Ruptured Quadriceps Tendon

[John42]

Hi and welcome to the RQT thread - 

First tip is to sleep with a pillow between your knees - takes the pain away from the injured knees.

If you let me have your e-mail address, I will send you a collection of documents which will give you an idea of rhe rehab process.

Nothing to stop you going on holiday, but request a long legged seat, most important is to order a wheel chair at both ends, and dont forget your crutches.  You will get royal treatment and save lots of frustration.

Best wishes

JohnK/ Manchester UK
[email protected]

[meehanstl]

10 weeks out of my MUA, I am feeling pretty good.  I have been lifting weights for a month, doing a lot of squats with a med ball, single leg leg press (with bad leg), walking lunges, and physio ball leg curls.  Actively I can get to about 120 something, when my therapist or friends push it after riding the bike I get even with my other leg.  I think hamstring strength has a lot to do with my active limitations. 

I just want to tell you all to have faith and as much as it sucks, make sure u r really pushing yourself in therapy, I went through a lot of pain after my MUA to get to where I am now, lots of time on the bike and trying to lower the seat every few minutes to increase range.  I believe I cans tart to run tomorrow or sometime this week, and it feels pretty good.

Leg and knee still look pretty messed up but functionally I am walking well, going down the stairs in the mornings takes a few steps to feel normal, but other than that I think I am progressing well. 

I encourage you all to stay positive and be mentally strong.  I have been out of my passion (jiu jitsu) since september 4th, but don't think of the time, take every day for what it is, and you will look back and see how far you have come.  Don't constantly think about it, just take everything one day at a time, and make sure you continue to push yourself!

[kw210]

Hello everyone;Brand new to the site.Here's my story.5 weeks ago I was dragging out the snowblower and slipped on some ice,slamed my left knee into the crossbar and dislocated my knee.Went to ER and they set it and sent me home saying to get a zimmer splint and call my fam.dr.Very vague on any advice other than that.It was on a sunday so in our little town everything was closed.I did complain that the knee felt very weak and there was a lot of swelling.xrays were taken and the dr. said it was hard to tell if any other damage was done.Later that same day I was coming up the basement stairs and my leg gave way and I fell down 5 or 6 steps a landed on the ceramic floor breaking 6 ribs,ruptured a lung and broke a collar bone,went back to ER and they kept me for 4 days repairing the lung and starting the repair of the ribs ignoring the leg the whole time.Started pt 2 weeks later for the knee and didn't seem to be making much progress.Went to pt for a week and was feeling a little stronger but not alot.Walking without assistance for a week and needed to drive somewhere(I have been driving for a week) went to get in my truck and the leg gave out again.Went to a specialist 3 days later and was immediately admitted and surgery the next morning.(ruptured quad)Just got home from the hospital today and everyone I talk to thinks I was missdiagnosed and I should sue.Anyone have an opinion?

[John42]

Hi and welcome to the RQT thread - you have sustained a very serious injury, and there is a long rehab.

I have sent you a collection of documents which cover the rehab process - prepare for lots of TV and lots to read.

Keep posting on this thread - lots of buddies out here to answer your questions.

Where do you live?

Best wishes

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[kw210]

Hello new friends;Been reading posts on this site for about an hour and am so glad I found it.I'm in my second day since surgery and I must say I must be one of the lucky ones compared to some that I have read.I'm in southern Ontario Canada and I'm a trucker by trade so my left leg must be strong or the obvios will happen.My DR.wrapped my leg from ankle to waiste in a stiff cast and I'm allowed 50% weight bear with crutches.In 2 weeks I go back to see him for the stiches and decide if a hard cast is called for.Don't know any details of operation(drilled holes,scews etc.)but will be sure to ask when I am there.I am self/employed so getting back on the road is paramount.Currently taking percaset 5% tabs 2 at a time for pain.They help alot.When they wear off I feel a burning pain at surgury site.I guess that's normal.That's all for now.Speedy Healing to all.JOHN

[natural0714]

Hello my name is Carla and I ruptured my quad tendons in both knees on January 31, 2011.  I am so happy that I found this group.  I am 41 years old. When the slip on ice happened lunch time near my employment I was sent to the hospital and they did an x-ray, said no broken bones and sent me home.  I asked why are you sending me home and I can't walk, my legs kept giving but they did send me mosey along anyway with a set of crutches.  on 2/3/2011 I wen back to the emergency and they did the same, I asked for an MRI but they said I had no broken bones and sent me home.  My mother took me to her doctor because I was at home using my great grandmother walker, rest her soul.  I went to see him on 2/11 and explained to him, he saw the swelling in both knees and at that time they were blue black and I'm african american brown skinned.  He sent me to see an orthopedic doctor on valentines day, I went and had an MRI the same day.  The results came back to him withing 1/2 hour and that's when he told me I ruptured my quad tendons in both legs and needed surgery as soon as possible.  I just cried.   Never had surgery before.  I had surgery and had about 18-20 staples in each knee.  They also had my legs in bledsoe braces which made it impossible for me to bend both legs.  I had family members caring for me at home because I couldn't bend any legs.  I had to eventually learn how to stand with the braces and get around.  VERY SCARY!!!  never used braces.  There was an physical therapist that came to my home after the staples were removed from my legs.  He taught me how to bend my knees and walk around and I had several exercises (not too hard) I had to do.  Okay now I am at the point where I can stand, walk, bend knees but cannot bend my knees while standing.  I am going now to a physical therapy facility, been there for about 3 weeks and they got me walking up a step which is hard and bending knees a lil.  I need to really bend my knees more while standing but can't, so I'm doing numerous exercises to try to strengthen my quads.  Yesterday I was crying because I just get back to the way I was.  I know its hard work but everyday I try hard and when in therapy because I do wanna return back to work but without using cane.  LISTEN JUST STAY MOTIVATED BECAUSE I AM REALLY TRYING.  REMEMBER I HAD BOTH LEGS OPERATED AT THE SAME TIME.  My email is [email protected] .  If you have any type of exercises that may help please do e-mail me.  GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!!

