Patellar Tendon Rupture.....

[FINFAN3DP]

Rob: Yeah, I feel much better since we made the decision not to buy. Had the staples removed on Thursday and more x-rays. Doctor says he's very happy with my progress and to keep doing what i'm doing (nothing). He said to come back in two weeks on 1/18 and then we will "talk" about rehab. Notice he said talk?? One bad thing that happened was my wife was able to watch in the booth while they did the x-ray and she asked what the white thing was and the x-ray tech said it was an anchor. No one told us about and anchor, although i have read about some on here. So I asked the doc what it was and his response was "we're not going to talk about that just yet". So I told him ok, but just answer me one question, does it have to come out or does he have to do any other surgery and he said no. So I was happy with that, but my wife and mother said I should have pushed him to find out what it was. I don't care as long as they don't have to go in again! Been building some websites and revamping some of my old ones, watching tv, shooting the crap with whoever feels bad enough to stop by. Doc still doesn't want me to get up unless i'm going to the bathroom or his office, and I've been doing just that. Knee feels really good today. There was a little, about 1/8 inch, separation after having the staples removed, but we put a bandaid on it and now it is fine. My grandmother lended me her vibrating seat cushion by homedics, and I suggest anyone that has to have this done get one! It has made my back feel so much better! I really am looking forward to physical therapy but also scared at the same time, I don't want them to reinjure me.
Fin

FinFan:
Unfortunate about the house, but your current plan seems good under the circumstances and will take the pressure off you. Hopefully the sick leave bank will come through for you. It's important to keep everything positive and upbeat. I think it helps you recover better. Do what you can to make your hours as interesting as possible (good time to read some favourite books/crosswords, surf the net, watch lots of movies, play cards, spend time with your family). Buying a cheap dvd player may be worthwhile if you get sick of TV. A shower every day once its permissable is key (but be careful not to slip). I had some bad acne on my back from sitting around so much and the shower kept it within reason. Once I was able to get more active (cane stage) and take a couple of showers a day, it all cleared up. Get up on your crutches regularly and move around the room to get the circulation going. I made sure that I did laps of the room several times per day. Soon you should be able to start some passive physio to gradually get that crucial range of motion back.
Rob N.

[FINFAN3DP]

Drunk: I asked the doc about this at my staple removing, he said it will do nothing for what we have so not to bother with it.
Fin

Alright, does anyone know anything about the supplement Glucosamine / Chondroitin, and more importantly, does it help the knee recover? I've heard some things, but I want to see if anyone has had any personal benefits from using it. Thanks guys.

Stay positive and keep drinking,

Drunk_again

[FINFAN3DP]

Wow, you did yours only 5 days after mine, and I had my surgery on the 18th. As one who knows what you are feeling, it does get better, the guys in here are right on target when they tell you that. You had the same surgery as I did and I'm on week 3 and just had my staples removed on tuesday. Sounds like you have a great doc, and that should be a huge relief to you. Before I answer your questions I should tell you to write them down and bring them to your doctor visits. I did this week and got a bunch of answers and then the doc made me throw them out on the way out the door.

I'm afraid that everyone's answer is going to be slightly different due to their size and regimen. But here is what I have done and am doing:

1) Doctor told me no Ice after the surger, and I haven't iced it once. I did after the initial injury as much as possible over that first weekend before the surgery. Just make sure you put a towel between the ice bag and your skin.

2) My doctor told me i can put all my weight on it, I just CAN'T bend it. I have a double knee immobilizer on and he only wants me walking from the couch to the bathroom and from the couch to his office. No place else. But he wants me to put weight on it when I am up and to take small diliberate steps. I also have to have someone pick up my foot and set it down on the floor because the weight of my leg might tear the sutchers. Again, this probably varies dependent on factors.

Hey All,

Very excited to have found this forum. I appreciate the time you all take in being so descriptive and open. I tore my patellar tendon on 12/19 playing flag football. Just jumped up, caught the pass, landed and bang... there it went. Got surgery 12/21 and spent the holidays on my back. I got the "suture and tie through the kneecap" procedure and things seem to have gone well (HUGE thanks to my beautiful bride for all her help and support). It's been a little over 2 weeks and I'm going through all the same sad / angry / happy feelings as everyone else but overall, it could be much worse so for that I am thankful.
The doc told me "don't bend it for 6 weeks then we'll take your brace off and it's time to bend it as much as possible". That sounds like a long time without bending based on conversations I have read here, but he is the lead Ortho Surgeon for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats among other Pro teams (besides that fact that he's just a good man) so I feel I should trust his judgment.
I CANNOT WAIT until I can start therapy as I am an active person (30 yrs old / male) and sitting around is driving me crazy. I had a couple questions I was wondering if you might give your opinion on...

1. How long / often do you ice your knee? I iced heavily the first 7-10 days but have iced very little since. Should I be more diligent?

