Total Quadriceps Tendon Rupture rehab....

[rshoffer]

I had a bad fall on the ice on 2/14 and sustained the above injury. In layman's terms I tore the large tendon completely off the kneecap. Worst injury of my life. The surgeons reattached the tendon by drilling holes in the kneecap and using some fancy suture material. Anyway, I'm in a full length leg immobilizer and just started doing passive PT last week. Typical rehab duration to 100% is about one year. Any of you all had experience with this injury? I'm really concerned about getting back to rowing. The Docs and PT's don't know anything about the Concept2. I hadn't been going back to a full leg bend anyway since I had a total knee replacement five years ago....probably about 1/2. Thanks for any info! Maybe there is an ortho surgeon or another survivor out there!

see my post below. I join this unfortunate club April 16th 2 days after I turn 65. Like the bicep tendon tear I had 15 years ago my quadricep tendon tear occurred in the midst of rather extreme exercise which I've been doing since I turn 20 and am now 65. na the current situation I was on my TRX trainer and slipped on a wet spot went down hard and heard that horrible sound of a tendon tearing which sounds like plastic snapping. I was in the operating room within 24 hours because my orthopedist knows me so well because of the recurrent minor injuries I've had over the years due to my extreme training. I must admit this injury has humbled me and frighten me much more than anything I've been through before and I realize that I am looking at least 6 months to 12 month rehab. I think these kind of forums are helpful because if nothing else they give us all a sense of support and camaraderie

[Eric308]

Hey rshoffer...good luck in your recovery! I'm 100% since mine back in 2/13. I was actually pretty well back to normal at 4 months post. Took a lot of hard work, though. Are you familiar with the below site? (see link) Wealth of knowledge and info from past and current QTR survivors. Best to you.
http://www.epicski.com/t/66016/quadrice ... st_1876319

[rshoffer]

Well, I've answered my own question. 3 months post surgery today and I rowed a slow 2K with no problems, pain or discomfort. I have limited ROM in both knees (about 120 degrees), but I can still get some good upper body training in without as much leg involvement. By far the worst injury I've ever suffered and it's good to be up and around for summer.

I'm at 10 weeks post op... hopping back on the rower today!

[Row1perry]

I am new to this board. I am 63, 40 plus years of rowing (college and then sculling). I Had a fall down the staircase at home and completely ruptured my quad tendon. It was completely torn. Had surgery September 18th. I was immobilized for four weeks. Started using arms and backs on the erg and started PT mid October. I am still in PT, ROM has almost reached 125 degrees. Now spinning full cycle, almost past 3/4 slide on the erg and started swimming last week. Also restarted yoga - I will miss doing full squats.

It is still swollen and painful. Hard to sleep at night. This is one tough injury. I plan to return to sculling by early March at the latest.

This is one tough injury.

[Myopic Squirrel]

Gentlemen, very interested in hearing your various timelines for healing. Like my chronologically challenged brethren,
the day after my 74th my left knee buckled as I descended the steps. The good news- a couple from the bottom. The bad news - total quad rupture. Eagerly awaiting April 29 for my post-op visit, eager to start PT ASAP. Had been on “the truth machine” every other day since early Dec training for a sculling camp in mid-June. Also had to cancel 49th anniversary trip to Antigua. What put the brakes on my pity party was filling out the medical questionnaires for the MRI and the surgery. To be able to answer “NO” to so many different ailments quickly put this mishap into perspective. In the total scheme of things only an inconvenience. Like all of us, hope to be back on the erg ASAP, and while I’m hoping this hiatus will not make me batcrap crazy, i’m already suffering withdrawal.

[Eric308]

Greetings myopic squirrel....another Total Quad Rupture survivor here. I tore mine on 2/14/13 (you never forget)...I was 67 at the time and in good physical shape. I slipped on ice on a raised gas station island...crawled to my car and actually drove home about 5 miles. I got out of the car (stupid mistake) and my leg collapsed....I experienced the most intense physical pain I've ever had. My wife called 911 and ambulance came and shot me up with fentynal. Anyway, it's a tough recovery...they don't want you to lose ROM, but then again you can't tear the sutures off the patella. I actually got 90 degrees 21 days post at my first PT appointment. I hated that stupid full leg brace, but got pretty good at gimping around. They had me weight bearing right after and I never used crutches, walker, cane or anything. 3 months post I was walking normally and actually went cross country to Portland on the train. I also had a total knee replacement on the other knee in 2006. That was a cake walk compared to the rupture. I'm totally fine now with no ill effects....row normally and exercise daily no treadmills, ellipticals, etc. Feel free to ask any questions, and I wish you the very best for a speedy (ain't gonna happen) recovery. PS...I met Mickey Mantle in 1977 at the Sun Valley Lodge in Idaho...he and I shared way too many scotches together. Sad it was his downfall. I knew better.

