Recovering From Microfracture Surgery

Knee surgery plus 3 days (K+3).

Took bandages off for first time today. 3 very small cuts, two below knee and one on top inside of knee. Very small incisions about the width of a pencil. Surprised but happy to see minimal swelling at this point. Tonight I did 30 minutes on the spin bike but it was not really spinning. It was very slow range of motion (ROM) work. Just barely moving the pedals around for 30 minutes to keep decent ROM. The knee was tight but not much pain to speak of which I assume is a good sign. I am suppossed to get up to at least 4 hours per day of spinning as soon as I can. As long as it does not hurt then I assume I am ok. I will inquire more with the doctor later this week. I hate the crutches but if all goes well I should be off of them sometime during the Olympics this summer.

Thanks again for the support FRB. Run some more miles for me!

Knee surgery plus 4 days (K+4).

Minor swelling still but not much pain at all.

AM - Did 1 hour Range of Motion (ROM) on the bike.

PM - Did another hour of ROM on bike.

Going this slow on bike is very boring but the worst part is how sore my butt is. My butt is bruised pretty dang good at this point. I need to go to the store and invest in a good pair of biking shorts. I may add some swimming to my routine later this week or next. If I can run in the pool that will help and then I can also just swim with upper body only. That would at least give me some cardio work.

With all of the biking and swimming I am planning on getting over the next several months I guess I should look into doing some tri-athalons when I am fully recovered.

Still hate crutches but staying positive with bruised butt and all!

K+5 (Knee Surgery + 5 days)

AM -1 hour Range of Motion(ROM) on spin bike.

PM - Another hour of ROM.

Getting a little faster each day but the butt still hurts from the seat. Also doing a few leg exercises as well, just trying to keep from losing all of the muscles in my left leg. Overall the knee feels ok with some minor swelling still. Not putting any weight on it is getting tough because at times I just want to get up and walk. I am really trying to take the no weight bearing serious as I want to give this the best chance at healing properly. Next week I can hopefully start up some swimming and pool running. We will see what the Dr. says. Hopefully with each passing day I am one step closer to my first day of running again.

K+6 (six days post surgery but whos counting!)

AM - Another hour on my friend the spin bike work on more ROM.

PM - Yet another hour of ROM work on the good old spin bike.

Also doing some leg lift routines to work on some muscle maintenance. I have also discovered that my favorite thing to ice with is a bag of frozen corn. Although frozen peas and frozen blackberries work decent as well. THe corn seems to work best as it is really east to shift the corn around to conform to the shape of the knee and it seems to distribute the cold nicely without feeling like it is giving the knee freezer burn. So for those that ice often try the frozen corn strapped on with an ace bandage it works great. I am probably icing the knee about 4 hours a day still. Until tomorrow!

K+7 (yes, 1 week since the surgery!)

If I can just keep taking it one week at a time it does seem as bad.

AM - One hour of ROM on spin bike.

PM - Another hour of ROM.

So one week of crutches complete and only 3-5 weeks to go.  Next week if I am cleared to do so I plan on ramping things up training wise. I am going to try and set aside 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening for physical therapy and working out. Looking at therapy exercises and stretching, spin bike ROM, swimming and water running, and then also incorporating some weight training. I may not be able to do much with my left knee but I can still work the other parts of my body as long as it does not strain the knee.

K+8 (1st day of 2nd week of recovery)

AM - 1:15 of ROM on spin bike.

PM - 1:15 ROM again.

So to celebrate the start of week two of rehab/recovery I increased my ROM time on the spin bike. Total of two and a half hours today.

I am starting to be very thankful for normally having two healthy legs. As getting around on crutches and only one leg is really not much fun.

K+9

Knee was a bit more swollen and stiff today so only 1/2 hour of ROM on spin bike.

Lots of ice and elevation today. Feeling lazy and fat today. I am going to have to watch my diet a bit better.