ACL reconstructive surgery and all that comes with it

Page 6: Physical Therapy

ACL Recovery: Day 15

Monday June 23rd, 2008

My first real day of physical therapy. I did the excercises that they prescribed last Saturday and actually got the ride the recumbant bike today for 10 minutes. I was pretty pumped about that! After the bike, I did the excercises and she massaged my knee to break up any adhesions that might have formed.

Then while lying on my back, she flexed my knee, pushing it to the limits and them extended it again. This was the most painful part of the physical therapy because when she got to the most flexed position, she gave it a little extra, very slight, push. Probably an extra 5° of flex. She did this 20 times.

At the end of physical therapy, They iced my knee for 15 minutes and hooked me up to a machine that sends electrical pulses through my knee. Apparently, this is supposed to relieve some of the swelling.

That night I really wished I had taken the doctor up on the different pain mecication. The pain was more than the Aleve would take care of. Fortunately, I still had some percocet to take. Even though I don't particularly like the way they make me feel, I need something to relieve the pain.

ACL Recovery: Day 15

Wednesday June 25th, 2008

The second day of physical therapy. My physical therapist put me though the same routine. I could tell that I made progress since the first day because when I rode the bike today, I was able to pedal without as much stiffness. After my excersices we did the painful flex routine again where she gave the extra push at the end, only this time she pushed a little harder, probably getting an extra 10° flex. The last time she did a set of 20, but today I needed to take a break after only 5.

After I caught my breath, she started again. 6, 7, then 8 and I felt a slight pop in my knee and was in a lot of pain. She stopped there because she knew that I was in so much pain. She explained that the pop was only an adhesion breaking loose and apologized, but she explained that it would help me in the long run. I iced and went home. After that appointment, I really wished I had take the doctor up on his other pain medicine. Percocet to the rescue again! I'm starting to get over my hangup about the way they make me feel.

ACL Recovery: Day 22

Wednesday June 30th, 2008

My physical therapist is on vacation this week, so I had a substitute for my next two appointments. She was much gentler and didn't give the push at the end like my physical therapist did. It was a nice break. I started to do more excercises today, like quarter squats and calf raises. I am still having some sharp pain with step ups, so I don't get to do them yet. Sharp pain is no good. After therapy: ice and home.