RUPTURED PATELLAR TENDON

[FINFAN3DP]

I fell down three steps and ruptured my patellar tendon. My injury occurred 12/14/06, my surgery was 12/18/06 and they discharged me from the hospital on 12/19/06. 1/3/07 at the docs he said to do quad flex's 30 times twice a day and 10 heel toe points every hour. Next appointment on 1/18/07 I get the x-ray like usual then go into the exam room. He comes in, takes off my brace, throws it on the counter and then tells me to lay down. (i truly think he told me to lay down so I couldn't punch him when he did what he did next.) Next he grabs my knee cap and starts yanking it side to side and massaging my knee very roughly. He tells my wife she has to do this twice a day, ten to fifteen times and then pick up my knee so it bends a little 3 to 5 times. He then told me I couldn't have my brace back and sent us home with a script for Physical Therapy. I guess my question is, it has only been 4.5 weeks since my surgery and now i can't have the brace? Fast forward to today 1/31, only 6 weeks since surgery.  Doc had me put my leg off the edge of the table then proceeded to push down on it little by little until I was literally crying.  I'm a 39 year old big guy that doesn't cry. I'm really concerned that this guy is too agressive and he is going to rerupture it.  I'm a 350lb guy and I really don't want to have to go this surgery again.  Should I start looking for another doc?

[mrfdk]

i'm 40 years old, i had the
same injury as you, my dr.
screw a pin in my kneecap
so it couldn't move, sew
the tendon and put a brace
the next day, he took it off
after 6 long weeks, now i'm
going to therapy, it hurts
alot when the therapist
tries to bend it. it's been
almost 3 months and i'm
tired of this situation.
i wanna know if i will be
90 or 100% someday again.
:-(

[TheLittlestHobo]

Hi there.  Uk resident here.  3weeks into my recovery from a rupture of the patella tendon.  I was playing football, planted my right foot and BANG.  It snapped at the patella so i am hoping this may mean the tendon is actually ok (Yes i know clutching at straws).

Anyhow, i dont know about american health service but here in the UK i have nothing but praise.  It happened on the Sunday.  I was ambulanced away from the pitch and taken to casualty.  They patched me up as best they could and gave me an appointment for the next day at 8.50am.  I was seen at 8.50am.  I was in front of a consultant by 9.00am.  I was told i would be having surgery that afternoon at 9.15am.  They sent for a taxi to courier over some special strip that they wanted to use which was supposed to let me be much more active from the off and then told to chill out untill my op.

Anyhow, post op (next morning) my consultant comes around and tells me surgery went well and he thought my knee should be capable of 45dg!!  WOW i thought, i would be surprised if i could get 1dg.  Guess who was right?  Yep me.  I was so heavily strapped up i couldnt have moved my good leg.  Anyhow about 1hr later they removed all the strapping and put me in the curse of my life, THE BRACE!!.  Within 2hrs i was pulling the straps by hand to bend the knee.  It hurt like hell but i got 35dg out of the knee within 24hrs of the op.  Insane you may say but the consultant had told me he had checked the knee on the op table and at 45dg there was little to no stress on the repair.  If i could take it, the repair could take it.

I came away from the hospital with the brace set at 45dg which i managed within the first week.  I returned to work after 1 week and it has been fantastic.  Its kept me mobile, thinking about other stuff and my knee, although really tired (Especially the 1st week) has improved daily.

Now at 3wks i can do a 90dg sit with no brace fitted (Brace is only set to 60dg).  I can walk up a flight of stairs wihtout too much pain unaided and the knee is returning to something like a normal shape.  I am doing my normal stretches every few hours and it is improving daily.

Have an appoint for next wednesday to be st at 90dg and hoping that i can ask for some extra exercises to start building up lost muscle.

Its painful but I will be darned if this is gonna beat me

[sugar1220]

Hopefully the surgery went well on both legs. I had both of mine done and it is challenging. Be very careful not to re-injure yourself since you will not have one good leg. Follow the Dr. rehab plans closely, but you will come back.

[swamitime3]

Wow, both legs!  I had mine done on June 21st.  It was a very long road with just one but I got through it.  What happened to cause both tendons to go?  The first 6 weeks will be immobilization and with you having both it will be difficult to move around but you will find ways to get it done.  I must of read and re-read all of these posts to help me get through the tough times.  It is truely going to take 6 months to get really good ROM.  I have complete ROM of 140 now but the quad muscle is extremely weakened.  I get better each week and should be good as new in a couple of more months.  Just realize you will get through it and listen to your PT and your body.


Good Luck

Mike

[rell414]

I rupture both tendons last week, i'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow.  I read the other post and here the hard time that's ahead of me, and all I can think of is I have both legs to bring back.

Any help would be appreciated it.

[backspin]

Can anyone w/ similar injury answer a question--not for me. I have a friend who ruptured his patellar tendon last year, early Feb. Complete rupture. Had surgery right away, had a very difficult recover--blood clots, etc. Had to be immobile for weeks.

Fast forward to almost a year later. He's not supposed to bend the knee more than 90 degrees. Often when walking, the leg gives out & if he can't catch hold of something, he falls down. He's also been told the patella is higher than it should be.

This person was an Olympic athlete, and professional figure skating coach. Now, he still cannot set foot on the ice, & is very discouraged about ever being able to do so again. He's lost most of his income.

Is there anything else he can do? He's still doing PT, 3 times a week last I knew. But he's having a very difficult time of it as you can well imagine. Any suggestions or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks.