Hamstrings post ACL surgery

[Lock]

Hello. I had ACL surgery about 4 weeks ago and had been progressing well, until I pulled my hamstring a couple of days ago. Today, I found a large amount of bruising on the back of my leg. Is this normal??

[Rob N]

Lock:
Presuming that you had a hamstring graft, you need to be careful to gradually build up your hamstrings. The bruising wasn't something that I encountered after patellar tendon surgery with a hamstring graft.
Keys to rebuilding for me:
-Start with no weight laying on your back with heels on an exercise ball that is pulled tightly to your back end. Slowly over 3 seconds extend your legs straight out rolling the ball with the back of your heels. Then slowly (3 seconds) roll the ball back tight to your back end (repeat for sets of 10). You need to rebuild the stabilizer muscles in your knee before progressing to weights. (See my threads in p tendon tear section for ball exercises that you can discuss with your physio (e.g. Wall squats/lunges with ball, etc).
-when you are strong enough and given the green light by a professional/rehab or doc, start light on the seated hamstring machine (I isolated the work on the weak leg only until I built it up over 8.5 months to full strength - and then reverted to two leg exercises).
-Cycle, cycle, cycle when allowed to do so. Get out on that road bike on flats for seated pedalling. Gradually build up to standing on your pedals off your seat and gradually tougher terrain. Then cycle some more.
-Weight work three times per week is plenty when allowed to do so.
-Pay a kinesiologist to set up a training program for you. It will probably cost you $50-60 for one hour and you will be given a plan and advice on proper technique so you train safely. That's the best advice point I have for you. (I added a link in the ACL & p tendon section that provides ACL protocols and exercise regimes - check it out).
Be especially careful right now and discuss your bruising with your physio. You may need to back off on rehab activity for a bit until your leg swelling settles down.
Rob N.

[Rob N]

Lock:
I cut and pasted the protocol links I was talking about (below) to save you the search:
Rob N.
- I am attaching info (also available in the patellar tendon tear section of this website) from a very interesting website that gives sportmetric exercises with visual demonstrations, plus training checklists which should be of interest to those in the training phase of their recovery (ideas to discuss with your physio about what might be useful to work on based on your particular condition).
http://www.drwaltlowe.com/en/cms/?165
Sportmetrics training and log items are at the bottom of that page.
-Protocols for various types of knee rehab including ACL, lateral release, knee arthoscopy, medial collateral ligament, patello femoral, etc are listed at the following website:
http://www.drwaltlowe.com/en/cms/?174
Interesting reading and viewing.

[Rob N]

Lock:
I forgot to mention that my physio started me off with light elastic band resistance for the hams before progressing to weights. Laying on your stomach with velcro strap around the ankle and elastic band fastened to the wall behind you, then pull heel toward your back end stretching the band, slow release. Gradually work up to thicker bands and then the other stuff I mentioned.
Rob N
Canada

[kjwilkin]

Hello. I had ACL surgery about 4 weeks ago and had been progressing well, until I pulled my hamstring a couple of days ago. Today, I found a large amount of bruising on the back of my leg. Is this normal??

Hi there,

I had a patello-femoral ligament reconstruction using my hamstring. From memory I had a lot of bruising at the back of my leg where they took part of my hamstring to reconstruct my knee. It's just important to build it up gradually. You'll be surprised how strong it will become.

Good luck with your rehab !!

[SPK]

I had my ACL with the hamstring 10 weeks ago and I twanged the muscle right around the 3/4 week mark too and that was pretty painful and I had some bruising as well. My physio told me it was all pretty normal so I don't think it's anything too serious but if it's really troubling you then go speak to your OS.

[Veman]

It's 1 day short of 5 weeks form surgery, ACL rec used hamstring and yesterday I tried to take off my shoes using my other shoe while standing and 'snap' noise later....delay of an 1hrand we have pain....didn't sleep a wink. Just as i was giving up the pain killers the drag me back in! This thread has confirmed what my unconvincing GP said and the fact its 'normal' makes me feel so much better. God bless you contributors!

The last 5 weeks have been proper poor! (censoring myself to save the administrators the trouble). I've been off work 2 months and 4 more weeks to go. They have been very un-understanding...and i am a teacher so sorted expected more of a caring attitude from the leaders. Worst 5 weeks of my life! Getting married in Aug and stag do in 5 weeks...scared!

Those of you who had a hamstring pull/tweak around 4 weeks after surgery what did you do next? How did the recovery continue? i am icing and resting it for the next few days elevation....any other advice? when will it be back to how it was yesterday, pre-snap,?

Thanks again to all who contribute to this thread it has helped me loads.