Ruptured Patellar Tendon Surgery

[John42]

Hi Johanna   

Thanks - good  information- you are getting there -   remember - PATIENCE

Keep us informed

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[Chiropractor2001]

Hi everyone..
I never thought this injury would be like this. I am 6 weeks post op patellar tendon repair... improving slowly.
Started working on ROM... I have an extra reinforced wire which is coming off in few weeks...no fracture.  It is just to protect the patellar tendon.
I hope we all recover in few months .
 

[John42]

Hi Chiropractor2001

Yes - you have now found the correct webpage - lots of reading and I hope that you find lots of new information and new buddies.

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[Chiropractor2001]

Thank you for introducing me to the right area..
It is so.hard to.know if anybody treatment is conservative or aggressive.  I am.meeting  with a freind of mine who is a sport doc and he is saying that every ortho has his own protocol for rehab.

[John42]

Take a good  tip - listen to your knee


JohnK/ Manchester UK

[Johanna]

Hi RPTs...

I'm back again to report how it went yesterday.  I visited my primary doc and he took a look see at my knee after I mentioned that it was stiff, a new sensation not only after the tendon graft, but also after the TKR.  He thought there might be some fluid build up under the knee and suggested I either go see my surgeon/and or go for an ultrasound.  Since I was near my OS office, I called and as I had hoped, he was willing to work me in.  So, I cancelled my PT appointment.  I wish I could have reviewed things with both of them.  My surgeon tested it structurally...moved it back and forth and had me extend my leg...everything is intact.  However, this did not reveal why I had the pain and stiffness.  I am hyper-vigilant about any discomfort with it and I would be so grateful to know what happened and when it will return to its regular state...whatever regular is.  Not to be redundant, but I will indulge and say that for me the worst thing, beyond the pain, is all the ambiguity, of that I am not in any doubt.  While I didn't believe the surgery was compromised, I sure wish I understood what happened.  It's probably a relatively minor deal, but I had just obtaining a bit of comfort moving about and not always using my cane.  Soooo annoying!  BTW...my surgeon makes me laugh.  He's quite direct and exclaimed what is that crap on your right knee?  I had on a very worn out brace that I guess is strictly psychological support now.  I've got a replacement for it, but hadn't bothered to break it in...it takes some heft to pull it on...and honestly I didn't feel like aggravating my shoulders with it just now.

Welcome Chiropractor2001.

Regards to all...

~ Johanna ~

[madvillain]

Hello all my RPT friends.  3 years out!.  Three years ago today I was enjoying a beautiful late summer day while competing in track and field events against other men in my age group. We have a state sponsored event called Senior games (open to all 50+ years or older) and I was doing rather well...at least until the high jump.  I know what people think...why were you doing something like that? Well, I've always been an athletic person (played basketball and football in college) and I missed competing.  I exercise quite a bit and was 25 pounds under my college weight.  Well, I guess all those years of physical activity took a toll...OS thinks I had micro-tears from all the jumping, twisting and contact my knees took over the years.  Anyway, one moment I was approaching the bar and the next I was lying on the mat not able to stand-up (just writing that took me back for a second and I got that sick feeling in my stomach).  After the initial shock I was so mad at myself. I second-guessed what motivated me and I was really down on myself...upset that perhaps it was vanity, showing off, etc that led me to compete.  Eventually, I forgave myself and discovering this forum a few days after surgery was a blessing.  I had surgery the day after my injury (you can read my posts to see how I rehabbed) and I can happily report that I'm almost 100%.  There are weeks that go by where I don't even think about my knee...I hike, swim, bike with absolutely no pain.  The only thing that I try to avoid is squatting for too long (OS said I have slightly torn meniscus in both knees).  I have full range of motion and strength in my knee.  I am pleased with my outcome and attribute it to having a good OS and PT.  I did what they asked but I also took charge of my own recovery.  I educated myself, asked lots of questions, listened to my knee and did my at-home exercises. For all of you going thru rehab now, YOU too will get better, although we all experience a different journey.  Celebrate your victories and be kind to yourself.  I wish to thank John for all of his efforts on keeping this forum going over all these years...you have helped LOTS of people...including me.  Thanks also to all the RPTers who went thru this with me...your support was invaluable.  I wish you all peace and happiness, Jerry

Just wanted to 2nd pretty much this entire post.  This forum is a tremendous resource and the chance of a full recovery increases dramatically when you take charge of your recovery and "own" it.  Listen to your surgeon and your PT but also listen to your body and educate yourself as much as possible at the rehab procedure and the injury.

