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Author Topic: Still no full extension 3 months after ACL Surgery  (Read 1361 times)

Offline NYC_KneeIssues

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Still no full extension 3 months after ACL Surgery
« on: October 16, 2012, 06:07:49 PM »
I underwent an ACL reconstruction and Meniscus repair surgery at NYU in July this year. The doctor said there were no complications and I started PT ten days after the surgery. Right off the bat they said I had significant loss of extension (~15 degrees IIRC) and that is that they would focus on.

It is now three months after surgery and I still do not have full extension - I am lacking 2 or 3 degrees of extension. I go to PT twice a week now and I have full extension when I leave the facility, but after I've been sitting for a few minutes, the pain is back and my knee goes back to how it used to be.

I have a desk job and try to keep my knee extended all day because that is the only thing that helps. If I flex my knee for more than a few minutes, I lose extension. This is extremely frustrating to both me and my physical therapist. Does anyone have any ideas what could be wrong?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've heard stories of people that didn't gain full extension 6-8 weeks after surgery and permanently lost full extension and that has me worried. In my case, I can achieve full extension after my knee is a little warmed up and I prone hang for a few minutes but I lose it very soon if I sit down.

Thanks much

Offline travelthomas

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Re: Still no full extension 3 months after ACL Surgery
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2012, 10:26:56 PM »
I hope you're having better luck now. I noticed this post had quite a few views, but no replies.
Diagnosed Celiac Disease 2003
9/3/12 - Construction Accident - Tibia Plateau Fracture + Fib Frac
9/5/12 - External Fixation
9/20/12 - 2 plates, 11+ screws (3 1/2 hour surgery)
10/3/12 - Staples removed, ROM 41°, swollen knee
10/31/12 - No more brace, ROM 60°, swollen knee

Offline Snowy

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Re: Still no full extension 3 months after ACL Surgery
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2012, 07:58:12 AM »
My advice: don't panic. I was in a pretty similar position to you with my extension after surgery (hamstring autograft) and my flex wasn't that great either. My PT encouraged me to focus on regaining extension, and told me flex would come in time. I worked super diligently on my extension exercises, and at about six months after surgery I finally started to achieve full extension on a regular basis. It took somewhere between one and two years after surgery for me to finally regain equal extension to my "good" leg, which in reality is about 5 degrees of hyperextension. By the time it happened, I honestly didn't think I would be getting it back. Now both legs are totally equal for extension; the operated side is still a little stiff in the final few degrees of flexion, but it's not something I ever notice day-to-day.

As long as you can achieve full extension, even if it doesn't last, you're on the right track. Keep doing your exercises and your knee should gradually regain the ability to retain increased extension. Three months is relatively early days after an ACLr, and regaining flex and extension is very individual. You can't predict what will happen for you based on a standard recovery. For my part, I regained strength super fast but at the expense of flex and extension which were much slower to return. Other folk who've reported back on this board have found the exact opposite. Each recovery is individual, and needs to be treated as such. Keep working on it, and good luck.
Mar 11: R Biceps femoris tear (skiing)
Jul 10: ACLr (hamstring autograft)
Mar 10: L ACL rupture (skiing)
Feb 06: L partial ACL tear (kickboxing)
Dec 03: R bone edema (motorbike)
Jan 01: R patellar chip (motorbike)
May 93: R ACL sprain (hockey)
Ongoing: bilateral PFS and OA

 














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