Hi everyone, happy new year to you all!
I knew I hadn't been here for a while, but didn't realize it had been this long...
I see there's a lot of new people - I'm sorry you needed this site!
The good news is that my quad hasn't ruptured again. (Complete right quad rupture in October -16 - surgery after almost 3 weeks - and re-rupture late February -17. Because I saw a question about it further up: Three sutures through patella - and suture anchors - at the first repair, and 5 at the other + soft cast for three weeks, then a fixed brace for 6.)
Since September I've finally been able to work out enough to improve my general strength and fitness, not only doing pt for my quad. I emphasize and celebrate all achievements and progress.
If anyone remembers me, perhaps you'll know that I have quite a few health problems aside from the quad rupture, which means I have plenty of room for improvement in many areas!
I've spent the first three weeks of December at an inpatient physical rehabilitation facility, and am going back there for two weeks from tomorrow. (I guess this is where I should praise the joys of living in a country with practically free healthcare...)
My main goal for the stay is learning to climb stairs properly again. They even have a "training staircase" with low steps.
Some days I succeed, even with the "proper" stairs.
Secondly, they aim to put a brake on my new fear of falling...
I take part in several different exercise classes chosen for my needs every day, even hand exercise for my arthritis!
I've got "my own" p.t. who, despite a young age, has experience with and expertise on tendon ruptures, even quadriceps and patellar ones. (He's done his master degree on sport injuries, particularly among alpinists.)
He keeps telling me that I have achieved enough strength to move on to more functional training, so there we are now. "Don't worry about ROM and extension - focus on what you need your leg to be able to do. That's what we're working on!"
Before I went home for Christmas, I managed to do squats on only my right leg. That's a huge step forward!
I promised the pt to go for at least one walk on one of our local beaches during the holiday, and a few days ago my son joined me for this. Yet another hurdle passed, lovely!
We have a lot of really beautiful beaches in South-western Norway, and this is something I've really missed. It was also the first time I've walked there without a dog.
The next big steps ahead are already planned.
I went to work out at my usual pt's the other day, and he was really happy with the progress I've made in such a short period of time.
All in all, at this point I'm doing far better than anticipated after the re-rupture. I love proving the doctors wrong.
I mostly walk without a limp, and neuropathic pain in my legs stops me before the knee does (I'm not able to walk very far, though - but at least I'm able to ride a stationary bike). I don't know what I'd do without my central nerve stimulator.
Steep hills and stairs still slow me down, but I don't shy away from them anymore - at least not as much as before. I do look forward to bare and ice-free ground, though...
The knee still gets painful and swollen after strenuous exercise, but I try to look upon this as a reminder about being patient. I didn't get any patience for Christmas either, unfortunately.
I've more or less started to regard the injury as a blessing for forcing me back to exercising: I had forgotten how much I enjoy it!
TurboCoder: I am so, so happy for you!