I'm not quite as quick as I was laterally prior to the dual RPTs (Now 23 months ago) or as strong on the squat rack but in pretty much every other measure, including incredibly, vertical jump (thanks weight loss) I am improved thanks to the rigorous rehab I did, including improving my diet.

That said, not every recovery, especially if you had prior injuries are mobility issues, will go as well as mine (and hell, still plenty of time for a re-rupture or two!) and JC55's, even if you do everything right.  I guess this injury teaches us to enjoy the journey, even if the destination we are seeking never arrives.

Maybe your goal is to be pain free or to return to the athletic field or everyday activity but just know that recovery is not linear and especially at 6-12 months you're going to have weeks where you knee or knees feel worse than the week prior and you'll wonder what's going on.  This is normal and is mostly (from my research) a natural outcome of tearing down the scar tissue, the regrowth of the pain sensors in the joint, and the rest of the joint getting "used to" what is almost certainly an altered location of the patella itself, regardless of how could your surgeon is.

One thing JC55 and I have in common, and I believe this is also critical -- was an immediate surgical repair.  Ironically, the fact that I did not have insurance and that I was such a "novelty" (duals) helped my cause.  I'm pretty sure I would not have gotten such a skilled surgeon had it not been a chance for him to advance his own technique without a patient worrying about cost.  I didn't have an insurance company guiding me towards a cheaper surgeon, hell, I just took on 50k in debt that I will probably have to discharge via bankruptcy in the future but IMO given the fact that I was wondering if I'd ever walk again, let alone return to pre injury levels of fitness and activity -- I'll take that trade.

If you are battling your insurance company and having to put off surgery advocate as much as possible on your behalf to get the repairs done ASAP.  The longer the time between injury and surgery the worse odds for a full recovery.

Johanna -- your story is particularly hearbreaking but your attitude is amazing.  Keep on keeping on.

Edit: also wanted to give a shoutout to the remarkable American FB player Jimmy Graham who returned from a rupture only 8 months after his injury and for all intents and purposes is better now than he was prior.  Just a true testament to the power of  hard work.  Genetics sure, but hard work mostly.

[Stuart Rulka]

I would second everything Jerry and madvillain have said, particularly with regard to speed of surgery, post injury. I was fortunate to undergo surgery, paid for by medicare ,in Canada, 16 hours after incurring my RQT. I credit this, and rapid and aggressive physio, for my speedy recovery. It helps to be, as my Sports Medicine specialist phrased it, "a driven individual!"

[Norene]

Hello all.   Started posting earlier tonight but then we lost power.   Not sure what happened but the emergency crew trucks were outside our house for hours.   

Johanna - I can relate so much to your post.   I can go weeks doing okay - managing stairs properly (as long as I am not carrying anything), walking fine - no limp.    Then all of a sudden my knee starts throbbing, it is very sore, I can't do stairs right and I start limping when I am tired.   It really does a number to my psyche. I am 9 months post op and today was a bad day.  Insurance has stopped paying for PT so I am paying for it myself.  Instead of once a week I go every other week and that works.  My knee still gets hot at times.   It is so hard because others do not understand.   Hang in there!!

[Chiropractor2001]

Hello ..
Oh yes.. the knee likes to play tricks. It goes from no pain to swelling and cannot walk. I am sure as months passes by we will get better.  Somehow I am stuck at 85 degrees 7 weeks post op... I cannot pass the 90.. and days like today I am probably at 70..
Anybody experiences this??