[Myopic Squirrel]

Hello Eric & thank you for your good wishes! Encouraged by a couple of the relatively “short” times by a few on here until back on the erg. My wife had a knee replacement Nov 13, and the therapist she worked with did wonders. I plan to use the same, and hope for the best.

[Parky]

Myopic Squirrel, stop making excuses!

Try sitting on the slide with legs fully extended and just use your trunk and arms.

A couple of 2k workouts every day will keep your upper body in fettle.

I'm sure you can get somebody or something rigged up to lift you vertical again.

Good luck with the old pins, but keep at it.

[Eric308]

Parky...do you speak from experience? Maybe the Squirrel does not have access to an erg in his home. No driving allowed...this injury is no walk in the park. Worst one I ever had including Vietnam.

[Myopic Squirrel]

Parky - appreciate your interest but have to pump the brakes on that one. Doc familiar w/ erg, so have to wait a while until skin grows over the patella - otherwise will pop it. Knows how I tend to overdo/rush things. Gotta tell ya - don’t want to screw THIS one up. Good news is I have weight machine so plenty of upper body exercises to do.

Eric - thank you for your interest. I luckily have my own “truth machine”, currently in 2 parts, stored in the garage. Bothers me every time I see it just sitting there, so between “serenity now!” & “patience, grasshopper” keeping my BP under control *G*.

[Jonozach]

Hi all, just looked through forum about this injury and found below comments!

Im 35, overweight and ruptured quad tendon 18th of feb '19. I was in a hard cast for 6weeks, then a donjoy knee brace for 6 weeks and only got to do my 1st session with physio 10 days ago. ROM is only at 45° so far and im still using crutches to walk as i cant walk unaided yet. Reading some comments I'm amazed at the recovery times, Im 13weeks & 1 day post operation but still so far off milestones like walking, driving and returning to work! Doc reckons it will be another 2 months before i drive again and possibly 5 months before i return to work.

[Eric308]

Jonozach...your recovery protocol sounds archaic...I was at the physio 10 days post surgery and got to 90 ROM in 3 weeks. I was just in one of the Donnjoys from post surgery on. They removed it for physio obviously. I've never even heard of a hard cast application. Don't mean to get you down. All you can do is keep persevering. See link for U of Wisconsin Sports Medicine protocol for our injury. Try copying and pasting link to your email.
https://www.uwhealth.org/files/uwhealth/docs/pdf6/sm_pat_tendon_quad.pdf

[Myopic Squirrel]

jonozach - WOW!! I asked my surgeon pre op estimated heal time, and he emphasized everyone heals differently, but hopefully at most 4 mos. Like Eric, post op saddled with the ankle to thigh leg brace with adjustable range of motion stops initially set at 30 degrees to begin exercising immediately, then to 40, then to 60. 4 weeks later now set at 90 degrees. Have another 5 weeks w/ the brace, but gradually weaning off the crutches. My wife had a knee replacement in Nov. Her therapist was a HS & college soccer player and paid special attention to knees during her PT studies. She was/is brutal, but watching the progress my wife made, that's who I chose. If you are not restricted as to where you have to go for PT, you might want to see if you can locate a therapist specializing in knees. Call the local univ/college athletic depts to see if they have any recommendations. Hang in there, and bust your *ss at PT!

[Jonozach]

Thanks Myopic and Eric for your replies,

So im now 16 weeks post operation tomorrow, ive done 3 sessions a week with physio over the last 2 weeks and ROM has improved to more than 75° and Im only using 1 crutch to walk. Having an issue with my ankle (old injury) as i was immobilized for so long, but knee is going from strength to strength. My Physio was not happy that I was in hard cast and also brace so like you guys already said, he confirmed he shouldve started work on my knee after 4 weeks post op. I hit a milestone yesterday by driving again. Had enough of the wifes driving. Need to build muscle in my quad, hamstring, calf and glutes now which frustrating but all exercises at moment im doing at home.

[Myopic Squirrel]

Jonozach - congrats on your progress! At the risk of stating the obvious the more you put into PT the more you benefit. You’re ahead of me from one standpoint - both our cars are stick, so I STILL can’t drive and am captive to my resident Uber driver. Really adds to the cabin fever. Keep up the good work!