Hunting After Patellar Tendon Rupture

[WVWill]

So…I ruptured my left patellar tendon while playing basketball in December around a week before Christmas, and had surgery to repair the tendon on New Year’s Eve. I know that the injury is a significant injury that takes 6 months to even more than a year to recover. I’ve been working hard and showing good improvement through physical therapy. I’ll have to take it somewhat easy for a while, but I’m working hard to be able to hopefully do some spring gobbler hunting in April, and to be prepared for bow season next fall.

Sometimes with this injury the affected knee doesn’t go back to 100%. My big question is…Has anyone worked their way through a patellar or quadriceps rupture to go on a wilderness hunt? I’m really hoping to go on a September archery elk hunt in future years.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Have you been elk hunting before?

 

[WVWill]

Have you been elk hunting before?

No. Just something on the bucket list, and wanting to go sooner than later. I’m not getting any younger (as my patellar tendon reminded me!)

 

[WeiserBucks]

Elk hunts can be ridiculously hard or incredibly easy. Only you know your own body and it's limits, go as soon as your ready. It's not the Mt Everest that it's made out to be.

 

[WVWill]

I’m hoping that I can go within the next couple years. Ironically, I planned on doing a lot of training this spring—losing weight, working out again, running, buying a pack to do some ruck training.
You know what they say about the best laid plans…I went from making plans to just hoping I could take one step! Everything happens for a reason. I guess I’ll appreciate it that much more when I do go. I definitely love the mountains out there. I’ve fly fished MT and Colorado a few times and can’t wait to go back to do that too!

 

[WeiserBucks]

Don't blow yourself out over training during recovery. It's a process and results will come with responsible effort.

 

[grossklw]

Me personally no- but I’ve had patients get back to their previous normal recreational activities without major restrictions. If your rehab is going fine there’s no reason you won’t be able to get back into the mountains at some point. With that injury it’s usually 12-18 months before things really feel normal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get back to higher level activities before that, you’re just going to likely notice something “off”.

It’s a shitty injury but there are worse things; you may always notice something with it in terms of weakness on that side but the 5 or 6 that I’ve rehabbed patients got back to their normal quality of life with no restrictions, I had one guy that did a 1/2 Ironman a year out and did just fine.

 

[WVWill]

All of my plans of training are on hold. Right now, I’m just focused on responsible physical therapy and moving around carefully to not re-injure my knee. I can’t afford to have a setback, so I’m being careful about it. It’s definitely weird to have to think about simple things like every step while walking downhill or stepping up into my truck. I’m seeing good improvements so far. Moving from the crutches to a cane is helping to build more stability and strength. It’s definitely a process.

 

[5MilesBack]

I had the same thing......from a basketball injury 30+ years ago. Had the surgery in March of that year and was elk hunting on horseback in Oct. It was a little rough. The horseback part wasn't all that easy on it either. But since then it's been great. I'd say at least a full year recovery for me to get back to normal. I get the usual arthritis pain and such, but haven't really had any limitations. Jumping ability was diminished, but I could still play ball.

 

[Blurry1]

One of my favorite hunting partners has trashed knees from 30yrs in the Army. He can gut an elk like a boss but everyone else is humping the meat out. Point being if you can walk a couple miles of mountain terrain with a lite pack and have willing hunting partners you’ll be fine.

I see as many elk killed 1/2 mile from the road as 5 miles. Actually probably more.

 

[WVWill]

Me personally no- but I’ve had patients get back to their previous normal recreational activities without major restrictions. If your rehab is going fine there’s no reason you won’t be able to get back into the mountains at some point. With that injury it’s usually 12-18 months before things really feel normal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get back to higher level activities before that, you’re just going to likely notice something “off”.

It’s a shitty injury but there are worse things; you may always notice something with it in terms of weakness on that side but the 5 or 6 that I’ve rehabbed patients got back to their normal quality of life with no restrictions, I had one guy that did a 1/2 Ironman a year out and did just fine.

So far everything is going pretty well.
I’m at basically 3 months post-op and my knee has nearly the same flexion as my good knee. Leg extension still has some lag, but I am still working on rebuilding my quad from all of the atrophy. I won’t be going anywhere for elk hunting this year, but I’m hoping that I can go next year or the year after, so I’ll be at least 20 months past surgery.
My physical therapist has been pretty pleased with my progress so far.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Responsible recovery and a positive attitude will take you wherever you want to go.

 

[WVWill]

I had the same thing......from a basketball injury 30+ years ago. Had the surgery in March of that year and was elk hunting on horseback in Oct. It was a little rough. The horseback part wasn't all that easy on it either. But since then it's been great. I'd say at least a full year recovery for me to get back to normal. I get the usual arthritis pain and such, but haven't really had any limitations. Jumping ability was diminished, but I could still play ball.

