will be off bike for some knee surgery

[esther-l]

I am just whining, because I want sympathy :-)

I referred myself for physical therapy because I was having knee pain.
The PT recommended that I see an orthopedist because he thought I might have something serious going on.

I have some small cartilage tears, some arthritis on the patella bone, and my patella is not tracking properly. That does kind of explain why the pain is in tendon A one week, and tendon B the next week.

So, I will be off the bike and having surgery sometime after July 24th.

First, I am bummed that the surgery won't be around July 12, so that the week I expect to be home from work will be during Le Tour. I am hoping I will be able to drive a car 2-3 weeks after surgery, and that I'll be able to bike on the road not too long after surgery. I know that biking on a stationary bike, under supervision, is part of the post-surgery PT.

Esther

[RickF]

Good luck with the surgery. I tore the cartilage in one knee about 30 years ago and in the other knee about 12 years ago. Fortunately, I have been able to avoid surgery with physical therapy and cycling. I cannot run, and I cannot walk on a treadmill at more than 2% incline or faster than 3.2 mph, but cycling does not bother my knees. Until I cannot cycle or I have pain bad enough to keep me from sleeping at night, I will put off surgery.

[Michelle W]

Hey Esther. You have my sympathy! I wish things were working out better for you to go ahead and get it done, be home during the Tour and be back on the bike sooner! Hang in there and hope it all goes well. Please keep us updated.

[spydersmom]

Hi Esther,

I'm currently recovering from knee surgery myself, so totally understand how you feel! I ended up having to have a lateral release because my kneecap was way off-track, in addition to arthritis, a chipped kneecap and some other bone and joint issues.

Feel free to whine anytime you need to - my shoulder is always available because I've been there (currently still in rehab) and can definitely relate.

Best of luck to you for a full and speedy recovery,

tammy

[williamtash]

Esther

You can whine anytime it is ever so helpful to the bikers soul. I hope the surgery goes well for you and you will be trooping along with us soon. Just remember to not over do things to soon can't wait to have you back

sandy

[Zonda]

Good luck with your surgery. I wish you a speedy recovery!

[esther-l]

I am 2 weeks post-surgery.
I am not having too much pain, but I am fighting the inflammation.
I have started PT - have done 4 minutes of pedaling on bike with no resistance. I am walking with a cane, and sometimes not using the cane.
I am targeting Aug 15 to go back to work - will know closer to that date if I'm ready yet. I am still using ice and elevating my knee above heart a lot - can be challenging to do those things at work. I work in an enormous building at IBM, and I haven't walked that far yet - I'll have to do a test at a warehouse club.

for people who like details, I had patella debridement and some meniscus trimmed, and some removed.
Esther

[Erica]

yikes, thats a lot of recovery stuff to deal with :( im sorry. is it going well, or is it going not so well? im a big wimp, so if i was on the other side of the keyboard typing out your update, id be doing it with a big frown on my face. i hope you continue to be managing the pain, and i hope your recovery is speedy!

[RickF]

For two weeks post op, It sounds like you are doing well. Keep up with the PT, and good luck. I will see you back on the bike soon.

[Zonda]

Thanks for the update. I’m glad you are doing o.k. I look forward to your speedy recovery and joining us soon!! Hang in there girl.

[williamtash]

Glad to hear that you are doing so well. That everything went as planned. You will be back in no time and riding up a storm hang in there

[esther-l]

My recovery is going well. I may be a bit slower than average - the people who post their post-op stories seem to all heal amazingly fast. My first 2 days after surgery were great - no pain and no inflammation. Then all the surgery drugs wore off!

I ran into Al Johnson (randonneur and beer brewer) - he is going to the same place for physical therapy that I am.

The narcotic made my brain amazingly useless. I was mixing up appointment times and places, and often having trouble completing sentences. I've been off that for more than 48 hours, and my brain function is returning!