8 Weeks, 24 Minutes & 124 Degrees

It is now 2 months post surgery. My doc told me during my follow up visit that not much happens during weeks 4-8 so here I am just past 8 weeks and I am expecting some things to start happening. I am tired of limping, not be able to come down steps normally, doing the exercises 3 days a day, going to PT 2 times a week, having this knee be the center of my life, and so on. I want to see improvement! I want to walk to the metro and then to run and ride a bike.

Improvement has come but very slowly to date. I can now ride up to 24 minutes on the exercise bike (no resistance yet). My knee will get sore and if I walked a lot (i.e. 4-5 blocks) that day, I’ll cut back to 15 minutes. After riding my exercise bike for almost 6 months, I never want to see this bike when I can finally run and bike. Watch Craigs List for a stationary bike come October. My last ROM measurement was 124 degrees of flexion (140 is normal and what I’m aiming for) so I do have a bit to go yet. The extension is still, as expected, giving me problems and I really need to work on this. And, my knee is still swollen so I ice it 2-3 times a day and take Advil daily.

If all goes well, I hope to be running and riding my bike in the Fall amongst the newly fallen autumn leaves.

An ACL Injury is Nothing to Complain About

Since my ACL injury and surgery, I seem to take more notice to people on the street who use canes, crutches, wheelchairs, etc. as well as zero in on stories of those who have had heart-wrenching sports-related accidents. These athletes have seen their lives change from being one where the things they did drew crowds of fans and admirers to one where wiggling a toe or lifting a hand is a great feat. As I continue my PT and rehab and wait months and months to get back to normal activities, they may have to will wait years and years, and maybe not ever, to gain back what they once had. When I read these stories, I am in awe of and have respect for them as they continue onwards after such horrific accidents and persevere with a determination that is truly amazing.

One such person is Stephen Murray, a top professional bicycle motocross rider, who was paralyzed in a crash during the opening event of the AST Dew Tour's 2007 season. It is considered the worst accident ever in BMX, a crash so severe that many witnesses still decline to talk about it. During his last run, Murray landed on his head and hyperextended his neck upon impact. He had crushed the C3, C4 and C5 vertebrae in his neck. Doctors inserted 16 screws and three titanium plates to stabilize his spine during two seven-hour surgeries. Murray, one year since the accident, can now move muscles in his arms and his legs and he will see usable improvement in muscle function that will change his quality of life. Murray does not dwell on what happened or express any bitterness. The accident, he says, is his reality. No use in trying to escape it. Read the full story in The Washington Post.

More or Less the Same

I had my 5 week + post surgery follow up today. Nothing out of the ordinary to report. My knee is a bit more swollen than it should be so more Advil and icing will be needed -- and no overdoing it. Until the swelling goes down, the quad really won’t start to do its thing. Dr. K. said I probably won’t notice too much improvement during the 4-8 week stage. After that is when I will start to really work to strengthen the quad to get that full extension which has eluded me since the injury in late January. Dr. K is confident it will come so I’ll believe him! So, until then, more limping.

However, once again I think I’m walking a little better. I’m going upstairs very slowly but almost normally. Going downstairs is still one step at a time – downstairs is always more difficult. I’m hoping to ditch the 2 buses I take to work next week and take the Metro. It’s a 3 block walk from the Metro to work, which I walked today, but a 5 block walk – uphill – from the Metro to my house, which is still a bit out of my range.

I also hope to start going back to the gym next week now that I can drive. I’m doing “heavy hands” at home but it’s been over 5 weeks since I worked on the upper body equipment. I’m up to 15 minutes on the bike and hope to increase that to 20 minutes, then up to 24 minutes which was my normal time. This is all fine but I still can’t wait for the big day when I can run and bike outdoors. I can only guess that will be in October. Tiger said it best yesterday: “As far as long-term, I really don't know. Everyone heals at a different rate. Some people are back playing sports in six months, some are nine, some are twelve. No one really knows until we start the rehab process and see how this thing heals."