[John42]

Chiropractor2001

Thats quite normal - it can take up to twelve/fourteen weeks to reach 90ROM - don`t push it - the tendon has to heal

JohnK/ Manchester UK

[Chiropractor2001]

Thanks for the moral support.
I just don't want end up with bunch of fibrosis in the knee. And punch of other problems. I also don't undrestand why the surgeon does not want me to weight bear until the reinforced wire is out.
I spoke to home regarding a bit of muscle activation and walking on the leg and he said no. ( I argued since tthe first thing we do in the clinic is getting the gait right and activation of the whole leg. ... oh well...

[madvillain]

Thanks for the moral support.
I just don't want end up with bunch of fibrosis in the knee. And punch of other problems. I also don't undrestand why the surgeon does not want me to weight bear until the reinforced wire is out.
I spoke to home regarding a bit of muscle activation and walking on the leg and he said no. ( I argued since tthe first thing we do in the clinic is getting the gait right and activation of the whole leg. ... oh well...

I'm a little confused as to why he wouldn't allow weight bearing as well.  I did not have a wire repair but my surgeon's advice (thankfully I got a very good, talented younger guy that basically took me on to further his career! Not too many dual RPTs to practice on...) was to start weight bearing as soon as I could tolerate it.

At the two week followup, after a bunch of practice and quad sets (do those constantly!) I amazed him by walking Frankenstein (braces certainly still locked!) style into the examination room.  When I got up to leave he noticed I had no walker and he goes "how did you get in here!".

I told him I walked.

Practice makes perfect.  Keep those hips and calves and neuro-muscular systems from atrophying as much as possible.

Now, I'm not advising you to go against your surgeon's advice but I would certainly seek a 2nd opinion from someone here that had a similar repair or elsewhere online or even another surgeon at your hospital.

In my research the growing trend with this injury is to get back on your feet as soon as possible and as much as you can tolerate AS LONG AS YOU ARE LOCKED IN THE BRACE.  The days of a full length cast and a month in bed are gone.






_________________

Did some squats yesterday. (135x10x3, 185x7x2, 225x2x2) and FML the strength takes forever to build back up.  Going on almost two years now since the dual RPTs.  Oh well.  I'm as pain free squatting (not even the little 1-2 level pain) as I have been since the injury and that probably means I've broken up most of the scar tissue finally.   For some odd reason my knees always feel great (even if my quads and glutes are on fire) the day after squatting.   

Happy Holidays everyone!  I still remember I finally got out of the house a month after my injuries for a New Year's party and most of the time was spent making sure I didn't get knocked over.  But it felt great to be back a part of things.

  Be safe when you are out and about always stay locked in your braces until the surgeon tells you to remove them.

[Chiropractor2001]

Hi Madvillan
Thank you for your post.
I am not a good listener.. so I have started to walk with out crutches..  getting on a vibe plate to stimulate muscles..  using my Russian stim for muscles.....
Already at 95 degrees flexion on my 7 week.
I just don't like his rationale..
Thanks for the good news that finally all these discomfort will come to an end
 

[Bascat]

Was weight bearing from a day or so after the op (in braces and crutches) but was told the repair had been designed that way. Interested to know how you improve with the stim as after initially suggesting it the pt never got around to implementing it.

The cold snap has provided me with a new definition of fear!

My knees makes an audible crackling noise. A bit like a dusty record along with the clicks and clicks.  Don't know if to be worried by it or not. Any thoughts anyone?

At 6 nearly 7 months following bilateral ptr progress looks like. Walking about quite abely although carry one crutch about but don't really use it.

Gym 2 or 3 times a week doing most things and fitness is steadily progressing. Sometimes swap the gym for a swim or splashing about and found this has helped a lot.

Trying to jog on the spot and jump a ltitle.  Squats n steps.

Main issue seems to be getting the knees firing without thinking or pausing. Left is doing better than right in that respect although right seems a little stronger.

Aim is to kick on from here which gets more challenging. Trying to give the knees different things to do. Rest days are also a must and improvement normally comes after one of these.

Hang in there Chiro you're at a tough stage and is mentally hard. It should get better and you will appreciate life in a different way.

Keep warm.