I've been battling with AF for almost year and half and i can almost say im on the verge of beating this horrible condition. For the past year, i dedicated myself to my rehab with a lot of hard work and determination. For a full year I rehab for at least 3x a day for 5-6 days a week, on the days im not rehabbing, im stretching twice a day and getting sports massage. Toward the beginning in my rehab, i felt that my improvement was very slow however i knew that my knee was getting better and stronger. I would say about the 7 months toward my rehab, I was feeling really comfortable with my knee, no restriction on weights, no discomfort with running, and making sharp cuts.

To this day, my knee is feeling great, have great ROM, no pain, no heat, no swelling. Im still in the gym working to regain my knees back. I would have to say it been very frustrating and tired days but it been paying off. About a month ago, I ran a 5k race with a time of 29 mins, it not my best time but i was more focus on completing the race. After finishing the race, i knew was going to beat AF. Im back playing competitive basketball again, going to be joining a 5 on 5 league soon. They are AF specialist across the states but in my honest opinion, it half the battle, to beat it AF you need the will and determination to beat it. I never rely on my physical therapist, actually I only seen my PT only once and did all my rehab on my own, with help of my friends and massage therapist.

After my ACL surgery, my first OS, sort of blame the scar tissue on me. Stating that excessive form of scar tissue was due to my body over healing. I became very frustrated with him, every visit complaining that i need to work harder to break the scar tissue or else he would have to do a MUA. After extensive research on this forum, i went to for a 2nd opinion with Dr. Eakin. After my surgery with Dr. Eakin, there a one week follow up to remove stitches and cortisone shot, also was giving 800mg ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation. My body reacted very well to the cortisone shot, just needed 1 shot throughtout the whole care. With a lot of gentle ROM exercise, icing, and the constant use CPM machine, I stop the inflammation within 3 months. I was doing everything possible to not have scar tissue reform again, beside the icing and sleeping, majority of the time my knee was always moving with my exercises and CPM. Yea, i can say im one of the lucky ones.

Hi cbrmedic

Fantastic! I am so happy for you.   

Besides seeing an AF expert, what people don't realize is the length of time that goes into trying to beat it. AF rehab is not like "normal" rehab from surgery. It can take 1-3 yrs of dedicated rehab , not just from a PT, but on your own. I think another key part of your rehab was using a massage therapist. One thing that helped me after my last surgery was having 10 min ultra sound, followed by 30min of deep tissue massage and patella mobes, 3 times a week, for 6 months. The amount of rehab to beat it , will consume your life, but that is what it takes. It is also important to remain mentally strong, to handle any set backs and discouragement. So many factors of AF can affect a successful recovery. The first factor begins with ignorance in the medical community.

You have accomplished, what a small number of AF posters have on this site, which is beating this insidious , debilitating , condition.

Best wishes to you to enjoy an AF free life !!

Pam