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. 

Day 48:

Feeling a lot better.  At physical therapy I was released to begin putting weight on my leg and got my new, smaller brace.  I am now walking at home and using crutches while I am out.  

It feels liberating!  I have to say though that walking has caused me to be sorer than I have been in awhile.  My knee gets crunchy if I do it for too long and I am definitely back to icing to get the swelling back down.  

I know that I have been saying that the graft site hasn't really been bothering me, and it still isn't that bad, but I am beginning to think that the tightness in the back of my leg and in my calf now that I am walking might be partly due to my hamstrings being victimized.  Oh well, can't really complain too much right now.  Things are feeling more and more normal...

Day 42:

Things are going pretty well.  Not much more to report.  I continue to progress on my physical therapy.  I believe I will be weight-bearing next week, which will be nice.  

I have been able to cut back my pain med usage a bit.  I now take about three Advils a day, down from six the past couple of weeks.  What has everyone's experience been with pain meds?  When did you stop taking them regularly?  I do not think I could get through the day with much energy if I went off of them completely.  The soreness I would have otherwise tires me out.  

Riding my exercise bike is probably my favorite thing to do.  My leg feels so much looser and more normal afterwards.  Perhaps it has been good that I have been doing it.  My flexion is up to 135 degrees.  My PT said I could hold back a little bit for the next week or so on pushing it much further.  

A few words of advice for those who follow me.  Obviously, everyone is different... 

1.  Do not over think the graft choice.  As I think Sue has said, the best graft is the one that works for you!  That being said, I had a lot of back and forth over cadaver versus hamstring.  So far, so good I think.  My pain has never been too terrible and the graft pain hasn't been too noticeable (yet).  I enjoy not worrying about the disease risk, but, to be honest, objectively my fear was just a phobia.  The chances are so slim that you can get anything.  Probably more of a risk taking a long car trip I think.  But... I am happy with my choice for the moment.  

2.  I am not sure that the Cryo-Cuff (non-motorized) has been worth it for me.  I used it a lot when my meniscus tear was acting up before surgery, but after surgery I could hardly feel anything with it with all the gauze and after the gauze was off it was too much of a hassle.  With crutches it was hard for me to manage it myself and it seemed too confusing for my helpers.  Using a bag of frozen peas -- and I don't feel a need to use them more than once a day -- at night seems to be the most worthwhile.  

3.  Don't delay the surgery for the "perfect" time.  Because my leg did not bother me on a daily basis except very recently, I kept on putting of the surgery worrying about whether I was doing the right thing.  I am so glad I went through with it earlier than originally planned.  Physically it is a little tougher right now, but mentally it is WAY EASIER to have gotten the surgery over on it and to be just focusing on my recovery.  

4.  You get used to crutches and physical therapy.  I was worried that my life would be miserable and that I would not be able to motivate myself to fit in all my exercises.  I was wrong.  You adjust.  You find a routine where it works and because you are no longer worrying about the surgery you just have more mental energy to follow through with things.  

5.  Along with #4... it is amazing how quickly you can feel somewhat normal.  I am back at work and it is different (people always asking what happened and how they can help me) and it takes me longer to get to my desk, but when I am just sitting there working, it feels like I am back to my normal routine in a lot of ways.  

6.  Don't rush off of the heavier pain meds.  Not because you need them for super long necessarily (probably two weeks for me), but because you need to taper them off.  I tried to just jump right off of them.  The pain wasn't too bad, but I was exhausted and sweating all the time.  It turns out that was withdrawal.  Once I realized that and just tapered them off it went very smoothly.  

7.  Definitely get the 24 hour pain block in your leg if available.  I was in no pain after surgery.  This made things go much more smoothly. (The only problem was the nausea.)  

8.  Get a shower stool!  This has made showers so much easier...

I will add others later as I think of them.  Thanks for reading!