Numbers and Timeline

 

It has been 73 days. Today I did a 15-15-15 cardio workout. I decided to mix it up to make Knellie do lots of different things and get the muscles firing better. So, 15 minutes on the elliptical and that felt pretty good and then I am thinking hey this motion is a little bit like running. To the treadmill – I started walking about 18 min/mile pace. Now, I haven’t run jogged since before my first knee surgery back in probably the summer of 2010. One of my goals and reasons for getting this particular knee is that I would really like to run again -  not every day just enough to enjoy it -  maybe run with Xanthe or I don’t know, do a marathon. It occurred to me walking on the treadmill that I could balance myself with my arms and maybe take a little weight off and give a little jog a try. Ta Dah! I tried it and hey that didn’t feel so bad, I tried letting go of the bars and just running you don’t realize how much balance running takes until you haven’t been doing it and you have a new knee then all those little muscles start firing and it felt really pretty good. I started alternating 1 minute quick walking and one minute running I did this for only 15 minutes but I did increase my pace to a blazing 12 min/mile. I had the biggest smile in the gym and left it at that before I got crazy! I then headed over to my first love the bike and gave her 15 minutes – 5.1 miles. This was definitely a big damn deal day for me and I celebrate every little milestone in my recovery!

Here is a little timeline to date – before I forget

Nov. 8 2011

Surgery --  Iduo Conformis knee replacement

Spent this week Icing, on a Tens unit, taking pain meds, 3 days of crutches --  this week hurts and it sucks. You can’t sleep well you have to prop up your leg and change ice in the middle of the night for pain relief of course it gets better but right now it sucks!

Weeks 2-4

All about working on Flexion and extension which is slow going! After 2 weeks the wound has healed enough to take a bath and I take lots!  Constantly working on flexion and it is uncomfortable to sit it's easier to prop the leg up. At about 4 weeks I am at 90 degree flexion but not comfortable with it.  I still ice every day several times.

Weeks 4-6

I can do stairs but not pretty and it is difficult without much flexion. I am moving better but still in pain some and having difficulty sleeping this was also just a tough time for me with everything going on with my brother! I am walking better and doing PT as much as I can. This is when I got the torture chamber the JAS device and did that 3x a day for 30 minutes. I don’t have to ice every day.

Jan 2, 2012

Finally turned over the bike pedal! Rode my bike to work the very next day! This made a huge progression in my flexion and my muscles working and firing. I will NEVER take for granted being able to turn over a bike pedal. Within 2 weeks I am about 110 degrees flexion comfortable and the goal is about 140-145. I continue to ride a little outside and about 30 minutes on the spinner. I can sleep again without drugs and I can sleep on my side.

Jan. 22, 2012

Well, if you read this you know this is the day I first jogged a little! I am no longer using the torture device from JAS but I think it may have helped… I am using my new Normatec Compression Boots which seem to make everything better! I still massage Knellie everyday with Vitamin E oil just to show her some love.

So, still in the thick of recovering – things on my short list a 25 mile ride outside on my road bike and of course….Snowboarding!

Shout out to Rocky – I am getting there bro,

Live Love!