9 Months After ACL Surgery: Almost Back to "Normal"

I can't believe it has been 9 months since my knee surgery. I honestly expected to be playing sports by now and being as active as I was before my injury but everybody heals differently. In addition to healing differently, I also have not been able to consistently workout and practice everyday, or at least as much as I'd like to.

I am sure that if I had a semi-pro goal set (such as returning to H.S./College sports) I would be a bit closer to being fit for competitive action. Then again, look at Derrick Rose and his progress. One day people think he's ready to come back, another day they hear that he's not so sure anymore. And when I see people (a certain few negative Nancy's) bashing him on blogs and in the comments sections on ESPN, I shake my head in disgust. 

Coming back from an injury like this is tough, especially when you know you tore it when you went down. For example, I (and I'm sure Mr. D.Rose himself) felt the horrendous pain when I went down with the injury that for the next couple of weeks my body literally cringed in pain when I replayed the thought of my knee twisting and hearing the pop at the same time. I couldn't sleep because of it and I almost felt sick to my stomach too many times - really, sick to my stomach. However, there's also less extreme cases, such as the one with Rajon Rondo. He hyperextended his knee and played the rest of the game. Only days after did he find out he has a partially torn ACL, something that would only result in further injury if he played with it. So his experience with it was more gradual. He never felt the incredible pain that comes with tearing you ACL. All he has to deal with his recovering after surgery and I predict that his situation will play out very similar to Adrian Peterson, where he will be ready to start the season.

And now, when I am in the position where Im at, I am nervous about having to deal with that torture again. To be able to walk without a limp and without feeling my knee give out is something I appreciate to the fullest now. Being able to run is also a great feeling (well, at least until I start dealing sharp pain in the front and side of my knee) and something I do not want to have to stop doing again for a long period of time. Even rolling around in bed and twisting up in my blankets during the morning battle with my alarm clock is something I try not to take for granted (my doctor told me how one of his patients tore his graft because he twisted his leg awkwardly in his sleep). 

Having said all that, it is important to note that even though I feel the best I have in months (almost a year actually) I still lack the confidence and power on my leg to be able to participate in sports. As much muscle as I have tried to build up since I lost all of it after surgery, it is still not enough to keep my knee from giving out in high intensity settings. Strengthening my hamstring has been easier than getting my quad as bulky as I'd like. As a result, I become nervous when I think of 'cutting' or 'exploding' off my right leg. 

From the moment I found out when my surgery would be scheduled, my goal was to return to snowboarding this winter. As of today, I have yet to even touch my snowboard or even drive past a mountain. We still have about a month (MAX) of snowboard season left but the more I think about it the more I think of the consequences of pushing myself to hit the slopes. I lasted all winter without it and I don't think that going once or twice and possibly hurting myself again is worth the risk of dealing with this another year.  I had decided to set a new goal for myself and that is to return to soccer by May 2013. On May 25th, 2013, I hope to write about how excited I am to be curling a soccer ball into the upper 90. 

As for now, I'll stick to my usual leg workouts at the gym but I am going to try to work out with friends to push myself and see how my leg fares against my buddies. I'll start running more consistently and obviously picking up the pace as well. In less than two weeks, it will be my one year anniversary since my injury so we will see how far along I have come on that day. Stay strong ACL family and stay safe.

Ciao Ciao!

31 Weeks After ACL Surgery: Cleared to begin "practicing" for sports

You read that right. I have been cleared to being "practicing" for sports. If your unsure of what that means than don't worry because I wasn't really sure either.

I saw my Doctor just the other day (January 14th) and he was happy with where I was at the moment. He made me walk back and forth in the room a couple times and then told me to squat. I did about 5 squats and it was all he needed to see that I've been doing them almost every day.

He then told me to lay down and began twisting and bending my knee in uncomfortable positions. His analysis?

Join me after the jump to find out.

7 Months After ACL Surgery: Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy Knees To All

Even when having surgery on May 25th, I still somehow overlooked that my 6 month "anniversary" would be on Christmas. By now, according to a rare few of other patients' personal stories I found on the internet, and legends such as Adrian Peterson, I should be returning to sports or at least be close to it. Well, I am not one of those rare cases and so I am not hitting the slopes or kicking soccer balls around.

