Ruptured Patellar Tendon Surgery

[JC55]

OP+23 weeks.  Wow...23 weeks...I remember thinking when I first started posting and saw someone 23 weeks out that someday I would get there.  I also remember them posting that it seemed like forever ago when they were in a straight leg brace and I was thinking "no way" I'm going to forget about being stuck in my chair for weeks, etc.  But here I am...and yes, it does seem like forever ago (but at times not too long ago) when I was helpless, hopeless and in pain.  To all you relative newbies...it does get better, much better.  I actually coached a basketball game last night and totally forgot about my knee...I squatted down in a huddle, walked the sidelines and for the first time my injury didn't cross my mind.  Progress has been good...swelling down and numbness isn't as bad.  Bad news is that my new insurance only allows 6 visits and I've used 2 so far with my new PT.  Good news is that my PT says I'm far enough along to do everything on my own at the gym.  I really need to focus on stretching the IT Band and building muscle on the lateral side of thigh...that's where he thinks all of my inflammation is coming from.  The IT is getting irritated because it is rubbing across the lateral femoral condyle.  I've seen some improvement so I'm optimistic for getting a good outcome.  I wish I could do some hydrotherapy, but no luck here.  Anyway, hope all my RPT (& other) friends are doing well and happy! 

[vonlehmd]

OP+23 weeks.  Wow...23 weeks...I remember thinking when I first started posting and saw someone 23 weeks out that someday I would get there.  I also remember them posting that it seemed like forever ago when they were in a straight leg brace and I was thinking "no way" I'm going to forget about being stuck in my chair for weeks, etc.  But here I am...and yes, it does seem like forever ago (but at times not too long ago) when I was helpless, hopeless and in pain.  To all you relative newbies...it does get better, much better.  I actually coached a basketball game last night and totally forgot about my knee...I squatted down in a huddle, walked the sidelines and for the first time my injury didn't cross my mind.  Progress has been good...swelling down and numbness isn't as bad.  Bad news is that my new insurance only allows 6 visits and I've used 2 so far with my new PT.  Good news is that my PT says I'm far enough along to do everything on my own at the gym.  I really need to focus on stretching the IT Band and building muscle on the lateral side of thigh...that's where he thinks all of my inflammation is coming from.  The IT is getting irritated because it is rubbing across the lateral femoral condyle.  I've seen some improvement so I'm optimistic for getting a good outcome.  I wish I could do some hydrotherapy, but no luck here.  Anyway, hope all my RPT (& other) friends are doing well and happy!

Jerry,

I use a foam roller on my IT band.  Helps a lot.  Basically roll it out while laying on your side, from knee to hip.  Have you been doing this?

It hurts first few times, but can really help.  You may want to search "foam roller IT band" in you tube to view some demos.

[vonlehmd]

Fishy here, week 40 begins.  Maybe its just me, but while I am working on my quads my butt muscles have been on a week long cramp....but life goes on.  Its nice to be able to complain about something other than walking,  balance, etc. Hydrotherapy has helped more in the last few weeks....hope you all are progressing....and keep posting.  Bob

For those having issues with hamstrings and/ or gluteus, try HIP THRUSTERS when in the gym.

Search on you tube for "hip thrusters barbell".

I put a pad in the middle of the barbell ( the type used to make squats more comfortable). 

Hip thrusters are the best exercise for the backside of legs (glutes and hams).

[SellaVee]

Hello, fellow RPTers.  I'm 33 weeks on since my surgery and I've just come back from my hols.  I managed the 4 hours in captivity (Thomson flight) there and back, coped with foreign surfaces including the lunar landscape of Lanzarote and even managed a dance or two with Mr Vee of an evening.

Since I've been back I've found myself forgetting that I have a leg injury and every so often I have a tiny twinge to remind me.  Admittedly I'm not doing anything too strenuous and I still avoid kneeling down but every week I feel I'm further on.

Like Jerry, I felt at the beginning that I'd never get here and yet here I am, so recent but so long ago too.  Be encouraged everyone.  You'll get there.

[JC55]

OP +24 weeks.  Progressing okay.  Popping at times when walking but no pain.  PT going as planned...added agility drills last time.  I'm starting to trust my knee more but still slow with reflexes...I guess that will come back as I do more lateral drills.  Of all things, I tweaked my right knee a little doing a squat.  Maybe irritated my meniscus which I'm sure had some previous tears from all the athletic years.  Good news is I know it's NOT the patella tendon, 😄.  Good to hear from Sella...hope all are doing well and keeping your spirits up.  Spring will be here before you know it!

