Well, it has been a year, exactly! So, how do I feel after a year? I feel about 90% back in terms of my quickness, and really strong. I am not wearing any brace. That was my goal. I wanted to feel comfortable on the court, or doing anything athletic without a brace, and I am happy to report that I feel that way.
Each time I am on the court, I feel a bit faster, and my reaction time is a bit better.
I really think that I am ready to start competing again!!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
November 2006
Well, it turns out that I had a slight setback with my hamstring. I strained it a bit. I did all of the phsyical therapy exercises in October, and it was back in shape in a couple of weeks.
I played singles today, and I was running like crazy. It seems that I need to keep doing the weights and keep stretching my muscles, and everything will be in order.
I now have a weight training regimen.... Monday, Thursday and Saturdays!
Tennis on Wednesday, Friday and Sundays.
Tuesday is my day of rest!!
I played singles today, and I was running like crazy. It seems that I need to keep doing the weights and keep stretching my muscles, and everything will be in order.
I now have a weight training regimen.... Monday, Thursday and Saturdays!
Tennis on Wednesday, Friday and Sundays.
Tuesday is my day of rest!!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
September 2006
September is the month when real competition starts. I have been playing in the Greater Washington Tennis Association (GWTA) league for years, and this is the true test of my knee.
Since I last wrote in the blog, my movement on the court has gotten better and better. Some people that I play with say that from the first ball hit, to 2 hours later, they notice the difference.
I have now played 3 competitve doubles matches and my knee is holding up fine. I can now get to more balls then in August, but still do not have eveything back. I feel that I am 85% in terms of quickness and movement.
I did have a wierd feeling on the court the other day in my hamstring, and it made me a little cautious, but there was no swelling or pain. I was in the middle of an intense doubles point with a lot of quick movement, and I just felt a jarring in my hamstring.
I am playing singles, and able to get drop shots, and run side to side. I have not started competing again in singles.... I will wait for the tournament season to start back up in January.
In terms of endurance, I have played two doubles matches in the same day... about 3 hours of tennis with no problem. Also, playing 2 hours of singes is not an issue.
So, overall, I am in good shape and the surgery worked wonders.
Since I last wrote in the blog, my movement on the court has gotten better and better. Some people that I play with say that from the first ball hit, to 2 hours later, they notice the difference.
I have now played 3 competitve doubles matches and my knee is holding up fine. I can now get to more balls then in August, but still do not have eveything back. I feel that I am 85% in terms of quickness and movement.
I did have a wierd feeling on the court the other day in my hamstring, and it made me a little cautious, but there was no swelling or pain. I was in the middle of an intense doubles point with a lot of quick movement, and I just felt a jarring in my hamstring.
I am playing singles, and able to get drop shots, and run side to side. I have not started competing again in singles.... I will wait for the tournament season to start back up in January.
In terms of endurance, I have played two doubles matches in the same day... about 3 hours of tennis with no problem. Also, playing 2 hours of singes is not an issue.
So, overall, I am in good shape and the surgery worked wonders.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
August 20, 2006 - Back on the court in a real way!!
So, it has been 4 months since I have written in the blog. Right after I had my last physical therapy, and was instructed to finish physical therapy on the tennis court, I had an accident in the kitchen...
I was pitting an avacado, and the knife slipped and cut my left hand. It turns out that I cut through 2 tendons and the nerve that runs up through my pinky. So, I had surgery to repair that mishap, and was not allowed to exercise for fear of increasing the swelling in my left hand. After 6 weeks with my hand in a brace, and physical therapy, I was finally out on the tennis court for the first time on June 4.
It is now about 10 weeks after my first step back onto the court, and I feel like my strokes are back, my serve is coming back, and my running and anticipation are making progress.
At first, I did not move for the ball at all. Then as I kept hitting with different people, my movement got better and better. I used to be a bunny rabbit on the court, getting to each and every ball. Now, that is not yet the case, but I can get to drop shots, but not fast enough to have lots of choices. I get there just in time to get the ball over the net. In terms of side to side movement, I am better moving to the left than to the right. Planting on the right left is easier than on the left. I have come a long way since the first time I stepped on the court in the beginning of June. I expect that I will be ready to compete by January. Another 4 months of hard work!
I was pitting an avacado, and the knife slipped and cut my left hand. It turns out that I cut through 2 tendons and the nerve that runs up through my pinky. So, I had surgery to repair that mishap, and was not allowed to exercise for fear of increasing the swelling in my left hand. After 6 weeks with my hand in a brace, and physical therapy, I was finally out on the tennis court for the first time on June 4.
It is now about 10 weeks after my first step back onto the court, and I feel like my strokes are back, my serve is coming back, and my running and anticipation are making progress.
At first, I did not move for the ball at all. Then as I kept hitting with different people, my movement got better and better. I used to be a bunny rabbit on the court, getting to each and every ball. Now, that is not yet the case, but I can get to drop shots, but not fast enough to have lots of choices. I get there just in time to get the ball over the net. In terms of side to side movement, I am better moving to the left than to the right. Planting on the right left is easier than on the left. I have come a long way since the first time I stepped on the court in the beginning of June. I expect that I will be ready to compete by January. Another 4 months of hard work!
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
18 Weeks Since Surgery
It has been 4 months since surgery, and I had my last physical therapy appointment today. Yipee... I am all clear to start my tennis recovery. I have been doing my normal weight lifting routine and have been running 2 miles.
I have lost my fast twitch muscles, but my phsyical therapist assured me that it would come back in time.
Also, I cannot back pedal the way I used to. Again, it will take time.
