Ruptured Patellar Tendon Surgery

[John42]

Hi Goat456

Your knees are the most important limbs - so forget active sports for at least 6 months, then, and only then seek the advice of your qualified surgical staff.

You do not want to rerupture your tendon?  listen to your knees - DON`T push it - patience is the keyword.

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[CSM4thCAV2014]

Lou, I too have been all over the net looking for specifics on a bilat PTR. Unfortunately, there just isn’t much info out there that addresses a double. Most of what I’ve learned, I’ve done so by the actual experience itself. One thing I’m pretty sure of after reading about so many people having relatively short recovery periods with singles is that a double presents unique challenges and most certainly a much longer recovery period. When you don’t have a “good” leg to rely on, it presents a major challenge in practically everything you do. Now to be clear, I’m referring to total ruptures of both knees, not a partial. With me, after I fell, both kneecaps were located about mid-thigh…now that is a complete and total rupture! There weren’t any partial strands still attached, it was complete separation at the point the tendon attaches to the kneecap. As I’ve mentioned many times before, my OS had never done a double before and ended up leaving both kneecaps way too high (patella alta), especially the left knee. Again, as I’ve read in some articles, this often is due to the fact that there wasn’t a “good” knee to reference when the surgeon is positioning the patella. One of the few things I remember when in the emergency room right after my accident was the surgeon’s comment to me about not knowing what I was going to do. I didn’t understand at first, but since he had repaired single ruptures in the past and knew the routine for that, he was sitting there contemplating what I was going to do. By that he was trying to determine what my post surgery protocol would involve because this was new ground for him. In my case, it ended up being 8 weeks in hard casts with no weight bearing at all, followed by 4 weeks in immobilizers braces beginning with using a walker. I was almost at nine weeks before I ever attempted to stand up and put weight on the knees and walk using the walker. At 10 weeks I was cleared for very light PT. However, I did progress quickly and thought I was well along the road to recovery. I’ve achieved full ROM and good quad strength but the patella alta has caused severe tracking issues in the intercondylar groove and even with wearing patella braces, I’ve suffered 3 dislocations on the left knee. These are not a pleasant thing to have happen…I’ve had two in the last month. So. I don’t see myself as a typical double rupture because of the kneecap issue. If the kneecaps were okay, now that I’m over 13 months post surgery, I’d expect that I’d be back to at least 80% of pre-injury condition. Right now, I’d say I’m at 30, perhaps 40% of what I had before. Under ideal circumstances though, I’d still say a double is going to take close to twice the amount of time for recovery and I’m not sure many will actually get back to 100%. Now I’ve seen the videos of the big weight lifter guy, but I think he is an anomaly, plus he lives in the gym obviously! I wish you all the best my friend.

JC

[Zlou58]

Jc, thanks brother. My doc has done 1 other double but has done upwards of 500 singles. He is known in Dayton, OH. so I feel that he placed my kneecaps in the right spot. I worry a little about that but he is very experienced. I was weight bearing by week 2. Now I'm 5 weeks I'm walking around with walker. Start pt in one week. Anything you been through that you think will help let me know!  I hope to get back to 80/100% in one year. I lost near 15 pounds to take stress off the knees. We will see how that turns out!  Thanks again brother!!!


Lou

[jinserra]

Goat456,

 I totally feel you on being couped up and about to go crazy. There is only so much TV a person can watch! I am just trying to focus on these first couple of months, because the beginning is important so you allow your body to heal correctly. Too much too soon and we are likely to have problems later, or at the minimum, make the whole process drag on longer than necessary.

 I did go to the gym yesterday, 6 days post op. Nothing crazy, just 3 rounds of push ups, pull ups, and pistols, (with my good leg, of course!) and 10 muscle-ups on the rings. I was kind of surprised at how winded I got, considering that is a basic warm up. Still better than being stuck at the house!

 My surgeon is Dr. Neville Lewis out of St. Francis in Tacoma. So far I have had no complaints, way less painful than my other knee. I had my left knee repaired in 2001. Same repair along with an ACL repair and meniscus repair. I live in Renton, but it seems it was worth the drive.

 I hope you can get back to training soon! If everything goes well, maybe in 4-5 months post-op. That would be awesome if it were sooner, but I here it takes between 8-12 weeks just for the tendon to completely heal. Then comes the rehab. You're right at that mark, so hang in there a little longer. Be thankful you're young, and you should heal faster than the rest of us! Keep me posted!