[abros]

Hi all you PTR patients.  This will be my last post.  In fact I have not posted for more than a year.  I am now just under 3 years post injury and surgical repair.  I would say I am 95% or better than before the injury.  In fact I may be stronger because now I am in the weight room 2 to 3 times a week, which I didn't do prior to the injury. I can do everything I did prior to the injury.  I mountain bike race, run, jump, ski and hike.  I don't really think about it anymore.  So there is light at the end of the tunnel for you newbies.

These are the things I have noticed:

1. Some swelling after a long day of activity and walking.
2. I have some calcific tendonitis in the the PT which was there prior for the injury (likely the cause of the rupture).  Now its is a little painful to kneel on.
3. My knee cap rides a little higher on the injured side.
4. Unless I stay with my weight program 2 X week my injured side leg will become week within 2 weeks.  Squats, dead lifts and one leg step ups are the main stay of the weight room for me.  If I go away on vacation for more than 10 days I start to notice the difference in the legs.  A friend who had the same injury in 2006 says the same thing to this day.  He now runs ultra marathons.

All in all there are worse injuries and just be patient and you will get back to your normal self.

abros 

[JC55]

Abros,
Thanks for posting.  Great to hear from someone three years down the road.  I went back and read all your post...I really learned a lot.  I'm closing in on the 6 month mark and beginning to run with more confidence on the treadmill.  Maybe I'll do more elliptical and bike to add strength without stressing the joint as much.  I wish you well and again, thanks for posting....adds a lot of needed perspective.

[abros]

Hi Jerry:

Glad this helped you.  I was in the dark days of the post-op rehab and read the 2 year update of another PTR patient.  This really helped me as well.  Soon this injury won't dominate your life!!

[tazo]

Hi All - 9wks post op:  Saw my specialist this week again, tendon continues to stretch and healing well.  Knee just very tight and getting stuck on about 80degrees was hoping to get to 90 but not quite there yet.  Also not ready for driving as can't lift the leg yet a bit dissappointing but at least there has been a progress in the muscle activity.
 Doing Physio 3x week and lots of walking as well. Brace set at 30 degrees think I'm ready for a little more.

Been a tough 2 weeks as progress has been slow but the muscle activity surely the highlight.

Any advice on what to do when knee gets stuck, massage seems to help a little and also trying laser therapy recommended by my doc.

Ciao T

[fishy]

Hey Tazo....I couldn't help but notice the date of your surgery....yours was on Christmas, mine was on Memorial Day ((surgery was at a military hospital in Alaska) .  I hope that next Chtistmas you don't give yourself another medical emergency!!!! Your ROM will return, just be patient.  You seem to be in a good program, research this site Anne you will find others that are where you are (or were).  Our ring master is John42....I am sure he is monitoring your post and will give you his valued opinion.  Keep up the good work.... Bob

[dtr42]

Hi Tazo 9 weeks and 80 degrees is about right and the sticking [like a rubber band ] is normal and takes a good time to slowly [very slowly] allow more movement . Remember the tendon is not fully healed for 12 weeks minimum.Expect to be driving about week 10-12 with surgeon/doctor consent ,emergency stop is the crunch point so you need quick knee/leg reaction also when you first start driving short journey's will be hard as the knee will be sore bent about 90 degree and long journeys more than 20-30minutes can be very painful unless you can get your seat well back and make the leg straighter .I found hydro therapy works well [both at an NHS hospital and my own swimming regime ] if you have access to a jacuzzi and a pool then it works wonders then do the RICE after to reduce the pain/swelling  also if you have the loop wire removal to be done ,usually 13 weeks, then expect another 2-3 weeks for wound to re heal and settle down although I found after the 2ND op my ROM has gone up to 130 degree's and the knee feels very stable and the rubber banding has reduced a lot although after exercising it can make the knee very stiff. I am now 17 weeks  post accident [I call it Snap day]  I have 132 degree bend ,can leg press at gym [quad muscle] 40 kilo with no pain on single leg and 100 kilo with both legs pushing seat with full leg straight  from 120 degree bend [and no tears  ] have also been using rowing machine [great for leg bends ] and walking machine with 15-20 minutes running/jogging at 6-7 mph with some pain but liveable  .The main messages are Patience which after 9 weeks you will have learned and also listen to the knee when it gets sore  then take it easy when doing your exercises and dont push it beyond what I call my 2 co codamol[painkiller] level .Remember it is a 6-12 month injury minimum [no matter what other sites may say ,1 site I was on  had a full rupture walking after 3 days and back weight training after 2 weeks] so take it easy ,keep a sense of humour and perspective [it is a bad knee at worst not a death sentence]and most of all believe your doctor/surgeon and your body ,do not expect to make massive improvements every day it doesn't work like that small and steady is the way . Good luck, live your life as well as you can ,come here with your successes and your problems and remember it  WAS a serious injury but you have survived and you will prosper again.

