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?

[gregory680]

i had a patella rupture dec 2010 my tendon tore away from my kneecap i had extensive surgery where the surgeon drilled holes in my kneecap  then stiched my tendon back to my kneecap they put a metal cage around the injury to keep it in place put me in a cast for 8 weeks then a brace for 6 weeks it was as the surgeon told me a horrific injury. but as time goes by the injury has healed and does not stop me from getting on with the things i have always done .Dont let it bother you when i was in hospital iseen people with some terrible illnesses what we had is very small in comparrison with others

[Ihatecrutches]

Where to start?

I'm a 32 year old Firefighter that had ACL reconstruction on my right knee 8 weeks ago. The graft was taken from my left patellar tendon because of a previous ACL reconstruction in my right knee had already used that one.

Surgery went well, woke up in recovery, they were discharging me helping move me to a wheelchair and the left leg buckled and I felt a pop! Uh-oh. Saw the doc the following morning, thinks I tore the patellar tendon, MRI confirms, in a cast on the left leg, and the immobilizer on the right (yup!)

Had surgery on the left leg on August 23rd went well (no more injuries sustained at the hospital). Have been in a locked hinge brace since then, no bending, quad activation, etc. ACL rehab for right leg is going well.

I see the doc on Oct. 2nd, hopefully get to open the brace a little and start rehab on it.

Thanks for all the insight on rehab, knowing what to expect with the ACL, but was a bit lost in regards to the Patella.

[ae03]

I’m 38 and I ruptured my patella tendon playing basketball. I drove hard to the basket and planted my left leg and then it felt like someone kicked me in the knee. Both my feet flew out from under me and I was lying on the floor on my back looking at my deformed knee.. a clean tear just below the knee cap. Below is a sequence of events that happened from my surgery to full recovery. The pain after surgery is one thing, but its getting your mind right and knowing that you will recover 100% and will have a normal life again. Also, the pain is the greatest the night after surgery. Stop taking pain killers as soon as possible though. The key to recovery is sticking with your physical therapy (PT) regimens and pushing yourself to get your range of motion (ROM) back. This is the painful part. Just suck it up and be confident that you will make a full recovery.. Everyday is like a small miracle. You'll be able to achieve something you couldn't the day before. It forces you to appreciate the small things in life. I hope this helps.

2/24: Injury
3/6: surgery
3/12: post op apt.
3/15: start electro stim therapy plus toe touches
3/19: 2nd post op. stitches removed. 25% weight bearing and start quad flexes.
3/23: 1st PT. 25 degrees ROM. Plus at-home exercises and massage area.
3/25: started upper body training w/ weights
3/26: 2nd PT. ROM increased and managed slight leg lifts off bench.
3/27: 3weeks post op. apt.
3/28: achieved 39 degrees ROM during PT. Pain still w/ straight leg lifts
3/30: ROM up to 40 degrees and leg raises a foot off the table was achieved
4/3: 4 weeks post op. ROM up to 51 degrees on flexionator. Swelling down and leg raises w/ minimal pain
4/5: ROM 53 degrees leg raises high off table
4/6: ROM 54 degrees. Prone position leg curls
4/9: walked around in the pool waist deep w/ only a neoprene knee sleeve
4/10: 5 weeks post op. 60 degrees ROM at PT.
4/11: 60 degrees ROM
4/13: 61 ROM.  Standing rubber band leg movements
4/16: follow up w/ Doctor. Removed crutches and opened brace to 40 degrees. Reported good progress. Tightness due to scar tissue and outside stitches.
4/17: 62 degrees. Weight bearing movements. Squats and balancing.
4/19: 71 degrees ROM.  Work on balancing scale. Brace opened to 70 degrees.
4/20: 74 degrees ROM. More balance and rubber band extensions.
4/25: 7 weeks and 1 day post op. PT included more shuttle squats and side dips. Manual manipulation achieved 79 degrees ROM
4/26: 81 ROM. Prone manipulation.
4/28: first day back at gym. No crutches and got on step machine (huge achievement) and used hot tub.
5/2: 8 weeks and 1 day post op. walk at 2.5 mph on treadmill. 93 ROM. No more brace.
5/4: elliptical training. 95 ROM. Walking normal pace w/ little discomfort.
5/9: 101 ROM. Leg extension leg curls. 9 weeks and 1 day post op.
5/11: 106 ROM. Dips aka step downs. Walking w/ no discomfort and gait restored to normal.
5/17: 118 ROM. First Step machine with full revolutions. 10 weeks and 2 days post op.
5/18: first time on recumbent bike. Achieved full revolutions
5/23: 120 ROM. 11 weeks and 1 day post op.
5/25: 124 ROM
5/30: doctors appt. All is well
6/4: 13 weeks post op. 136 ROM
6/12: 14 weeks post op. 142 ROM. Single leg lifts on shuttle.
6/18: 15 wks post op. 145 ROM
6:26: 4 months post op. machine test deficiency in injured leg. 40-60% deficient.
7:25: Light running on track. First impact since injury

[TennisSam65]

Hi guys
I am 8 days postoperative 65 year fit old played tennis
Same fan is yours
Can you suggest experienced PT in the Thornhill Toronto
It is excellent site
Thanks everybody
TennisSam

[DB303]

Glad I found this community.  I completely tore my tendon in my left knee on June 26.  Walking down the stairs and felt a pop and looked down to see my kneecap mid-thigh.  My reaction was to 'push it back' where it was supposed to be and then lost my balance and went down the rest of the stairs (about 10 steps).  I was lucky I did not break anything else.

Had surgery on July 3rd and am now at about 80 degrees and see the doc for my second follow up on Aug 16th.  The tendon was so damaged that he had to cut 1/3 away and reattach with wire in two places.  When I get to 80 it just seems like it won’t budge a millimeter more.  I will ask him how long should it take to stretch out 2/3rd's of a tendon.

I am finally off pain meds but may take 1/2 a hydrocodone every once in a while when the pain gets too bad.  taking long walks (six to 8 blocks) around the neighborhood with a cane for stability and can walk around the house without aids - but with the leg brace locked strait.  I hope to get a brace with the hinges so I can at least sit in a car.

I applaud everyone that can get the right frame of mind - that seems to help alot.  I also worry about the other knee - all the stress of going up/down stairs and just putting more weight on it seems to cause mild to medium pain.  I worry about tearing that one!

I am not a spring chicken at 49 - but was able to drop 10 pounds (5'11" and 185).  

Will just continue to stay at it and will check it to see everyone else's progress.

Cheers

DB

[Jeppy1956]

I am a 56 year old male an like most of you I managed to rupture the the tendon off the tibia side of the knee cap. One post on this site had patient saying that his doctor told him that he could only expect 80 to 90 percent recovery.  As far as I am concerned that is poor medical bedside manner so to speak . That patient was 53 years old I am 56 and after 7 weeks of PT I can walk without a limp and have 120 degrees of flex in my knee. Today I was played my first round of golf. This was 3 months almost to the day of my surgery. I walked the course and also shot a respectable score. I am not bragging here I am just pointing out the fact that age is not a factor. And I feel that this doctor is giving this patient a reason to fail. As my PT guy told me it's easy to do nothing and I truly believe that the greatest healing tool that you have is the 6 inches between your ears. I and my PT guy expect I will make a 100 percent recovery. Good luck to you all and a speedy recovery is something you should strive for. It can happen!