2. Did you get any advice on putting any weight on your leg? I put some when standing at the sink but not much more. I always feel more comfortable when putting no weight on it but I think I need to get over that.

Thanks to all of you for your courage and help. Your insights are MUCH appreciated.

[dWood]

my surgeon had me walking(in immoblizer braces) as much as possible 2 weeks post surgery(don't forget I tore both patellar tendons-so walking was like frankenstein)..wanted weight bearing on the joint.....at 4 weeks he set the braces for a slight 30 degreee bend and wanted me to start walking with slight bend(he's a pretty aggressive sports orthopedic-who has worked with Wash Redskins)knew I was an active athlete and basically told me if I was comfortable and leg was getting stronger I could go up 15 degrees(one setting) every 10 days-I was leary but followed his advice.and I guess thats the best advice follow the mD's advice..good luck

[EAL]

Hello all, I ruptured my patella tendon on December 16 and I had surgery on December 21, 2006. The surgery was a success and I had my first post op follow up on January 2, 2007. Orthodoc said that it is healing nicely, but I have to remain in a full leg cast for three more weeks. I have been reading all of your posts and I have noticed that most were using crutches at least one up to six weeks after surgery. Well my doctor said that I can do total weight bearing as tolerated until my next visit which is scheduled for January 23, 2007. I am not in too much pain and I have called the doctor's office a few times with questions. Is it common to feel like your knee is being stretched under the cast? How long will your knee feel irritation? Is there others out there who were told that they could do full weight bearing only 12 days after surgery? The cast does not allow any knee extension, but my concern is that I am putting too much weight on my leg too soon? Please help, I have a great support system and the good Lord is healing me. Its been almost a week since I have been home and going up and down stairs with out crutches and of course walking throughout the house without them too. Again I want to make sure that I am not putting too much weight on my surgically repaired knee.

Thanks all and I look forward to your replies.

EAL

[GoVols]

I do have that "stretching" feeling in my knee too. I think it is exactly that. If you were repaired like me (suture through the kneecap) then I think you probably should feel some stretch as they essentially put your tendon back together with the sutures. The key is just not to stretch it until it snaps apart (a.k.a. breaks the sutures). I found it odd myself but it has to be natural I would think.

As for the weight bearing. My doc told me I could bear some after only 7 days. Just don't bend it.

January 25 is my next checkup. Doc told be "Don't bend it until January 25. After that we'll have you bend it all the time".

Good luck and stay positive.

[Steve in NH]

EAL....How on earth can you possibly be walking around without cruthes???? I can only
imagine it has to do with the fact that you have complete leg cast...but still, weight on the
knee I would think this soon will cause it to swell more. Most of us had the fabric and velcro strap style brace on for about 6 weeks after that first visit to OS. And.....as far as knee swelling, it will continue off and on for many months. I am over 6 months now post opt and if I am on my feet for 30 minutes or more my knee swells a little still, or if I walk a good clip on treadmill. I have talked to people with various knee injuries who report that knees are so tricky it may be 1-2 years before it feels like 100%. Sounds like it is healing...go slow with any passive PT once you get OK from doctor. It gets better every week that goes by......but it is just a very slow process, but progress indeed. Keep a good attitude and keep reminding yourself this too will pass........It is only temporary setback. Be careful of stairs and moving lateral too quickly. Regards, Steve in NH

[Norbert]

EAL

My story is the mirror of yours.

I ruptured my Patellar Tendon on 21 November, surgery on 22 Nov. and a full leg cast since with the leg in full extension.

The cast comes off a week tomorrow. I have been full weight bearing since leaving hospital, first week with crutches but since then with no crutches at all and quite mobile - all this on Doctors instructions.

I have had no pain (thankful for that) but I am sure the fun will start with the Physio. in a week's time.

Take care

Nick

[EAL]

I spoke with an orthodoc last night and he said that the stretching is a common feeling. Its all part of the healing process. For the first 12 days of post op I too was in a brace with the straps locked in extension. At my first post op follow up appt., my orthodoc said that the tendon would heal much better in a full leg cast. Furthermore, with a full leg cast there is no way I can bend the knee. I am a certified personal trainer who is extremely active, and I feel my doctor took this into consideration and decided to put me in a full leg cast so that I would not be tempted to take the brace on and off and risk re-injuring my knee. Thank you all for answering my questions and for the great support. I am so glad that I found this website.

Take care, good luck and God bless you all.

EAL

[Norbert]

EAL

The fact that you are a personal trainer and therefore pretty fit should work in your favour.

Everything I have found out about RPT suggests that the more active and fit you were before the injury, the better and quicker that the reapir heals.

Steve in NH questions how you can be getting about without cructhes, but I am the same as you - no crutches and walking a lot.

I think it all depends on the factors of each idividual injury - your age, height/weight, activity levels, precise nature of the injury, time bfeore surgical repair, type of repair etc. etc.

It seems there is no standard case and again, no doc. seems to approach the repair in quite the same way as another.

Take care

Nick