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My question(s) are pertaining to muscle atrophy after tearing an ACL after the surgery.
In November 2003, I tore my ACL. I got 3 opinions and decided to strengthen the muscles as one Orthopaedic Surgeon felt like my knee movement was good and tear was partial.
Immediately, over the next month or so, the quad on my injured leg atrophied by one inch. After 3 months or so, I was able to resume running w/no ill effects. Like a dumbass, thinking I could do what I wanted again I had another fall playing softball about 5 months later.
After this I decided to go ahead w/the surgery (July 2004). The surgeon could see a complete tear on my MRI that was taken after the initial incident, but he couldn't see that I had also torn my medial meniscus (MM) which most likely occurred after the second time. The ACL was an Achilles Tendon Allograft and the MM was a bucket handle tear that was trimmed and sutured back in place.
Due to the MM tear, I had to wear a leg immobilizer for 7 weeks. At this point, I was supposed to have started rehab, but I took a job in another state (Beginning of Oct) and never did the rehab other than isometrics and stretching at home.
Because I had to wear the immobilizer for so long, my leg atrophied even further to the point where the difference was about 1.5 inches between legs.
I never had any pain in the ACL area, but I had consistent pain in the MM area until the beginning of Dec. After that it has only occasionally flared up like when I've tried to do something like stairs.
At the beginning of Dec., I decided to hit the weights. My leg still shakes/quivers some when I do leg extensions, but other than that, I'm able to do Smith Machine squats and leg presses w/no problems. I do feel only a very mild discomfort in my hamstring tendons when doing lying leg curls.
I'm getting stronger (hopefully both legs), but the problem is that after 7 weeks the difference between both legs has grown to over 2 inches w/my injured leg getting smaller and my good leg getting larger. I believe the injured leg is getting smaller due to the loose skin and fat that was there prior to getting back to the weights.
So my questions are as follows:
Will my injured leg ever start catching up? Is it failing to grow right now because the muscles are still learning to fire properly?
Is there any risk with my legs not being symmetrical? Could it cause me to have an imbalance that could hurt my back or something?
Would it still be helpful to go through therapy? The simple strengthing BS that I went through b4 the surgery could be done by anyone on their own in a gym. If I do perform rehab, I'd like for it to be advanced/challenging and not a waste of time or money.
I've tried to find information pertaining to this, but I've only been able to find some standard rehab protocols that kind of begin from day 1. Any information or recomendations pertaining to my situation would be greatly appreciated.
Thx...SOB
In November 2003, I tore my ACL. I got 3 opinions and decided to strengthen the muscles as one Orthopaedic Surgeon felt like my knee movement was good and tear was partial.
Immediately, over the next month or so, the quad on my injured leg atrophied by one inch. After 3 months or so, I was able to resume running w/no ill effects. Like a dumbass, thinking I could do what I wanted again I had another fall playing softball about 5 months later.
After this I decided to go ahead w/the surgery (July 2004). The surgeon could see a complete tear on my MRI that was taken after the initial incident, but he couldn't see that I had also torn my medial meniscus (MM) which most likely occurred after the second time. The ACL was an Achilles Tendon Allograft and the MM was a bucket handle tear that was trimmed and sutured back in place.
Due to the MM tear, I had to wear a leg immobilizer for 7 weeks. At this point, I was supposed to have started rehab, but I took a job in another state (Beginning of Oct) and never did the rehab other than isometrics and stretching at home.
Because I had to wear the immobilizer for so long, my leg atrophied even further to the point where the difference was about 1.5 inches between legs.
I never had any pain in the ACL area, but I had consistent pain in the MM area until the beginning of Dec. After that it has only occasionally flared up like when I've tried to do something like stairs.
At the beginning of Dec., I decided to hit the weights. My leg still shakes/quivers some when I do leg extensions, but other than that, I'm able to do Smith Machine squats and leg presses w/no problems. I do feel only a very mild discomfort in my hamstring tendons when doing lying leg curls.
I'm getting stronger (hopefully both legs), but the problem is that after 7 weeks the difference between both legs has grown to over 2 inches w/my injured leg getting smaller and my good leg getting larger. I believe the injured leg is getting smaller due to the loose skin and fat that was there prior to getting back to the weights.
So my questions are as follows:
Will my injured leg ever start catching up? Is it failing to grow right now because the muscles are still learning to fire properly?
Is there any risk with my legs not being symmetrical? Could it cause me to have an imbalance that could hurt my back or something?
Would it still be helpful to go through therapy? The simple strengthing BS that I went through b4 the surgery could be done by anyone on their own in a gym. If I do perform rehab, I'd like for it to be advanced/challenging and not a waste of time or money.
I've tried to find information pertaining to this, but I've only been able to find some standard rehab protocols that kind of begin from day 1. Any information or recomendations pertaining to my situation would be greatly appreciated.
Thx...SOB
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