You know? Maybe if I had a personal trainer or was getting paid to play, there would be a chance that I'd be back on the pitch now. But I am a 4th year college student whose real-life responsibilities at the moment outweigh my desire to be playing sports, as sad as that sounds. 

But as we speak, I still have no been able to return to any sports but I do feel better. I go to the gym as much as possible (which unfortunately means only about 2-3 times a week) and I almost always do leg workouts. From hamstring curls, to quad exercises, to hip workouts, and my favorite and most effective, yet sometimes most painful - leg presses. I push myself on the leg press machines the most and thats because I they work out almost every part of your leg (at least the parts that you most need to keep your knees stable).

My New Years Resolution - which I am sure you could guess - is to return to sports AND to focus more on my legs in the gym so that I can avoid these injuries in the future (did I ever mention I have a partially torn ACL in my left knee?). I am currently on winter break and am returning to school in late January so expect an update on my knee in the next month or so since I will find time to go see my doctor (haven't seen him since October). 

Merry Christmas to all! 

6 Months After ACL Surgery: Different kind of Thanksgiving

Today is exactly 6 months since I had my ACL reconstructed and my meniscus trimmed.

It is also the weekend of Thanksgiving and unlike other years when I would be in Vermont hitting the slopes to start of the snowboarding season, this time around I am staying in NJ and staying far away from sports...

Still, I have plenty of things to be thankful for and in the spirit of things, I have decided to list a few of those.

Join me after the jump.

22 Weeks After ACL Surgery: Hit the 2+ mile mark!

Excited to update you with even better news.

I went for another run this week and already improved on my previous times. I ran 2.38 miles in 22:31 burning 294 calories and averaging 9:28 minutes per mile (almost a whole minute better than earlier in the week). This time I felt less pain in my knee and even sped up towards the end.

It was pretty sore hour after but nothing unbearable. Also, keep in mind I was running straight the whole time and avoiding "cutting". Still too early for that, but there is progress.

Just like in the last post, here's evidence for this run:

22 Weeks After ACL Surgery: My first mile...and a half!

Have not been this happy to run in a very long time. Actually, have not been able to run like this in a very long time. Today, I hit the streets of New Brunswick and completed 1.47 miles in a time of 15:42. This is by no means an excellent run but for the shape that my knee and I are in, this is a huge milestone.

I am pretty relieved that I was able to do it and proud of myself that I was able to push through the pain. The first 1/2 mile was the most difficult to be quite honest and it might be due to the fact that I was running on a small decline. Still, I pushed through it and made it all the way home without stopping.

Obviously, before the run I did some stretches and also squatted 40X to get the muscles a little loose. Heres proof of this awesome accomplishment:

18 Weeks After ACL Surgery: Started jogging, slowly

You read that correctly...

...I jogged today!

Compared to what I have read on the internet and heard from other athletes with the same injury, I should have started jogging almost a few weeks ago but I guess everyone heals differently.

I stepped on the treadmill today afraid of what to expect and I kept a slow pace for 4 minutes. To call it running, or even jogging, is quite sad but it is what it is. I was trying to hop from one foot to the other so lets just say it was jogging :)

I felt in the front of my knee but the longer I went the more I got used to it. I got off the treadmill and everything was ok. Yet, after getting iced and standing up again to walk by knee was hurting. Nothing major but I felt pain unlike after other session. 

Less than a week left of PT, so I guess I'll be on my own after that. Gina has been great and I am excited to get check out next week and see how far I have come along since the first time I stepped into her office.

