7 weeks post ACL surgery

7 weeks post op

Since I haven't been doing those hamstring pulls on the total body machine, I have been walking very near to normal. I feel good. I fee strong and stable. I am feeling confident with my knee. Monday, I got stretched and my heel touches my butt but only when its forcefully bent all the way. I can't do it on my own yet. 

Im kinda bored with my routine now. I am just waiting until I can run and do jump rope. The first recovery, I took 12.5 weeks to start jump rope. I feel like I can do it now. So in preparation of jumping, I decided to try jumping without letting my toes off the ground. Its an explosive calf raise essentially. I alternated between that and running man in place for 3-3 minute rounds. 

Nothing has changed in PT at the hospital or in my daily PT routine.

6 weeks post ACL surgery

6 weeks post op now 
Logged on 3-30-16

In the 3 PT sessions prior to today, my knee was in a lot of pain possibly due to the addition of these hamstring slides on the total body gym machine. During the exercise my shins were in a lot of pain. The machine is supposed to work the hamstrings but my anterior tibialis was strained. The pulling of the knee really makes my knee sore.

Things I do in PT:

8 minute elliptical warm up

Stretching. I must remember to massage my patella to ease the patellar tendinitis pain.

pistol squat on the incline

pistol squat on the boss ball (flat side)

step downs

step ups, keep left leg on the box and without pushing up with my right leg, come up.

leg press

hamstring curl

hack squats

bungee cord, resistance band walks. This was new. Walked forwards, backwards, sides. 

Started mitts during week 4

Started doing boxing mitt work. Just a jab for the lead leg and then 2, 4, 8. Today my knee hurts but Im not sure what its from. I think I have to lay off activity for today.

After this week...I decided that maybe it was best to only do the jab. So after the first 2-3 sessions of mitt work. I only have done the jab since. 

4 weeks post ACL surgery rehab protocol part 2

4 weeks post op.

Logged on 3-15. Went to Golds gym.

Warmed up on the cross trainer/elliptical machine

leg press set at 4, did 30 reps

hamstring curls on the machine, 20lbs

step ups 20

lunges 2 laps

standing leg extensions with weight

wall sits 2.5 mins

3 mins of shadow boxing.

Been feeling stronger and more productive going to Golds this week.

The following day 3-16 in PT Did:

Elliptical

stretch

monster

side step

hamstring slides

New: pistol squat on 6 inch box, heel touches ground.

New: balance on bossu ball, 45 deg squat, 30 second single leg balance on the ball.

Been told, in 2 weeks I can jump rope. 

At Golds that night, did:

Elliptical 20 mins

Leg press 3 sets of 10

Hamstring curls 3 sets of 10
Used the same weight as I did earlier that day

4 weeks post ACL surgery rehab protocol

4 weeks post op

Logged on 3-14-16

I had been doing this protocol since week 3. 

Rehab protocol:

Elliptical for 8 mins

Stretch as usual.

Monster walk 2 laps

Side step with band 2 laps, band at ankle

Single leg extension with 21 lb weight 20 each leg

Pistol squat 20 each leg on incline 

Hamstring curls 30 increased weight 50lbs

Leg press 30 reps increased weight, extended with both legs and released using the left leg. 37.5 lbs

Hamstring curl using the sliding disks on my back on the floor. 

13 days post ACL surgery protocol

13 days post ACL surgery

Logged 3-3-16

Rehab protocol:

Stationary bicycle for 8 minutes to warm up. No resistance.

Stretched. On my back, PT stretches to improve extension. On my belly, PT stretches for flexion. 

Single leg extension with 21 lb weight 20 reps per leg

Pistol squat 20 each leg on incline but was too sore to achieve 90 degree squat

Hamstring curls 30 increased weight 50lbs

Leg press 30 increased weight, extended with both legs and released using the left leg. 

Monster walks 2 laps

Side step with band 2 laps, band at ankle

Balance on one leg standing on the squishy disk

Giving Up

I am only an amateur fighter and I already have had 2 ACL reconstructive surgeries as a result of direct blows in training. I don't know of any amateur fighter who has had 2 major knee surgeries and also competes at a high level. Im not talking about the person whose dealing with injuries and just trains. Im talking about a competitive athlete with major injuries. 
At the pro level, I can name several muay thai and even mma fighters that have had at least one ACL surgery. Dom Cruz is the only pro fighter I have heard of that has also blew out both his knees AND had extraordinary comebacks. However, he hasn't fought a lot over the years. Not as much as I did after the first surgery. 
As an amateur this is all very discouraging because I do want to go pro one day. Although I had great results fighting last year, I feel some kind of hole in my heart to think that was all I got. Was last year the highlight of my fighting career? Does it all end there? Fuck no. I don't want it to end there. Maybe my ego is too big, but I feel like I have something more than that.
3 weeks post op I felt like the only way to adjust to the situation was to choose to give up. It tore me up inside trying to accept that giving up was an option. But thinking about it just made me furious. I get anxiety if I think about never returning to training and even more when I consider never fighting again. I thought about coaching more. But seeing people train pisses me off right now. I am not a coach. I suck at coaching. I can train people but coaching is something I don't do well.
I am told that I need to adjust and adapt. I am also told to feel blessed with all the things I have and to also feel good about my rapid progress with my knee. Every day I look at the calendar and count how many days Im away from being able to pivot. Its like being in jail. I know some people can just deal with situations like this, but I can not. I hate every moment of this recovery. I am not positive one bit about it. I try to occupy myself with things to do. Yet, nothing satisfies me. I pray that God brings me some peace every day. But, theres this burn inside my chest and I can't breathe. Its rage. I refuse to accept my situation. The moment I accept it and adjust is like giving up. I can't  just forget about training and fighting. I can not just push away my desire to fight. I refuse to get comfortable with my situation. I do not like it and don't want it. I hate every moment of this with a passion.