My next step is back to the tennis court!
I have lost my fast twitch muscles, but my phsyical therapist assured me that it would come back in time.
Also, I cannot back pedal the way I used to. Again, it will take time.
My next step is back to the tennis court!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Hitting against the Backboard in 15 weeks and 6 days!
Today, I ventured to the ol' backboard. I have been feeling really good and felt I was ready.
I hit for about 30 minutes... not running for anything. In fact, it took me a while to even move my feet.....
I am a bit rusty, I must admit, but it was so nice to have my racquet in my hand, and a ball on my strings!
I hit for about 30 minutes... not running for anything. In fact, it took me a while to even move my feet.....
I am a bit rusty, I must admit, but it was so nice to have my racquet in my hand, and a ball on my strings!
Monday, April 10, 2006
15 Weeks Since Surgery
This week at physical therapy, I had my 3 month evaluation. As a result, my physical therapist said that she only wants to see me once/week in April, and then I am released to the tennis court.
UNBELEIVABLE!!!!
How exciting is that!
Well, I ran two days in a row, and the first day was great. My strides were longer and I ran a little bit faster.
The second day, I got a cramp in my calf muscle and had to walk home.
I have also been throwing the lacrosse ball with my son, and shooting hoops.... doing lay-ups on the left side is good therapy (according to my physical therapist) for my left knee..... okay.... I love to shoot hoops.
My leg is really starting to feel normal... like I do not notice it..... much more.
UNBELEIVABLE!!!!
How exciting is that!
Well, I ran two days in a row, and the first day was great. My strides were longer and I ran a little bit faster.
The second day, I got a cramp in my calf muscle and had to walk home.
I have also been throwing the lacrosse ball with my son, and shooting hoops.... doing lay-ups on the left side is good therapy (according to my physical therapist) for my left knee..... okay.... I love to shoot hoops.
My leg is really starting to feel normal... like I do not notice it..... much more.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
14 Weeks Since Surgery
Progress is slow and steady. This week I ran 2 miles a couple of times, and my running stride was longer. It took about 30 minutes to run the 2 miles last week, but this week, it was about 25 minutes. I forgot to time myself today... but my husband was like, "You're home already?" So, I am taking that is a good sign that I ran faster today than the other day.
My hamstring is still tight and I am continuing to work on that.
I am still aiming for May 1 to get on the court. I am really starting to itch to play tennis!
My hamstring is still tight and I am continuing to work on that.
I am still aiming for May 1 to get on the court. I am really starting to itch to play tennis!
Friday, March 24, 2006
13 Weeks Since Surgery
The biggest news for this week is that I just jogged 2 miles.... no walking, no stopping, just plain ol' jogging!
I am continuing to work on plyometric-like exerises in physical therapy.
My knee is still a bit stiff at times, and I am still weak in my hamstring, but other than that, I am progressing well.
I am continuing to work on plyometric-like exerises in physical therapy.
My knee is still a bit stiff at times, and I am still weak in my hamstring, but other than that, I am progressing well.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Ran a Mile!!!
18 March 2006
I ran/walked my first mile since my surgery! My physical therapist said to find a high school track... much better for you than the sidewalk.
My husband and son came for moral support! 4 times around the track... jogging, walking a little, and jogging!
Yehahhhh!!!!
I ran/walked my first mile since my surgery! My physical therapist said to find a high school track... much better for you than the sidewalk.
My husband and son came for moral support! 4 times around the track... jogging, walking a little, and jogging!
Yehahhhh!!!!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
March 15, 2006 - It has been 12 weeks since surgery!
Alright! I am at my 12 week mark. I went to see my orthopedic surgeon, and my knee is looking good. He said that I could get on the tennis court on May 1, but only with a pro hitting balls to me. No competition until mid-June.
Also, the weakness in my hamstring is to be expected, he said. Since I had a hamstring graft, it just takes time for the hamstring to recover.
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What am I doing in physical therapy, you may ask? Well, we are really working on lateral moves, and change of direction. I am doing some running, quickly stopping, changing directions.... running forward and backwards. Also working on quick steps, and jumping exercises like I use to do when doing plyometrics.
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On my non-physical therapy days, I am riding my bike for at least 20 minutes. I want to ride for 30, but it gets really boring... even though I am watching tennis on tv while riding. I am doing about 200 situps and working my upper body as well as my lower body. I am lifting almost the same weight I was before I got injured on my leg press and my calf raises. I am back to my weight on my hamstring work.... now, though, I am realizing how weak my hamstrings were before I got injured.
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I pretty much have forgotten about my knee during the day, driving, and while at work. My gait is almost completely normal. I did start wearing high heels, but have backed off a bit because sometimes my leg is tired after a day in high heels.
Also, the weakness in my hamstring is to be expected, he said. Since I had a hamstring graft, it just takes time for the hamstring to recover.
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What am I doing in physical therapy, you may ask? Well, we are really working on lateral moves, and change of direction. I am doing some running, quickly stopping, changing directions.... running forward and backwards. Also working on quick steps, and jumping exercises like I use to do when doing plyometrics.
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On my non-physical therapy days, I am riding my bike for at least 20 minutes. I want to ride for 30, but it gets really boring... even though I am watching tennis on tv while riding. I am doing about 200 situps and working my upper body as well as my lower body. I am lifting almost the same weight I was before I got injured on my leg press and my calf raises. I am back to my weight on my hamstring work.... now, though, I am realizing how weak my hamstrings were before I got injured.
