MPFL reconstruction April 4th 2012

[Tiggs1986]

Week 9 (a couple day early  )
  Well I saw my OS this morning. He's pleased with my progress thus far, said that my incisions are looking pretty nice; that many times the scars from this surgery can get ugly but mine are doing good  . My graft is nice and tight and my patella didn't slide when he was moving my leg around. He's guessing my flexion is about 120 AND I FINALLY got to ask him about the surgery! He had drilled 2 holes in the patella, threaded the 2 branches of the graft (which had been cut to look like a Y) into the holes, looped them around the patella and tied them to themselves. THEN drilled a hole in my femur and used a biodegradable screw to hold it in place.  I guess my quads are still VERY atrophed and there is a delay in response from the time I tell my quad to contract to the time it actually does it. I did get permission to return to work, but my restrictions aren't really realistic right now (and we both knew employee health would say that), BUT I can sit with patients that need supervision as long as they are not too feisty. So now I'm a slave to my phone cuz I could get called to go in to work at anytime (and may not even get a call at all). Next appt is the middle of July, hopefully then I can return to nursing.

[La-la-land]

Hey Tiggs1986! You're doing pretty fine Happy for you! I see you are curious about the surgery. Here is an animation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t--P0iavLAQ

[Lorikeet]

Sounds like you are doing really well, Tiggs. Hopefully you'll not be waiting too long to get back to your regular work. I can imagine how limited you'd be at this stage.

I'm hoping to finally find out what my OS did when I see him on Friday. I know the basics about the TTT and that he did the scope and LR...nothing else besides that though. I was asked about a couple things wrt to my TTT when I had my x-ray yesterday and I couldn't say as I haven't gotten any information. And knowing my OS, I will be out the door before I think to ask anything. At least based on previous experience with him...

[Tiggs1986]

Week 10?
   PT is going well. I can easily do the recumbent bike with level 10 resistance, and I think my PT has decided he's a personal trainer. If I had been running I would have thought I was back in high school, conditioning for basketball. I'm SOOO close to full ROM, just 2-3 inches short! I now have permission to try and ride my bike, but I have to be careful not to put my leg down to try and stop myself. I also have a limping buddy as my sister's 5month old puppy decided to jump out of a truck window last week while it was going down the interstate. She's ok but has a limp in the same leg that I do, I'm sure we look like quite a sight! I went up to my old floor to visit for a bit after therapy, it was so nice to be up there and to hear that I am missed (and to squash rumors that i'd quit  ) Anyways this week has been pretty good, my knee is more sore than usual, but I overdid it last week when I was babysitting my niece so hopefully it'd go back to it's usual, barely-there pain soon.

[allyd]

Sounds like things are going great... Sounds like your right on pace. You have definitely cleared the worst of it. I remember once I hit the 10-12 week mark, Full ROM was pretty much there, and life began to return to normal as I knew it. Many more Milestones for you to hit yet… but the awkward ‘I just had surgery’ phase sounds about over for you! How long until they think you can go back to work? While the summer off is nice, I’m sure you are looking forward to getting back!?

[Lorikeet]

Sounds like it's all going well for you right now. I'm sure you'll get full ROM very soon. And hope the puppy is soon recovered from its thrill-seeking adventure.

[Tiggs1986]

3 months post-op!!!!
  WHOA! it's been awhile since I've been on here! But there really hasn't been much to report! I'm getting really good and my squats and lunges, it seems like the muscles that need the work now are the lateral ones that stablize my leg (keeps it from shaking side to side if that makes sense). I got permission to try to do my daily activities without my brace, only haveto wear it if i'm "jogging or something"(which is awesome cuz here in MN there's been triple digit heat index and that brace is HOT! and it means I can try jogging! I did the elliptical this morning at PT and it went pretty good, I tired out quick though )Also got the ok to try swimming though only in water I can touch bottom in, in case I sink. I've been wading in waist deep water a few different times while attempting to get my sister's puppy to swim (maybe now that I can try to swim I'll have better luck getting her to do it).  ANYWAYS still not back to work but my appointment with OS is the 16th and I see know reason why I couldn't go back. Now to go download my ZombiesRUN! app that I've been wanting for so long but couldn't get cuz I couldn't go running (or jogging I suppose is more like it right now).

[allyd]

Ah – a fellow Minnesotan! I can’t imagine having to wear any type of brace in this weather. So I’m happy you were able to ditch it for everyday life activities… What kind of brace do they have you in yet?

Glad all is going well with progress - That’s the best way to go! It’s surprising at how quickly time goes by after surgery. You start by measuring in weeks, and then all of a sudden it’s three months later and the worst of it has passed. Strength and Endurance… That’s what my PT has been preaching to me, and you sound like you are close to this as well. Just keep working at it and it will all come together.   

