Hi Joey, I am sorry you still have pain - this is a really tough surgery!  From what I've read from others, the clicking, catching etc could be scare tissue and might be normal up to 8-10 months.  But, I  haven't had my ACI surgery yet (it comes in March) so I am just regurgitating (nicely ) what I have read. I do hope that is case though, as then you can continue moving forward and not feel stuck in the rehab doledrums.

I enjoyed reading your post op diary and wish you continued success, many happy knee days, and perfect recovery!


God Bless,

Misty

Post Op - 7 Months

Not too much has changed over the past month, but there has been progress. I am doing off-site rehab once every two weeks. I am doing some light leg strengthening on machines. I am going to the gym about once a week to do these exercises because my knee is still swelling afterwards. I am doing leg press, abduction, adduction, leg curls, and abdominal work. All machine work is at 15-25 lbs of resistance. I am doing the bike 20-45 minutes a day as well as 5-7 minutes walking backwards on the treadmill at a slow speed. In addition, I do my regular stretches, stair steps, no-weight squats, and single-leg balancing.

Three weeks ago I went to a gym and shot flat-footed set-shots for about 30 minutes. It was good to be back on a court. Hopefully I can play basketball this fall.

Recently, I was cleared to start agility drills. I was pretty excited. They are primarily accomplished utilizing an agility ladder. My rehab doctor thinks I can try jumping rope within the next month.

There is intermittent swelling, to the point I am still icing every couple of days. The pain is there, but not extreme. At my appointment today, my rehab doctor noticed irritation around the patellofemoral area and some moderate swelling. We skipped rehab and decided on rest and ice. I still have the Leuko tape on my knee at almost all times. I also wear the compression sleeve.

My rehab doctor is happy with the way the knee looks, and happier with the strength and muscle build-up. Things are progressing slow, but very well.

My next appointment with my surgeon is at 8 months.

Post Op - 8 Months

Well, it has been a long road with this knee. I have had six surgeries, including three reconstructive, over a 17-year period on my left knee. I am starting to feel strong again. I saw both my surgeon and PT doctor last week.

My surgeon said it looked pretty good. He said the knee still wobbled and he could feel some weakness in the leg. I told him I was feeling a lot of cracking and popping, especially when my leg is bent or straight for a period of time and then it cracks when I try to move it. He said not to worry, and it is likely scar tissue. The popping and cracking doesn’t result in much swelling or pain. My surgeon said 12-18 months is still the timeframe for recovery. In Europe, with these surgeries, the rule of thumb is 18 months to fully recover. He believes I should be able to run and jump during normal activity at 12 months or so. He recommended I continue to take it slow and try pushing some activities to see how the knee reacts. The cartilage is supposedly stable and hardened at this point, but still has room to grow. This is based on his research and going back in on patients who had the surgery. Again, he doesn’t see the benefit of doing an MRI at this point. I told my surgeon that my knee cap is still numb and I cannot kneel on it yet. He said I may never get the feeling fully back in my knee cap, but I should be able to kneel on it at some point in the next six months. My next appointment, which could be my last regarding this surgery, will be around 12 months.

I am still doing off-site rehab once every two weeks. I will transition to once a month after my next appointment. I ride an exercise bike about 5 days a week and do full rehab sessions twice a week. I am doing some light leg strengthening on machines (40-70 lbs). I am doing leg press, abduction, adduction, leg curls, and abdominal work. I am doing the bike 20-45 minutes a day. Yesterday I was able to do almost 8 miles in 25 minutes on the bike. Swelling was more extensive though, so I probably need to take the resistance down a notch. In addition, I do my regular stretches, stair steps, no-weight squats, single-leg balancing, and floor ladder exercises. I have been cleared to do 10 second intervals with a jump rope. My PT doctor said I may want to request an ultrasound at 12 months.

At 6.5 months post-op I shot baskets at a gym with no jumping. Today, I played four games of 21 with two friends. I was able to win two of the games with good outside shooting despite not running and limited jumping. I hope to play again at 9.5 or 10 months post-surgery.

There is intermittent swelling, to the point I am still icing every couple of days. The pain is there, but not extreme. I still have the Leuko tape on my knee, but not all the time. I also wear the compression sleeve. Getting up stairs and walking long distances is still a challenge.

My rehab doctor is happy with the way the knee looks, and happier with the strength and muscle build-up. Things are progressing slow, but very well.