Double quad tendons ruptured

[Golden]

Here's an update for those interested. After help from a good friend here I got connected to Japan's top sports orthopedic surgeon, Takazawa sensei. He's the Japan world rugby team doctor and on the Japan Olympic committee. After a consult with one of his team on the 5th, he arranged for my surgery later the same day. Great guy BTW, very personable.

I woke up somewhat delirious and in a lot of pain. It took three hours to do both, and my left tendon took a piece of the patella with it. He fixed me up with the double suture method.

I did my first rehab session three days ago and I'm already making surprising progress while also being surprised myself at what I cannot do. While I've got 60-65% of flexion right now, I cannot raise a straight leg when prone if you put a gun to my head.

I'm still in the hospital as they keep you here for a while. I hope to get out early next week after my custom metal braces arrive and I get trained to use them. The hospital I'm in is a one hour taxi ride from home so I'll do rehab at the hospital we went to after the incident which is 5 minutes.

The pain was surprising as is the fact that all my leg extensors are impaired; I didn't expect weakness all over. I've read it's the body limiting power for self protection.

Now I'm looking to a few more days of hospital time and some more rehab before going home. No visitors here so I've only seen my wife on video.

Enjoy the peace and rest in hospital whilst you can! Sounds like you’re on the right track and you’ll be back fighting for in no time

 

[Reload]

Damn!!
Welcome to the official old guy club where you kinda scratch your head and go, "WTF just happened?"
I'd say you were incredibly lucky to have such good people, specialists in your corner.
The REAL work is ahead of you now. Get to it!

 

[bellicose]

I had a powerlifter friend do it squatting 800. I wasn’t there but heard it was horrible. It was a long road and he had a big ass scar from surgery but a year later he was back to squatting and 6 months after starting he was squatting 700 again. He legs were so big and the recovery made him really focus on supporting muscles at his legs got up to 30” just doing basic rehab exercises

 

[hawkmoon]

I thought I'd provide another update that perhaps others who might get injured and use the search could benefit from. I'm one month post surgery now.
My searching found numerous protocols so I thought I'd share mine which is aggressive and tailored for pro Rugby players who need to get back on the field ASAP.

• 2x3 anchors in the patellas; baseball and modified Mason stitch method.
• Aggressive rehab started 3 days after surgery. Initial PROM 60 degrees.
• Leg raises impossible at first but able to do both legs without issue before discharge. 95 degree bend possible now.
• Hospitalization was 8 days.
• PT is with a private foreigner-run place I have used before here in Tokyo
• Home PT is 3x a day knee heel-drag PROM, leg raises, side leg raises, face down leg raises for glutes, calf raises.
• Brace still locked except when exercising or relaxing on a bed or sofa from time to time.
• Daily all-day icing up until Sunday the 24th after my PT said it's no longer required. Swelling is way, way down.
• PROM up to 120 degrees with assist,; backed off to no assist and abel to hit almost 100 without pain. I consulted my PT and he advised I shoudl back off a bit.
• My PT guy wants me back in the gym doing what I can soon, especially upper body.

Rehab protocol from surgeon, who I see on Aug 1 for x-ray and eval.

• 2W:assistive ROMex, Knee Brace(ext lock) 2Crt gait(weight bearing free), Isometric Muscle ex.
• 4W: Passive ROMex, Knee Brace (ext lock off) Crt. Off
• 6W: Brace off
• 8W:Bike, CKCex
• 12W: OKC ex
• 16W: Jogging
• 20W: Priometrics, jumping, landing, twisting, cutting
• 24W:Return to Sports

 

[TrippplePPP]

HM, keep up the good work. Glad to hear you are improving. I agree with the PT. Go slow and steady. The flexion and strength will come in time and you don't want to re-tear or yank the patella fragment out again. Slow and steady.

 

[cage99]

So looking at this image of the knee, you ruptured #5; the Rectus Femoris Tendon?

Cage

 

[alfresco]

I thought I'd provide another update that perhaps others who might get injured and use the search could benefit from. I'm one month post surgery now.
My searching found numerous protocols so I thought I'd share mine which is aggressive and tailored for pro Rugby players who need to get back on the field ASAP.

• 2x3 anchors in the patellas; baseball and modified Mason stitch method.
• Aggressive rehab started 3 days after surgery. Initial PROM 60 degrees.
• Leg raises impossible at first but able to do both legs without issue before discharge. 95 degree bend possible now.
• Hospitalization was 8 days.
• PT is with a private foreigner-run place I have used before here in Tokyo
• Home PT is 3x a day knee heel-drag PROM, leg raises, side leg raises, face down leg raises for glutes, calf raises.
• Brace still locked except when exercising or relaxing on a bed or sofa from time to time.
• Daily all-day icing up until Sunday the 24th after my PT said it's no longer required. Swelling is way, way down.
• PROM up to 120 degrees with assist,; backed off to no assist and abel to hit almost 100 without pain. I consulted my PT and he advised I shoudl back off a bit.
• My PT guy wants me back in the gym doing what I can soon, especially upper body.

Rehab protocol from surgeon, who I see on Aug 1 for x-ray and eval.

• 2W:assistive ROMex, Knee Brace(ext lock) 2Crt gait(weight bearing free), Isometric Muscle ex.
• 4W: Passive ROMex, Knee Brace (ext lock off) Crt. Off
• 6W: Brace off
• 8W:Bike, CKCex
• 12W: OKC ex
• 16W: Jogging
• 20W: Priometrics, jumping, landing, twisting, cutting
• 24W:Return to Sports

Great info Matt. And you are being proactive which really helps. Thanks for the share. You are a great guy with a super attitude and I predict a full and speedy recovery . . . probably not as fast as you want but you will get there and soon all this all will be behind. Keep up the good work and please continue to keep us in the loop. We care.