I’ve sprained my ankles too many times to count, mainly by playing basketball…I’d never had any knee problems at all until December. I slipped on water while planting my left foot for a layup and went down. I looked down to my knee to find my kneecap sitting on my femur and knew I’d messed it up. Freaking basketball….you would think I’d learn!

I’m hoping that I can do some running again, and I HAVE to be able to get out to hunt and fish!

 

[yfarm]

I had 3 partners playing pickup bball games in their 40s and 50s rupture achilles tendons. It was not coincidental, all recovered completely with surgery, none played bball after that.

 

[5MilesBack]

I had 3 partners playing pickup bball games in their 40s and 50s rupture achilles tendons.

For the past 10 years or so, that's actually been my biggest concern while elk hunting. Seems like my calves and achilles take the largest brunt of force for mountain hunting.

 

[htlt_surfboards]

Message type2bowhunter on here. He's my hunting partner and ruptured his patellar while we were hunting in October so a little bit ahead of you on recovery and would probably have some insights.

 

[yfarm]

First elk hunt I did wore Russell birdshooters with a 1/4” lift for a heel, had tender achilles in both ankles for several weeks. Wonder if that is a common point of stress with transition to zero drop shoes.

 

[chasing_animals]

Hey brother so sorry to hear about your injury. It is truly a tedious process and I feel for you. I know the pain you are going through as I have had to have both patellar tendons replaced (8 & 10 years ago). Good news is that I still am able to chase elk every year and before long you will be too! Rarely do my knees slow me down and they don't effect me a ton on the mountain. When on really unstable ground, I just slow down a bit and make sure I don't twist weird and put pressure on the replaced tendon. I have found that strengthening my quads helps to stabilize my knees and helps me climb the elevation needed to get to the elk.

Praying for you in your recovery and look forward to hearing about when you down an elk!

 

[WVWill]

Hey brother so sorry to hear about your injury. It is truly a tedious process and I feel for you. I know the pain you are going through as I have had to have both patellar tendons replaced (8 & 10 years ago). Good news is that I still am able to chase elk every year and before long you will be too! Rarely do my knees slow me down and they don't effect me a ton on the mountain. When on really unstable ground, I just slow down a bit and make sure I don't twist weird and put pressure on the replaced tendon. I have found that strengthening my quads helps to stabilize my knees and helps me climb the elevation needed to get to the elk.

Praying for you in your recovery and look forward to hearing about when you down an elk!

I hope to! It’s definitely a bucket list hunt that I hope to be able to do several times! I love it out west, especially in Montana, but I’m hoping to do a Colorado elk hunt soon. Hopefully the crowds aren’t quite as bad when I go!

Physical therapy has been working out well. I’m hoping that the stability and extension lag continues to improve with added quad strength. My doctor didn’t want me doing anything for 6 weeks while the tendon healed, which was frustrating when I see other doctors that want patients to start physical therapy almost immediately. It’s amazing what 10 weeks of inactivity does to muscles! Heck, with all of the mountain biking, basketball, running, and hunting I’ve done over the years, my legs were the last thing that I thought would cause me problems, but…here I am!
It’s definitely good to hear that others have been able to overcome the injury to go on wilderness hunts. I’m sorry to hear that you had to have BOTH knees repaired. I definitely have kept the thought in the back of my mind that as much of a challenge as this has been, A LOT of people have gotten through a lot worse in life. This is EASY compared to a lot of things!
I’m hoping to be able to get out to do some turkey hunting this spring, and to get into my treestands this fall, but I’ll definitely take my time to work my way to that point.

 

[chasing_animals]

I hope to! It’s definitely a bucket list hunt that I hope to be able to do several times! I love it out west, especially in Montana, but I’m hoping to do a Colorado elk hunt soon. Hopefully the crowds aren’t quite as bad when I go!

Physical therapy has been working out well. I’m hoping that the stability and extension lag continues to improve with added quad strength. My doctor didn’t want me doing anything for 6 weeks while the tendon healed, which was frustrating when I see other doctors that want patients to start physical therapy almost immediately. It’s amazing what 10 weeks of inactivity does to muscles! Heck, with all of the mountain biking, basketball, running, and hunting I’ve done over the years, my legs were the last thing that I thought would cause me problems, but…here I am!
It’s definitely good to hear that others have been able to overcome the injury to go on wilderness hunts. I’m sorry to hear that you had to have BOTH knees repaired. I definitely have kept the thought in the back of my mind that as much of a challenge as this has been, A LOT of people have gotten through a lot worse in life. This is EASY compared to a lot of things!
I’m hoping to be able to get out to do some turkey hunting this spring, and to get into my treestands this fall, but I’ll definitely take my time to work my way to that point.

Yeah dude atrophy is awful It doesn't matter how strong you were before surgery it always seems to win


And no need to compare, I was just trying to to give some hope of a full recovery. What your going through sucks and it's ok for it to suck. Just keeping working on it and use hunting as motivation to keep going. How much longer do you have in physical therapy?