I can't believe my surgery was 9 months ago, 43F and very independent. It feels so long ago but at the same time, I feel like I still have a lot of progress to make. I had a large defect and this recovery is not for the faint of heart. I am a very active person and very impatient for things like this. While last summer got cut short, I'm hopeful to be doing my normal summer activities this year. I live near Philly, so many weekends are spent at the beach, concerts and Phillies games.
I had a hard time the first few weeks bending my knee. NWB for 3 weeks (probably would have been 2 but I was recovering at my parents shore house and had to push my follow up appt out a week). At 4 weeks I was able to get it to 90 degrees (thanks to a night out with some drinks haha). My surgery was on my right knee so at 4.5 weeks I was able to drive (being able to bend it enough was my problem not the pedals) and I only went to PT and the store to pick up groceries. I took 5.5 weeks off work and then worked from home for a while returning to the office one day a week and after the new year I came back to our required 3 days. I had a desk job so it wasn't returning to work. I definitely did enjoy not working for those few weeks...unfortunately still have a long ways to retirement haha.
Doing PT twice a week and still am but only once a week (mainly bc of insurance allotment). A lot of soreness and tightness through everything. It's finally letting up the past few weeks. I went back to Orangetheory around the 6 month mark and have been taking it very easy. My Dr still doesn't want me running or high impact stuff till 1 year. Started with some light polymetrics which hasn't been too bad.
A lot of people say to make sure you have strength in your leg beforehand. Consider we all walk around, most people probably do already, I don't see this being relevant. Its the after of keeping up the strength in your quad. This was not stressed to me especially at PT. In February, I got new PT people and the one guy right away knew what I was struggling with and said it's your quad. Started giving me exercises to do and another girl I have been working with really upped things too. I wish I didn't waste so much time and could be so much further along.
All in all, it doesn't seem bad now but the first 2-3 months were definitely rough. I did travel in early December for a work meeting. In the beginning of March, took a trip to Nashville. Thankfully it was not very crowded and probably all but 1 or 2 bars we went to, I was able to sit down some. The last morning there, I got up from brunch and definitely did something so it hurt and took about a week to recover from it. Mid March went to Clearwater for spring training. Did a bit more walking and definitely standing which wasn't terrible. The last 6 weeks, I definitely have felt the most progress so far. My walking without limping has gotten so much better and the other day I got out of the car and it wasn't until I was in the store I realized I didn't even think about my knee bc it didn't hurt. Hopeful I'm really on the up and up and things keep improving.