Recovering From Microfracture Surgery

K+45 days

1 hour on the spin bike and 150 reps of strength exercises.

Overall an easyday. 100% one crutch and trying to put less and less weight on the crutch. I took a couple steps without the crutch as well. If all goes well maybe I can be crutchless by the end of this week.

K+46 days post surgery

Mondays are always fun since they are long physical therapy days.

5:30-7:00am 18 miles on spin bike

7:00-8:00am strength exercises, etc... then off to physical therapist

8:15-10:15  physical therapy routine

    - 15 minutes of heat pad on knee

    - 10 minutes of heel slides

    - 10-15 minutes of knee massage and range of motion manipulation to work out scar tissue (always fun!)

    - knee range of motion measurement (reached 150 degrees today without assistance and 152 degrees with assistance; the assistance part is always fun as well!)

    - 30 straight leg lifts with anle weights

    - 30 side leg lifts with ankle weights

    - 5-10 minutes of quad squeezes

    - 15 minutes on bike 

    - Off to weight machines and squat slide machine for 5 sets of weight machines and then on the squat slide machine for about 20 minutes and 4 different squat exercises

    - Finally finish up with PT checking things out and then 15 minutes of ice

8:00-9:00pm - 1 hour of spin bike for 12 miles

9:00-10:00pm - strength exercises and final ice for the night

So today was a step forward. The PT had me walk for him. I walked about 10 steps with a limp. The PT feels I am still limping a bit too much to ditch the crutch yet. So I need to get the leg a little stronger this week before I can get rid of the crutch.

K+47 days

AM - 1 hour and 15 minutes spin bike 45 minutes of strength exercises

PM - 1 hour and 15 minutes of spin bike 45 minutesof strength exercises

Total of about 30 miles on spin bike and four hours total work.

Today was a lot more time on the feet than normal. However, I think it was good as I think it is helping strengthen the left leg. I actually walked with the crutch more like a cane for the majority of the day today. I even walked 100 meters with almost no weight on the crutch at all. The good news is that the knee seems to be handling it better. So now the decision is to keep with the crutch or until I can walk or switch to a cane. I could easily get by with a cane but that just seems so old man like. However, it may be better. I will ask the PT tomorrow. Does anyone else have an opinion?

K+48 days (I finally walked a signifacant distance without crutches!)

Tomorrow marks 7 weeks since the microfracture surgery. Today was a good day and a major step forward for now.

Long physical therapy day as usual. However several things went very well. My range of motion on my left leg now matches my right leg and it only took 19 days to get it there. Today I walked without a crutch throughout physical therapy and also got on a treadmill where they made me 30lbs lighter and had me walk normal for about .11 miles. Then to top it off I walked out to my car after physical therapy without using the crutch. This felt great and the knee handled it pretty well. So a good day and I am very close to ditching the crutch for good.

Total of 2 hours on spin bike (24 miles).

2 hours at physical therapy.

1 hour of strength exercises.

K+49 days (7 weeks post surgery!)

Today was 100% crutch free! By the end of the day my knee and leg was very tired but I made it all day without the crutch. So as long as I don't have any set backs I am crutch free.

2.5 hours of spin bike and 200 strength reps today.

K+50 days post microfracture surgery

2 hours on spin bike about 25 miles worth

1.5 hours of strength work

and 2 hours of physical therapy

Walked without a crutch again all day today but still not real stable or confident. I just need to keep working hard and hopefully the strength and stability will come around.

K+51 Days

Very busy and long day today. Only time for strength exercises but I ended up doing a lot of walking. At the end of the day the knee was very tired.