Getting fat

[Snow Ranger]

I did my ACL on Nov. 28th and had surgery Dec 3rd. I am still at the non-weight barring period for the leg. I have been on crutches way to long my palms and armpits hurt. I haven’t broken a sweat since Nov 28th. I guess I need to get motivated to do something besides pop pain pills and drink beers.

I have been reading your posts about certain exercises that I can do. I think that I will give that upper body bike thingy a try as well as some swimming. Thanks for the info

[altagirl]

I'm confused because this looks like it should be a reply to a thread but...

The arm/bike thing helps. So does walking laps in a pool (or you could use the buoy things to hold your legs up and just swim with your arms).

Don't forget you can do upper body weight training too. You're a little limited since you can't carry weights around, but you can still do seated cables and machines and such. All of that kind of thing is going to help too.

[basom]

i gained 20 pounds after my acl surgery. i havnt lost much, although i've been active and working out hard since september. i'm not as fat, but still got a bit of gut.

its still wierd weighing in at 210 instead of 190.

[altagirl]

I'm 8 weeks post op and lost 2 lbs from my pre-injury weight. I've been quite a gym rat and tried to watch what I ate. (Despite needing to finish off all the Belgian chocolates friends brought by after surgery... and Thanksgiving...)

SR - It won't be long before you can hit the bike and I think that's what prevented me from gaining weight. I've been doing loads of cardio as soon as I got the okay. Takes a little more motivation to want to hit the gym than it does to do fun stuff outside, but it's been working.

[Snow Ranger]

it is amazing how easy it is to gain weight and get out of shape. I just watched that supersize me movie, that guy put on 25 pounds in a month, it took him about 9 months to remove it.

I really dislike going to the gym and before the accident I pretty much relied on riding my bike, hiking and paddling to stay in shape, My Dr. just told me I shouldn't get on a bike for 3 months. 3 months no bike is almost as bad as no skiing till maybe May most likely next season. I guess I better learn to like the gym. I need to tell myself the gym=skiing and biking again. the gym=skiing and biking again. the gym=skiing and biking again.

[altagirl]

Good music on the mp3 player helps a lot.

[Snow Ranger]

I go in for my first PT tommorrow. Gawd please let them say. "Throw away those crutches its time to try walking again."

[scoober]

I know all docs are different, but it seems strange to me that they are not letting you get off the crutches right away. Unless you had a meniscus repair which requires from what I understand about 30 days of non-weight bearing, you should be able to bear weight asap.

I was only told to bear no weight for the first 3 days while the femoral nerve block was in effect (and effectively paralyzed my leg). After that they told me I could get on it as soon as I could bear the pain.

[Snow Ranger]

Oh yes forgot to metion I had meniscus damage as well. couple of stitches to the inside and some trimming of the outside meniscus. Doc says where the stitches are is really close to the blood supply so it should heal well and the trimming removed about 15% of the mesicus. I was initailly told not to bear weight for 2 weeks so they may not let me try to walk till friday, I hope not. Also, my leg has been locked in a brace at 20 degrees it is driving me crazy (sitting on the john is not easy with a straight leg).

[altagirl]

That's not so bad. When I had a meniscus repair I was non-weight bearing for 5-6 weeks. My leg was a little twig by the time I was off of crutches.

Once you can at least move it, it will be better. Meniscus repairs suck.

[Snow Ranger]

It hasn't been two weeks yet for me and I can already see the muscle atophy - very weird looking at my leg and watching it shrink. AG, How fast have your muscle's started to rebuild? Are you going to the gym every day or does that depend on swelling?

[Vinman]

. Also, my leg has been locked in a brace at 20 degrees

Why did they lock it at 20 deg. Most surgeons will place ACL recons fully extended as it makes re-gaining your extension easier. This doesn't make sense to me.....

[altagirl]

It hasn't been two weeks yet for me and I can already see the muscle atophy - very weird looking at my leg and watching it shrink. AG, How fast have your muscle's started to rebuild? Are you going to the gym every day or does that depend on swelling?

I do hit the gym nearly every day (had a couple off when we went to a wedding, etc). I've been doing leg press for a few weeks now - started at 50lbs, and now I'm up to 85 for single leg presses. They said I can do them every day since I'm using low weights, but lately I've been alternating days with either a hamstring or quad focus - a bazillion reps (okay 150 or so at varying light weights), and cardio every day for 1-2 hours. I got the okay to increase weight on stiff legged deadlifts and such today, so hopefully that will help too. I know the quads won't really feel 100% normal until all the swelling is gone. It takes a while. When you go to PT tomorrow make sure you get every strengthening exercise you're allowed to do and start working as much as you can (as long as you pay attention to your patellar tendon so you're not risking tendonitis).