-Jason

[redspudder]

I haven’t been on for a while so thought I would share my good news, I am just over 7 months post op had physio yesterday and after a few strenuous tests I have been discharged from the physio,she is happy with my progress and although we both agreed I still have some restrictions with my knee she told me this will come back over time and a lot of it is in my head i will get confidence back over time and will be almost back to normal. The tests she asked me to do like stand on my left (RPT) leg and then onto my tip toes then bend on one leg shows how strong the tendon is if it can hold my weight!!leg lifts and hold at around 6" for 30 seconds at a time yes I could feel it pulling but it held with no shaking.

I will keep looking at this board and update as i progress outside of the hospital but I would just like to say how helpful this forum has been and some of the information has been invaluable one of the big plus points in the early days of PT was the advice to get a floor bike I would highly recommend one i still have mine but it’s in the garage don’t want to temp fait but I’ll keep hold of it!

All you new comers as already said take your time listen to your knee, you will have ups and more so downs (Jesus i never thought this day would come at times)but there is light at the end of the tunnel any lows you have come on here and people will soon pick you up also i had good friends and family around who helped me through the bad times and tried to keep me with a positive mindset.Its hard graft at times and the early days are so long and boring especially the first 6 weeks in that cast but i can honestly say looking back the time has flown although it didn’t feel like it at times. Yes my life has changed in the sense that I’ve had to slow down at work (I still can’t climb ladders)and adapt slightly and I’m always aware of my knee and I’m so careful in slippery environments but i have come a long way but i still have work to do to get back to somewhere near normality but i feel as though I’m almost there but still won’t become complacent.

Stay positive keep those heads up and good luck to all you fellow RPT patients out there.If any of you are interested or would like to look at it,it may help (it might not)I wrote a diary from day 1 of my RPT i found it helped me if nothing else through the boredom in the first few months whilst i was on the sick from work.

Once again thank you to John and the rest of the forum members you have all been a great help.

Andy

[John42]

HI Andy

Delighted that you have now lived through hell and back again - reached a reasonable solution with your knee, and it will continue to improve over time.

You have followed up lots of good advice on this forum - do not forget us, and perhaps post once in a while.

Best wishes

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[viper1b]

Hello everybody,
suffered a patella tendon rupture on St. Paddy's Day.  Sober when it happened as well.  Did it while jumping for a ball during a gaelic football game.  Living in Malawi and went to a British doctor who works here with a charity hospital. 
Was recovering nicely, but then last week I may have pushed it too hard in PT and now the knee has swollen up.  Saw the Dr today for a check-up and he is worried that tendonitis has set in again.  The tendon was in bad shape he said when he fixed it.  Anybody have anything like this happen, or is it probably just a temporary setback?  Also on the outside of the quad/knee, there seems to be a swollen ridge or something there.  He said it was just a lot of fluid, and there is just a ton of fluid around the sides and top of knee.  Any words of wisdom?  Thanks.

[viper1b]

Hello everybody,
suffered a patella tendon rupture on St. Paddy's Day.  Sober when it happened as well.  Did it while jumping for a ball during a gaelic football game.  Living in Malawi and went to a British doctor who works here with a charity hospital. 
Was recovering nicely, but then last week I may have pushed it too hard in PT and now the knee has swollen up.  Saw the Dr today for a check-up and he is worried that tendonitis has set in again.  The tendon was in bad shape he said when he fixed it.  Anybody have anything like this happen, or is it probably just a temporary setback?  Also on the outside of the quad/knee, there seems to be a swollen ridge or something there.  He said it was just a lot of fluid, and there is just a ton of fluid around the sides and top of knee.  Any words of wisdom?  Thanks.

Also, my ROM is more or less all the way back.  The strength isn't there to move it all the way myself, but my Physio can move it as far as the good leg.  No pain when riding a bike, just have some clicking sometimes on the outside of leg around knee.  Hmmmm, I think that is all the additional things I can think of.

[John42]

Welcome to the RPT club - suggest you read some of the previous posts on this thread.

If you kindly let me have your e-mail address, I will let you have a set of documents which describes your injury in detail, and the rehab procedure.

Remember - listen to your knee - PATIENCE.

You are to my knowledge, the first person from Frica, to post on this thread.

