Day 48: Week 12 er how long has it been?
Hit the gym last night:
220x10, 240x10, 260x10, 480x10 (last set on 'old' press)
'New' incline style leg press.
220x10, 240x10, 260x10,
'New' incline style leg press.
Shuttle + 8x45s so I'm going to call the Shuttle 45 and say 405.
Then 2 more 25s to make 455.
Unlike the other one, you need to almost lock out to lock the bars. Unlike where if you 'fail' you come back to starting. I tested it on an empty one to see if I'd crush my self if I failed out part way through. It wouldn't be comfortable but I wouldn't die (good engineering). The final set wasn't the quickest I've ever done but they got done. I'd say a good set of leg presses is one of the most exhausting lifts ever. Dripping with sweat, trying to catch my breath, I tried to stand up a bit too quickly and had to immediately sit back down.
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Today I had doctor follow up #3. Except I didn't even get the doctor at first. I got some assistant. (Which I would have paid full doctor prices for either way. If I'm paying for the doctor send me the damn doctor.)
He has me lay down:
Him: "Flex, ok, flex the other one." Looks at chart. Which one was it again?
Me: "The right one, the one with the most recent scar"
Him: "Oh, Well I'd almost say that it looks bigger. Lets see about flexion."
Me: Flex both to about 150ish
Him: "Well, that looks excellent. I'd say I'd go ahead and give you a full clearance, you're what 12 weeks or so out?"
Me: (Read the damn chart). "Um, tomorrow is 7 weeks."
Him: "Oh. Well, I really don't know what to do, lets wait for the doctor."
So I get to wait around for another 10. Doctor repeats everything above. I get the spiel on how my knee may feel very strong but the ACL is actually at the weakest point. Because when I got my graft it was full of blood tissue (I didn't even care to remind him again* that this was an allograft). Cleared to 'run'. No sprinting. No cutting or anything that involves cutting (Rugby).
*He's not to bad of a doctor but his perceived memory of who his patients are and his bedside manner suck. I know every single time I've been in there he's asked me who did the knee before me and I know that we've had a 30 minute conversation our first meeting that it was Dr. Shelbourne.
-
Today I had doctor follow up #3. Except I didn't even get the doctor at first. I got some assistant. (Which I would have paid full doctor prices for either way. If I'm paying for the doctor send me the damn doctor.)
He has me lay down:
Him: "Flex, ok, flex the other one." Looks at chart. Which one was it again?
Me: "The right one, the one with the most recent scar"
Him: "Oh, Well I'd almost say that it looks bigger. Lets see about flexion."
Me: Flex both to about 150ish
Him: "Well, that looks excellent. I'd say I'd go ahead and give you a full clearance, you're what 12 weeks or so out?"
Me: (Read the damn chart). "Um, tomorrow is 7 weeks."
Him: "Oh. Well, I really don't know what to do, lets wait for the doctor."
So I get to wait around for another 10. Doctor repeats everything above. I get the spiel on how my knee may feel very strong but the ACL is actually at the weakest point. Because when I got my graft it was full of blood tissue (I didn't even care to remind him again* that this was an allograft). Cleared to 'run'. No sprinting. No cutting or anything that involves cutting (Rugby).
*He's not to bad of a doctor but his perceived memory of who his patients are and his bedside manner suck. I know every single time I've been in there he's asked me who did the knee before me and I know that we've had a 30 minute conversation our first meeting that it was Dr. Shelbourne.
Labels: doctors, gym, status update
posted by Jed at
11:59 PM
5 Comments:
Your progress is amazing.
Although I am 10 months out, my surgical leg still has quad weakness. I was delayed with certain exercises until my hamstring healed. I had been using the therabands but they are not giving me enough resistance. So last night I used a leg press machine with sad results. I have returned to my pre-surgery activities and I knew that my right leg was weaker. What I did not know is by how much. My combined legs were fine but when I used my surgical leg only, I was shocked. I have a goal for April ...to even out my quad strength.
You mentioned that you start the leg press with one leg and then finish with both. When I was on the leg press last night, I started with both and then moved on to the individual leg. Should I start with the individual leg?
Thanks for your help. Reading your blog inspired me to find a leg press machine and find out where I stand.
I do think that the allograft helped in getting back after surgery. The only thing 'holding me back' was a new ACL rather than a weakened quad from a patellar tendon or a hamstring graft.
Doing each leg individually does really give you a chance to see what's going on with each. It's just too easy to cheat doing both legs. Even if you're not doing it intentionally.
When I do my leg press I do everything as if I only had 1 leg. Meaning sit down, opposite leg on the floor then do a set of 10. Switch legs and then do another set of 10. And even though I'm doing weights there's still a bit of lag in my right leg. I think that if I let it I could probably do an extra 20-30 lbs on my left leg.
Then after that I do a set of something unrelated before I go over to the incline where I do 2 legged press for another 3 sets. (490+ weight of the sled last night).
I don't think the order makes a difference I just want to be 'fully rested' when I do individual sets.
I also don't do a 'complete' press like some people do. I usually do 85-90*, similar to if I was doing a box squat. My sport (rugby) is such that you should never need power when your knees are that bent anyway.
I really didn't get this advice from any doctor and I'm sure I could talk to a weight coach and find the 'correct' way. But I've added 100 lbs to my individual leg press in just over a month so I have no complains.
Two side effects:
Muscle mass and strength does not equate to endurance. I think I'm leg pressing more than I ever have in my life but when I finally took the plunge and went out running last week I had absolutely no 'fast' endurance. I felt like I could putter along forever but I wouldn't be winning any races.
Second (and this might effect you more than me) is it really tears up your figure. I naturally have large thys from genetics, but now it's to the point where they are touching when my feet are shoulder width apart. :)
FYI: Therabands make excellent slingshots. After #1 I would take mine to wrestling meets and track meets. You could get a peanut butter cracker a good 50 yards.
Jed, thanks for the info.
I tried the leg press again. My right leg is about 75% as compared to my left leg. At first, I was worried that it would be much worse. I am sure that I have been compensating with my left leg since I am back to my normal activities. I am going to touch base with my PT to see if there are additional exercises that I could do. My insurance only paid for visits within 60 consecutive days from injury. Basically, I have been on my own since six weeks post surgery.
Thanks again.
How has your balance been on one leg?
I'm going into week 14 and my internal sense of balance on the operative knee still stinks! Eyes open I'm fine, eyes closed and it's like I'm standing on a ball.
Well the balance is about the same. However eyes closed balance must be a martial art training thing because I can only last around 10 seconds on each leg, and it does feel like I'm on ball.
First the ankle starts going and then it's all over. I need a better feedback control strategy.
As far as eyes open balance I've done some interesting things in Yoga, I don't remember any of the names but:
One where you stand on your front leg, then lift your back leg into a T, then put your hands in front of you.
You stand on one leg and then take your other leg and cross it over then you 'sit'. Definitely requires balance and leg strength.
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