Ok- just kidding –my husband would have a heart attack — plus I would be a pretty old new mom. I have hit the nine month mark. I think my knee is finally in better shape than it was before the surgery. I know this because I keep a work out log and have for the last couple of years. I can see by the workouts I did and the comments that my knee was swelling on the eliptical before surgery even with no resistance. Anyone trying to recover from this should keep a log so that you can show yourself the progress you have made. I can’t tell you the number of times I have looked back a few months to see what I was doing and it has made me feel better. Recovery sometimes feels like it moves at a glacial place – so it helps to keep me encouraged. I use the eliptical about 4 x per week – resistence 5 – usually 3 miles. I lift weights with my bad leg about 4 times a week – up to 8 minutes at 60 lbs with the bad leg. I try to bike on the weekend – hilly neighborhood – takes me about 1hour and 10 mins. to do 10 miles. So – I feel like I am getting better. Could I run at this point – no. My biggest problem is my gimpy quad muscle — but as you can tell I am working it. I do not have a lot of pain, just stiffness and I really do not have a limp at all (unless I sit around too long and then I limp for a few minutes until it stretches out). I am back into very short heels (1 inch clunky heels) — but hey – it’s better than the grandma shoes I had to wear. My MRI is set for March 7 -at which point the doctor will give me a thumbs up or down on impact sports, i.e. running. I am back to my old self mentally – but I still have dreams at night that involve me running and wake up a bit bummed. I have not gained any weight thru this process, and in fact, have lost weight over the last year as a result, I think, of the upper body weight lifting. All in all it could be worse. It was a rough year. I will be happy to start 2013 and hopefully sometime during that year run my first race since October, 2011 (a half marathon I ran on my birthday having no idea that a month later I would have to stop running altogether) That’s it. Merry Christmas!
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desperate2run 
I’m having the surgery on December 31st and I greatly appreciate your blog. It has helped me see the ups and downs to expect. Although I’m not a runner, your information (Complaining or not) has helped me realize that my expectations may be high but I can still accomplish other things. For that, I thank you 🙂
Good Luck! The first few days are rough – but it does get better. I hope it goes smoothly and in 6 months you will look back on this and simply be glad its over and that you are getting better.
Did you do it? How are you feeling. Hope its as painless as possible — which I know is not really possible…
Thanks for your journal. It is very helpful as I contemplate this surgery.
Did you others have the surgery done yet? How’s it going? I’m wanting honest input about pain after the 2nd surgery! I know 8 weeks on crutches alone is going to kick my butt! I hate them and they do not like me either! Any input is appreciated! Thanks
I forgot to say…love the idea of a journal! I need to find a simple work out plan…NO i’m not a runner~ but over the past year I have put on a few extra unwanted pounds due to not being able to do much! I’d just love to be able to go out and walk without being in pain for days after it! What pain meds did they give you post op? right now i’m having to take loratab 10 twice a day :(…..looks like i’m in for a long journey ahead! trying to find the right date for 2nd surgery is really hard! we’ve got twin boys both going off to two different colleges and summer beach vacation plans …. my husband wants me to have it done after the beach ~ so that the twins will be in and out to check on me and help me….it’s just going to be hard to move them off to college if i pick that date cause i’ll still be on crutches and about only 6 weeks post op…just do not know what to do! Thanks
Well – it would be difficult to try to move kids off to college on crutches. I did not have a knee brace at all, but the crutches alone are a pain. It would be good to have people that can check on you and help you with things like laundry, cooking and cleaning etc… for the first 8 weeks after surgery. I was pretty much by myself during the day after day 4, but I was also just lying around most of the time, so it was fine. I was taking hydrocodone for the first week pretty much all the time, and then just at night for another week or so. Its impossible to take it during the day and actually go to work or do anything productive. It is a long road, but the sooner you start the quicker you will have it behind you. 🙂
