Ruptured Quadriceps Tendon

[mojocpa]

Mojo checking in since everyone else is. 10 months since I tried to fly down stairs. I made it through the play with minimal problems. I was supposed to dance somewhat badly and I succeeded. The queen in the show had me by the hands doing circles and I survived that. Kneeling still sucks. Going down stairs with something in my hands is still tough, I assume it is because I need the comfort of having open hands to be able to hold on to the handrail if need be. Downward slopes can be tricky especially if I don't see them beforehand.
On the fishing, Bob, we went to the Oregon Coast in June and I went bottom fishing. It went well, I made sure I sat down every once in a while to rest my knees. Overall I am pleased with the progress and realize I will never be 100% again, but that is better than spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Thanks all for the posts and support.

Dave J

[SE27Eagle]

Frank, I hope you are going to pass through or near London again one of these days.  It's time for another drink or more.  It's very good to hear from you and I am really happy you are driving again - that point really lodged when we met. 

Accusations of gallivanting are a fair cop.  Even so, some things never change and the difference between going uphill and downhill is one of them.  We all climbed Mount Fuji a few weeks ago on a family holiday in Japan and I was congratulating myself on my brilliant recovery as we waited, shivering, for the dawn.  Of course the way down (4 hours of 20% descent on sand and volcanic clinker) was quite another matter.  I came whimpering into Kawaguchiko 5th station having stolen the last of everyone else's water and my wife's walking stick, and was confusing other walkers by tiptoeing gingerly down increasingly tame slopes before striding up the few merciful bits of uphill.  But it was worth it for this view.

[Stuart Rulka]

Saw Dr Jack Taunton, Vancouver's own Knee Guru yesterday. Apparently my bone chips are not an issue as long as they don't cause my knee to seize ! He has ordered an MRI to check it out, and feels myVMO and Quads need more work so will actually have to start exercising!

[mojocpa]

Mojo here. 52 weeks ago this afternoon I tried to fly down our basement stairs and did the double. Things are going as well as can be expected. Stairs up are okay, stairs down still are a concern especially with something in my hands.  I find standing for long periods to be fatiguing. All in all I am happy with the outcome. Thanks to John, Fishy, et al for the words of encouragement, laughter and advice.  Dave J

[fishy]

Mojo here. 52 weeks ago this afternoon I tried to fly down our basement stairs and did the double. Things are going as well as can be expected. Stairs up are okay, stairs down still are a concern especially with something in my hands.  I find standing for long periods to be fatiguing. All in all I am happy with the outcome. Thanks to John, Fishy, et al for the words of encouragement, laughter and advice.  Dave J

Fishy here, from one double to another "flying " is definitely out of the question!  Hang tough my brother...got a question for you and all my other brothers and sisters....If you tighten your quad now and "slap" the outside edge, does it ripple to the inside?  Mine had been a pool of jelly, but after 16 months the quad actually is beginning to get some definition and firmness....anyone else dare to compare?  Regards,  Bob

[mojocpa]

Bob, in answer to your query at first the atrophy of the quads right after the accident was unbelievable. But after 4 months of pt and having to navigate stairs both at work and home I would say my quads are stronger than pre-accident. I do get a tingling sensation on the outside of the quad if I stand too long.

[SE27Eagle]

Hello team Quattro

So in direct answer to your question, Bob - and it's 11 months since surgery - I can get a ripple across both legs which is pretty comparable in speed and extent (I was a single, not a double).  But the right leg still isn't as bulky as the left and because I did the same to the left 7 and a half years ago, I can't remember how long it took to catch up the right.  So my question in return is whether anyone on here goes back long enough (but just not too long) to remember how long parity took?  I am due to go skiing this Christmas so will probably do some focused gym work in the next couple of months to be on the safe side.  Cycling is fine (and also my sole form of exercise at the moment) - probably 100-120 miles a week at the moment.  In fact the only problem with cycling is that while it's still warm enough to cycle in shorts, my legs warm up with blood flowing into the capillaries, and I look down to see two white lines running across my kneecaps.  But that's a very small price to pay for getting them both back.

[Stuart Rulka]

James, in answer to your question , my quads are even, as far as I can tell, at 14 months. I was fortunate, in that I resumed pretty much my regular exercise schedule at 6 weeks. Dr Jack Taunton,  the Sports Medicine Specialist I saw last month (Chief medical Officer for the Vancouver Olympics, I have been really fortunate in my rehab ) put me on a regimen of weights which made a big, and rapid , difference.
  I hate to say it but he feels, as I do, that the degree to which an individual is  " driven " is a major factor in rehab. This assumes all else being equal, and we are sensible enough to listen to our bodies and not overdo it!

[fishy]

Fishy here.  Thanks to all that answered my question.  It is reassuring to see everyone is healing and doing so at their own pace.  I have noticed that my knee clicking is not as frequent (I can actually sneak out of the bedroom for a potty break without waking the wife).  Different portions of my quads are awakening now, mainly the upper portion close to the hip.  What I mean by "awakening" is now I feel the exercise has caused some muscle rejuvenation.  Hope everyone is healing nicely!  Take care,  Bob

[destroyedbothtendons]

Ruptured both tendons on 12/19/13 & operated on 12/21/13.  Started PT on 2/1/14 thru 6/30/14.  Have been doing PT exercises at home  and added going to the gym in early June.  While I thought my recovery was going well I seemed to have plateaued a bit.  I still can't walk quickly and down steps or hills ranges from awkward to frightening.  I know that this usually takes at least a year but am starting (for the 1st time) to get frustrated.  If there is no improvement in the next month or so I am thinking about going back to the OS to see if he has any suggestions.

[fishy]

Fishy here....hey, destroyedbothtendons, don't give up the ship just quite yet.  This is a process that takes patience, rehab, rice, etc., BUT it also takes about a year for the darn process to show real results.  I know, you feel like you have done all the work and want all the results....and maybe that is so.  Just remember that you have been seriously injured.....and you are blessed to live in an age where this is just an inconvenience, not a death sentence...stay strong, keep up with the PT, bit..h all you want but add just a pinch of gratitude...that's my two cents worth.   Your friend in recovery.....  Bob

[destroyedbothtendons]

Thanks Fishy.  I know it is going to take some time but I guess this is the first time I haven't seen/felt progress for a few weeks.  I've actually had a pretty good attitude toward the whole process and I appreciate someone reminding me where I could be instead of being happy with how far I've come. 

Thanks again.  Good Luck to you too.

[y2kmxz]

Hello All,

I'm a 40 Y/O male that tore his quad tendon on May 18th 2014 after loosing my footing while walking on some boulders.  On June 5, 2014 I had quad tendon surgery.  I started passive PT about 2 weeks after surgery.  By week 12, my ROM was ~122 deg.  My Physical Therapist and Surgeon were extremely happy with my progress.  On September 4th  (12 week post OP) I was removed from my leg brace, with the stipulation that I "wouldn't do any dumb" for another 4 weeks (October 4th) and then I could start living life and starting to build strength.  The whole time I was under direction of a PT.

On September 20th, 15 weeks post OP....the worst occured!  I missed a step down from a landing...the newly repair knee took the unexpected landing and the quad tendon TORE AGAIN!  On October 9th I had quad tendon surgery #2.  Its amazing that all the good that I had done was taken away with one step.

Anyway, not sure if I just unlucky or there is some other issue thats going on that caused the tendon to tear again.  My Surgeon said it was just bad luck.  I've always been a "good healer" but Ive never had such an injury before.  The Surgeon did say that the 2nd tear did not tear everything repaired from surgery #1.  I'm really down in the dumps, scared that my tendon will never heal correctly and it will always be a ticking time bomb.  I know I need to stop thinking that way but its hard at times.

This time around, leg will be in a brace for 4 weeks prior to the start of passive stretching.  I will be held in full extension for 3 months.  Never did I think that my 40th year of life would involve over 6 months of being on crutches.

If you've had an experience similiar to mine and managed to get back to normal, let me hear your story.  I could use a confidence booster.

Thanks for listening!

[John42]

Hi Y2kmxz

Welcome to KneeGuru - You must be the first person who has reruptured their Quad tendon for many years on this website/thread.   

No point in sending you the rehab program, because you have been through it all.  However, this is the time of the year when we watch out for wet leaves, snow and ice.   

Please do keep posting.

Where do you live.

Take care

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[y2kmxz]

Hi Y2kmxz

Welcome to KneeGuru - You must be the first person who has reruptured their Quad tendon for many years on this website/thread.   

No point in sending you the rehab program, because you have been through it all.  However, this is the time of the year when we watch out for wet leaves, snow and ice.   

Please do keep posting.

Where do you live.

Take care


JohnK/ Manchester UK

Please don't tell me I'm the only one!  I need to know that "It
happens".
I'm chiming in from New York State....USA.  Not New York City!