Car accident 2 weeks after surgery - broken leg

[pomeerin 44]

I was in a car accident on my way to my very first day back at work after surgery, and the dash came up and smashed my knee. My tibia was fractured, the acl is completely torn, and both menisci are torn as well.

I'm on week 5 of crutches, and as soon as all the bruising goes away and the bone is healed, I'm gonna have to have surgery to fix the acl and menisci which will restart everything back to square one while I heal again. And apparently the healing process after an acl reconstruction takes up to a year.

I was looking forward to exercising after surgery sooo much because I enjoy it, and my weight loss has slowed down considerably because I've been forced to remain almost completely sedentary (although I'm moving around more the more I heal). I've only lost 15 lbs since surgery on June 26th. I've already decided that I'm going to bite the bullet and go below 20 g of carbs and get into ketosis again because I've let my carb count creep up. I really want to attack this weight loss hard because the more weight I lose before surgery means the higher likelihood the knee surgery will be a success.

So, can you help me think of ways I can be active or do exercise that don't involve my leg? I'm already doing physical therapy 3x a week but it's all range of motion stuff that doesn't really get the heart pumping, and I'm lifting weights to try to strengthen my upper body, but I feel like I need more.

Also, is there anybody who has dealt with a torn acl that can offer me any words of wisdom?

[TBodmer71 245]

A recumbent exercise bike that has straps on the peddles. Try riding one legged. If you need, you may want to brace the bad leg above the other peddle for a more comfortable position.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Swim! Any Water activity, really.

[NoneYa 380]

I have no ideas that will help you I just want to say I'm so sorry you're going through all of this.

[Sydney Susan 333]

Upper body exercises like swimming and weights, perhaps. Perhaps get a personal trainer to give you some advice.

[Bec101 227]

Swimming will be ur best option. Ask ur physio for exercises for the pool

[RebecaSparkles 247]

Hand bicycle- can help w/ cardio.

Look for the seated work out video either online or at library. Its for the 500-600#ers who cannot walk or stand.

You still have one good leg- ask for an ischial weight bearing kafo its a leg brace that takes all the weight off your leg from the hip down. You walk like an amputee on the ischium.

Chin up. If your insurance will allow ask for pt to keep muscle atrophy at bay.

allons-y

[pomeerin 44]

Thanks, y'all! I've been afraid of swimming because it's slippery with crutches, but I think I'm gonna brave it. And the recumbent bike is what they have me do at physical therapy and I'm finally able to bend my knee enough to do full rotations, so maybe I'll pick up a used one on craigslist!

And I've never heard of that type of leg brace before, but I'm gonna look into it! The sitting workout is something I'd never thought of either. I'm so glad I posted, these are exactly the type of ideas I was needing.