Knee surgery

[Catrin]

Very smart to have a partner in your condition and when hiking on a shared trail with MTBers!

I will admit that I hadn't considered that aspect when I invited Winding Road, but it was an excellent call. Most of the trail was fine, but I am still slower than I thought I was. What matters is I am out there doing things, the speed will come.

[Catrin]

Something just dawned on me yesterday. I've been focusing so much on walking like a drunk sailor (at least that's how it feels when I walk more than 500 feet) that I hadn't noticed most of my pain has disappeared. AND...I was able to kneel the other day - granted on a THICK soft surface, but still, I was able to actually do bird-dogs without pain! Hopefully my mimicking the rolling walk of a sailor will eventually pass but I don't think I'm going to complain about that! My Ortho isn't concerned, but all of this is IS under workman's comp, they aren't concerned about sports performance but about getting me back to work without pain.

[Pax]

That is awesome!! No pain and the ability to kneel, sweet!!

[emily_in_nc]

That's good news, Catrin!

[Catrin]

That is awesome!! No pain and the ability to kneel, sweet!!

When I say no pain, I mean "ok really minor pain that is much less than it was post/pre surgery and it's from the arthritis that is still there" Wheww, easier to say "no pain". I've bone on bone and other issues with my knee but really, it is much better. It still isn't like it was before the fall but they tell me that things are still healing

Another hiking test tomorrow, perhaps.

[Crankin]

Sounds great, Catrin!

[nkfrench]

Sounds like you're making a great recovery!

I will make a recommendation that you continue with some rehab exercises on a regular basis from now on.

I had a lateral release done decades ago with great results; I was negligent and did not keep the muscles around the knee strong.
I haven't asked my doc about it but I am convinced that resulting imbalance was just enough to set me up for a catastrophic knee injury I had several years later. No more combat sports but cycling and swimming are great.

[Catrin]

I just learned from workman's comp that there will be a financial settlement due to permanent impairment remaining after the surgery and recovery period. On one hand I am better than before the surgery, but far from what I was able to do prior to the fall that precipitated all of this. Considering that I still act like "if I only work harder" I will get over the restrictions - ignoring all evidence to the contrary - this acknowledgement is almost a relief.

[Pax]

Good news, Catrin. Glad you're getting something out of this, might be fun to get some cool hiking poles or a bike toy, show that knee who's boss!

[Catrin]

Good news, Catrin. Glad you're getting something out of this, might be fun to get some cool hiking poles or a bike toy, show that knee who's boss!

Already have poles, and sadly I can't ride any more so no new bike toys...but some new hiking shoes for sure :-)

[Pax]

Already have poles, and sadly I can't ride any more so no new bike toys...but some new hiking shoes for sure :-)

Excellent!

[Crankin]

Buy something really nice....

[emily_in_nc]

That's good to hear, Catrin! New hiking shoes sound like a great plan. :-)

[Catrin]

It's kind of a shame that I just can't use the same shoes for all hiking-related activities. Then again, I think about how bad it gets and then consider what it would be like if I didn't occasionally have the extra resources to purchase what I need to stay active (trying to do so in regular athletic shoes is almost crippling). It makes me think of other women with similar problems who simply don't have the funds for it - ever - and how easy the couch option then becomes. If everything hurts, at what point do you just give up? I'm thankful to be as stubborn as I am but being able to purchase high-tech from time to time makes it easier to take advantage of my stubbornness.

[Pax]

It's kind of a shame that I just can't use the same shoes for all hiking-related activities. Then again, I think about how bad it gets and then consider what it would be like if I didn't occasionally have the extra resources to purchase what I need to stay active (trying to do so in regular athletic shoes is almost crippling). It makes me think of other women with similar problems who simply don't have the funds for it - ever - and how easy the couch option then becomes. If everything hurts, at what point do you just give up? I'm thankful to be as stubborn as I am but being able to purchase high-tech from time to time makes it easier to take advantage of my stubbornness.

I hear that. I had coworkers back in IL with 2-3 grandkids at home who would tell me how tired and sore they were, their arthritis hurt all the time, but they never had enough money to do anything for themselves. They would ask me about riding, walking, or the gym but when it came down to it, the kids got the new shoes for school and they did without.