Wowee, made it to day 800! Not a single day of giving up, sure it's still a roller coaster and I get tired of this but still, never giving up.
I decided to hire Mick Hughes a well know PT in Australia who is passionate about all things ACL. He has a strong online presence, has worked with many professional sports teams and even coauthored the Melbourne Return to Sport Scoring system (there's an earlier version for free if you Google, but this one has more info and an extra phase). When he announced he was now taking Skype sessions, I immediately jumped on the chance. He already knew me and my story because we had emailed the previous year and he was kind enough to reply to me with actual helpful information. My current Australian PT has been absolutely wonderful, but she is not charging me, I know she is a busy lady, and I feel I am ready for more individualized care. After all I haven't really talked to anyone in person (or on Skype) in depth to answer all my knee questions since 2017! I think it was high time! I gave Mick all my weight numbers (left and right), told him I could complete his "return to running after ACL" check list, I could run across the street if the light were changing, but really not ready to add in running daily. I need like a segue plan. He agreed I was totally ready physically to start skipping and hopping! I have a 7 week plan to get me prepared for running (which will have another gradual plan)!!! I can't believe I will actually be able to run this year!!! Probably this summer!!!! Running is a huge milestone in an ACLR patient's recovery. It shows they have the strength, stamina, and training. Even after 6 weeks of running, if I can do 60 second of running, 60 seconds of walking for 30 min that is considered a success after 6 weeks of starting running. He also made some suggestions for my tight patellar tendon. Do full range of motion leg press and leg extension (rather than shorter ROM), but super light weight and super high reps til I feel the burn. Do these daily or on non-heavy days. Activating the full range of the tendon and muscle will get the fibers and cells to adapt to full movements rather than being so constricted. For this the muscle needs the full eccentric movement. So that was added! Due to my hand being non weight bearing at the moment, we also added in two legged leg press but super heavy weight to make up from the loss of heavy due to skipping some of my exercises where I needed my hand (Smith rack stuff). So hooray for something new and different and moving along! Only took me 16 months of solid weight training to get strong enough!!! I don't know how long I will use Mick's help. Maybe he will get me prepared enough for the Return to Play clinic at my local hospital where we can do more plyometric agility and sports specific stuff. The wrist. I didn't get much long lasting relief with the cortisone shot (I also loaded up the hand, no one said not to). After going back to the doctor, he said it was time for surgery now, and an ulna shortening! I was pretty upset. I am now trying the WristWidget device just for TFCC tears. The inventor is a hand therapist and she is guiding me. It could take 12 weeks or more, we will see, but I want to give it a shot especially since I want to avoid surgery. Bummer is no sports or lifting with the hand, mandolin playing is out while my ECU tendonitis settles down. The longer the TFCC goes untreated, the more incidence of ECU tendonitis (tennis elbow) and shoulder/bicep issues. I have it all now. Oddly hand surgeon said he will refer me to a shoulder guy. WTF it's all related! I am doubting these surgeons.
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AuthorA 45 year old active female who tore her ACL in January 2017 (at the age of 40). Reconstructive surgery in February 2017 with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft. Archives
November 2022
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