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I pretty much have forgotten about my knee during the day, driving, and while at work. My gait is almost completely normal. I did start wearing high heels, but have backed off a bit because sometimes my leg is tired after a day in high heels.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
11 Weeks Since Surgery
I am really starting to NOT notice my knee a lot more now.
In physical therapy this week, we started working on plyometric-like exercises, such as forward jumping, backward jumping, and diagonal jumping. I continue to do fast steps on a trampoline, and have started doing quick up and down steps on a step that they use in step aerobics. In addition, I am doing balancing exercises on a balance ball and circling a medicine ball around my body with my hands. That is really tough.
We are using the gym floor to do side to side shuffling, starting to do running (yeah).
I am still working really hard on my hamstrings. Working on the kick up to my butt.
I do not feel quite ready to get on the tennis court, but can see that in 3 to 4 weeks, I will probably start to feel ready... whether I am ready is another story!
In physical therapy this week, we started working on plyometric-like exercises, such as forward jumping, backward jumping, and diagonal jumping. I continue to do fast steps on a trampoline, and have started doing quick up and down steps on a step that they use in step aerobics. In addition, I am doing balancing exercises on a balance ball and circling a medicine ball around my body with my hands. That is really tough.
We are using the gym floor to do side to side shuffling, starting to do running (yeah).
I am still working really hard on my hamstrings. Working on the kick up to my butt.
I do not feel quite ready to get on the tennis court, but can see that in 3 to 4 weeks, I will probably start to feel ready... whether I am ready is another story!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
10 Weeks Post Surgery
Things are really starting to change now.
For example, sometimes, I have to remind myself to be careful with my left knee. When I am driving, for example, both legs feel exactly the same. And when I walk, I do not feel my knee they way that I used to.
We are doing a lot more lateral movement and jumping in physical therapy.
I am still have trouble with my hamstring firing, and I am working on exercises to bring the hamstring back to life.
For example, sometimes, I have to remind myself to be careful with my left knee. When I am driving, for example, both legs feel exactly the same. And when I walk, I do not feel my knee they way that I used to.
We are doing a lot more lateral movement and jumping in physical therapy.
I am still have trouble with my hamstring firing, and I am working on exercises to bring the hamstring back to life.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
9 Weeks since Surgery
My rehabilitation is progressing. I am not seeing the big jumps in progress the way I saw earlier on, and that is a little frustrating, but to be expected.
My knee just swells slightly when I workout, but ice takes the swelling away.
I am doing the following exercises now, either in physical therapy, or at home:
Sometimes I don't feel my left knee at all, and then I start to think... oh, wow, this is going to be what it is like when I am totally recovered.... and then I start to feel my knee... whether it is stiff, or tired, etc..
I notice that when I am standing, I favor my right leg rather than my left. I am trying to make an effort of distributing my weight evenly on both legs.
My physical therapist said today that the next 4 weeks are the most critical in my rehab because I am starting to feel good with my leg, and at the same time, the ACL has totally been accepted in my body yet. This is the period where most people get into trouble by doing too much or tweaking their knee and retearing their ACL..... so, I say, it is better to be cautious!
My knee just swells slightly when I workout, but ice takes the swelling away.
I am doing the following exercises now, either in physical therapy, or at home:
- Stationary Bike - 30 minutes
- Eliptical Machine - 15 minutes
- Leg Press with weights
- Calf Raises - both seated and standing with weights
- Squats with weights
- Hamstring Curls - while sitting with weights
- Quick Steps - while in a squat position - on a trampoline
- Lateral moves in a squat position across a floor
- Starting to work on running exercises
- Balance exercises on balance boards or standing on balance balls
Sometimes I don't feel my left knee at all, and then I start to think... oh, wow, this is going to be what it is like when I am totally recovered.... and then I start to feel my knee... whether it is stiff, or tired, etc..
I notice that when I am standing, I favor my right leg rather than my left. I am trying to make an effort of distributing my weight evenly on both legs.
My physical therapist said today that the next 4 weeks are the most critical in my rehab because I am starting to feel good with my leg, and at the same time, the ACL has totally been accepted in my body yet. This is the period where most people get into trouble by doing too much or tweaking their knee and retearing their ACL..... so, I say, it is better to be cautious!
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
8 Weeks since Surgery
It is now 8 weeks since surgery and the infection in my incision is gone and the incision is healing quite nicely.... again!
I have full extension back, and am walking normally. We actually started working on a little running in physical therapy yesterday!
My knee is still a little swollen, and does swell up when I exercise it, but 15 minutes of ice after the workouts or physical therapy, and the swelling is reduced.
I am able to march, with high knees, but I am not able to kick my foot up to my butt. I have the flexibility, but my hamstring is not allowing me to actively kick backwards bending from the knee. My physical therapist says that it takes time for the hamstring to heal when a hamstring graft is used for the ACL.
Oh, and I got my leg to bend 141 degrees.... the goal is 150 degrees!
I have full extension back, and am walking normally. We actually started working on a little running in physical therapy yesterday!
My knee is still a little swollen, and does swell up when I exercise it, but 15 minutes of ice after the workouts or physical therapy, and the swelling is reduced.
I am able to march, with high knees, but I am not able to kick my foot up to my butt. I have the flexibility, but my hamstring is not allowing me to actively kick backwards bending from the knee. My physical therapist says that it takes time for the hamstring to heal when a hamstring graft is used for the ACL.
Oh, and I got my leg to bend 141 degrees.... the goal is 150 degrees!
