ff89, thanks for the response, I hope I do recover Im just concerned that 7 months and the big toe doesn't raise nor the foot.  Dr. Nath said I was a "candidate" for Nerve Surgery but I think the man may be just be a high output machine.  They told me they billed 50K for an 1 1/2 surgery.....   I go to the gym 3-4 days a week and my quads are as strong as they were pre accident.  My calf is useless at this point.  I can walk 1.5 miles at this point and can do the Elliptical machine for 22 minutes.    My Dr is very cautious about predicting recovery.   I pray everyday I will however.  Thanks

Hi everyone,
       Haven't been on in a while here... Auschick sorry to gear about your knee troubles.
    My knee feels terrible too and my doc is finally admitting that his repair of the LCL/PLC  area is probably not that good strength wise, and that that might be responsible for my pain levels. I know it is- I can feel the unsupported back corner of my knee area. I don't do any crazy athletic movements due to the dropped foot, but I can feel the knee's lack of balance.
      But stability wise, it passes the tests and Japanese doctors are very conservative. No one is willing to even consider touching my knee/redoing the PCL.
        On top of that, my drop foot seems to be pretty level recently. I got a flicker of dorsiflexion back a while ago, but that angle has not changed at all. It is just enough that I can walk without the AFO butbnothimg more. Ankle still slaps though.
       Been talking with my doc - I'm convinced that i could maybe use another decompression. My recovery might be 20 per cent but it's definitely been leveling off recently.
      My docs seem to want to blame my lack of rehab effort but... 6 months ago I had no tibialis anterioris, now I have one, more or less... I rehab and bike hard while working full time and it is tough... Not sure what else more to do- really need more dorsiflexion though. Maybe I will consult another nerve surgeon or two. I really emphathize with you all out there - this is genuinely trying. I feel like my mood swings with it have been wOlOrse. Just so tired of the never-ending crisis...
       But we mist keep on fighting!
     In support and solidarity!
       

Hey Bigel,
      Thanks for the information! Do you know the name of those shoes by chance? Model or what not?
        Thanks!

Hey Naganickel,

I wore those sneakers this evening and I was out pacing my wife!  She asked me what was the hurry!  LOL!  With those sneakers I have definitely improved my stride!

Hey Bigel, my nerve is improving albeit slowly. My dorsiflexion is kind of a cross of dorsi/eversion, not straight upwards yet, my toes (except the big one) are also moving up. Its far from 100% but a big change from nothing at all a couple months ago! I am now 1 year since my injury. I am not seeing a physio anymore, any tips for stuff I should be doing to help the nerve along now that I have movement and connection to the muscle???
The nerve injury was due to a knee dislocation, torn acl, pcl, lcl/postero corner, popliteal tendon, tib plateau fracture and torn artery. The docs are all happy with my recovery, I am back at work hiking up mountains with my chainsaw which at the time of injury, I thought I would never do again. Overall I am happy with my progress and I know it will only get better from here! I haven't tried any AFOs I just have tall workboots and an ASO ankle brace.
Has been quiet in here, hows everyone else doing?

Hi! I am very happy that You are improving! I am 112 days after nerve graft and still nothing happens. I am starting to be sick of waiting. Do you have any advices for me? what exercises should I do? Wish You health!

Hey all,
I'm officially past my 10 month mark. It sounds crazy to say that in two more months it will have officially been a whole year since I thought my life was over. What a turnaround. Im not perfect and probably will never be close to it again but I'm finding ways to improve. I can actually somewhat play basketball again. I have difficulty running downcourt and things but its getting better and with braces and afo's it seems easier. I am pretty much the same otherwise as my last post and dont expect any more drastic changes since I now have motion back in my big toe. I dont expect to get feeling back for a long time but thats not a big deal, we can all handle a little numbness. I think Im stuck with permanent reoccurring pain though. I dont seem to be making too much improvement in that category since my last post. Sleeping is still difficult with the pain and different feelings I get in my foot when I lay down. Im not sure why laying down (especially in my side) seems to agitate the pain and different feelings so maybe someone else may have an explanation? All I could figure is blood flow gets a little more strained along with the nerve being stretched out more then normal but I dont know. But for now I guess I will continue to try to think of new ways to make my life easier.
People, it does get better just stay positive.

Yes I am the same way, get the occasional pain and just deal with it, it sucks when you get the really sharp pains that last about 5 seconds or 10 when you are driving since it is my driving foot. But other than that the pains just really bother me at night, that seems to be when it is most frequent but I deal with it. I am and have been officially off pain meds for a while now , a few weeks at least, and for the last couple months of pain med use I only used them to go to sleep so it was an easy transition into not using them anymore. I was never addicted throughout the whole ten months. I just took them as much as I felt necessary and cut back when I felt I was improving so I'm proud of how I handled things.
I can at least say I am happy that I have seen and learned more about the medical field. This has got me determined to go to college for physiology and neurobiology and later med school. I cant say this has been all for nothing. Always look at the positive and keep going strong everyone.