Help Stop Animal Abuse: Pigeon Shoots

As you may be able to tell, I am against animal abuse and as well as using animals for entertainment and sports. Every once and awhile I really get ticked off and just shake my head in awe and get sick to my stomach at the things people do to animals. Pigeon shoots, which are events where shooters aim at dazed pigeons launched randomly from boxes with the goal of downing the birds within a ring for prizes, is one example of a “sporting event” that is allowed in Pennsylvania which is not only inhumane but makes the state look like some type of third-world nation.

However, legislation has been introduced that will stop these pigeon shoots. It will also end barbaric events like the recent turkey shoot where live turkeys had their feet tied to bales of hay and were shot with arrows.

If you live in Pennsylvania, please contact your representative via the U.S. Humane Society’s advocacy feature and have them support this legislation.

Not Much to Report

For those following my progress after ACL surgey, I just thought I'd touch base. However, there's not much to report. I believe my walking may be getting a little better or else I may just be getting use to walking with a limp. Nothing exciting or different happening at PT or with my rehab exercises. I assume they will give me more to do in the near future. I've already started doing two sets for some exercises.

One strange thing is happening. When I do certain exercises (i.e. heel slides) or ride the bike (I can now do revolutions but not very consistently or smoothly), I hit a "dread-end". It feels like something is in the way and if my knee slips or moves after I hit this point, I want to jump through the wall. It's a very distinct but strange pain and I HATE it. I don't know what it is except maybe scar tissue. I heard if you can't get rid of the scar tissue, it's back to the cutting board. My PT doesn't seem to concerned about it but I'll ask my surgeon about it when I go for my follow-up on July 1. I want to be walking better by then so he gives me a nod of approval. I feel like I need to please him; like this has now taken on a teacher/student relationship.

Behind the Wheel Once More

I got the okay to drive and took a spin the the grocery store. It feels so good to be able to be independent once again after one month. I did drive more slowly than I usually do as my reaction time still isn't up to par. The leg didn't like being in the position it was in for too long. Driving around town doing errands is one thing but I plan to drive to Pennsylvania July 3 and I know my knee will squawk as the trip is 4-4 1/2 hours.

So, this time one month ago, I was lying in bed just getting back from surgery. I definitely see an improvement since then. However, you just don't see much happening from day to day and that gets frustrating. The PT is trying to explain to me how to walk and I am just not getting it. You basically lead with your heel and then go up on your toes and bend your knee, then straighten it. However, I just can't get it. Hopefully it will come to me as walking the way I now do is really bugging me and my foot hurts as I'm not doing what I should be doing.

My knee is still swollen but that's how it was after I injured it. I think it took at least 2 months + for all the swelling to go away so I don't expect anything less after surgery. It's also starting to itch. Now, I remember as a kid my mom would say that meant it's getting better. I'll just put my faith in the folklore and believe it is getting better.

Tiger’s Like Me!

I now share something with Tiger Woods: a torn ACL. Tiger ruptured his ACL while running last summer. He had been hoping to "play through the pain" this year and opted to wait and have the ACL surgery done after the '08 season so he could continue to do what he does best – win golf championships. In lieu of the full blown ACL surgery (ACL replacement), he had arthroscopic knee surgery on April 15 to repair cartilage damage. However, that was not enough and his knee finally said enough is enough (witness how he winced in pain during swings and limped away from his astonishing win at the U.S. Open ). So, now the world of golf will be less exciting for awhile, while Tiger undergoes ACL surgery and an extensive post surgery rehab program.

There are many athletes that tear or rupture their ACLs and most want to get back into the action instead of ending their careers. A lot of money is riding on this. I think for this reason, ACL surgery techniques and post surgery recovery procedures have made great improvements in the past 10 years or so paving the way for mere mortals like me to benefit from these advancements. Thank you to all these athletes for helping to make my surgery a relatively minor medical procedure. However, the rehab is a different story and not too much can help with having to do the rehab exercises at home 3-5 days a time.

Good luck Tiger. If you need any feedback on the surgery or rehab, let me know. I learned a lot in the past several months and am still looking to others to help me get through the rehab.