[Telephil]

A couple years ago I tore my LCL and fractured my tib plateau, was on crutches completely for 12 weeks, partially for 2 more weeks. I weigh about 150 now, was down to 130 then, grossly skinny. I think I'm going to have to get my meniscus done in the next month or so, from screwing around, skiing switch, catching an edge.

Oh well, I'm hoping it will be really minor.

[Arnold Babar]

I haven't been drinking since my surgery(4weeks) and have actually lost weight as a result. I've also taken a page from AG's book and started working out in my basement. Activity is so key, SnowRanger. Once you get that thing moving in pt, progress will come, even though it doesn't feel like it will. It will. Just get moving. Any little pathetic exercises help (crunches, straight leg lifts, whatever) you'd be amazed what happens once you get a little momentum. Read AG's posts, and try to do like a tenth of what she does, and you'll start making progress. Exercise=skiing and biking again...You'll get it back.

[Snow Ranger]

Why did they lock it at 20 deg. Most surgeons will place ACL recons fully extended as it makes re-gaining your extension easier. This doesn't make sense to me.....
I do not know? Maybe it has something to do with the meniscus repair? However, every night before I go to sleep I take the brace off and put a towel under my ankle and let my leg hang until it hits 0 degrees.


I've also taken a page from AG's book and started working out in my basement.
Great idea, I am going to do the same.



I haven't been drinking since my surgery(4weeks) and have actually lost weight as a result.
I should also do this. If I stopped drinking beer I would prolly loose weight or at least maintain. Beer is just so tempting right now cause all I can do is sit around. Once I can start with some rehab stuff maybe it will be easier to shelf the beers.
I never ever thought I would want to do this but 6-7 weeks from now if I can XC in a straight line I will be oh so happy.

[Snow Ranger]

argh - thought my PT was at noon and it was really at 11. Had to reschedule and now I will remain in limbo...

[Szyslak]

As of today I am 2 weeks post surgery and have lost two pounds. The bad part of this 2lb loss is it is not from fat, but is from muscle loss. I have lost 2 inches circumference in my thigh compared to the other one. I am not using crutches now, but am still locked in my brace at 10 degrees. I am doing my own exercises, but the actual physical therapy does not start for me until next week.

[Arnold Babar]

Once you start the pt progress really happens. I'll be at 4 weeks tomorrow. I just did my first stint of "aqua-therapy", and it felt awesome. Two weeks is like the hell zone. Trust me, you will start to progress.

[Arnold Babar]

I do not know? Maybe it has something to do with the meniscus repair? However, every night before I go to sleep I take the brace off and put a towel under my ankle and let my leg hang until it hits 0 degrees.


Great idea, I am going to do the same.



I should also do this. If I stopped drinking beer I would prolly loose weight or at least maintain. Beer is just so tempting right now cause all I can do is sit around. Once I can start with some rehab stuff maybe it will be easier to shelf the beers.
I never ever thought I would want to do this but 6-7 weeks from now if I can XC in a straight line I will be oh so happy.

I haven't been drinking, but I haven't really been in pain either and I didn't let that stop me from refilling my oxycodone prescription and taking "a little extra" every night ;) But, hey, no calories :biggrin:

[Snow Ranger]

I haven't been drinking, but I haven't really been in pain either and I didn't let that stop me from refilling my oxycodone prescription and taking "a little extra" every night But, hey, no calories
Oh yes I like that, I've been doing the same. Although, I must admit that when I saw the warning label on the bottle of meds that said alcohol may intensify effect, well I immediately drank a beer...

Last night I popped a few oxycodone and then did an upper body weight workout those pills hit me purdy fast WOW. That was my first workout since 11/28 it felt great. I thought that I would be sore this morning form working out but the only soreness seems to be from those evil crutches-God, first my armpits now my palms.


Once you start the pt progress really happens. I'll be at 4 weeks tomorrow. I just did my first stint of "aqua-therapy", and it felt awesome. Two weeks is like the hell zone. Trust me, you will start to progress.
Schuweet!

[Arnold Babar]

Oh yes I like that, I've been doing the same. Although, I must admit that when I saw the warning label on the bottle of meds that said alcohol may intensify effect, well I immediately drank a beer...

Schuweet!

Someone here recommended a cab/merlot. I tried that, it was very noice.

When I say I haven't been drinking, I mean not too much :wink:

[Snow Ranger]

Well I just got back from my first PT session and am still non weight bearing damn, oh well. I didn't take a pain pill before I went, I will not make that mistake again. I can extend the leg to 0 degrees but can only flex to 79. I've got a lot of painful leg flexing to look forward to... Fun, Fun Fun.

[Arnold Babar]

'Tis the season to be jolly...