Question:
tore my ACL and medial meniscus and 'nicked' my lateral meniscus the
last Wednesday in May. I had surgery three weeks ago last Monday.
Doctor's order are that I'm in a full leg brace locked at 0 degrees for
6 weeks postop, whenever weight bearing. For my rehab exercises I'm not
allowed to go past 90 degrees flexion (presumably to protect repaired
menisci).
I feel like I could be progressing a lot faster. I already hate my
brace, and the idea of wearing it for 3 more weeks is abhorrent. In
fact, I already walk around without it. I can do stairs normally, I can
walk normally, all without the brace. I know that the brace is to
protect the graft against another catastrophic incident (like the one
that tore it in the first place), and so I only walk around braceless
under very controlled conditions.
My question is: how aggressive should my PTs be with my rehab, and how
aggressive should I be in (over)doing it? I'm still doing quad-sets and
straight leg raises and other basic anti-atrophy exercises. Boring,
easy, no problem. I want to WALK, for exercise. I want to be SORE from
my rehab. I want to get BETTER, and I feel like all I'm doing is
being coddled by a regimen designed for 75-year-old women with hip
replacements.
Advice? Anecdotes?
Answer:
Sorry to hear the bad news.
The good news is that you can recover quickly and completely.
The questionable news is ... I don't know if your VERY conservative
rehab is going to help you or hinder you.
I had the same exact injuries as you listed.
I don't know if you had an allograph (cadaver parts pasted in) or an
autograph (bits taken from you, say a slice of hamstring or a mid-third
of your PCL). This can make a difference. I had the allograph (an
achilles tendon, actually) and I was backpacking through New Zealand 12
weeks later. Playing ultimate at nine months. Used a brace for one
tourney and got so sick of it I threw it out.
Key to my success ... very aggressive PT. Continuous passive motion
machine bending my knee 23 hours a day starting from the moment I woke
up in post-op. Started PT 3 days post surgery. Had a bit of a sadist
for a therapist, but she did me right. Did all the home exercises and
then some just short of pain or swelling. Light stationary bike about 1
week in. Walking on crutches about 1 1/2 weeks. Lots of weight lifting
and controlled squats. Light running about 6 weeks into it all (if I
remember correctly.) Finished PT in 11 weeks.
Four years post-op and I'm only getting slower now due to age. I think
my new achilles/ACL must be younger than the rest of me.
See if you can step up the PT.