17 Weeks After ACL Surgery: Doc says I can begin to jog, soon...

I saw my doctor today and he was happy with my progress. He told me that my ROM is getting better but to keep working on it and that my leg is actually straighter than my non-operated one...wierd. I obviously asked him a bunch of question about sports, stretching, pain, etc. and heres some things he told me:

- keep doing squats to build the quads
- hamstring muscle is looking great, but quad is still small and too weak
- begin resistance for quad (we don't have any machines like that in PT)
- keep riding my bike; its the safest and best thing to do to help ROM (and to build up the quad, again)
- start slowly jogging for short time frames and see how it feels; don't push it right away
- avoid the brace because then your leg will rely on the brace to hold your knee together and not your muscles
- start rollerblading in a month to work on different muscles

Finally, I asked him about snowboarding this winter because my friends are planning a week-long trip to PA in the beginning of January. He just kind of smiled at me and said "Olympic athletes have had ACL surgeries in the summer and returned to compete in the winter. Some blew out their knees and others were perfectly fine. My advice to you is that your not getting paid to snowboard, so just give it time and don't risk it. Maybe by February you can start hitting the slopes".

How about soccer, Doc?

"You shouldn't be thinking about soccer until the spring time."

Next update will be when I start jogging...hopefully soon.

4 Months After ACL Surgery: Biking

Heres to another "anniversary"!

Today is exactly 4 months since my surgery. I have been biking a lot and have started to stretch a little easier. I can't stand and pedal at the same time because I feel like my knee will give out and I can't stay at a high gear because I feel pain inside my knee.

Not much has changed in the last two weeks in terms of exercises except for adding some weight on a few machines.

I am seeing my doctor October 3rd for another checkup and I am hoping he'll clear my for running. Until then, I am sticking to the usual routine and. Will have more for you then.

14 Weeks After ACL Surgery: Skipping doctors visit, more PT

Due to my hectic schedule, its a little difficult to get into the city and go see my doctor. However, when speaking to him, he said that if its not getting worse and everything seems to be progressing than continue PT for now and see him in a month (October 3).

So, he faxed over a prescription to my therapist until October 18th and I have less than 2 months of PT left.

I've done more exercises at PT. I started working on my balance by standing on a foam sponge for 5 minutes while throwing a medicine ball at an inclined trampoline. It gets kind of tiring and scary sometimes when my leg starts to shake, but I feel it working out my whole leg.

Also, something I am very excited and nervous about at the same time...I started doing quick steps on a 1 inch incline. It was a little weird at first because I haven't moved this quick in months. Hopefully, it gets easier as the days go by.

Finally, we've changed up the stretching portion of my visit too. I now lay on my stomach while Gina pushes my heel towards my ass. It gets painful sometimes, especially the first few stretches, but its helping a lot. After she stretches me like that, she helps me work out my hamstring. She pushes against my heel while I try to bring it up to my ass. We do about 3-4 sets of 15-20 reps (at a fast pace).

13 Weeks After ACL Surgery: Survived the Zoo, very, very, sore

And just like that, one of the most epic weeks of my life is over. If this was a regular journal or blog about my life, and experiences, and feelings, and things like that, I would love to tell you how incredible E-Zoo really is.

But its not. It is just a blog about my ACL recovery.

Nevertheless, attending this was one of my main goals when it came to a quick and healthy recovery from surgery and I can finally cross it off my list and proudly say I achieved my goal.

I went all three days and spent about a total of 18 hours partying, partying, and partying (not including the trips on the way there and back).

How does my knee feel after all that? Let me make it real simple for you: sore, very sore. I wore my brace all weekend and it got uncomfortable at times because it was squeezing the life out of my leg and since I was sweating, it was sliding down my leg and poking me at the shin.

OH well, at least my knee is good and at least I came out of this festival much happier than EDC.

Back to school this week, hopefully I can start biking soon.

13 Weeks After ACL Surgery: Electric Zoo, I beg you, please be good to me this weekend

The time has finally come. Electric Zoo Weekend is upon us. I have been waiting for this ever since I purchased my tickets last October. It is a 3 day festival at Randalls Island in NYC.

My last festival, which was Electric Daisy Carnival, I fell victim to a weak and ACL-less knee at one point of the 2nd day, my knee popped out when I jumped. That was the last time I was able to walk for the next month or so.

This weekend, I decided to go about my business a little differently. I will make sure not to wear that cheap knee guard again that I bought in Italy. Instead, I will make sure to wear the big, sturdy, noticeable serious brace that covers my whole leg. I will not jump. Or do anything crazy. I promise myself that. Even though I can function without it and probably get through the festival without it, I know the epicness of it is going to be hard to resist and I will most likely be hopping around or something like that.