High Heels in 55 Days
It has been 55 days since my surgery (7 weeks and 6 days) and I wore high heel shoes today. I am so done with those Birkenstocks. No offense to Birkenstocks, they are so comfortable, but they do not go with my suits and office attire!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Seven Weeks Since Surgery
I am now riding the bike for 30 minutes on a regular basis. It feels so good to ride the bike. I am winded after 30 minutes, so hopefully this will build back my stamina.
I have moved on to more challenging exercises at physical therapy. Yesterday, I did the leg press, calf raises, and hamstring exercises with weights. Then, I did little hopping exercises, and marching exercises to work on my walking. I moved on to work on lateral exercises... so I did side stepping... kind of like what basketball players do when they are practicing defense. I did this across a basketball floor a couple of times... that was good.... I got a good quad burn from this. After that, we moved on to balance. I stood on a balance disk with my left foot and threw a ball to a trampoline-like device and had to catch the ball. This was a great exercise for balance and stamina for my leg. Then on to control - the big monster machine makes me work more on control than strength and I did that for both my quads and hamstrings.
I got my leg to bend to 141 degrees.... my target is 150. That is what my right legs is when my heel touches my butt.
Today, when I started to work on my full extension.... I already had it!! That is the first time. I think that is considered a breakthrough!
I am still not comfortable wearing high heels, and I am still on the cusp of walking without a limp.... I can feel that next week will be my big breakthrough. I will let you know as soon as it happens.
I have moved on to more challenging exercises at physical therapy. Yesterday, I did the leg press, calf raises, and hamstring exercises with weights. Then, I did little hopping exercises, and marching exercises to work on my walking. I moved on to work on lateral exercises... so I did side stepping... kind of like what basketball players do when they are practicing defense. I did this across a basketball floor a couple of times... that was good.... I got a good quad burn from this. After that, we moved on to balance. I stood on a balance disk with my left foot and threw a ball to a trampoline-like device and had to catch the ball. This was a great exercise for balance and stamina for my leg. Then on to control - the big monster machine makes me work more on control than strength and I did that for both my quads and hamstrings.
I got my leg to bend to 141 degrees.... my target is 150. That is what my right legs is when my heel touches my butt.
Today, when I started to work on my full extension.... I already had it!! That is the first time. I think that is considered a breakthrough!
I am still not comfortable wearing high heels, and I am still on the cusp of walking without a limp.... I can feel that next week will be my big breakthrough. I will let you know as soon as it happens.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Rounding out the Sixth Week
So, I am at the end of the sixth week, on the cusp of the seventh. I had a turning point yesterday. I actually did my normal weight routine, with less weight for my legs. I rode the bike for 20 minutes and boy did that feel good. I am so ready to move on to more challenging exercises.
Today in physical therapy we did just a little bit of lateral exercises... but I can hardly wait for Thursday, my next apt. I am ready to go farther.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that I am almost back to my normal walking gait.
Unfortunately, my muscles are starting to atrophy. Since I am not playing tennis every day, my core and upper body is just not getting enough of a workout. In addition, my right side is not getting what it needs, and is starting to atrophy. This just means that I am going to work a bit harder to keep my muscles in good shape!
Today in physical therapy we did just a little bit of lateral exercises... but I can hardly wait for Thursday, my next apt. I am ready to go farther.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that I am almost back to my normal walking gait.
Unfortunately, my muscles are starting to atrophy. Since I am not playing tennis every day, my core and upper body is just not getting enough of a workout. In addition, my right side is not getting what it needs, and is starting to atrophy. This just means that I am going to work a bit harder to keep my muscles in good shape!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
6 Weeks from Surgery
It has been 6 weeks since surgery, and for the most part I am progressing quite nicely. My infection has almost cleared up. One more day of antibiotics!!!
I went to physical therapy yesterday and it was hard to feel smooth on the olyptical machine, but after about 5 minutes, my knee and muscles loosened up. I added the leg press to my workout routine. That is a big step. I now have 4 different weight machines that I am doing.
Today I did my exercises at home, and it only took about 30 seconds on the bike before my knee was loose. I think that the infection tightened up my knee joint, and I am just now coming out of it. I think that by Friday this week, I will be back to where I was last Friday.... mentally that is tough, but at least I am back to progressing. I was a bit worried when I saw no improvement, but now I am feeling more at ease.
So, anyway, back to working out today. I did the leg press, the hamstring curl, and the calf raises at home on my Bowflex machine. All with really low weights and it felt great!!!
I am not walking with my normal gait.... once the infection is cleared and the knee joint is loosened, I think I will be walking normally!!
I went to physical therapy yesterday and it was hard to feel smooth on the olyptical machine, but after about 5 minutes, my knee and muscles loosened up. I added the leg press to my workout routine. That is a big step. I now have 4 different weight machines that I am doing.
Today I did my exercises at home, and it only took about 30 seconds on the bike before my knee was loose. I think that the infection tightened up my knee joint, and I am just now coming out of it. I think that by Friday this week, I will be back to where I was last Friday.... mentally that is tough, but at least I am back to progressing. I was a bit worried when I saw no improvement, but now I am feeling more at ease.
So, anyway, back to working out today. I did the leg press, the hamstring curl, and the calf raises at home on my Bowflex machine. All with really low weights and it felt great!!!
I am not walking with my normal gait.... once the infection is cleared and the knee joint is loosened, I think I will be walking normally!!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Regression.... it's so depressing!!
It is Tuesday and I have been on the antibiotics since Friday. The infection is slowly going away, but I have lost my full extension, and I am not able to bend my knee quite as much as last week.
