ONE YEAR!!!

Yesterday I went in for my one year check-up.  And yes, it was two weeks early, but who's counting.  I was a little nervous going in not really sure where I stood and if the doctor would be happy with my overall progress.

As the Doc came in his first words to me were, "Was it worth it?"

That alone gives you a basic understanding of how difficult the surgery and the recovery are for this procedure.

After a brief five minute conversation it became clear that I haven't been progressing the way that I should.  Some of the basic things that helped us reach that conclusion were:

- I was still having pain with any extended walking or standing
- I still have moments of swelling (specifically a real large knee this past weekend after working in the garage for a couple of hours)
- No real maneuverability while playing with the kids in the backyard. (Doc suggested I should be able to jog around and play soccer with the kids without any setbacks)

All of this to say... the last year and a half and two surgeries hasn't put me any closer to my goal of being semi-active again.  At this point of the blog you might be wondering what the next step is from here.

The first step from here is to go and get a 3T MRI (an advanced MRI test) to see exactly what the status of my knee is.  Based on the results of that MRI we will move forward.  What does it mean to move forward?  If I am honest I really don't know.  What we discussed before the ACI surgery was that if this procedure didn't work the only real place to go would be a total knee replacement.  I just cannot imagine having to go through a total knee replacement at my age.  However, I also cannot imagine living with my current knee issues for an extended amount of time.

Emotionally the last few days have been a little difficult to digest.  Knowing that the last surgery, pain, time, family and financial stresses didn't accomplish what we were hoping for is hard to swallow.  I can liken it to running a marathon only to find out at 26.2 miles you ran the wrong direction and now you have to run back.  I don't know exactly what the next year will bring.  But what it seems is endurance will be the key to 2013 just as it was in 2012.

Obviously there is more to come.

11 Months and counting

There really isn't a whole lot to report at this time.  My routine is still fairly limited in what I do and can't do. Two weeks ago I spent about 4 days wrestling with some serious pain in the knee.  I have no idea where this pain came from but it sent my mind wandering for sometime.  Did the surgery work?  When will my next surgery be?  You kind of get the point.

Last week, I actually paid someone to come and put my front yard in.  The movement and the rigors of having to move rock, lay irrigation lines, etc. is still to much for me to overcome.  Not only did I have to rely on another guy to put my yard in...I had to rely on my wife to hang the Christmas lights.  With the ongoing knee problems over the years I think she has hung lights more often than not.  I hope one day to get back to normal activity when it comes to what I can do around the house.

This past month has been nice being able to get out on the bike.  Not only has it helped me physically it has helped me emotionally too.  Don't worry...I am not riding a lot of miles.  I am averaging about 40-45 miles a week.  I did go out for a slow 20 miler the other day.  It was nice to get moving but I did live in pain for the next 24 hours.  The muscles around the knee are still weak, which I think adds to the pain issue when I do something.

I still find it hard to stand for long periods of time.  If I keep moving I can make it a little longer.  I am looking forward to my one year follow-up in January.  There will be lots more to share at that time - I am sure.

Half-way mark

9 months down...that means that I am now officially half-way through the recovery process.  That is crazy in many respects.  First, that I am now 9 months post surgery.  Secondly, that I have 9 more months to go until I am out of the recovery process.

Here are some of my recent updates on the knee and the overall recovery phase:

• Two weeks ago we left for a family vacation.  We flew to Florida and did the whole Disney World thing.  We had a great time with the family but as you can expect...the knee wasn't going to take a full day walking around the park and definitely wouldn't take multiple days at Disney.  Therefore, we did it in a wheelchair.  It got old staying in a wheelchair the whole time but the plus side was we didn't have to wait in line for anything.
• While in Florida we also hit the beach.  That proved to be more difficult than I first thought.  Walking on a slope beach and wading around in the ocean was challenging and painful.  I left my unloader brace on the entire time and had to take numerous breaks from walking and playing with the kids.  At least I got some good sun when taking a break.
• Swimming is going well.  I am still hitting the pool three times a week.  Still if I kick too hard or move a little funny in the water the knee lets me know.  It is nice to do something.
• Today I dropped my bike off to get ready to ride.  Come November 1st I am cleared to start peddling around outside on my bike.  I can't wait...as this is one of my favorite past-times.  It will be nice to be on a bike again but it will be hard to ride slow.
• Overall, the past few days the knee has been feeling a little better.  I would call it another break through in the overall healing.  This past weekend we moved into our new house and that demanded a lot physically and the knee did much better than expected.  I can't wait to hear in January the doctors report on my overall progress.

Here is to keeping up the routine.  At least the routine will get a little change come November 1.

8 Month Update

8 months out...hard to believe it.  I can remember thinking that first week of post surgery what it would be like to be 6, 8, and 12 months down the road to recovery.  The knee is looking good and I even have a little definition in the leg muscles.  Let me clarify...definition is relative and not from lifting weights.  Mainly any tone I have in the leg is from leg lifts, mild walking, and pure luck.  For those that are curious here are a few of the most recent pictures of the knee.

If you can make out the scar from all that hair...you will see that the scar is looking pretty good.  The swelling has gone down nicely.  I still have a little swelling on the knee but nothing too alarming.

Here are the quick bullet points on the knee and my current activity level.

• Overall, not too much pain anymore.  However, my knee aches badly if I am on my feet too much, walk too far, or when I get done swimming.
• That's right...I took my doctors advise and for the time being, I am a swimmer.  I go to the local pool and swim 30 minutes a day, three times a week.
• Swimming is boring, but it gives me something I can do and the good news- it is making my arms look buffer. : )
• The fall has been difficult emotionally.  I really miss playing with the kids outside and biking.  I am actually coaching my sons soccer team this fall.  Something I always dreamed of doing but I thought I would be able to run and demonstrate the drills needed done.  Let's just say that's not happening.  Thus, I am very thankful for my assistant coach.
• Brace...I am still stuck in my brace during the day.  Last month I had taken it off while in the house and was walking across the living room when all of a sudden that knee buckled and gave out.  As you can imagine I went down with a thud and spent the rest of the night icing.  Not a great experience and I am tired of wearing the brace.  And it is beginning to stink.
• I have spent a lot of my time reading other blogs on the surgery and from what I can tell I am one of the most restricted patients.  That can be frustrating but I am working really hard to follow the doctors advice.  Still no elliptical, cycling, and nothing that even resembles running.  Playing this one by the book!
• I can't wait for November when I finally get the green light to do some light bike riding on the street.  
• Next month we are making a trip with the family to Disney World.  This will be an adventure for everyone.  I will be sure to post how the trip goes and pictures.  

6 Month Update

Wow...six months down and out!  I can't believe that it has already been six months from the time my leg got filleted.  I had a follow up appointment this week with my original orthopedic - remember my surgeon dropped me because of insurance challenges.  Any how...not a whole lot of new information from the doctor.

Actually the entire appointment consisted of dialoguing about the knee and how it feels.  There was no physical examination.  He reminded me that we really won't know how things are really working and progressing until we hit the year mark.  For that reason, all doctor appointments have been pushed to January.

Here are some things to note about where I am at and things I am looking forward to:

• No outdoor biking yet.  Actually, I was told I really need to hold off the biking until November and even then it needs to be something I ease into.  NO RACING.  So until then...it is more time on the trainer with no resistance.
• The knee still has some swelling in it.  I asked the doc if I should head to PT to help with the swelling or strengthening the muscles around the joint and he quickly said not yet.  The knee and my patches are still vulnerable and it is better to play this one safe than to try to push through and make something happen.
• The lack of exercise is about to kill me.  I realized that this is the longest I have been out of commission since I started playing sports at 5.  It is for sure an adjustment period.  At least with my ACL surgery I could do some small things and was able to get on a bike regularly by 6 months.
• We are still living in our temporary space until our house gets finished.  This space is great but it does have stairs.  And incase you were wondering...stairs are not my friend.  I still have to take them slowly using my good leg to get me up and down.  It can be painful if I move too fast or happen to step wrongly as I go up or down.  I try to limit my trips and often need to rely on my son or wife to help me get something if I forget to grab something.
• The unloader brace is actually wearing out somewhat.  I sometimes wonder if I should have pushed for a custom brace.   Maybe it would have lasted a little longer.  I still have another 4 months of wearing the brace.  At that length of time I hope there is something left.

Still a long road ahead.  Everyday that goes by is one more day closer to normal living.  This weekend we are going water skiing as a family and I know it will be very hard to hang out in the boat as everyone else gets to be pulled around the lake.  Part of the healing process I guess.

4 months and counting

I can't believe that it has now been more than 4 months sense the surgery.  Things continue to move at a snail pace.  I find myself longing to get back to some normal physical activity.  Riding the stationary bike at 14 mph just isn't cutting it and I am tired of adjusting my eating for the lack of exercise.

The past week I did go and buy a new bike in hopes of riding it soon.  I had to ask the bike shop to keep it on the shelf until September.  Otherwise the temptation to ride would be too great...as I am still not allowed to ride outside until the fall.  Below are some basic things to note:

- The knee is still swollen.  I wonder how long it will take until I can see my knee cap again?

- The past week I have had some moments of sharp pain.  Those moments bring enough pain that it leaves me gasping for air and causes me to lose focus on whatever I was doing.  The pan doesn't last very long but it is intense when it happens.  The weird thing I haven't been able to figure out what is triggering the moments.

- My left quad muscle is still squishy...really squishy.  But, if you look hard enough and turn your head in to the right place you can make out some contour of my small muscles.  At this point I take anything I can get.

- My limp is barely noticeable, but still present. The leg gives out randomly once or twice per day, usually for a nanosecond, and then I quickly recapture my normal walking form.

- Stairs remain problematic. I don’t have to avoid stairs, but I do need to handle them with care, especially going down.

- My ROM is still good.  However, deep bending or squatting are still beyond me.

Another DOC visit

Another week...another doctor visit.  At just over 14 weeks post-op...I am feeling good and I was really looking forward to talking with Dr. Tarlow to see my latest progress and to ask some big questions.  Teh appointment was quick and full of exciting news.  The first news I got was that my doctor has decided to drop my health care provider.

Yes...not my fault.  And really I can't blame him for the challenge doctors have to face with providers these days.  What does that mean for me?  It means I have to go back to my old doctor that couldn't provide surgical services because the provider wouldn't cover the facility.  At least...I think I can go back as long as they haven't dropped my provider too.  Just another fun think to navigate through...

Back to the knee news...

1. The knee is still swollen but that isn't something that is totally abnormal at this point.

2. I have to wear my unloader brace for another 6 months and then for any periods of extended time on my feet.

3. Everything looks and feels like it is healing nicely.  I do have some popping and grinding still when the knee is flexed but the Doc told me that is fairly normal at this point and over time it should go away.

4. Stationary bike is a good thing as long as I don't overdo it!  Thus, I keep doing what I am doing and I actually road 5 miles yesterday.  My furthest bike ride in almost a year.

5. I asked if I could eventually Mountain bike again...while keeping my fingers crossed.  To which I couldn't believe my ears...the answer was YES!  In 18 months I can begin to mountain bike again.  That news was almost too good to hear.  I can't wait to get back on a bike soon- 18 months will not come fast enough.  (And yes, I will be allowed to single speed as long as it isn't a steady diet of it)

6. Dr. Tarlow, also felt that the cells are growing like weeds and that over the next 20 weeks they should begin to morph into a thicker substance that resembles the new cartilage that is to come.

Overall, the news was all good.  I couldn't be more excited.