So the brace is coming with me, at least just in case someone pushes into me or something crazy like that.

You never know, better to be safe than sorry.

After the jump, check out the preview for this weekends madness

3 Months After ACL Surgery: Back to Basics

Notice the title change? No more "__ Days After ACL Surgery", instead now I think its fair to say I've reached the "months" stage of my recovery.

Yesterday was exactly 3 months since my operation. How are things? Well if you've been following me than you know its been a bumpy and slow recovery, but I believe that it can only get better from here.

I can walk without a brace. I can swim. I can juggle a soccer ball. I have pretty good ROM. I can sleep without my brace. I can shower like a normal human being. I can carry semi-heavy things. I can also go on roller coasters. I can walk for at least a mile and a I sit for at least an hour with my leg in the same position. Basically, I am back to basic functioning. For the most part.

Progressing with PT every week, almost every day actually.

Now to get strong enough for my return to music festivals (remember: 5 days before surgery my knee gave out at EDC)

83 Days After ACL Surgery: RedBulls and Dancing

What do the Redbulls have to do with my recovery? Well, not much really...but I did get to go see them beat the Portland Timber tonight with my cousin Gruby.

He's here for 10 days and I am trying my best to show him a good time, especially since its one of the few times I am with him when he can not worry about family responsibilities 24/7 and instead party with his younger brother from another mother.

This past weekend we did a lot of partying in NYC, Atlantic City, and Hoboken. Needless to say, after a few drinks, I can't hold myself back and I end up...dancing. And guess what, it was without my brace too. Obviously I was trying to be careful but when I look at it now and think about what I was doing in my not totally sober state of mind, I realize I was jumping and twisting and spinning and yet, my knee is still intact...except for the part where its stiff and sore the next day.

But there it is, my first time dancing since surgery. Only 83 days later.

79 Days After ACL Surgery: Kicking and Swimming

Hello there!

Ever since getting the news that my ACL is fine and did not re-tear, I feel like I have been doing much better in therapy and on my own as well. I avoid wearing the brace everyday (except when I party) and one major thing I have gotten better at is swimming.

Up to this point, swimming has been difficult for me. One day about two weeks ago I remember being in the pool with my brother Kris and not being able to stay afloat by using my legs. He didn't really realize what I meant by this until he went under water to see me flapping my arms like a fish in the deep end and my lifeless right leg just hanging there not moving at all.

It wasn't only due to the pain that I was restricted, but I literally couldnt kick and swing my leg. Well the other day I noticed that I can kick much better. I have been doing exercises that revolve around me keeping my leg straight and kicking it up and down to fight the resistance of the water.

If your anywhere near my point of ACL recovery, these are some of the things you can try in the pool that I have been doing:

- with your back against the wall, hold onto the curb of the pool and put your legs up just close enough to the surface, but not out of the water...then, with your legs straight, kick up and down. I do this for about 5 minutes 3 times a swimming pool session and it really kicks my ass

- while holding a noodle, mattress, or floating ball, kick your legs behind you and try to kick as if you were swimming forward

- squats

- walking backwards and forwards in the pool for as long as you can

- and so on...basically, do anything to get your knee working in the pool.

74 Days After ACL Surgery: Bracing myself for more parties

The last few days have been pretty wild. I turned 21 on August 8th and since midnight of that date, I have been treated to a lot of partying by my friends and co. However, regardless of how silly I may have looked walking into bars with a huge brace on my leg, I still wore it every single night.

I am definitely not trying to worry about "drunkenly re-tearing it" again so I am making it a habit to wear it for all the celebrating I will be doing from now on.

Oh how I can't wait to party with out it...for now though, its my number one accessory.

70 Days After ACL Surgery: ACL graft is NOT torn

What a relief! Wow! Just...WOW, I would be really bummed if my ACL graft was torn...

...ok thats an understatement. I would have been very very very pissed and depressed and upset and angry at the world, but after seeing the doctor today and spending the last 2 or so weeks in fear and anxiety, I am so relieved right now to know that my knee is OK and that I can resume my regular therapy.

