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.