MCL tear and PT

[Trek420]

Same thing this new PT said, "hit it from a position of strength, don't wait until you're housebound and weak".

Same thing that knott says.They see patients who are really active, but have some pain and decide to just have it replaced. Others wait too long to have the surgery. Let it go too far and you can't do the pre and post surgery pt. I've got coworkers who had TKA but won't do the training or make the life style choices to keep active. It's not a magic bullet, you gotta do the work. You'll do fine.

What's his opinion on orthotics?

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/archi...p/t-20374.html

[Helene2013]

Sorry you have to go through another surgery.

I remember prior to my ACL surgery (about 10 years ago) I was very active, but I kept a custom brace on for safety. I still then competed with my dogs in agility, still in-line skated, etc. Post-op was easier, but still painful. I remember how PT would "hurt" me and telling me it was normal as she needed to work on that post-op to avoid a stiff knee. But I was back on track within a few months. PT had said then, no matter who you are, an ACL reconstruction takes 6 months to heal and to take you back to where you were, or better. Whether you are just me or an athlete. Healing (inside) takes the same time. It's also how you see things before, during and after.

My knees will trouble me forever and I've learned to deal with this. I'm still in PT (was there last Tuesday), no more crutches, can walk on that leg but leg needs reinforcement in order for knee to perform better and safer. So now I have about 45 minutes per day of PT to do. And in no time, I will be back to harder training. For now, I just enjoy the little I'm allowed to do. In my case, I try to hard to avoid another surgery. Surgeon, then, had said this is the type of surgery you can't have too many times. So I am extremely careful.

Good luck and have fun working out until then!

[Pax]

Same thing that knott says.They see patients who are really active, but have some pain and decide to just have it replaced. Others wait too long to have the surgery. Let it go too far and you can't do the pre and post surgery pt. I've got coworkers who had TKA but won't do the training or make the life style choices to keep active. It's not a magic bullet, you gotta do the work. You'll do fine.

What's his opinion on orthotics?

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/archi...p/t-20374.html

After he tested the leg for strength he stopped and just put me on a basic strength program, the leg is so weak it can't support my weight independently anymore. In two weeks (after I do all my exercises) he's going to reevaluate to see what's next.

One interesting thing... found out my left leg is .5 inches shorter than my right.

[Pax]

Wow, the exercises are so simple, leg raises with the quad isolated, side leg raises, quad sets, and hamstring stretches... and they kick my butt. I had no idea how weak my leg had become; explains why my left leg has been hurting so much, it's been doing a lot of extra work.

[Catrin]

Wow, the exercises are so simple, leg raises with the quad isolated, side leg raises, quad sets, and hamstring stretches... and they kick my butt. I had no idea how weak my leg had become; explains why my left leg has been hurting so much, it's been doing a lot of extra work.

Hang in there Pax, and am sorry to read that there is another surgery in your future. Hopefully it will be the last one! It does sound like your working with a good PT.

[Pax]

Thanks, Catrin. It's a process, but it sure is slower going than I'd like. I seem to recall this being much easier/faster when I was 25.

[Pax]

Had my follow up appointment, managed to straighten my leg to within three degrees of straight (from 12 degrees previously) and I'm a lot stronger!

He added in ankle weights and modified squats (body weight only, up and down from a chair).

[Helene2013]

That is good news.