thanks for your honesty! today i’m having a very bad day…i didnt sleep last night at all for thinking about what am i doing!!! i know it’s the only option for me! i am blessed that i am a work from home-when i want, stay at home mom! thursday is the first surgery and friday i have a formal college signing for one of our twins! i finally think i’ve found something i’ll be able to wear. the anxiety and wait for the 2nd surgery is getting to me mentally! i wish i could do it sooner but i would ruin the summer for all of us 😦 the thought of crutches for 8 weeks, pain, and waiting is getting to me! i just want to be pain free!!! i looks like i have a long road ahead of me and i’m praying its worth it! all i want to do today is cry!!!! i’m scared, but thankful that i have an option and yes it could be worse! i guess we all have bad days! any suggestion on how to be more postive? i’d love to do 2nd surgery sooner but just do not see how i can with big multi family beach trip! thanks for being there for me….what was the pain like after the surgery…month by month….as you slowing started walking! thanks and hugs
Hello there. Well, I completely understand how all encompassing the potential of this surgery is right now. The first surgery (tomorrow?) is not that bad. I had an injection that pretty much made the whole leg feel no pain. I should NOT have gone back to work the next day, but I tend to be stubborn. My difficulty was after the first surgery waiting what seemed like forever to get the second one approved, because when they first went in there, they were going to do a micro fracture and not this complicated deal. Anyway, as far as pain, month to month — my surgery was March 15, 2011. I would say the first month was pretty rough. Two weeks of lying around and two weeks of only working part time. I really did not do anything like go out to eat or movies or anything. I got much more active the second month and was doing PT etc… It was uncomfortable unless I could elevate my leg. The third month I began to become impatient and depressed. I could not walk normally at month three and still used at least one crutch some of the time. You will see in my blog there is a gap between month 3 -5. I will be honest with you and tell you I got pretty down. I will say, however, my mobility increased ALOT during that time. In July (4 months post surgery), I was taking walks 2-3 miles, but it would be swollen afterward and uncomfortable. It really was not unitl I would say the 6 month mark when my knee was well enough to be less all consuming. I was at a music festival in Colorado that month and walked around a bunch. Now, my focus is more on “will I run again” versus “will I walk normal again.” To keep your spirits up, focus on PT, getting as much information as possible and getting out when you can. I tried to take a number of trips over the summer that were somewhat of a downer because I ended up frustrated with what I could not do. I did go to the beach – at least once on crutches, and actually sitting in the sun (with sun block on my scar) was actually pretty good – had a margarita and watched the waves. But I had a way to get onto the beach that did not involve too much walking on the beach. If you are trying to figure out what shape you would be in by summer if you had the surgery now, I would say that you should consider yourself non-functional for 3 months, after which you can do more for longer periods of time and will begin working toward normal… Hope that helps.
sorry for delay in reply….long story short…when i got there thursday for scope…he had decided he wanted to do OAT procedure…needless to say i said yes and oh my talk about pain! i only knew what little the dr told me about it before i went into surgery. i was not prepared at home at all for this! thankful i have the best husband! the PA on call told me yesterday that the pain with this is sometimes worse than knee replacement! looks like a long journey ahead….i did get a wheel chair! no weight for 3 weeks…supposed to start pt today..dr said in 6 mths we would know if this worked or not!! i’ll check in as i can! do you know anything about the OAT procedure? Thanks…
Wow – change in course for sure. I have a friend who is an ortho surgeon and he recommended either OATS or ACI for me. I ended up going with the ACI. As I understand it they use your existing cartilege to make plugs for the hole in your cartilege. Hopefully this means that you are now on your way to recover rather than having a second procedure down the road. And 3 weeks non weight bearing is not too too bad- crutches after that or no? I undertstand the pain part – as I suspect that like in the ACI procedure they had to move your knee cap aside and open up your knee. That really does hurt. Spend some time doing some research once you are feeling better. I hope it works out fabulously! Keep smiling…
I ran across your blog and I’ve been doing some reading on it. It’s been a few months since you last posted. How are you doing now? I have a 20MM defect and have no choice but to do this surgery so I’m trying to find as much patient information as I can. Your blog is awesome!! Thanks so much!!