Take care

JohnK/ Manchester UK
Jkramrisch@aol.com

[EJCR]

Hello All,

Exactly 2 years since my surgery and I think about 100 new pages of rehab experiences and stories. I thought today I'd do the same thing I was doing two years ago and post here. In 2 years since the surgery I've run 4 half marathons, biked several 100km races, and completed 6 triathlons including a half ironman distance. I'm honestly in the best shape of my life. The knee is holding up great. The scar is still ugly and I have no feeling on the outside of the knee but honestly those seemed like deals during recovery but now Im so used to it that it doesnt matter. Im conscious of the injury but it doesnt stop me from doing anything. I would encourage everyone to keep up with rehab because it certainly does get better and I'm proof that you can make a 100% recovery from this injury.

Good luck, see you next year!

EJCR

[Zlou58]

Love to hear that EJCR. There is light at the end of this tunnel. Can't wait!   

[kingkev]

Hi all,
Just joined this forum as I ruptured my left pattella tendon on April 21st playing football,I had surgery the next day.
I am still in a full leg brace with 90% bend after 9 weeks,I am going for my first physio appointment on friday,I have been very very down and depressed about the injury not because of the mobility,the pain and not being able to play the sports I love but also I am self employed ,not only that I am a window cleaner !!  so as you can imagine I am in bits as this Injury is going to prevent me from doing my job!
Not good when you have a morgage and bills coming at you every 5 minutes.
Anyway I just wanted to say that its  a little  comfort that its just not me going through this bloody nightmare and I am so greatful for this forum as its helping me get through this horrible period in my life
Will post again to let you know how I got on with the physio.

[Zlou58]

Kingkev!!!

Chin up brother. To be at 90 degrees at nine weeks isn't so bad there brother. I have both done and heading into my second pt today. I'd kill to have 90 degree hahaha. Have to keep that chin up brother!!!! 

[Gutted]

Good evening sports fans,

Well, its been 1.5 years since my surgery and a long time since I have posted on here, but I do look at the forum most days. I am glad that all the new comers have found this forum as it was a source of so much information and inspiration whilst I was in the early days of the injury and the rehab. Although occasionally it might not appear that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, there is, and life does get better.

So where am I at at the moment - I'll be totally honest, although I rehab my leg everyday (apart from weekends!) and I have followed the protocol from the physio to the letter, I would say that my knee is about 80% - 90% back to pre-injury fitness. I still have some pain when doing leg extensions and I am not 100% confident about rapid movements in terms of changing direction. My scar looks okay and I still have a general lack of feeling on the outside of the knee, but it doesn't bother me at all.

What can I do - I have got into road biking in a big way and I have completed a 100 mile bike race, a 63 mile bike race and I also do numerous rides of 20 - 30 miles, which is great fun with friends. I shall do more long rides this Summer to add to the tally. I have run for 8.7km, but I have easily got a 10km run in me, I just haven't done it yet! I also do relatively fast 30 min runs and interval training. Additionally, I undertake strength work in the gym on the leg. I can do single leg extensions of 37.5kg and single leg squats on a machine of 140kg.

I would say that I am not back to where I would like to be and given another 6-12 months I think I might be getting back to the confidence that I want with the knee. As you can see, there are lots of people who are well ahead of me in terms of their comeback and they are only 6-9 months post surgery. I guess the lesson is to not compare yourself to others. I fell into that trap and started to get quite depressed. However, given what I can now do should show you that you can get back to a normal life. I would also add that although my confidence with the knee isn't 100% my CV fitness and upper body strength is probably the best it has been for a looooong time if not ever!

Keep up the good work guys and please ask any questions. Be brave, determined and tenacious with the rehab and follow your physios advice (listen to your knee though and don't push the pain). There is a blinding light at the end of the tunnel so look forward to it, grit your teeth and go for it. It does get better!

[kingkev]

Welcome to the RPT club - suggest you read some of the previous posts on this thread.

If you kindly let me have your e-mail address, I will let you have a set of documents which describes your injury in detail, and the rehab procedure.

Remember - listen to your knee - PATIENCE.

You are to my knowledge, the first person from Frica, to post on this thread.

Take care

JohnK/ Manchester UK
Jkramrisch@aol.com

Hi  could you send me the document about the Injury please to my email address,I am now 9 weeks post op and going Physio tomorrow,my email address is  kvearp@aol.com
Many Thanks
King Kev