 

[hawkmoon]

So looking at this image of the knee, you ruptured #5; the Rectus Femoris Tendon?

Cage

Exactly, number 5 minutes on that chart, both legs.

 

[hawkmoon]

Great info Matt. And you are being proactive which really helps. Thanks for the share. You are a great guy with a super attitude and I predict a full and speedy recovery . . . probably not as fast as you want but you will get there and soon all this all will be behind. Keep up the good work and please continue to keep us in the loop. We care.

Thanks Ron. I'll do my best and aim to provide a path of hope for anyone who.may suffer the same injury in the future.

 

[cage99]

Exactly, number 5 minutes on that chart, both legs.

I’m assuming you were unable to support your own weight walking afterwards? If so was it just extreme pain or did you experience zero stability? Like your knee would shift out of place causing you to collapse.

Cage

 

[hawkmoon]

I’m assuming you were unable to support your own weight walking afterwards? If so was it just extreme pain or did you experience zero stability? Like your knee would shift out of place causing you to collapse.

Cage

Unable to move my lower legs at all. Like a marionette with cut strings.

Looking at my knees right after the injury there was a visible gap of a few centimeters above the patella and the top of the patella was protruding, as it had retracted toward the tibia.

Both were completely severed with the left also taking a piece of the patella with it. That side hurt the most after surgery, but is somehow recovering better.

 

[cage99]

Unable to move my lower legs at all. Like a marionette with cut strings.

Looking at my knees right after the injury there was a visible gap of a few centimeters above the patella and the top of the patella was protruding, as it had retracted toward the tibia.

Both were completely severed with the left also taking a piece of the patella with it. That side hurt the most after surgery, but is somehow recovering better.

Dammit!!!! Man that shit would be scary for sure. The helplessness of not being able to walk. Faaaack!!!! That would drive me up the wall not being able to fend for myself. Glad things are progressing for you in the right direction.

Cage

 

[hawkmoon]

I

Dammit!!!! Man that shit would be scary for sure. The helplessness of not being able to walk. Faaaack!!!! That would drive me up the wall not being able to fend for myself. Glad things are progressing for you in the right direction.

Cage

I had my first ever panic attacks because of this (twice), both while either asleep or on the edge. I felt trapped and had to fight the feeling back down.

 

[Golden]

Thanks Ron. I'll do my best and aim to provide a path of hope for anyone who.may suffer the same injury in the future.

I was doing deep and quite heavy leg press a few days back and this thread popped in my head just before I did my top set

I’ve got 30 years worth of training wear on these knees

 

[TrippplePPP]

I

I had my first ever panic attacks because of this (twice), both while either asleep or on the edge. I felt trapped and had to fight the feeling back down.

Anytime a person gets physically injured there is mental repercussion. Its less talked about and not focussed on yet is equally as important. Relaxation techniques could benefit you now more than ever.

 

[mrjingo]

Glad you've got some excellent medical care. Fuck that's brutal though

 

[lookslikesausage]

Anytime a person gets physically injured there is mental repercussion. Its less talked about and not focussed on yet is equally as important. Relaxation techniques could benefit you now more than ever.

This is so true and I don't know if people who haven't had an injury or the injury as the one suffering can understand the fear and/or anguish that can follow. Get well asap Hawkmoon and these recovery threads are always greatly appreciated.

 

[hawkmoon]

One month update with the surgeon today. Surgery was July 5th.

I'm way ahead schedule, so he actually cautioned me to cool it a bit and let the tendons heal.

90 degree bend is relatively easy, I can extend my leg from that position without much pain. Leg raise no problem, can do both at the same time and hold for quite a while. had to stand without braces and climb a small platform for x-rays today. Scary, but not a problem.

Everything looks real good on ultrasound and x-rays.
Patellas are in the right place, proper proto-scar tissue forming on the repaired ruptures.
He did tell me the left tendon had some calcification, but the right did not. Both had the "mop-like" tearing pattern.
It will take about 6 months for that scar tissue to differentiate and become healthy, normal tendons again.

Swelling way down, but still obvious.
Most of the time I have no pain at all. Left knee on the medial side of the joint aches a bit when standing for a long time though.
I do wake up in mid-morning (3-4am) with kneecap pain on the left leg sometimes lately. A single tylenol shuts it up.

I can walk around house with the soft Japanese braces on. I can lift my feet and balance on one leg Ok when braced.
No stairs, so I can't get into my [new] gym (3rd floor, no elevator). I need to build out my home workout more. Lots of bands.

No changes in rehab protocol, which is as follows:
Daily 3x heel slides to 90 (10r) and straight leg raises (10r)
1x a day 3 sets of side leg raises (25r).
1x a day face down straight leg glute raises.
1x a day 3x15 single calf raises.

I stepped on the scale for the first time this weekend - I've lost 20lbs in one month
Probably 75% in the 8-day hospital stay. The food was OK , but maybe only 2kcal. My wife had to smuggle me protein bars.

Next appt. Aug 25th


I hope this info helps someone in the future as I have been constantly seeking info myself.
I'll keep updating on milestones.

 

[Golden]

Good thread this. Genuinely interested in the whole process from incident to full recovery

 

[Golden]

How’s recovery going?