[mpruett]

Hi- I'm exactly at 8 weeks post surgery (8 weeks today- injury 1/4/2014, surgery 1/5/2014), and I'm doing pretty well in PT- on Friday I was at 87 degrees flexion sitting, and 83 when laying prone and pulling it up.  I'm wearing a Breg T-Scope Premier brace locked at full extension for walking, which I can do without crutches or anything.  Anyway, as you can imagine, I'm starting to get kind of eager to start going and doing, but so far I've been working from home and just going out on the weekends during the day with the family.

What I'm wondering is what a more or less typical progression is in terms of everyday life activities? I have the rehab protocol and have a pretty good idea of what I'll be doing and when in terms of that, but I'm not quite sure when I'll be able to drive, or walk with the brace on but not locked, or walk without the brace on.  I'm not really involved in any athletics anymore (I'm 41), so that's not a real concern, but I'd like to be able to be mobile enough to be useful when my wife has her baby at the end of April, which will involve bathing a toddler and some other stuff that is problematic with the brace locked out.

[carkeltom]

mpruett, welcome and sorry.  I would say you are doing fine.  I am a double rupture, so my progress was a little different, rupture on 7/19/13 and surgery on 7/21/13.  I was off of work (social worker) for about 8 weeks, until I started getting some leeway in terms of bending.  I progressed, with OSSUR braces, locked in extension and was able to drive using my toes (automatic car so my big feet helped with that).  After my 8 week appt with the OS, began PT and gradually began with the increase in extension, which made it all better.  I think most of us have seen the protocol and know what worked for us.  I still hate to kneel and get up off the floor.  Pain is the problem when I kneel on my knee and getting up is the bending like I used to.  I had both my braces on for at least 14 weeks.  The last day I wore them, for an entire day was Nov 1, 2013.  After that, I was just careful.  Held the rail on the steps, both going up and down, went down backwards until just a few weeks ago.  I live in Missouri, and the winter weather makes me walk slow, and on ice, I just take my time.  My coworkers say I look like a child who is just learning how to work, as I will use my arms out to the side to balance if I wobble or I get in a big group of people walking.  Once the braces were off, I had a problem with a tendency for my left leg to start to hyper extend before it caught, which was always somewhat scary, but I never fell (knock on wood).  I did my quad sets as much as I could and used my muscle stimulator while sitting at my desk.  Picking up things for me was difficult as I know not to abuse my back by picking things up while leaning over and squatting to pick things up was not possible until about a month ago.  Once I could walk without the crutches and without the braces, it was game on for most everything else.  I would say by the end of April, you will be out of the braces, so you will be good to go with the new child (congrats on that end) and you will be fine.  Maybe making sure you keep the kid on your level might be a good idea, using the crip and changing table and maybe not lying on the floor, as it is hard to get up off the floor at that time.  So best of luck and we have some real troopers here:  fishy, sella, JC, John42, Jerry, DanV and others I know I am forgetting, but welcome and feel free to post.  We know what you are going thru.  Tom

[JC55]

OP+25 weeks.  Weeks are starting to fly by and I can't believe it will be 6 months next week.  I have been a little off my game lately...need to get back to gym on regular basis.  Still have lots of strengthening to do.  Welcome to mpruett...you have lots of incentive with the new baby on the way, but you'll be fine as long as you listen to your knee and remain patient.  Knee is feeling OK...swelling is down but a little stiff still (I think it is from not working out in last several days).  Weather has been bad and tomorrow I'll wake up to 4+ inches of snow with a little ice underneath...FUN.  I'll be sure to get my exercise shoveling.  Well, until later, hope all are doing well and keeping your spirits up!

[John42]

Hi Mpruett

Welcome to the RPT thread

Please read some of the previous posts on this this thread, lots of buddies to give you advice - you will have realised that this is a rare injury, with a long rehab in front of you.

Suggest that you read the undermentioned link, contains a number of documents which I have collated together with KneeGuru.

Keep posting.

Where do you live?   How did you sustain your injury

Take care

JohnK/ Manchester UK



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