Clarus -ACLr Hamstring done 26-04-10

[tez27]

clarus glad your knee is feeling a bit better after you jerked it the other day I guess it every little wrong move makes the imagination go into overdrive thinking about whether or not youve stretched your graft or not, but the fact it feels better all must be well with it.
Shame you dont live up here cos I spend a fortune on computer repairs there is always a problem with either my lap top or the kids or the p.c and none of us know what we are doing if anything goes wrong, so the best thing to is get someone into fix them,
and I can't be doing with not getting online I know my hubby tells me its an addiction 
Hope you'r having a good long weekend take care Tez 

[Clarus]

5 weeks

Just catching up on the events since I last read the boards  (a whole 36ish hours or so ago!!!)
Busy people!

Cosmic, so sorry to hear about the dvt event

Tez,sorting out my friends computers was something I'd done for years- could never understand what everybody seemed to find so hard about them . So, a few years ago I decided to go and do some technical and end user courses.....

Long day yesterday  - up at 6 and back home about 9.30, completely wiped out, but the grading was very successful, lots of high standard performances (and the odd numpty !) It was a bigger turnout than we expected so ran on for rather longer than the last few

Need to do some serious physio today to make up for the lack of it yesterday  It feels stiff, 'achy' and tired, nothing specific though.

[Snowy]

Heh - I hear you on the computers. I've become one of the go-to people for my friends' computer problems, and I'm not sure how to break it to them that all I'm doing is following the xkcd tech support cheatsheet:

http://xkcd.com/627/

The funny thing is that it's gotten me through everything from data recovery to hardware installation, so clearly it works!

Very impressed that you made it through the whole day's grading. Not surprised the knee is feeling a little tired today. I find the same thing when I skip my exercises - it only takes 24 hours for the knee to stiffen up badly. How are the hamstrings doing?

[tez27]

Hi Clarus just wondering how things are going with you, though I am pretty sure you must be doing really well or you would have been on here telling us all about it, I hope thats the case anyway ;)I suppose its a good sign when we dont here from someoe for a few days it means their getting on with their life, I hope thats the case
Take care Tez 

[Clarus]

Hi Tez
Well.....
I was quiet because I was getting on with my life - half term here and very very busy, my activity level had increased dramatically but I thought I was managing quite well and although my knee was feeling stiff and swelling a bit it was only aching occasionally, was trying where possible to get time to sit, ice and elevate.
 It was quite swollen this morning and when I went to the physio she gave me a really serious telling off    Showed me how much swelling and fluid there actually was, massaged some very tight quads and hamstrings (which was rather painful) and told me I was doing far too much.

I have been instructed to get the swelling down and, regardless of what needs doing, rest the knee.....
I have a few new exercises to work gently on and behave myself until she sees me again next week.

Ah well - husband said he knew my good behaviour wouldn't last.......
Hmphhhh - now everyone has been told to make sure I behave whilst he's a work and can't see what I'm getting up to.

At least it means I'll get time to catch up with KG and a few other things

[tez27]

Clarus oh dear me thinks you have had a good old telling off  but I shal say nothing about you over doing things cos to be honest it sound like you have enough people on you case for the time being
I hope you manage to get the swelling down soon its time to take care of yourself for a while the family will still be needing you once you have a perfectly working unswollen knee so let them take care of you for a while.
Chill out and take care Tez

[Clarus]

6 weeks

And to be honest feeling just a wee bit fed up - I know it's just a stage and things will get better soon, (maybe tomorrow - if not then certainly the next day )
The swelling I was told off for last week is proving particularly obstinate, this is in turn restricting my flexion. It's very very very hard to just sit around and watch other people run around - plus there often isn't anyone else to do it bar my husband who works some ridiculously long hours and has masses on, he already does huge amounts.
The children have gone back to school so I should have a few much more peaceful days  I'm going to work on my exercises as instructed and try to minimise the swelling and increase movement.

Hope all is well with all you other super knee people
x

[Snowy]

Sympathies - I struggled a great deal with swelling and consequent reduced flexion after my original injury, so I know what a beast it can be to try and settle down. That was when my PT recommended the lymphatic massage, and I found it really helped. If you can co-opt the hubby into helping out, get him to wrap both hands around your leg below the knee. Then push up firmly but gently over the knee, all the way to the top of the leg. This basically pushes the fluid toward your core, where it can be absorbed. I found that after a few minutes of this the knee would be noticeably smaller. We also tried to do it right before bed so that I'd be resting immediately afterward, and wouldn't just make it swell right back up again. It might also be worth asking your PT for a demo before the first time you try it at home.

What sort of things were you doing that caused the increase in swelling? Was it too many exercises, or just too many hours on your feet?

Good luck, and I hope things settle down soon.

[Clarus]

Hey Snowy

What sort of things were you doing that caused the increase in swelling? Was it too many exercises, or just too many hours on your feet?

  Blushes    Hmm, well it could have been lots of standing or the curtain rail putting up, or the curtain hanging, or the furniture moving (very slowly and carefully of course ) Or the driving various children around multiple times in the day.......

Yeah - I know 

Actually - the swelling has definitely reduced this evening, amazing what a day of 'being very good' does for you. There is much less fluid around the kneecap, though it's still swollen above the knee.  I've done all my exercises and I can bend my knee a bit further. Husband is going to have a go at the lymphatic massage before bed. I can have another well behaved day tomorrow too 
xc

[Cosmicsnuffle]

Clarus you make me smile     (coz I relate to where you are so wholeheartedly!!)

Hugs for you - another 6weeks and hopefully this will all seem a distant memory.

xxxx

[Snowy]

Clarus, you're a woman after my own heart. Having said that, I'm glad that taking it easy is working and I hope the lymphatic massage also helps bring the swelling down.

How much PT are you doing at the six-week mark, and what kinds of exercises? Just curious as to how much time you're needing to put into it at this stage.

Hugs and wishes for a completely unswollen knee by morning.