Day 28

Pool time!

Today Mireille got the green light to bring me back to the pool. Not to swim -- we're not there, yet. But to practice walking forward, backward, sideways and to do leg lifts, etc. The whole water exercise thing was very helpful before surgery and is proving to be just as good after.

Swimming had quickly become a pre-op addiction. It was pretty much the only social sport I could do. Social as in there were other people there. Like the old man that just waddled around and squirted people with water. Unfortunately, he wasn't there tonight.

Report on progress: I am bending at 126 degrees and am spending full workdays without any type of knee brace. Swelling was down today and I'm hoping it stays that way. I can't wait to be my thin old self again.

The next goals are to do one-legged calf raises (those scare Mireille for some reason. Hello, you didn't injure your calf!) and to go to the gym.

Day 26

My twin on the other leg is starting to make a fuss (pinching, cracking, etc.) and it's getting worrisome. One injured knee is more than enough. Walking is much easier but far from normal still.

I just can't seem to get rid of this stiffness. I'm getting great range of motion but it's going from point A to B smoothly that's a problem... it takes a lot of warming up and massaging to get to a 122 degree bend. Plus, trusting myself to bend and straighten in a normal fashion while walking is a huge psychological challenge.

My stability is much improved and I'm better at the stairclimber. You'd never guess I was injured looking at me on the exercise bike. The quad muscle above me is building up nicely.

I'm still swollen and wounded but things are looking up.

Day 22

Not much to report today except for my progress. I'm now bending at 115 degrees, doing the stairclimber and working on my stability. Hopefully, the latter will help ease my wobble.

I am now getting much more comfortable walking without any type of brace. The surrounding muscles would sometimes spazz or give out but they are obviously strengthening. Today, the whole morning at work was spent without my dear friend Don, DonJoy the knee brace.

Mireille's next goal is to have me bend more as she walks. Not as easy as it sounds...

Day 20

Back to work Monday!

Luckily, it was a bright and sunny day. That made it slightly more enjoyable. Mireille walked to work and I got a good warm-up to kick start things. Mireille brought a cane to help with going up and down stairs, and in case of any other unforeseen obstacle.

Who would've predicted everyone's curiosity with my appearance. I guess in hindsight it should be obvious. I wish I could have prepared myself but it was too late. I was shown along with the hairy leg and cat socks. There's no shame left.

Overall, the day went well. I was upset and swollen at the end of it but that's understandable. I'll get used to it.

Day 17

The reality of having to go back to work soon is starting to hit. I am now clothed in a custom ACL brace instead of a Zimmer splint. Let me tell you, it feels much better and lighter!

Mireille is making me walk around the block a lot now. Thank goodness for the nice weather outside. Walking is getting a lot easier but I'm still quite stiff.

Also, I'm being conditioned to sit in a chair for long periods of time. Gotta love that office job.

Here's what I'm looking like now.

Day 16

I was feeling quite bad yesterday. It hit me that I saw my surgeon for a follow-up appointment and I (ok, well Mireille...) completely forgot to thank him. Sheesh, the guy fixes me and Mireille doesn't even acknowledge it. How ungrateful!

For a good part of the day Mireille wondered what to do. Should she call his secretary and leave a message? "Oh, hi... Could you please let Dr. B know that I thank him for performing surgery on my knee?" That sounds kinda funny now, doesn't it?

Does she wait until her next appointment with him in four weeks? That seems like a long time. He'll have formed a bad impression by then...

Mireille left it at that but I suppose the powers that be were listening. Today, walking into physio, my surgeon was there! What a strange coincidence. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, she offered him a heart-felt THANK YOU.

It seems there is such a thing as synchronicity... intuition... tapping into the collective unconscious.

Day 15

Now that my wounds are exposed, Mireille has been drowning me in Aloe Vera and vitamin E. I'm subject to a morning, afternoon and evening ritual of cleaning and drops of goo everywhere there's an incision.


If I don't look good after all this, there's a problem.

There are about five little holes that will probably leave a barely visible mark. There is a longer cut that will definitely be obvious.

Oh well, I do kinda want some proof of what I've been through!