7 weeks out...

Okay okay I know I suck at this blogging thing. So much for that English degree. I'm now 7 weeks out and feeling good. Great actually. 2nd Medrol dose pack in 3 weeks helping? Abso-friggin-lutely! It kicks the swelling back immensely and like PT George said, it's "making everything else feel good too!"

I'm still working like a dog at work and waiting for HR to confirm my promotion so it continues to feel worth the effort. Which of course means my workouts are not as frequent, my rehab is mostly on my accord, without the push from an ATC or PT on a regular basis. But I'm always doing something when I wake up and before I go to bed if nothing in between and my flexion and extension are still good for this point in time.

Post op appt #3 was earlier this week (6.5 wks) and he was happy. Gave me yet another reminder that whole I'm a it 33 year old, I'm still 33 and waited 12 years for an operation due long ago. That said-can I get some freaking support please?!? Whatever, e gave me the meds, so why am I complaining...

Here is my typical round of rehab work these days...

10-20 mins spin bike 

Step ups with good leg straight behind x 20 x 2

Step ups and down in front of box x 20

Lateral lunges off step x 20 x 2

Reverse lunge steps x 20 x 2-3

Prone hangs with press and contract x 10 x 2-4 each day

Leg raises front side back in floor x 10 each way x 2-3

Mini squats to box or chair x 10 x 3

Mini squats with med ball straight in front x 10 x 1-2

Side walks with red band x 2 trips up and back

Side shuffles x 2 total trips

Grapevines x 2 total trips

Backpedal x 2-3 trips 

Balance on bosu pad with med ball toss or just weighted hold x 30 (throws or secs hold)

Heel slides x 40-50 each day with gravity bends between sets (lie on back and help pull leg in gently)

Kettle bell single leg deadlift off step x 20-30

I aim to do a pull/push or press workout session around those "rehab" exercises or days and seem to be getting at least 2-3 consistent days in the training room and/or weight room

Don't want to continue to pay for PT off site so I do what I can with our ATCs here at TU...

Holy Moley, I knew this would happen...

The good thing is that I haven't been writing because things are majorly busy in a good way. The bad news is I was pretty miserable about 2 weeks ago and I should've at least documented it. 

One of our tennis athletes who is rehabbing from her 2nd ACL surgery in a year was chatting with me about 2 1/2 weeks out, and have me this slight but memorable warning: weeks 3 and 4 are the hardest. Damn. She ended up being right. I can't say it wasn't all in my head from her notice but I certainly came down from my "I'm gonna nail this rehab thing" high I had been on before that. I was doing okay with PT, he was adding more exercises, but that in turn caused more pain. At work I was mostly wearing my brace all day, working so much thy I wasn't breaking for my workouts, and going home with major dents in my legs from all the swelling. Smack in the middle of weeks 3 and 4, I was part of a Leadership Retreat at work that allowed little time for anything but eating big meals around long periods in a chair. Although the 3 hour session with a TU dance instructor was an interesting one for me to say the least.

Anyway, I've come through that period literally stronger; I'm at 118 degrees flexion; can fully extend to 0; Dr. Hinton told me to put the brace away; and I can get on a bike or elliptical and stride away for time. 

I met my goal of walking the neighborhood brace-free with the kids for Halloween! I went to CrossFit on Sunday and kicked ass in the workout (overall 100 KBS and 100 burpees)!

On to week 6....