I went to see my doctor today and he said that I probably caused the infection by putting the vitamin E on the incision before it was scarred over. I used my finger to apply the vitamin E instead of a sterile q-tip. Lesson Learned!!! He said that by putting the vitamin E on using my finger, I transferred that bacteria into the incision and then sealed it in there with the oily vitamin E. He was not too worried about loosing my flexibility or full extension. He said that you will have highs and lows and if you work particularly hard, you could have a set back.
Then, I went to physical therapy, and my physical therapist definately felt that my knee joint was tighter. She said that because of the infection, there could be swelling in the joint and not to worry about it. I continued to work hard at PT and even added the leg press as a new machine. My knee feels good as I am doing the exercises.... while it is all warmed up, but then, when it cools down, it stiffens up.
I have to take the antibiotics through Thursday. Let's hope that by Friday I am back to where I was last Friday (minus the infection!).
I went to see my doctor today and he said that I probably caused the infection by putting the vitamin E on the incision before it was scarred over. I used my finger to apply the vitamin E instead of a sterile q-tip. Lesson Learned!!! He said that by putting the vitamin E on using my finger, I transferred that bacteria into the incision and then sealed it in there with the oily vitamin E. He was not too worried about loosing my flexibility or full extension. He said that you will have highs and lows and if you work particularly hard, you could have a set back.
Then, I went to physical therapy, and my physical therapist definately felt that my knee joint was tighter. She said that because of the infection, there could be swelling in the joint and not to worry about it. I continued to work hard at PT and even added the leg press as a new machine. My knee feels good as I am doing the exercises.... while it is all warmed up, but then, when it cools down, it stiffens up.
I have to take the antibiotics through Thursday. Let's hope that by Friday I am back to where I was last Friday (minus the infection!).
Sunday, January 29, 2006
5 1/2 Weeks after Surgery
So, this week has been filled with ups and downs.
On Thursday, at physical therapy, I added new exercises with weights! I did the olyptical machine and it felt great. My walking gait was progressing along quite nicely and at home I was riding my bike and increasing my exercises.
Then.... my incision got a little infection from the inside. I watched it from the beginning of the week and it seemed to get better then worse and back and forth, until Friday afternoon when I went back to my doctor's office to have him look at it. He tested my knee joint and the infection did not get into the joint. He prescribed these horse pills... did I say that I have issues with swallowing pills? .... needless to say, these are the largest pills I have ever had to swallow. They are like the size of an appetizer weiner in a blanket!! Still, coming out of my doctor's office, I was feelilng great. I came home and did my workout, and took the horse pill expecting the infection to disappear right away!
Friday night, my leg started to get tight... like my hamstring muscle was just tightening up and I was loosing my flexibilty that I had worked so hard for. I had a tough time sleeping because I could not get my knee in a comfortable position. The incision was sore and when I laid down on my side, I could not find a good position for my knee.
On Saturday, my leg was still stiff. Now, I do know if this was because of the extra hard workout on the olymptical and weight machines or because of the infection. I did my exercises... but where riding the bike was easy for the last week or so, today it took 10 minutes to loosen up my knee enough to get a smooth circular motion.
Now it is Sunday. and I am on the 3rd day of antibiotics and still waiting for the infection to go away. The incision does look a little better, but it is like watching water boil! I am doing stretching exercises to get my full extension back, and it comes back through the exercises, and then say a half hour later, it is tight again..... It is going to be a day of stretching!!
On Thursday, at physical therapy, I added new exercises with weights! I did the olyptical machine and it felt great. My walking gait was progressing along quite nicely and at home I was riding my bike and increasing my exercises.
Then.... my incision got a little infection from the inside. I watched it from the beginning of the week and it seemed to get better then worse and back and forth, until Friday afternoon when I went back to my doctor's office to have him look at it. He tested my knee joint and the infection did not get into the joint. He prescribed these horse pills... did I say that I have issues with swallowing pills? .... needless to say, these are the largest pills I have ever had to swallow. They are like the size of an appetizer weiner in a blanket!! Still, coming out of my doctor's office, I was feelilng great. I came home and did my workout, and took the horse pill expecting the infection to disappear right away!
Friday night, my leg started to get tight... like my hamstring muscle was just tightening up and I was loosing my flexibilty that I had worked so hard for. I had a tough time sleeping because I could not get my knee in a comfortable position. The incision was sore and when I laid down on my side, I could not find a good position for my knee.
On Saturday, my leg was still stiff. Now, I do know if this was because of the extra hard workout on the olymptical and weight machines or because of the infection. I did my exercises... but where riding the bike was easy for the last week or so, today it took 10 minutes to loosen up my knee enough to get a smooth circular motion.
Now it is Sunday. and I am on the 3rd day of antibiotics and still waiting for the infection to go away. The incision does look a little better, but it is like watching water boil! I am doing stretching exercises to get my full extension back, and it comes back through the exercises, and then say a half hour later, it is tight again..... It is going to be a day of stretching!!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
5 Weeks after Surgery
January 25, 2006 and I am now 5 weeks after surgery.
I have stopped taking the Alleve and my knee is not swelling anymore than the little bit around the knee. That will just take a while to go down. I am not getting any increased swelling after I do my physical therapy or exercises at home.
I rode my bike (on the trainer) today for 15 minutes and I am pedaling quite fast. I have come a long way since the first day that my physical therapist let me get on the bike. When I am on the bike, it feels like nothing is wrong with my knee.... it feels great!
I am now walking up and down the stairs with one foot per stair. It is not completely smooth, but I am able to go up and down almost normally. I actually am doing better on the stairs than I am with getting my walk back to normal. The one thing that I still have an issue with on the stairs is my quad control when I am going down the stairs.
