I feel like I should post today as it's my anniversary. The first anniversary of my revision ACL surgery, to be precise. Is that an excuse for cake and champagne?
Well, I could do with something to cheer myself up, so maybe.
I guess at this point I thought I'd be well and truly back into the swing of things: back into my running, certainly back at the gym and back into chasing around after the minibeast and even venturing into the dreaded 'soft play' with her.
Instead, I find myself 'celebrating' this particular anniversary with... quad sets! Yeay!
The knee has felt pretty rubbish since I slipped on that ice in January and, functionally, I'm probably behind where I was when I went in for surgery last year. The only good news is that the graft isn't completely torn - it looks as though the Macintosh saved it - but, if I'm honest, that feels like small mercies.
I didn't really remember what it felt like when I tore my ACL the first time but the past few weeks have reminded me. Pain behind the knee - check; Pain in the middle of the knee - check; difficulty straightening it - check; total inability to kneel (up, no point even attempting kneeling down) - check; inability to bend my leg over 90 degrees - check; a lovely limp - check; general stiffness and soreness - check. Add to that sore IT band, sore hamstrings and general grumpiness and I don't think I've been a barrel of laughs to be around.
While any general difficulties seemed to settle down pretty quickly previously, this time is not being so kind - maybe that's age catching up with me?
Anyway, I've pretty much stayed off it as much as possible over the last five weeks.
Walking is still painful the further I go, but less so than it was (I can do two miles now - whoop whoop!). Going up and down stairs requires the handrail (although that is getting better) and trying to teach my daughter hopscotch last weekend (hopping on the good leg, I'm not THAT stupid) was definitely not a good idea - ouch!
After effectively sticking my head in the sand for a few weeks, I finally saw my physio again yesterday and, as expected, we're right back at square one. The quads I've carefully been rebuilding have atrophied, I have very little muscle strength (partly atrophy, partly pain-response muscle inhibition), the swelling still needs to come down completely and my hamstring is mega tight as it's working overtime.
So, we start again.
I'm not entirely sure what I'm working towards now - last time I completely brought into the vision of a second-time lucky fix that would see me get back to day-to-day activities including sport - but now I'm not so sure.
The knee is relatively stable - that's good - but what a good result looks like, I have no idea. Further surgery would seem to be heading into the territory of diminishing returns but I'd really like something akin to normal function. Answers on a postcard please... (and cheers - it is an anniversary after all!)
