April Update

So things are coming along pretty well still.  I am at the point where the exercises are a bit more intense.  I am running a mile every week, jumping or -- I should say hopping -- on my surgically-repaired leg (can't call it a bad leg) and doing sprints, backwards running and cross-overs at physical therapy.

My PT end date is fast approaching it seems.  By the end of May, I am likely to be "cleared for activity," meaning that I am allowed to participate in sports.  I doubt I will jump back into things anytime soon, but it's a nice benchmark to achieve.

Pain is minimal.  I do get sore at times, especially in the back of my leg after running that mile, but it is not an every day thing.  I rarely have pain in the front of the leg, which may be partly because I used the hamstring as my graft source.  I am happily crawling on my knees with my kids.

One challenge I am having is that it is harder to keep up with exercises now that I feel back to normal and now that most exercises are not everyday things.  It was easier when it was like I HAVE TO DO AN HOUR OF THIS EVERYDAY NO MATTER WHAT.  It's a bit different now and it takes a bit more effort to get myself to do things after a long day, but I am doing pretty well with it overall I think.

I am pretty close to getting that last bit of flexion.  I was over 150 last week when they measured me.

Feeling Good

So I talked to my PT last time about the calf pain, which, by the Thursday appointment, had pretty much subsided. It appears that it may have been my brace. Apparently the more I push it, the more my calves expand, and the more they then may strain against the brace. Nothing much to do except loosen it a little bit. That seems to have helped. I also have stopped wearing it all day during work, which has made me much more comfortable during the day. I had left it on primarily because it was impossible to put it on under my suit pants after taking it off. Now, although perhaps it is now how it is meant to be put on, I put it on over my pants on my way home to work.

The brace is mainly for intense exercise like running and cutting, but I was wearing it in crowds and in the winter as extra protection. In case you are unsure about what I am talking about, it is this: http://www.betterbraces.com/donjoy-fullforce-ligament-knee-brace It fits under my suit pants, although it can bunch up at times.

I ran my first mile on the treadmill at the gym! I can't remember the last time I ran a mile before the surgery…

Fwd: Less calf pain today

So, after a couple of days, that pesky calf pain has gone away for the most part.  I'm still not sure what exactly caused.  I had taken it pretty easy that day before. I did run almost a mile the day before that, but I would have thought that would have been too long ago to have been the cause.

Last night I did lower the resistance a bit on the exercise bike.  Perhaps I was pushing too hard with that.  

Coming up on month 5.  Things are going well overall.  I am well into my running program and am just about to run a mile.  I also started doing agility work at PT. 

Today I have really sore calves.  Not really sure why.  I took it pretty easy yesterday. 

So it's been over four months.  Things are progressing.

I am on a jogging program.  At this point, I am able to do a walk/jog interval for over a mile.

My hamstrings are feeling stronger.

Still minimal pain.  The discomfort I only feel is only after a heavy workout, and I am just as likely to feel some soreness in my so-called "good leg" now.

Still feeling happy that I went with the hamstring graft over the cadaver graft.

I am still working on getting that last bit of flexion... it's become harder and harder to get that final bit.

Day 68 I think.  

Things are going well.  I feel like I am walking pretty much normally at this point.  We had our first snow storm here and I thought for sure that I would want my crutches, but I managed fine with my flexible brace.  I even had to shovel my car out of my driveway and did so with little trouble.  

I rarely have to take even ibuprofen right now.  Last night was the last time I took it, but that was because my arms were sore from all that snow shoveling!

As far as exercises are going, it is getting far easier to manage.  I am down to about an hour's worth a day.  I am doing more complicated exercises with my legs (including weights at PT) and daily stints on the treadmill and bike that I have at home.  

In short, I had a Merry Christmas!  I hope all of you did as well. 

Day 55?

Things are progressing faster now.  I am walking more and more normally.  No more crutches and I only have to wear my smaller brace when going outside or when I am in a crowd.  The smaller brace (it appears to be a DonJoy thing) feels like it works well, but it is hard to take on and off without taking off my pants, which can be difficult when I am in my office.   Apparently it is not a good idea to wear it all day, although I forgot to ask why.  If I wear it for awhile I certainly feel a little sorer than otherwise, maybe it is just a comfort thing?  

My leg in general gets sore and stiffer a bit more often than before I was keeping my weight on it, but it is so awesome to be walking that it doesn't bother me much.  I am finally utilizing my Cyrocuff now to help reduce swelling.  My frozen peas were great for short term relief, but for longer sessions with ice, the Cryocuff works best.  

I think I am probably at my 500th time explaining what happened to me, but without my crutches it is happening less often.  Now it is more people just saying how happy they are with seeing me walking again.  Although sometimes it gets old telling my same injury story again and again, I am touched that some many people -- many whom I do not know very well -- care enough to ask in the first place.  

I am now on the bike, treadmill and do some more strenuous exercises.  So far so good I think.