I am still limping a bit when I walk. I am having a really hard time lifting my foo t up behind me. That is the action that you need to use when you walk. I can march just fine, but the kicking off the back when walking is still hard. We are working on that in physical therapy.
A couple of days ago, I wore a pair of loafers with a half inch heel, and my calf and leg was really tired the next day. I thought that I could wear a loafer with a tiny heel, but apparently not!
I am doing a lot of different exercises, some with my physical therapist, and some at home. At physical therapy, we have been working on my walking, and so we are doing marching, walking backwards, walking with tiny steps, putting a band around both legs at the knee and moving sideways to the right and then sideways to the left. Then, working on the quad muscle, I am doing quad contractions, and leg raises while lying down. For my hamstrings, I am doing an exercise where I put my feet on an exercise ball, while lying down with my legs fully extended. Then lift by butt up and holding that position, working the hamstrings. Then, in the same position, bending my knees and bringing the ball close to my butt. Both of those exercises work the hamstrings.
For balance, I am using an exercise band wrapped around my good leg and a pole. Then, standing on my bad leg, I am extending out my right leg increasing the tension on the exercise band.... This makes my bad leg (left) work on the balance, while my right leg is engaged in activity. Another balance exercise is to stand on a balance platform with my left leg, and balance for 30 seconds and then repeat a couple of times. It is easy for the first 30 seconds, but by the time I get to the 3rd set, my leg gets really tired.
At physical thearpy, there is this machine that they refer to as the monster. When hooked up to the monster, you can make your leg work in isolated exercises and measure the force that your leg is working.... in addition, you can work on controlling your muscles....don't ask me how it works... but it does.
I am still doing the killer heel slides, which are not so much of a killer anymore. I am able to slide my heel almost up to my butt. I am also doing squats, but in a very limited way. I am ready to increase the squats. Oh, and I just added weight to my leg raises today. I put on a 1 pound weight.
The physical therapy appointments are about 1.5 hours now... they used to be just 1 hour, but there is more to do now.
At home, it takes me between 1 hour and 1.5 hours to complete all of the exercises.
I have stopped taking the Alleve and my knee is not swelling anymore than the little bit around the knee. That will just take a while to go down. I am not getting any increased swelling after I do my physical therapy or exercises at home.
I rode my bike (on the trainer) today for 15 minutes and I am pedaling quite fast. I have come a long way since the first day that my physical therapist let me get on the bike. When I am on the bike, it feels like nothing is wrong with my knee.... it feels great!
I am now walking up and down the stairs with one foot per stair. It is not completely smooth, but I am able to go up and down almost normally. I actually am doing better on the stairs than I am with getting my walk back to normal. The one thing that I still have an issue with on the stairs is my quad control when I am going down the stairs.
I am still limping a bit when I walk. I am having a really hard time lifting my foo t up behind me. That is the action that you need to use when you walk. I can march just fine, but the kicking off the back when walking is still hard. We are working on that in physical therapy.
A couple of days ago, I wore a pair of loafers with a half inch heel, and my calf and leg was really tired the next day. I thought that I could wear a loafer with a tiny heel, but apparently not!
I am doing a lot of different exercises, some with my physical therapist, and some at home. At physical therapy, we have been working on my walking, and so we are doing marching, walking backwards, walking with tiny steps, putting a band around both legs at the knee and moving sideways to the right and then sideways to the left. Then, working on the quad muscle, I am doing quad contractions, and leg raises while lying down. For my hamstrings, I am doing an exercise where I put my feet on an exercise ball, while lying down with my legs fully extended. Then lift by butt up and holding that position, working the hamstrings. Then, in the same position, bending my knees and bringing the ball close to my butt. Both of those exercises work the hamstrings.
For balance, I am using an exercise band wrapped around my good leg and a pole. Then, standing on my bad leg, I am extending out my right leg increasing the tension on the exercise band.... This makes my bad leg (left) work on the balance, while my right leg is engaged in activity. Another balance exercise is to stand on a balance platform with my left leg, and balance for 30 seconds and then repeat a couple of times. It is easy for the first 30 seconds, but by the time I get to the 3rd set, my leg gets really tired.
At physical thearpy, there is this machine that they refer to as the monster. When hooked up to the monster, you can make your leg work in isolated exercises and measure the force that your leg is working.... in addition, you can work on controlling your muscles....don't ask me how it works... but it does.
I am still doing the killer heel slides, which are not so much of a killer anymore. I am able to slide my heel almost up to my butt. I am also doing squats, but in a very limited way. I am ready to increase the squats. Oh, and I just added weight to my leg raises today. I put on a 1 pound weight.
The physical therapy appointments are about 1.5 hours now... they used to be just 1 hour, but there is more to do now.
At home, it takes me between 1 hour and 1.5 hours to complete all of the exercises.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
4 Weeks after Surgery
Okay, so here is my status:
Walking - not normal yet, but getting better.
Bike - I am allowed to ride a stationary bike for 10 minutes.... and I can pedal pretty fast.
High Heels - Not yet!!!
Bending - 135 degrees
Full extension - YES!
Bruising - GONE!
Normal Household Duties - I am back to normal, and not getting tired standing on my leg.
Stairs - I am starting to take each stair with only one foot.
Sleeping - I still cannot curl up like I would like, but I am sleeping much easier.
Scar - It is healing quite nicely... using vitamin E!
Swelling - There is still some swelling and I am taking Alleve each day.
Physical Therapy - So far so good..... doing balancing, step ups, and working on control of my quad muscle.
Walking - not normal yet, but getting better.
Bike - I am allowed to ride a stationary bike for 10 minutes.... and I can pedal pretty fast.
