Cruciate ligaments :

ACL reconstruction after 6 months - - Posted by thkaa (thkaa), 16 January 2005

I've done the ACL reconstruction for 6 months. I think the operation was done well since I had no pain after the surgery and I was discharged after 3 days with using crutches. I rested at home for about one month then did some swimming exercise. But it didn't make be feel better. I did it for several times then stopped.

Then I did some exercise as the PT told me. I felt better but I found that the swelling didn't fade. Dr gave some pills for me and it got better. It's about 2 months after the surgery.

I continued to do exercises and increased the weight when doing the weight lifting. I went running too. I absolutely could do it without any difficulty or pain. But everytime after exercise 2 or 3 days. I felt uncomfortable with the knee.  It swelled a little. At that time I supposed it got stronger because there was no pain at all.

But 4 months after surgery. the knee swelled quickly and I felt something like that "water bag" burst and the knee was filled with water and the swelling was very obvious. I only iced it but it didn't go out at all. It got worse and worse and I had to walk very carefully. But one day I chased the bus and walked a bit faster, It hurt me a lot. I felt painful. I thought I hurt the meniscus and rushed to the hospital.

Dr suggested me to rest more and no surgery was done. It was the time after 5 months. Dr took some fluid from my knee to examine and the result was positive and concluded no inflammation. It took me 20 days for the swelling to fade out. During swelling, I could hardly walk. When it got a little better, I walk again and it got swell again. It took me another 20 days to get better. I couldn't go to the PT. I avoided prolonged walking now and rested more. It got better now and didn't swell.  Dr suggested me to do an arthroscopy to examine what's going on. I will do it next week.

Anyone got that unlucky experience and would you kindly give me some advice??

Posted by Gab (Gab), 16 January 2005

Hi, yeah I'm experiencing something similar and I'm getting an arthroscopic scope this upcomming Friday. How is your extension? Do you have full range of motion? Do you hear/feel any grinding/clunking at extension?
Posted by thkaa (thkaa), 17 January 2005

Exactly the grinding sound when extending the leg. It doesn't hurt at all but a little uncomfortable with it. My Dr said no one knows the problem. Do you know what's going on?? I can bent my leg completely but only can extend it to about 95%. Moreover, it's very unstable when walking so I have to walk with care.

Good luck to your operation.
Posted by desiree1 (desiree1), 18 January 2005

I've also had the clunking clicking grinding in my knee which just started 3 weeks ago for no apparent reason if I stand and flex my leg back I hear a grinding clicking noise I can do it at will and can often feel it as i walk it does not hurt but is not that nice.
I saw my surgeon again last week over it and he said my new ligament  was fine but it could be that some strands may be causing this not to sure what he ment but he said I need to get to the gym as often as possible to really build those muscles up and it may clear the problem up but if it persists and im seeing him again in 3 months he will have me in for a scope to clear it up...
My knee is still slightly swollen just below the knee cap and my muscles seem often stiff,are you experiencing these things ?
I guess I really need to push on with my rehab it seems a long stretch....
All the best Gab with your scope will be interesting with the results....

Chris
Posted by thkaa (thkaa), 18 January 2005

My knee went well after the recon but just swelled. I went to gym regularly and everything seemed ok. My knee suddenly swelled a lot but didn't know what's going on. I couldn't walk any longer. Up till now it's already one month after the swelling my knee is not stable enough.

So I strongly advise you to ice your leg evey day to get rid of swelling.
Posted by Gab (Gab), 18 January 2005

Hey, yes I have muscle stiffeness as well, especially on the lateral side of the leg, close to the patella. Chris, unfortunately my problems are pretty much the same as yours, except that it started with patella maltracking right after surgery because my quads were too weak. Then the clunking/clicking started at around 2-3 months but my OS and PT told me to keep working my quads out, which I did. Now they are much stronger albeit not as big as I would like them to be but I have recuring swelling in the knee and the clunking is getting worse, I have pain at terminal extension with the loss of a few degrees. My OS seems pretty confident that I have a cyclops lesion (localized arthrofibrosis), unless he finds surprises in there as he mentioned.

The knee is not 'that' bad, except for stiffeness if I sit too long and then extend my leg. I used to have pretty bad tendonitis at the patellar tendon (donor site) and I haven't felt pain there for weeks now. I can also run at a good pace without hurting, my problems are really the klunking/pain at extension and resulting swelling, which has slowed my recovery a TON..

Anyway, I'm just babbling.

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