Patellar Tendinopathy

[ohthepain]

about 6 months i reckon :S

[slasher]

I thought I'd post an update on my progress over the last nearly 3 weeks.

I've kept the taping on my quad and have done some pressure point releases on the lateral side of my quad. I have also kept the nitrate patches on 24 hours a day. John mentioned some people get headaches (like 15% or 20%), I did have some headaches the first day or so, but nothing much that has worried me since then.

Now for my progress, I've been doing the eccentric drops every day but have slightly changed how I do it.I have also been doing leg weights once per week. I have noticed my pain levels have gone down significantly, I can hardly notice it at all.

I do notice some pain if I walk up a stair or during leg weights, but it is more of a quick sharp pain, not a dull constant ache. I also can get some pain when sitting down in a car for example, but it is not very bad and goes away when I straighten my leg.

I dont think I am ready to call it a complete recovery yet, but I am able to get around much easier and I think in a few more weeks I will be able to start some more end stage rehab.

I have another appointment with David in early Jan, so we'll see how that goes.an

[BT1981]

Update on my progress


Had my last appointment with David Bick (bloody legend) today before I relocate down south to work closer with Jill Cook. He said my knees particularly the right knee is the best its been in 2 years. About 6 months it should be back to normal. I was pretty dam stoked to hear that news!

Yeeoooooow!

I have to keep working on strength, triggers, stretching and concentrate on weight loss (no beers for a few months ). Keep doing what i am doing.

I have an appointment with Jill Cook in Melbourne on the 28th of Jan to discuss the next stage of rehab.

Will keep posting as i progress.

[slasher]

Super effort that...Matter of fact a marvellous effort all round.

I saw David earlier in the week and he has got me to take the tape off so I am not strapped, and to start going without it in my day to day routine. So far only minimal pain, much better than a couple of months ago before I saw him. The only time I need to strap is when I am going to be on my feet all day or before a weights session.

He is also ok if I keep increasing the weights that I do lift...I have noticed that the insides of my quads have gotten quite a bit larger in recent weeks, David said that was a good sign.

David thinks I will be ok in about 6 weeks or so...I did the hopping test without tape and the pain was only slight (a 0.5 or a 1 out of 10). As I am also recovering from a shoulder reconstruction I have been looking at about March/April as the time when I should be back to my old self again.

BT - why are you moving down to Melbourne? Is working with Jill a reason behind it, or are you just getting out of Sydney?

Edit - Another thing I think about is it is going to be strange when I have resolved this and am cured. This has been something I've dealt with for over 9 months now, and it may take a full 12 months to put it behind me. I will no doubt be cautious when I do return to sports about not wanting it to return, I could possibly over-compensate when I do sports because of it.

[BT1981]

Slasher

Its a long story but in a nutshell I am a PE teacher and my school where i teach is situated on the nsw/vic border about 3 hours north of melbourne (bit different from the central coast where i am from). I took this year off leave without pay hoping to cure my injury. I have to return to full time work for financial and a few other reasons. I figure i am a lot closer to Jill Cook which works for me. I hope I don't loose focus!

6 weeks is amazing you must be pretty stoked! 12 months is along time try 3.5 years if everything goes to plan. Its almost done my head in..........almost.

Yeah its a tough one its always going to be on the back of my mind hoping i don't injure myself again. But John Orchard and Jill Cook seem to think I can permanently be cured from this injury. I think there maybe a fair bit of maintenance involved so you don't injure yourself and also listening to your body might be the key.

Ben Tune (rugby union) had 3 years out because of patellar tendinopathy (operation on both knees i think) he made a comeback. His last super 14 season I think it was 2007 he had an injury free season which was rare for him.

Clyde Rathbone (rugby union) is making a comeback after about 20 months for the brumbies it will be interesting to see how he goes.

I want to do another snow season OS but i think that is out of the picture might just become a weekend warrior.

Anyway just rambling on you rarely hear about the success stories on this web site mostly doom and gloom stories its refreshing to know and hear about people improving.

good luck keep us posted

[slasher]

There have been quite a few NBA players who have this condition and are either able to deal with it and still play or get it fixed surgically. I know Dwayne Wade had it done last offseason surgically and he is back to 100%.

A lot of NBA players will usually just wear straps and continue to play.

As for me I saw David the other week and he said to stop strapping my knee and to start getting around without it. However I have had some swelling in my knee for the last 4-5 days. I dont know where it came from or what caused it as I haven't done anything out of the ordinary. It doesn't hurt either, it's just a bit stiff and sore, I doubt it was not strapping it that caused the problem, as I only started strapping it in December when I saw David.

I saw my normal physio yesterday and he did all the ligament and meniscus tests and couldn't find any problems. He just loosened up some of the muscles and my ITB as it was tight, but he isn't sure and thinks it will be ok with a bit more rest.

I already have an appointment with David next week so I will see what he says. However as I have been rehabbing this non stop since May with only a short break when I had my shoulder surgery in August, so a week or so of rest will probably do my body and mind some good.

[BT1981]

Second visit with Jill Cook today progressed to the power phase of the program. She said I will have to maintain my base strength and improve on it for the rest of my life doing weights 2-3 times a week.

About to start a skipping program and walk lunges as part of the power program. Should be interesting this will be for about 4 months. I may get to snowboard this winter.

Tweaked my wrist about a month ago still screwed. Went to a GP last week he gave me anti inflams, pain killers and a referral to see a Wrist specialist. Doc mentioned possible carpal tunnel. Will be devastated if the case. I dont think i could handle another chronic injury. HAHA

Anyway will keep updating.

Over and out

[slasher]

Why do you have to keep doing this for the rest of your life? Is there not a point in time when you will be pain and symptom free, and if you chose to, you could do nothing and be ok?

My knee has started to feel better again, I have no idea what caused the last problem but it took about 3-4 weeks to settle down. Swelling and the non tendonosis pain has gone and it doesnt click every time I walk up the stairs.

As for my tendon problem, my knee is feeling less and less painful and my days have been better in the last week or so, however I still get irritations and aches, the pain that is more noticable when I sit down on a chair with my leg bent.

I spoke to David at my last visit and I asked him about being pain free, I asked how it happens, will I wake up one day and it will be gone? He said that once I can do the hopping test without any irritation that means that I will be cured...So I don't know, he didn't say I would be totally pain free and cured which is what I want, but he didn't say I wouldn't...

I am seeing him again in a couple of weeks and will ask him more about that as well as what I can expect after I get better and things like returning to sports, avoiding setbacks/recurrances and what I can do so the problem never happens again.

Consider yourself lucky with just this injury, I've had an ankle arthroscopy and I still have foot/heel pain in that ankle and I also had a shoulder reconstruction in August...So I have 3 things going on at once.

[ohthepain]

thanks for your updates guys, was also wondering what people's thoughts are on kenesio taping?
is it effective? does it work for someone suffering from patellar tendinitis/tendinosis? i only just recently heard about kenesio taping when i searched around the net trying to find out what that tape was that alot of the pro athletes have on them

[slasher]

I've never tried it before, but regular taping will help relieve symptoms. You could also look at getting a patella strap that sits below the kneecap.