High Heels - Not yet!!!
Bending - 135 degrees
Full extension - YES!
Bruising - GONE!
Normal Household Duties - I am back to normal, and not getting tired standing on my leg.
Stairs - I am starting to take each stair with only one foot.
Sleeping - I still cannot curl up like I would like, but I am sleeping much easier.
Scar - It is healing quite nicely... using vitamin E!
Swelling - There is still some swelling and I am taking Alleve each day.
Physical Therapy - So far so good..... doing balancing, step ups, and working on control of my quad muscle.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Friday the 13th!
I went to physical therapy yesterday (Jan 12, 2006). It was my 3rd appointment and it went very well. I got my knee to bend 125 degrees. And... I rode the bike again. I am still not walking with my normal gait, and we worked on that quite a bit. I actually feel like all that work paid off because I feel like I am walking better today.
The hardest exercise thus far is the heel slides. It is like doing extreme stretching. You think that there is no way that you can bring your heel any closer to your butt, and then you do.... ouch!! I have been using a martial arts belt under my foot so that when I do not think I can bend my knee any further, I pull the belt a little, very gently, to bring my heel closer, and thus bending my knee more.
My scar: Since I had a hamstring graft, I have an incision under and to the inside of my knee.... The incision is heeling quite nicely, and I am using the vitamin E for the scars.... but there is a build up of scar tissue under the scar. My physical therapist said to just massage the scar to start to break up the scar tissue.... so I have and I think it is starting to break it down.
The hardest exercise thus far is the heel slides. It is like doing extreme stretching. You think that there is no way that you can bring your heel any closer to your butt, and then you do.... ouch!! I have been using a martial arts belt under my foot so that when I do not think I can bend my knee any further, I pull the belt a little, very gently, to bring my heel closer, and thus bending my knee more.
My scar: Since I had a hamstring graft, I have an incision under and to the inside of my knee.... The incision is heeling quite nicely, and I am using the vitamin E for the scars.... but there is a build up of scar tissue under the scar. My physical therapist said to just massage the scar to start to break up the scar tissue.... so I have and I think it is starting to break it down.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
January 10, 2006 - Second Day of Physical Therapy
I have been doing my "homework" from physical therapy each day... well, except Sunday because my leg felt really tight and I did not want to hurt anything.
I am still icing my knee every night, and remember the bruises that I had on my leg as a result of the surgery, well, they are a faint yellowish - green now.... almost gone!!
My scar is healing nicely and I am starting to put vitamin E on my scars a couple times a day so they go away as much as possible. My leg even looked nice enough to wear shorts today (it was 52 degrees today) out to physical therapy!!
Okay.... so my second physical therapy appointment..... I started warming up my leg on one of those air fan stationary bikes.... since I was not sure if my leg would bend enough to make it all the way around, I was able to work the pedals back and forth to stretch out my leg, and about 6 minutes of rocking, and guess what? you got it.... I made it all the way around and actually rode the stationary bike for another 5 minutes.... it was soooooo slow.... and my therapist said that I am not ready to ride my bike at home yet..... yes, I have clipless pedals on my road bike on a trainer in my house.... but getting into the clipless pedals is not trivial, and even though I already put the shoes in the pedals, and figured that I would slip my foot in and out.... my therapist said that I was not ready yet.
After the bike, I proceeded to do exercises to help with my extension... pushing my knee down and flexing my quad... after these exercises, I was at FULL EXTENSION! Then we went on to work on my flexion. I started at 114 degrees, and by the end of the day, I ended at 120 degrees. The heel slides are the killers.... nothing really hurt, but it felt like you were stretching a rubber band to its limit and then more. It feels like at some point it is going to snap... but it never does. The exercises were tougher today than the first time, but I never got to the point were I felt like I could not do it.
The other thing that I am starting to realize is that I will have good days and bad days... so I may have a really good workout and feel great, and then the next day be a bit tired and sore. My physical therapist said that this is normal, and just to expect it.
Also, since I went back to work, I am exhausted by 9:30 at night.... I can not find a totally comfortable position sitting or standing for a long time, so it seems like I am constantly shifting around, or if I get engrossed and forget to move around, then I am a bit still and slow to move.
I would say that overall, I am doing pretty well, and I am happy with my progress...oh.... I am not walking normally yet, but another week and I should be.
I am still icing my knee every night, and remember the bruises that I had on my leg as a result of the surgery, well, they are a faint yellowish - green now.... almost gone!!
My scar is healing nicely and I am starting to put vitamin E on my scars a couple times a day so they go away as much as possible. My leg even looked nice enough to wear shorts today (it was 52 degrees today) out to physical therapy!!
Okay.... so my second physical therapy appointment..... I started warming up my leg on one of those air fan stationary bikes.... since I was not sure if my leg would bend enough to make it all the way around, I was able to work the pedals back and forth to stretch out my leg, and about 6 minutes of rocking, and guess what? you got it.... I made it all the way around and actually rode the stationary bike for another 5 minutes.... it was soooooo slow.... and my therapist said that I am not ready to ride my bike at home yet..... yes, I have clipless pedals on my road bike on a trainer in my house.... but getting into the clipless pedals is not trivial, and even though I already put the shoes in the pedals, and figured that I would slip my foot in and out.... my therapist said that I was not ready yet.
After the bike, I proceeded to do exercises to help with my extension... pushing my knee down and flexing my quad... after these exercises, I was at FULL EXTENSION! Then we went on to work on my flexion. I started at 114 degrees, and by the end of the day, I ended at 120 degrees. The heel slides are the killers.... nothing really hurt, but it felt like you were stretching a rubber band to its limit and then more. It feels like at some point it is going to snap... but it never does. The exercises were tougher today than the first time, but I never got to the point were I felt like I could not do it.
