Knee Surgery Journal - 7 weeks Post-Surgery

 Knees are ugly. You don't really realize it until you look at them constantly hoping for change. But right now, 7 weeks after my partial knee replacement, I am looking at one of the most beautiful pictures of my knee I have ever seen.

Last week I was given the go ahead to begin swimming and doing light lifting. I am finding out how out of shape I got in the past 7 weeks even after how out of shape I was before.  But hitting the pool has been so unbelievably cathartic. I have only swam 4 days since last Friday as I have been quite exhausted but already I am feeling an exuberant difference in my health. (I also jammed a huge hole in my hand using pliers trying to repair a He-Man figure because I am a 48 year old man-child, apparently, which made me take a day off from swimming as well.)

Moreover, this is the best my knee has looked in a year and a half. I have an outside chance at running a half marathon in Montana on June 7th. It will be slow. Likely my slowest ever. But even having that be a potential, possible, maybe could happen goal is lifting my spirits immensely. I truly wasn't aware of how well I was holding back the tide of emotions from the past two years.  Not being able to ambulate properly let alone run, let alone challenge myself. But now that I can start to, the flood gates are opening.

Weight is down to 205 lbs and I think I can get my semi-racing weight (183) by the time that Montana half marathon comes around. That means I have already lost about 25 lbs which puts me right at the halfway point.

Part of my speech I give is to talk about how you don't have to, but rather you GET to. I said this long before I was forced to take a break. It rings true so much more now. And I will continue to never take for granted how fortunate I am to be able to do what I can.

Knee Surgery Journal - 38 days Post-Surgery

For every year from 2007-2023, I ran over 2,000 miles a year. Barely one year (2006 miles in 2011) and well over in 2019 and 2020 (3033 and 3044) with just missing 3,000 in 2022 (2944). I have known more than a few people to do 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 a year (often with varying degrees of it actually providing good race results) but 2,000 was enough for me.

Since October 31, 2023 when I originally tore the meniscus in my knee, I have run 488.55 miles. It's been 502 days since then. In other words, I have averaged .97 of a mile run per day. For the five previous years, including the year I originally hurt my knee, I averaged 7.63 miles run per day (whether I ran or not.)

So, since I hurt my knee, using rough calorie burning calculator numbers, I have NOT burned 420,174 calories that I normally would have burnt during the past 502 days. Or, I have somehow had to find a way to burn 120 more pounds off during that time. I was not always successful.

My positive spin is that my right knee (the uninjured one) has had ~3,328 miles LESS run on it during this time. So I have that going for me.

My most recent PT trip had me getting my knee to 124 degrees bent with -5 degrees straight (meaning I went 5 degrees PAST straight). I haven't weighed myself in a couple of weeks because I honestly don't feel like I have lost any and I want to wait a bit more so I don't get disgruntled. I would like to be gruntled. 

I have a follow up with the doctor this week and I think I will be able to get back in the pool. I was cleared by PT to start doing some weight lifting with my knee. I have a friend who is a few weeks prior to me in this same surgery and he is walking three miles or so a day. I don't want to walk. I want to run. So I am just working on strength and straightening and everything I can to do just that.

I feel the progress is good. I am aching to race. I have King of the Hills I want to claim and counties I want to visit and Strava segments I want to set the CR on and FKT to claim and first places to earn and so much more. There is so much of this world I want to see under my feet. So many activities to accomplish. So much to do.

I just want to run. 

Knee Surgery Journal - 28 Days Post-Surgery

Four weeks ago yesterday I underwent my second knee surgery in the past year. I'm happy to report that it seems like this one is going to have not only a much faster recovery but a successful one as well. In my physical therapy today I was able to get my knee to 122° flexion even if it hurt a little bit to do so. There are times I actually find myself walking with zero limp whatsoever. I am definitely far from recovered as any trip down the stairs will show me but even as I feel like I'm tearing through the last remaining fibers of scar tissue when the knee gets bent, it's more discomfort than pain.

Weight: 210.4

I am a little bummed that my weight has pretty much stayed stagnant the past two weeks but that's mostly because as I am more ambulatory I am more apt to grab a little snack here and there. I need to continue to curtail that so that I can below 200 lbs in the next 2 weeks. I have that goal because that is when I've been told that I can be gone swimming again and it sure would be able nice to cut through the water and continue to burn calories in that manner until I can do outdoor or heck, indoor, running again.
 

Mainly I'm doing everything I can to continue to stay positive not try to think about the year and a half that I have lost because of this knee injury. I've always been very grateful for my ability to do what I have done for the last 18 months have really driven that point home. I'm extremely pleased with how the scar is healing period it is almost, I wouldn't say unrecognizable, but definitely on the way there!
 

I do hope that this journal is helping other people if they have to make a similar decision with their own knee or with any other surgery or speed bump they have in their life. The world is a scary and depressing place right now because of the horrible people we have running the United States government. If that last sentence turns you off , you obviously don't know anything about me but I welcome the fact that you found this journal. I find myself needing running more than ever just to stay sane and take me away from the ridiculousness of trump and his supporters.

I'm keeping my chin up and I hope you are doing the same. Thanks again for reading. If you have any questions or want any advice because you are feeling something similar, please drop me a line!