8/52

(Nothing excited happend for 7/52, I was on the turbo, that's it)

I had my last trip to the consultant yesterday. He said that I am 'doing well for 8 weeks' and that I can start to run again. No climbing yet. Climbing comes when running is fine and the legs nice and strong and happy with twisting and angles. I finally got my x-ray images too, that's my knee over there.

Physio today gave me some more exercises to get on with. Still trying to get the strength back in the poorly leg.

This evening I had my first run. It was 11 minutes and 20 seconds long, covering a massive 1.33Km. I have to run in as straight a line as possible, so watching me run is a bit like watching those turtle things you programmed at school. Surprisingly though the leg felt fine, and whilst I was really pensive about my first few steps they were fine and running wasnt a problem. Physically I felt like I could run longer, but I am going to be a good boy and keep it small distances. I'm not sure I have ever been this happy to do a pavement pounding recovery run.

More turbo action tomorrow. Plan is to alternate turbo and run nights, and then do the strength and range of motion exercises every night.

6/52

It's actually the 7th week, but I seem to be blogging a week late.

The brace came off this Monday (the 5th). So now the atrophy has finally stopped, and I'm working on building my leg back up again to full strength. I need to get the muscle built up again and also working on the extension and the flexion. All three of which have degraded over the last month and half.

Exercises: Still spinning out at least 40 mins on the bike every day. Squats (one and two leg). Lots of standing on one leg. I also have a few Bending and straightening exercises to get my full range of motion back.

I'm definitely getting stronger, but I still have a way to go. Comparing the circumferences of both thighs the top and middle of the right are 20mm larger then the left. Hopefully all the exercise and build that back into a matching pair.

Sleeping is a lot easier without the brace on too. I now don't have to wake up to roll over. It's also quicker to get comfy and actually get to sleep.

I can now shower again (without getting the brace soaked and having to wait a couple of hours for it to dry).

The other good news with not being in the brace is that I can wear all my clothes again. I now fit in all my trousers, and I'm not limited to just the two pairs.

I have another follow up with the consultant on the 19th. I can find out when I can run and climb again then. I'd also still like to know what the screw is made of and if I can have an MRI again. I should also get a copy of the x-rays too (if I remember to take my memory stick).

5/52

Not much to say for this week. I got my turbo trainer last Thursday and I've been spinning out 30-40 minutes a day on it. Turbos are boring, but it's good to be exercising again. I've missed doing cardio work!

Brace off on Monday, all being well....

4/52

On Monday I went for my checkup. Not a lot to say, the Dr (didn't see the consultant) didn't say much and I wasn't there long. I did see my x-rays though, so that was good. The screw's a lot longer than I expected. If I take a memory stick with me next time I see the Dr/Mr then I can get a copy.

Today I had physio. The brace was unlocked to it's full range. Which is a nice change from being set at 90!

I also had a go on an exercise bike. That was really good, great to be doing some proper leg work. I'll be ordering a turbo trainer shortly and spinning on the Kona very soon. I'm excited at the though of doing some cardio work again.

Other than that I'm still walking and doing my other exercised. I just about have my walking pace back again. I marched home from the chippy the other night taking about 10 minutes to cover a bit over 1km. I'm glad about that, I've been getting bored shuffling about taking ages getting anywhere.

Roll on another 2 weeks until this brace comes off.

3/52

There's not a lot gone on this week. I've been doing my exercises two or three times a day, and I've been going to work every day. Excluding sport, life is pretty much back to normal. I can buy things, walk about, I'm even painting and taking photos again.

I had physio again this week, although since I was told not to remove the brace by the surgeon there wasn't a lot the physio could do. She gave me a couple more exercises to get my quads building back up again. It's already noticeable how much my left leg has atrophied compared to the right.

The only other thing to note is that I've taken all the dressings off now. The wound is all but healed. Blood flow looks fine, if I press the skin the blood comes back just as fast as on the other leg. The only problem is that I seem to have lost sensation in the skin above half my patella. I guess that it's some nerve damage, I am going to see the consultant again on the 21st so we can find out for sure then. I also cant make my leg hyper-extend, that could be more nerve issues or it could just be the muscles cant do it at the moment.

2/52

It's the 2nd week after the op. This week I have:

• Walked to work and back every day (except the Bank Holiday).
• Walked to town and back a couple of times, and have coffee with my friends most days.
• Taken photos of ducks and spiders.
• Started my commissioned painting. I need to go to Guildford tomorrow and get lots of art supplies.
  
• Had the dressings removed from the knee and had the ends of the stitches cut, nurse said it was healing nicely.
• I can bend the leg to the full 90 with a bit of gravity assist (off the edge of the bed), and almost to 90 when I slide the heel up the bed.
  

So all in all, life is started back up again. I cant do sport at the moment, but I have my two arty hobbies back and I can walk about now.

Getting Back On Track

Not a great deal to write about, walking is getting slowly better and I'm keeping up all my exercises.

The big news from today is that I went and took the camera over the common. First time in over two weeks. Macro photography is harder with a knee in a brace, I cant kneel at the moment. The windy weather didnt help either, but the important thing is that I have at least one hobby I can still do.

Back to the office in the morning.