Bottom line is my ACL graft, which I feared could have been torn or stretched out, is in place. Its actually still tight and stiff, as is my whole knee, but thats better than having my knee flying all over the place.

Read after the jump to hear about what the doctor said and were we go from here.

69 Days After ACL Surgery: Tomorrow I find out if I re-tore my "new" ACL graft...I think

PT today really sucked. I was able to do most of the usual but I was feeling pain in my kneecap like never before. I had trouble doing the step-downs and even the balancing board. The bike was not too bad so thats kind of encouraging...then again I was able to ride a bike without any problems before my ACL surgery.

Anyways, tomorrow is the big day (or at least it should be). I have a 10:30AM appointment scheduled with my doctor but I'm just going to get there around 9AM, write my name down on the check-in list and be like "listen guy, I got shit to do today, my knee hurts, just tell me doc, is it torn?". Yupp, then I have to figure out how I am going to answer his question about "what happened?".

"Oh nothing you know, I just got shitfaced with my buddies and woke up the next morning with a painful knee...".

No. I can't say that. My mom would kill me before he does...even though she might have an idea that thats how it went down.

But seriously, rarely do I curse on this blog, but I-am-fucking-scared-and-nervous about tomorrow. I do have a feeling though that he is going to make me get an MRI and then come back to his office again next week and that is just going to build up my worrisome state....or whatever.

The worst case scenario that I am hoping for tomorrow is that he does the Lachman (something like that) Test and says "Hey, your ACL is fine...it must be your meniscus again". I mean, thats not something to be too happy about but at this point I realize that repairing a meniscus (or shall i say, trimming a meniscus) will be a lot easier for me and him then this whole ACL procedure as well.

Damn, I kind of just want to keep typing to get my mind of tomorrow...but it inevitable. Right now, at this very moment, my ACL graft is either fucked or totally fine...but I wont know for sure for another ehhh 10 hours.

Fantastic.

Praying for the best. Ciao happy world.

67 Days After ACL Surgery: Better than last week, but still worried..

When we left off last week, I was saying how I can't walk or bend it...or something like that and there was a lot of pain and so on.

Well here we are, about 8 days later, and my knee is better...but its still got me very nervous.

I feel like it hasn't been the same since I slipped, with regards to the pain and "wobbly" feeling I am experiencing. Now, maybe this is all in my head and I just "think" that I was able to do more before, but there is definitely pain (mostly at the end of PT and if I walk for too long...without the brace).

But back to last week....

58 Days After ACL Surgery: Did I just tear my ACL again?

Horrible news today. Absolutely horrible.

Everything has been going great my the knee. Physical therapy has been helping me a lot and I've started walking almost normally and going out all the time. Things were only getting better. 

Until last night.

We partied a little too hard last night and I was without my brace. I ended up walking home too (2 miles?) and this morning I woke up to a lot of discomfort in my knee for no known reason. As the day progressed, I started finding out from friends that I might have twisted my knee in the kitchen but nobody remembers for sure.

Then I also apparently told Michelle that my knee "gave out" and hearing her tell me that today scared the shit out of me. 

I am in bed now with the ice machine hooked up to my knee and in a lot of pain. I have been taking advil and tylenol all day but right now nothing is working. I took the tylenol around 4-5PM and I am going to take a vicodin now (10:45ishPM) so I can hopefully sleep ok.

I have pain in my whole knee, but a lot of it is in the side of my knee. Also, when I press on both sides of my knee at the same time I feel pain too. I don't want to speculate about anything because last time I did, I was right on all fronts. This time I'm just going into this situation with a different view.

I had a misstep yesterday. Then I walked a long way home. I overdid it plain and simple. My leg needs rest now and a painkiller will just help me deal with the pain. I am scheduled for PT tomorrow so I will go and take it easy. I will do the bike and other exercises and keep my knee moving so that swelling goes down. After a few days, it will be getting better and better and I will continue with my therapy.

I am praying hard for this to be true.

Updates will be flowing during this long week. Stay tuned.