The other thing that I am starting to realize is that I will have good days and bad days... so I may have a really good workout and feel great, and then the next day be a bit tired and sore. My physical therapist said that this is normal, and just to expect it.
Also, since I went back to work, I am exhausted by 9:30 at night.... I can not find a totally comfortable position sitting or standing for a long time, so it seems like I am constantly shifting around, or if I get engrossed and forget to move around, then I am a bit still and slow to move.
I would say that overall, I am doing pretty well, and I am happy with my progress...oh.... I am not walking normally yet, but another week and I should be.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
January 8, 2006 - Still getting stronger!
So it has been a couple of days since my first physical therapy appointment, and I have been doing my "homework". My of the exercises that I am doing at home are focused on bending my knee. I have noticed that I have regressed a bit in my full extension, so I am trying to work on that as well.
This is my 4th day without the brace, and I have no feeling of insecurity with my leg. I am having to relearn how to walk... Heel, toe, heel, toe....straight, bend, straight, bend. Also, I am still walking up and down stairs using one stair at a time. I am taking showers with no sitting.... oh, it feels so good!!
And sleeping.... I cannot just move my leg around under the covers they way I used to, but I am able to get in a comfortable position, and slowing move to another position.
The other day, I went to do some errands, and I was on my feet for about an hour, and I was exhausted when I got home. My leg just gets tired. I cannot stand in the kitchen and make dinner. I still need help.... it is just the time on my feet.
I am still icing my knee every day after I do my exercises to keep the swelling down.
Oh, and for those Martina Hingis fans..... can you believe she made it to the semi's of her first tournament back? Her next matchup is Justine Henine-Hardane..... go Hingis!!!
This is my 4th day without the brace, and I have no feeling of insecurity with my leg. I am having to relearn how to walk... Heel, toe, heel, toe....straight, bend, straight, bend. Also, I am still walking up and down stairs using one stair at a time. I am taking showers with no sitting.... oh, it feels so good!!
And sleeping.... I cannot just move my leg around under the covers they way I used to, but I am able to get in a comfortable position, and slowing move to another position.
The other day, I went to do some errands, and I was on my feet for about an hour, and I was exhausted when I got home. My leg just gets tired. I cannot stand in the kitchen and make dinner. I still need help.... it is just the time on my feet.
I am still icing my knee every day after I do my exercises to keep the swelling down.
Oh, and for those Martina Hingis fans..... can you believe she made it to the semi's of her first tournament back? Her next matchup is Justine Henine-Hardane..... go Hingis!!!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Physical Therapy - Day 1
4 January 2006
I went to my first physical therapy appointment today, and guess what.... NO MORE BRACE!!!
My therapist said that my muscles are strong enough to support my knee and I can "burn the brace!"
She evaluated my extension and flexibility, as well as my swelling, and the strength of the ACL.... I am almost at full extension.... like a millimeter away from full extension. In terms of flexibility, I started out at being able to bend my knee to 85 degrees, and by the end of the session, I was up to 90 degrees. I still have a little swelling under the knee and less on top of the knee.
Then..... the test for the ACL ..... she tried to pull my lower leg away from my knee... it sounds painful.... but it really wasn't.... and the ACL would not give way. GOOD NEWS.... the surgery worked!!!!!
She said that all of the exercises I have been doing in the last two weeks really paid off, plus probably my original fit condition attributed a bit too. Anyhow, it looks like I am a bit ahead of schedule.
I am scheduled for 2x per week of physical therapy instead of 3x per week (the normal amount to start) I think mostly because of my progress that I have made in the last 2 weeks.... I have exercises that I will do on my off days of physical therapy....
NOTE TO SELF - Don't forget about the upper body and abs when doing the exercises at home!
Oh.... some people I talked to who have gone through this have said that the physical therapy is painful... I did not find it at all... sometimes it felt like things were being stretched in my knee, but I would not use the word painful.
All in all... this was a great day..... still, no high heels yet... my therapist just laughed at me.
I went to my first physical therapy appointment today, and guess what.... NO MORE BRACE!!!
My therapist said that my muscles are strong enough to support my knee and I can "burn the brace!"
She evaluated my extension and flexibility, as well as my swelling, and the strength of the ACL.... I am almost at full extension.... like a millimeter away from full extension. In terms of flexibility, I started out at being able to bend my knee to 85 degrees, and by the end of the session, I was up to 90 degrees. I still have a little swelling under the knee and less on top of the knee.
Then..... the test for the ACL ..... she tried to pull my lower leg away from my knee... it sounds painful.... but it really wasn't.... and the ACL would not give way. GOOD NEWS.... the surgery worked!!!!!
She said that all of the exercises I have been doing in the last two weeks really paid off, plus probably my original fit condition attributed a bit too. Anyhow, it looks like I am a bit ahead of schedule.
I am scheduled for 2x per week of physical therapy instead of 3x per week (the normal amount to start) I think mostly because of my progress that I have made in the last 2 weeks.... I have exercises that I will do on my off days of physical therapy....
NOTE TO SELF - Don't forget about the upper body and abs when doing the exercises at home!
Oh.... some people I talked to who have gone through this have said that the physical therapy is painful... I did not find it at all... sometimes it felt like things were being stretched in my knee, but I would not use the word painful.
All in all... this was a great day..... still, no high heels yet... my therapist just laughed at me.
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