[Tiggs1986]

QUICK QUESTION!
 When did you all start jogging? I tried it tonight and nearly ate black top. My leg gave out immediately and I attempted once more, with the same results. Just wanting to know what other peoples stories are regarding the jogging/running timeline...or if I'm way behind or something. I mean I know everyone is different but some experiences to get a general idea would be fantastic!
  ALLYD- it's a buttress brace. Actually the one I was given prior to the straight leg immobilizer before surgery. It's not huge or anything but it's SO HOT and I have the most GLORIOUS tan line! 

[allyd]

I started jogging at about 3 months... definitely don't think your behind. Don't expect the marathon's to come right away though. When they first started me with it, It was like 1 min of jogging, 3-4 min walking. Repeat and max out w 20 min total. SLOWLY increasing ratio each week. was allowed but once/twice a week.

I'm not a runner, so I ended up pushing it to much and got an uncontrollable, flared up knee at about 5months. So, take it easy. Listen to your body - you may need to build some strength yet. I learned the hard way it's better to go slow, miss some goals than to be able to say "I can jog"...

Brace tan lines are the best! Well at least it's protecting your incisions from the sun! 

[krunzer]

I just started jogging.  My PT told me I could start about 2 months ago (I am 7 months post-op) but I found that the first time was horrible!  It looked horrible and felt even worse.  I took about 2 months off after that and just worked on the elliptical until my knee started to feel better.  I went for a jog about a week ago and it felt really good!! I made decent progress and I didnt start to get sloppy with my form until near the end.  After that i walked more.  Listen to your body!!!! Don't push more than what it can do.

[Catherine132]

Hi All -
I had MPFL reconstruction on December 19th, 2011 and unfortunately went to a bad PT for the weeks after surgery who just massaged my leg but never really worked on bending it. In May i went back under for a "manipulation" because I was stuck at 90degrees. I went back to the PT and after a week of frustration I changed PT's and started to really see progress. I hit 135 but then after a few weeks went back to 120 and now I am stuck there. I am scheduled to go back into surgery for a manipulation and a "clean up" the scar tissue. Has anyone had this happen to them? I am in my early 30's extremely active and used to be a big skier  - its been a painful recovery and I am shocked how difficult it has been.

[Lorikeet]

I can't imagine jogging at this point as I'm only starting to gain a bit of speed with my walking and i'm still slower than before surgery.

Sounds like you are doing well, aside from the jogging difficulties. I hope everything's good at your OS appointment and you get the okay to return to work.

Catherine, I'm sorry you've had such a bad time of it with your post-op recovery. Hopefully the scheduled surgery/ manipulation plus good physio will get you back on track soon.

[Tiggs1986]

sorry about your difficulties Catherine! Manipulation is SOOOO painful. I use it as a threat when teaching the importance of continuing PT at home with the knee replacements. I hope this surgery clears it all up for you!
 

[Tiggs1986]

3months 2 weeks post-op

This past week my PT has had me trying to jump on and off boxes (which terrifies the hell outta me!). We went through 3 sizes (each getting smaller and smaller) until we got to a box I could sorta do (the 1st 1 was too big and I think he saw the panic in my face and brought out a slightly smaller one that I couldn't jump on and off  well enough to be therapeutic) He part way through, he asked me if I was in pain, didn't feel strong enough, or if "there's a mental thing" going on I told him weakness and mentality, I mean it jolted a little when I'd land but not pain. I'd start the jump with weight on both feet and somehow in the tiny amount of time I was in the air all of my weight would shift to my nonsurgical leg, and I have no idea how to not do that!
Friday I shadowed a fellow RN for 4 hours to reacquaint myself with our computer system (as suggested by my supervisor) and that went well. I got kinda tired and stiff around 3 hours but after a 10min ice session I was back in the game. Then went to Relay for Life (an all night walk-a-thon to celebrate a year of raising money for cancer) and only did about 6 laps around the track and stood maybe 1.5 hours. The rest of the time I was sitting with my foot on a stool selling stuff for the team. I ended up leaving shortly after midnight cuz I just couldn't take it anymore. I could feel my leg swell and when I got home it was just about as bad as it was after surgery! I probably would have lasted longer if I hadn't donated the ice that kept my ice packs cold to the dunk tank prior to my boss getting in there....(if anyone asks I did not donate 20#s of ice!  ) Her reaction was worth the swelling though.
Anyways Monday I had my post-op appt with the OS and he was very pleased with my knee. Said the kneecap moved well, I was bending great (about 140 degrees he figured) and the graft was nice and tight. plus my quads are coming back little by little. I got the ok to return to work full time and a conditional ok to go snowboarding this coming winter    I told him good cuz I already got my season pass  .
So yea today was my 1st day REALLY at work in 4months! It was crazy! I got there and had a brandnew hire, fresh from school nurse to show the ropes to and I had immiediately apologized for the day that was to come. Anyways it didn't go to bad. My knee didn't really ache until about an hour after my shift was over, but I could feel it starting to swell about 5-6 hours into the shift. Hoping that I can get the swelling down just in time for my shift tomorrow...