> Thanks Larry for the detailed reply. I did have a hamstring autograf so I reckon I'm battling scar tissue.... still working on my flex, it's wk 9 and about at 90degrees...progressing slowly wk to wk. Love your webpage, very informative.
Cheers ALEX
Alex,
> Arthritis does not start that soon - No Way !
> You did not say what kind of reconstruction you had - Was
> it an autograft using a 1/3 of the patella tendon ? The
> method is fine - That is what I had. But the patella tendon
> has also had trauma to it and with the rehab exercises,
> there could be some discomfort in that area for a number of
> reasons. Also, during this type of operation regardless of
> what reconstruction method, there is some stiffening that
> ccurs and also scar tissue that forms. In regards to scar
> tissue, there are gentle massaging techniques the OS
> usually recommends to help reduce the scar tissue. Later on
> in therapy/recovery, addl scar tissue will disintegrate as
> the muscles (and also knee internals) tighten from
> strengthening exercises.
> The flex exercises will stretch the patella tendon to some
> degree or at least stress it a bit and so some may feel
> discomfort as a result. Also, the increased leg/knee
> movement during the recovery process will have fell good
> days foloowed by some setbacks as one may push the walking
> or exercises a bit more. The knee has a way of letting you
> know these things.
> The recovery process is a long one and ther will be overall
> week to week progress but as long as you do not have full
> flex yet and are still working on increasing the flex,
> during the off-time from exercises, the keen/patella tendon
> area may talk to you a bit. I recall when I achieved my
> full flex and tailed off of my flex/stetching exercises,
> this also coincided with any slight discomfort I did have
> wnet away. Full flex is usually achieved by most during the
> 8 - 14 week post-op window. then there is still work to do
> regarding getting to full muscle strength. My website,
> though dated by now, still has some info that may be of
> benefit to read. It at least has info on what I
> expereienced during my recovery along with tons of info I
> picked up along the way. I use to be a regular on this
> Board but as with others....now on to other things.
> Larry
> http://olarryrknees.homestead.com/acl.html
