PS Legs - I'm a little nervous

[dss62467]

I have on my plan for tonight to do PS Legs. It will be my first true leg workout since I tore my ACL in August. I was beginning to do squats and lunges in PT before I stopped going, and my surgeon assures me that I can do any activity that I want now.

I'm dreading the step-ups! I think I'm going to have to try doing them, because they might not be so bad. I did Step, Punch, Crunch last Sunday and it went OK in the leg routine, except doing lunges with the barbell. It seemed alright using a couple dumbbells, so I guess I'll have to play it by ear.

I did Step Blast this Sunday, up to the Challenge. Then I had to give my knee a break. I did Turbo Jam on Tuesday and had Tae Kwon Do class Monday and last night. My knee was very swollen last night after class - to the point where I had to ice it for the first time in a couple months. I hope I'm not overdoing it.

Any advice from the experienced ACL recuperators out there? (I just made that word up, I think)

I'll see my surgeon again in a couple weeks, so if my knee is like a ham at that time, I guess he'll tell me if I'm overdoing it.

 

[Gayle]

Hi Donna!!

I'm exactly (to the day) 4 months post-op from ACL reconstruction surgery (a little bit behind you ). My PT had me doing some step-ups about 6-weeks ago with 8lb weights on about a 10" step. They were difficult, but not insurmountable. I do find, however, that they are more difficult for me if I've really worked the legs hard the day before. Lately, I've also noticed my knee getting a swollen after workouts, particularly in the area where they snipped out the hamstring tendons.

I'm probably not helping much with advice.

Are finding it difficult to get the muscles really engaged in your bad leg when you do things like static lunges? I'm finding now that my good leg is fatiguing waaaay faster than my bad leg with stuff like that. It's getting a little frustrating.

Hope your recovery goes well.

 

[dss62467]

I think that the method my surgeon used might affect the recovery differently than the one yours did. Mine used my patellar tendon, so I've got a third of it missing, or rather, relocated. One of the therapists told me that it will take longer for me to regain the full strength of my quad because I'm missing that piece. But yes, I do find it difficult to even flex the stupid muscle. I'm told it will take about a year for them to be equal again. 6 months to go!

 

[tneah]

Years ago I tore my ACL and the miniscus. After surgery
I wasn't careful and did too much at first, there was swelling like you described.
My advice? If your knee swells it was too much, back off, I think about it like this: You have the rest of your life to workout, take this time to really recover and do lower impact stuff for awhile.
Don't worry, Cathe isn't going anywhere, you will be back doing those step ups soon enough!

 

[dss62467]

How soon after surgery was "at first"? I waited until 5 months to start exercising, though the doctor said I could do whatever I wanted after 4. I think I definitely will go a little lower impact with the home workouts, but I just gotta be me at Tae Kwon Do!

 

[tneah]

Gosh I wish I could remember exactly, but I think it was about three or four months after surgery. I got on the Stairmaster and boom, my knee swelled. So I rode the stationary bike for 2 months, and lifted weights for my upper body only. I think you are smart cutting back the high impact stuff...I just did MIC and my knees hurt!!
All the best to you and your knee!!:7