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ACL Surgery Recovery - Week 3
(physical therapy)
June 21st, 2003 - 110 degrees flexion doing a heel slide now! If I really push it though and move my knee backwards a few inches every minute, I can get almost full flextion (where my heel is touching the back of my thigh\butt)... but it hurts really bad when I do this. I started taking the stairs lately at work, and it isn't that uncomfortable as long as I use the handrails. I am riding the stationary bikes with the resistance turned way up too, trying to get some of my strength back. My physical therapist also got me started on a machine that exercises my legs by making me do doing calf raises and squats on an inclined plane. That felt like it helped a lot.
My metal brace is still treating me really well, and it feels that I will be able to walk fine in a week or so. My biggest problem right now is not getting around, but it is the strength in my left leg. The size of my left thigh is maybe 1/2 the size of my right, and it just feels really weak. That is why the metal brace is so important, so that it can support me where my left leg can't. Recovery is going great overall, and I don't feel dependent on others anymore. Swelling is almost gone and I have stopped icing so frequently. Feels really good now, just have to remember to wear the brace everywhere.
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