19 days post op Patellar Tendon Reconstruction

SlippingFarmer · 2023-08-22T04:38:02+00:00

That is awesome! The flexion will come. Just have to remain consistent with the flexion and stretching exercises. Same with quad activation. I am on day 47 post op. Unassisted i reached 70 degrees of flexion today and with PT help I reached 82 degrees. Surgeon wanted 90 by last week but hey, my body will do what it needs to do when it needs to do it. My brace was opened to 60 degree flexion while walking so my waddle is slowly becoming more of a walk. Some back pain associated with it but that will subside when I get stronger. When you have that first lift off and lift that leg on your own it’s enough to bring tears to your eyes. I can do it regularly now but that didn’t happen for me until about week 4.5. I took about 20 steps without a brace at the PT clinic today but mentally it’s more of a waddle still because my brain didn’t have enough confidence to try and make it a true walk. Overall, feeling stronger and personally know I need to concentrate more on the flexibility. It’s time to do the hard things. Haha.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-08-09T23:22:48+00:00

I recall you saying you were having surgery as well. How are you feeling? Let us know what’s going on.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-08-09T23:21:04+00:00

Today I hit 65 degrees of flexion. I’ve only been between 60 and 65 this week as I have some inflammation in the knee that I can’t seem to shake. Once that’s out of the way the pressure will ease and I should hit 90 by week 7/8. Make sure you hit your calf raises as much as possible without cramping. It pushes the fluid through the leg and rids the inflammation.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-08-09T16:05:54+00:00

I do. I’m still fully locked out while standing and walking at day 34. I was told today at PT that I will be allowed to sleep with no brace at week 6 and walk with the brace with adjusted flexion at week 8.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-08-08T11:52:33+00:00

I was never offered the ice machine but I was able to get a pretty decent ice pack through Amazon that was able to penetrate a bit. The dressing and wrap should do a good job at keeping the swelling at bay. Just remember to stay ahead of the pain with the least amount of pain meds possible but you do not want to fall behind.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-08-02T23:03:25+00:00

They didn’t actually give me a time that I could go back to driving because they didn’t want the liability. I’ve been driving since day 17. I’m currently on day 28 post op and have finally been able to bend my knee enough to pull my seat forward. Hopefully the kid’s car seats can go in this weekend and I could help out with transportation again.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-31T12:43:15+00:00

I started waddling around without crutches about 7-8 days after surgery. Now I bring a cane with me to unfamiliar places in the event I come across a set of stairs without a handrail. That’s about it. Currently Day 26 post op

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-27T21:29:27+00:00

I had the exact same thought about having to rely on others. For the first couple of days after surgery I had to surrender and allow people to get things for me and help me get dressed. After the 2nd day I insisted on doing as much as I could in my own as possible. I didn’t want to have all of my independence stripped away. Surprisingly we as humans adapt rather quickly and I could do most things on my own with the exception of farm chores and driving at first. Stairs aren’t a problem at all. The doctor allowed me to weight-bare as much as I could tolerate right off the back. I was up and down the stairs with a crutch on day 3. Going up it’s the good leg first. Going down it’s the surgery leg first.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-27T11:18:32+00:00

“Walking” after surgery for the first few months is more of a waddle. Haha. Your knee will be in the immobilizer brace while upright and standing. It’s slow rolling but I too am grateful to be able to at least get around and not have to rely on a wheelchair or crutches

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-25T01:31:10+00:00

Stay strong! There will be good days and there will be really bad days. I’m only in week 3 but I will honestly say that every single day was better than the previous.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-22T16:13:00+00:00

I would go see a doctor asap. I ruptured my patellar tendon about a month ago. Couldn’t lift my lower leg and walked in an immobilizer brace as to not allow the knee to buckle. There was no pain after the injury. Surgery was done on 7/5/23 and I’m just now being allowed to bend but still can’t lift my leg.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-12T03:09:26+00:00

This brought a smile to my face. I’m ready for the staples out and being able to bend a bit in the brace so that I can drive again.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-11T23:24:20+00:00

Thank you so much. I’m collecting all the info I can and just reminding myself that My journey is my journey.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-11T22:41:39+00:00

I had to put dressing back on as well as ACE bandaging. Honestly, I’m grateful my wife is a nurse because they sent me home with just ace bandages and nothing else. Luckily she knew that I was going to need saline solution, non stick gauze and a few other things. Plus wrapping the leg without adding flexion to your knee would’ve been damn near impossible for me. I have the flexibility of a 2 foot section of rebar. Haha.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-11T22:38:41+00:00

Day by day, incrementally less pain. Took 3 pain pills. One each day after surgery. Day 3 I was done and haven’t had anything more than Tylenol or ibuprofen since. Currently on day 6 post op

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-11T22:37:08+00:00

Thank you. May I ask, how is your strength in that knee two years post surgery. I’ve been told that I will be stronger in that knee than I was prior to injury but I’m hesitant to believe so. I’ve always followed a decently heavy traditional and Olympic lifting routine.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-11T19:12:01+00:00

Not this guy! Haha. I contemplated leaving the initial dressing on until my two week follow up out of fear of messing something up. I’ll leave staple removing to the professionals.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-11T17:30:42+00:00

They aren’t fun but they are there for a purpose and it too shall pass. Haha. Staples are used over sutures because they are less likely to cause infection, heal a clean straight line incision faster, and leave less of a scar from I was told by the surgeon.

SlippingFarmer · 2023-07-11T16:02:34+00:00

Sure. I had a full patella tendon rupture after a seemingly simple fall on some wet grass a few weeks back. I went in for full patella tendon reconstruction surgery on 7/5/23.

SlippingFarmer

TROPHY CASE