Tuesday, May 9, 2017

2 months

Two month mark.... I've almost stopped tracking the time. It seems irrelevant and it's solely up to the knee as to whether I have the ok to keep working it or just simply need to chill. Which I've been having to do, alot recently. Definitely one of the reasons is because it's been super achy/sore... not in a bad way (haven't been pushing it at all). More of a healing-type ache.

Thankfully, classes pretty much took over this last month, so I really did have a reason to sit around and not be my feet much! My first month post op, I was almost completely focused on rehabbing my knee... this second month however I've been almost completely focused on school and finishing my undergraduate degree in accounting. I still go through all my strengthening exercises and to PT twice a week, but other than that, I haven't focused much else on it. I view this as a good thing though. I read a quote that stuck out to me (I can't seem to find it again!) and it went something along the lines of "Take is easy now during recovery and you'll get it all back, or push it too hard now... and you'll end up never getting it all back".

My workouts now consist of 10-20 minutes on the elliptical, stairmaster, or the rower, followed by 10-20 minutes of strength training (squats, lunges, leg press) and resistance band exercises. Any extra time goes to upper body and core... I'm certainly working on my pushups... alot! (pushups have always been hard for me so... perfect opportunity to change that!).

So. Many. Pushups

"Hey, um, did you have surgery on your knee or something?" I got asked while I was at Red Rocks 😅

Overall, the strength in my quad is coming back. Slowly but surely. My number one focus right now is strength. Work on getting the strength back (over time). The only thing that could possibly prohibit me from returning to the activities I love when I'm cleared (here in 6-9 months time) is my quad strength. My ROM is considered full (full flexion @ 135), but I still can't touch my heel to my butt yet!! You should try it... and then know that I would absolutely love to be able to do that :) Soon though I hope!

As much as I wish I could be happy about my situation all the time, truth is, I'm not. My happiness comes from being able to physically and mentally push myself for hours up in the mountains. Maybe thats a good thing, maybe thats a bad thing. Maybe I should view mountains 'as a privilege that can be taken away from you at any moment. So enjoy them while you can'. Which in some cases is true... but there are ways in which you can enjoy the outdoors no matter your physical capabilities as well. So really it can't be taken away... the way you enjoy it just might change. I didn't realize just how much of a direct path to happiness my physical fitness provided... but in hind sight, I did. I just have alot more time to think about it now! Don't worry though... I'll be fine, I think 😛  one more month until I'm (hopefully) cleared to cycle outside... that'll be a game changer.

My focus has significantly changed though since accepting that both running and of course, skiing, will be out for a while... onto other fitness challenges and goals (in addition to rehabbing the knee...), atleast for the rest of the year!




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