 Poster: A snowHead
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Oh, Jennifer Eccles,
Had terrible freckles,
And the boys all called her names,
(Nah, nah na nah nah)
'Til she discovered,
Medicinal Compound,
And now she spams,
In many ways.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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For some reason the site stopped telling me there were replies on this thread - maybe a good thing considering the 'advice' from the spammer above.
Just to update, progress is still very slow.
The swelling has gone down a lot, and only appears occasionally after a day on my feet. I still get a very tight feeling at the back and inside of my knee towards the end of most days.
I have started to walk without a crutch, but occasionally I wobble into walls. This gets me some funny looks. People also frequently walk into me, as I find it really difficult to turn or move to the side quickly, and can't get out of the way of people who are not looking where they are going. I feel like I need 'L' plates so that people give me a bit more space, a seat on the train etc. The crutch was useful for this. I have started to go up and down steps normally in the last few weeks.
I'm far from walking normally yet. I frequently catch my toe on the floor, and feel like I'm swinging my leg under using my hip rather than moving it normally. I'm very flat footed, and find it difficult to heel plant or roll over my toe.
Balance is coming on. I'm using a wobble board and managing mini one-leg squats on it now. I've just been given a new cross-over exercise to do on a step too.
Strength is good. My bad thigh actually measures more than my good thigh. I'm doing lots of squats, leg presses etc.
Extension when seated is good, and I seem to have almost as much hyper extension as the other leg (I've always had knees which hyper extend). However it doesn't natually lock in an extended position when I stand, and I feel like it constantly a bit bent when walking.
Flexion is still a few inches off the other leg. I've been doing lots of kneeling and pulling my foot to my bum, but this hasn't improved in 2 months. Sitting with bent knee and feet flat on the floor gets uncomfortable after a few minutes.
I'm still seeing the physio every couple of weeks, and go back to the specialist in 3 weeks. I'm not sure if I should try and push for arthroscopy (to see if something is blocking the joint and hence preventing flex) or not. I'll let you know what the surgeon says.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 12-06-13 22:30; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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janeed,
Sorry to hear you are still struggling 4 months down the line.
By now most MCL/ cruciate injuries should have regained full movement.
Probably worth bringing appt with your specialist forward .
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks.
It's good to have confirmation that progress is slower than should be expected. I don't feel the ROM has changed in over 2 months.
I do wonder if the scan missed something. Physio wonders if there is a physical blockage, such as cartilage or a bit of ligament, blocking the joint.
The specialist appointment is only 10 days off now, and I'm away next week, so doubt I can more it forwards. But it is good to go into the appointment knowing that progress isn't normal.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just to update - the repeat mri showed somehing which might be meniscus damage. It's in the area of my knee which gets hot and occasionally swollen, and where I feel clicking and pain. So it sounds probable. I'm now waiting for a surgery date. Hopefully things will start to improve after this.
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Hope all goes well with the surgery. You have certainly had a difficult time with it.
Chat to your physio to set your expectations of what to do post op.
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Thanks.
Surgery is scheduled for 7th Aug - I was pleased at how quickly the appointment came through.
I've got an appointment with the physio next week to discuss this.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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janeed, good luck!
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janeed, excellent. keep us posted
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for the good wishes.
The surgery seems to have gone well. He did find a meniscus tear which he has tidied up. There were a few other things mentioned on the operation report that I had to google (plica debrided, chondroplasty, synovitis debrided) so I'm feeling that the surgery was definitely the right treatment.
Progress is good so far. Very little pain after the first couple of hours. Full hyperextension the same day, and the quad exercises I was given seem easy. Full weight bearing from start - I'm able to walk around the house without crutches and can even get up the stairs normally. Flexion is still tricky, but not far off what it was before the operation. Swelling still present, so I'm icing and resting as much as possible.
I'm feeling positive for the first time in ages. I doubt I'll be able to ski next season, but hope to be walking normally soon, and jogging by the end of the year.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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janeed, that is great to hear. After all the bad news and delays things seem to be looking up at last.
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janeed, Good news indeed. Hope things continue to go well.
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You know it makes sense.
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janeed, excellent!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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janeed,
That all sounds fairly straightforwards.
Hope rehab goes well
jonathan Bell
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks all.
A month on things are going well. Flex is almost normal, and I can sit comfortably with bent knee for the first time in 6 months, which will allow me to get back to work properly (I fly a lot). The swelling is going and there is little pain except when I do the exercises.
I am still having a problem walking, and the physio is a bit stumped. I have to use a crutch still, as I keep catching my toe, and tripping over my foot. My hamstring is really weak now it seems, so we're working on this. I can curl my foot up to my bum with the foot flexed up towards my shin, but I can barely curl my leg up an inch if I point my toe, and this is really painful - both in the back of my knee and cramp in my foot.
I'm also finding that my calf gets very tight, painful and crampy whenever I walk. It seems to be fully tensed throughout every step, with the foot flexed at all times. The good calf relaxes and that foot swings down during a step, but I can't seem to replicate this?
Has anyone experienced anything similar, or have a suggestion for me?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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janeed,
The calf and foot problem are difficult to tie in with the simple meniscus problem unless you have a "Bakers Cyst" at the back of the knee.
It should settle, perhaps get the surgeon to have a look at follow up.
Jonathan Bell
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks for the suggestion.
The surgeon had a look, but found nothing structurally odd, and no nerve problem, and has discharged me.
He, and the physio both believe it's simply that my hamstring muscle has become so weak it's not working, after 8 months of walking oddly. This is putting all the work on my calf, which is causing the pain.
I found a rehab trainer, who assessed me and came to the same conclusion, so I'm now having personal training to try and address the weaknesses and get the muscles working normally again. I feel fairly happy with this - as long as there is nothing structurally odd I can easily work on the muscle strength. It's strange how some exercises, like squating, seem fairly easy to me as my quads are actually quite strong, but stepping onto a box proved impossible no matter how hard I willed my leg to move.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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janeed, best of luck. At least it gives you something to focus on and it is good that they are coming to the same conclusions.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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janeed, It took me weeks before I could step on a box and weeks more before I could step up anything above about 6" without pain, but squats have always been pretty easy
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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holidayloverxx, that sounds very familiar.
Yesterday was a big day-I had my last physio appointment and gave him the crutches back, which I've had since feb. Had a glass of bubbly to celebrate. Now it's just going to be down to the exercises.
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