[natural0714]

I been reading your posts and have been inspired.  Ruptured quad tendons in both legs.  I can go up the stair but can't go down.  I can do squats a lil, if you wanna call them a squat.  Just gonna keep trying.  Its good to hear of your recovery.

[John42]

Hi Carla

You have sustained a pretty rare serious injury - not many persons in the world who have sustained a double rupture.

Not surprised that the doctors did not diagnose you correctly first time, but at the same, just by standing up, he should have detected that you have snapped your tendons.

It is important that you read up previous posts on this thread, to get an idea of what physio is in store for you - a very long rehab, and lots of hard work on your part.

I am sending you a collection of documents which I have accumulated over the last eight years.  Read with care.   The documents cover a Ruptured Patella Tendon, but the rehab is very similar.

Where do you live?

Keep posting - remember PATIENCE

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[Hop a Long]

Hi I'm Ed,
Had a slip and fall Wednesday May 5, 2011. I knew something was wrong before I hit the floor. Felt that pop and what felt like my left knee dislocate just as my knee gave out, had witnesses.  I had to straightened my leg out manually on the floor after the cramping stopped, and i must say was very painful.  I was helped up but could not put weight on the leg my leg.  Police officer offered to transport me to the Hospital but could not bend it to get it in the passager door. Went to hospital by ambulance, as usual they treated it like a knee sprain, screened my xray for obvious fx (none), gave me a knee immoblizer, crutches, and sent on my way with pain meds.  Was refered to Ortho. Surgeon could not go on Saturday or Sunday.  Went to Surgeon on Monday morning he requested MRI for conformation of which I and he already knew.  The buising was covering my knee by this time, and I could not extend my lower leg.  I will add at this time that my left knee was the good one, my right one was already a basket case with no cartilage and torm meniscus and painful to walk on as it was.  The Surgeon repaired my Left Rutured Quadricep Tendon on Thursday May 12, 2011.  Thanks to modern pain medicine I made it past the following three days which i will say was more painful then when I broke my right ankle and right collar bone in a motorcycle accident.  The original knee immobilizer was replaced with a more functional one after surgery. I go between the walker and crutches depending what I am doing.  I've started to back off the pain meds as much as I can, since my other knee hurts also.

[John42]

Hi Ed

Welcome to the RQT club - remarkable, three newbies in one day.

Suggest that you read as many of the previous posts on this thread as possible - keep posting with questions - lots of buddies to give you advice.

Let me have your e-mail address, and I will send you some documents which will give you
an idea of the rehab procedure - a long haul to look forward to.

Where do you live?

Best wishes

JohnK/ Manchester UK
[email protected]

[Hop a Long]

This is Hop a Long,
I am 56, 57 next month, live in Wash, DC
Email :   [email protected]

You got it I kind of knew when I hit the floor what was happening

not really looking forward to the rehab I understand that it is painful, one small problem the knee Iinjured was the good knee, now the old bad knee is now the "good knee"

[natural0714]

I been reading your posts and have been inspired.  Ruptured quad tendons in both legs.  I can go up the stair but can't go down.  I can do squats a lil, if you wanna call them a squat.  Just gonna keep trying.  Its good to hear of your recovery.

I'm from Paterson, New Jersey.   Thank you again for the inspiration and input.

[YogaSkier]

Another RQT club member here... 

I am 3 wks post-op from having the tendon repaired, a capsulectomy, synovectomy, patella release and major debridement. My RQT wasn't diagnosed for 4 months  due to symptoms from a persistent septic joint somewhat overlapping between the two conditions. We are **hoping** that the infection is gone, but, won't know for sure until the antibiotic beads are fully dissolved. After, 10 months of dealing with infection and repeatedly restarting the rehab process after each surgery I'm pretty fed up, but determined to get back to normal or as near to that as I can get while gritting my teeth! 

I'm wondering when the pain improved for veteran RQT members? Also, when was FWB comfortable?

[John42]

Welcome to the RQT club.

I have sent you a collection of documents covering the rehab procedure -The documents cover a Ruptured Patella Tendon, but the rehab is very similar  -  read through, and read through the past posts on this thread.

How did you sustain your injury?    Where do you live?

Best wishes

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[YogaSkier]

Thanks John! Actually, I'm the young lady from Colorado that contacted you via email!

We **think** the injury occurred on POD #3 when I still had a continuous femoral block. I suffered a fall, that was extrememly painful even with the block. In addition, I had been on a long-term IV antibiotic, Levaquin, that is associated with tendon ruptures. Unfortunately, due to the multiple surgeries and ongoing persistent septic joint, the RQT wasn't diagnosed until 4 months later.

I'm currently doing PT 3/wk, pool exercises 3/wk, upper body wts 2/wk (I really should be doing this more...) and the normal HEP prescribed by PT 5/day.

My ROM was restricted to 0-45 for the first two weeks and I'm allowed to add 10 degrees/wk (more at the PT's discretion). At 4 wks now, I'm at 70 degrees, but, cannot push past that without significant pain. So, we are hanging out at 70 and we'll see what the next couple of weeks brings!

After dealing with the joint infection for the last 10 months and canceling many vacations, I'm so excited to be flying out to see friends for Memorial Day weekend. I'm a bit nervous about the logistics of flying alone, using crutches...etc.

Happy Sunday all...I would lve to hear how the rest of you are doing!