving myself back into my apartment in New Hampshire as I finish up Physical Therapy. I'm looking forward to being able to get back into the gym and the first day I can do a squat and a deadlift I will probably break facebook. My next follow-up with the surgeon is 2/25 and from there I guess will determine when I can get back to work. So until then...
bigbadbowes@gmail.com
Monday, January 28, 2013
Staples & Physical Therapy
So last Monday my Dad and I took the journey up to Keene from CT for the first follow-up appointment with the surgeon and to get the pesky staples removed from my knee. It was a huge relief because while they never caused me pain in of themselves, I could feel them if I moved my knee in certain ways. Not very pleasant. Plus, the whole visual of seeing staples in your knee when looking down, that wasn't much fun either.
Anyway, they took X-rays prior to the meeting and everything was developed and everything by the time the meeting started. The Doc also came in with pictures from the surgery itself. Now, I'm not a doctor, but I think it was pretty clear that there was damage to the ACL and meniscus after looking at the pictures. The X-rays showed that everything is going pretty well and after looking at my knee only confirmed that (or should it be the other way around?) He tested my movement and was pleased by what he saw (I could almost fully extend my leg and was a little over 90 degrees in terms of bending it. I asked about driving and he said that he typically waits for the leg to be at 90 degrees before allowing people to drive (when it's the non driving leg, thankfully) so technically he said I could drive, but only around town, or short drives and that in a week or so it wouldn't be a big issue.
Then finally they removed the staples. This was about as uneventful as you'd think but it was great to see them finally taken out. The tool they used was one that looked like an oversized toe-nail clipper. After that, the PA started doing some mobility tests... basically PT movements. And checking swelling to see where I stand. According to the norm, Im doing pretty well but she was mentioning how my quad seems to be a bit weaker then what they were expecting. A bit odd, but whatever. Set up the 6 week appointment and that was the end of that.
I also started actually Physical Therapy last week and the first session was pretty much what I expected it to be. Just going over some of the movements they told me to do the week before and added a couple more. I think they were just seeing where I was in terms of recovery. I have 2 appointments this week and Im still doing some of the exercises at home when I can.
Overall, I'm feeling pretty good, I don't use the crutches anymore. I keep them around, but I can walk pretty ok on my own. I still have a noticeable limp, but the pain is pretty non-existent at this time. Now I just need to find a way to get my car!
Anyway, they took X-rays prior to the meeting and everything was developed and everything by the time the meeting started. The Doc also came in with pictures from the surgery itself. Now, I'm not a doctor, but I think it was pretty clear that there was damage to the ACL and meniscus after looking at the pictures. The X-rays showed that everything is going pretty well and after looking at my knee only confirmed that (or should it be the other way around?) He tested my movement and was pleased by what he saw (I could almost fully extend my leg and was a little over 90 degrees in terms of bending it. I asked about driving and he said that he typically waits for the leg to be at 90 degrees before allowing people to drive (when it's the non driving leg, thankfully) so technically he said I could drive, but only around town, or short drives and that in a week or so it wouldn't be a big issue.
Then finally they removed the staples. This was about as uneventful as you'd think but it was great to see them finally taken out. The tool they used was one that looked like an oversized toe-nail clipper. After that, the PA started doing some mobility tests... basically PT movements. And checking swelling to see where I stand. According to the norm, Im doing pretty well but she was mentioning how my quad seems to be a bit weaker then what they were expecting. A bit odd, but whatever. Set up the 6 week appointment and that was the end of that.
I also started actually Physical Therapy last week and the first session was pretty much what I expected it to be. Just going over some of the movements they told me to do the week before and added a couple more. I think they were just seeing where I was in terms of recovery. I have 2 appointments this week and Im still doing some of the exercises at home when I can.
Overall, I'm feeling pretty good, I don't use the crutches anymore. I keep them around, but I can walk pretty ok on my own. I still have a noticeable limp, but the pain is pretty non-existent at this time. Now I just need to find a way to get my car!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Physical Therapy
Try this- lay on your back, keep your legs fully extended. Now take one (I don't care which one) and lift it 12 inches of the ground (keeping it fully extended) and then put it back on the ground. Easy, right? Now, sit up and keep both legs extended in front of you. Basically, try to keep the back of your knees touching the ground for 10 seconds. Simple shit, huh? Well this is what I have to start (re?) learning how to do because this shit's tough with a week old ACL in my knee. I'm not trying to make a woe is me point, I just want to paint the baseline for rehab because it's going to be awesome when I start deadlifting again. The first PT appointment was more of an "evaluation" Basically the head PT guy interviewed me and made me do some basic movements to see where I was relative to the surgery. Then he massaged my knee and gave me a heating pad for like 10 minutes and the REAL appointments start next week (after my staples come out). Good times. In the meanwhile, he gave me some exercises to work on, which include those I mentioned above.
As for how I'm feeling... well, it's been exactly a week since the surgery and I can move pretty comfortably on one crutch and have actually started walking around the house sans crutches, period. I don't know if that's good or not... but the surgeon said "weight baring as needed" sooooooo.... Im still keeping around, that's for sure. Anyway, next report will probably be after the staples come out. I'd take a picture, but I'm sure most of you readers are a bit too queasy. But enough people ask.....
GO NOT PATRIOTS!
As for how I'm feeling... well, it's been exactly a week since the surgery and I can move pretty comfortably on one crutch and have actually started walking around the house sans crutches, period. I don't know if that's good or not... but the surgeon said "weight baring as needed" sooooooo.... Im still keeping around, that's for sure. Anyway, next report will probably be after the staples come out. I'd take a picture, but I'm sure most of you readers are a bit too queasy. But enough people ask.....
