What they didn’t tell you before a Knee Surgery (2/2)

Stay Active

After my first surgery I stayed pretty much in bed for the first 3-4 weeks. Once i was able to get up, i moved to the Sofa, my new Armchair or was laying around. This time, i had a different strategy – yes I also worked the next day I came out of the hospital, but I was working out of my normal chair/desk on the second week. During calls I moved my leg, try to mobilize as much as possible. The good thing is I didn’t feel so much pain, just because is was so busy 😉 My tipp: if you have busy job get yourself moving as much as possible during calls, meetings etc.

Electro stimulation Accelerates

This was also a gamechanger. I only heard about it after my second after-surgery’s control check, where my quadriceps muscles are more or less 0. It was not really a difference between a pudding or my leg.
The price is fair, but the benefit is huge. Check out Powerdot – all navigated with the phone. (and everyone who knows, app related stuff usually wins) Electrostimulation was recommended to me after I didn’t do any progress. This time, I started with Powerdot on Week 2! Also in the Physio I got my electro therapy with Compex.

Which Physio – it does make a huge difference

Physio after Surgery 1: Sportclinic at Puls 5
My physiotherapist disagreed on what my doctor at Schulthess Clinic said, what exercises make sense and which doesn’t. Most of the 30 Minutes was about measuring how many degrees I can bend my knee, how much weight i can put on my left knee, dry needling, tapes. Also massaging was part of every second session (which i am still not sure if it helped) After a few weeks we did exercises I anyway did at home already. In the beginning I already told him my passion for cycling. I was only available to on the bike in week 10!!!
This Physio did only have a few machines. Additionally, this physio did not care about how I walk. Even my neighbour laughed at me, because I was really walking strange way after week 10…
I am still very disappointed on the progress with this Physio, even I changed the therapist (after he gave up on me)

Physio after Surgery 2: Reha Prime
Wow this was a huge change. Its a bit further from home but I could already smelled the progress after the first session. Like last time, I told her my passion for Cycling. And right after the 2nd Session she put me on top of a bike. Obviously I was not able to cycle properly, but trying a little more each turn. After 5 weeks, I was back on my ZWIFT and cycle indoor at home. 4 Weeks earlier than before.
Also this Physio has way more tools, things, machines and experience. We did a variety of exercises from Terraband, TRX, Compex, Walking with one crutches etc.

I also learned that Dry Needling is only recommended when you are not on blood thinning medication.
I guess i don’t have to write which of the physios I went to did it correctly 😉

Pool Exercise Accelerates

I still remember when I wanted to go to the Thermal Bath in Schinznach at around week 7 on Surgery 1! Horrible – i remember i was not even able to walk. I was only able to go backwards (i had the same issue, but after a few days after Surgery 2, but this was outside). So first experience was a bit funny – Second experience way better. At another Spa Hotel I was suddenly able to walk, jump, swim, run in the water. Now at the second Surgery I did my Water Training right after Week 5 when my wound was (almost)closed. This accelerated my progress so much! Really recommended

Full Load on the broken Leg

This is also a learning from the first surgery. On the report of the hospital it says “Teilbelastung 10kg für 6 Wochen” – Bullshit! Of course you can’t go all crazy and jumping on your broken leg. But stresstest from time to time and load more weight every day was okay. Only thats why I was able to walk now few weeks after that surgery. My new physiotherapist also supported this strategy.

Alternative to Injection (Trombosis)

There are better things in life than getting an injection every day for 8 weeks. Thanks God I asked for Xarelto pills. My nurse at home says thanks as well 🙂