GO NOT PATRIOTS!
Monday, January 14, 2013
And it's... done?
After months and months of excruciating torture of waiting and stubbornness, it all came to a head on Friday. It happened, my knee surgery came and went. And it went as smoothly as one could assume. I had to be at the hospital Friday morning at 6 in the morning. Which was a good thing, meaning I'd be one of, if not, the first person for the day. Getting up and out wasn't a terrible issue as I had enough adrenaline running through my system most of Thursday to knock me out early so I was pretty ready come 6am.
When I got there I just had to check in and they brought me to the waiting room, where one other person was already in there and she was called pretty quickly. I was called a few minutes after. They asked my mom to wait until I was changed into scrubs and IV'd before they'd let her in... but that was pretty uneventful. From there, I was told I was scheduled to go into the OR at about 7:30. During the meantime, the anastesialogist, the OR nurse and my surgeon stopped by for last second questions/concerns/any other possible curveballs. I was sedated as they rolled me into the OR. It was cold (which they told me it'd be) and they introduced me to a bunch of people I wasn't going to remember in 15 seconds. From there I got the gas and was just told to breath.
From there, you know how in movies when someone gets knocked out and when they're coming to, the camera is wobbling and out of focus and everything seems dark? That's the next thing I remember. I see an outline of a nurse walking around but I just can't open my eyes. I keep them shut for a few moments and get my other senses revved up. I was finally able to open up my eyes and trying to get my sense of feeling back. Strangely enough, there wasn't much pain in my knee and I was feeling otherwise comfortable. As I came to, the nurse was talking to me and I'll be damned to remember any of it. The rest of my time in the hospital is kind of hazy, but I do know most of it was going over procedures and what to expect for the next week and the such.
I did mention the lack of pain in the leg and they mentioned they did put a numbing agent in my knee after the surgery which explained that... and then went on to say they gave me a script for Vicodin. I was released and promptly spent the rest of the day in bed. Annnnnndddd, I could tell the moment the numbing agent wore, off... haha. However, the pain wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Day Zero wasn't too bad otherwise, I went to sleep easy... strange enough. The next day was more of the same... started getting some pain on the top of my foot, but nothing painful. I managed a 2.5 hour trip home to Newtown without discomfort or pain and moved a little bit around on crutches. Nothing eventful outside of some awesome football games.
Sunday was OK. I tried to be a bit more mobile. I set up my desktop and listened to my bladder sooner rather then later. Meanwhile, I tried seeing how flexible my knee is. A little movement, about where I'd expect to be with no PT yet. The pain on top of my foot was getting really bad and it kept me awake for some of the night... but I beat that sonnuva bitch down and got me some sleep.
This brings me to today. Knee movement is good... I can't get it fully straight, but I can bend it ALMOST 90 degrees, which for no PT, is pretty good I think. The pain on my foot has gone down, my first PT appointment is Wednesday and I've taken off the initial gauze/bandages. So I'll probably update again after that first PT appointment.
bigbadbowes@gmail.com
When I got there I just had to check in and they brought me to the waiting room, where one other person was already in there and she was called pretty quickly. I was called a few minutes after. They asked my mom to wait until I was changed into scrubs and IV'd before they'd let her in... but that was pretty uneventful. From there, I was told I was scheduled to go into the OR at about 7:30. During the meantime, the anastesialogist, the OR nurse and my surgeon stopped by for last second questions/concerns/any other possible curveballs. I was sedated as they rolled me into the OR. It was cold (which they told me it'd be) and they introduced me to a bunch of people I wasn't going to remember in 15 seconds. From there I got the gas and was just told to breath.
From there, you know how in movies when someone gets knocked out and when they're coming to, the camera is wobbling and out of focus and everything seems dark? That's the next thing I remember. I see an outline of a nurse walking around but I just can't open my eyes. I keep them shut for a few moments and get my other senses revved up. I was finally able to open up my eyes and trying to get my sense of feeling back. Strangely enough, there wasn't much pain in my knee and I was feeling otherwise comfortable. As I came to, the nurse was talking to me and I'll be damned to remember any of it. The rest of my time in the hospital is kind of hazy, but I do know most of it was going over procedures and what to expect for the next week and the such.
I did mention the lack of pain in the leg and they mentioned they did put a numbing agent in my knee after the surgery which explained that... and then went on to say they gave me a script for Vicodin. I was released and promptly spent the rest of the day in bed. Annnnnndddd, I could tell the moment the numbing agent wore, off... haha. However, the pain wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Day Zero wasn't too bad otherwise, I went to sleep easy... strange enough. The next day was more of the same... started getting some pain on the top of my foot, but nothing painful. I managed a 2.5 hour trip home to Newtown without discomfort or pain and moved a little bit around on crutches. Nothing eventful outside of some awesome football games.
Sunday was OK. I tried to be a bit more mobile. I set up my desktop and listened to my bladder sooner rather then later. Meanwhile, I tried seeing how flexible my knee is. A little movement, about where I'd expect to be with no PT yet. The pain on top of my foot was getting really bad and it kept me awake for some of the night... but I beat that sonnuva bitch down and got me some sleep.
This brings me to today. Knee movement is good... I can't get it fully straight, but I can bend it ALMOST 90 degrees, which for no PT, is pretty good I think. The pain on my foot has gone down, my first PT appointment is Wednesday and I've taken off the initial gauze/bandages. So I'll probably update again after that first PT appointment.
bigbadbowes@gmail.com
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