If you've been wondering where I've been lately I'm about to tell you ... and it ain't pretty ... so fair warning that this post is medically oriented and graphic in nature ... if your stomach can't take it ... you're advised to skip over this post.
If you've been reading my past entries you know that I had been planning arthroscopic knee surgery for awhile, due to an acute injury during the second lap of my Ironman Coeur d'Alene bike leg. As I stood up out of the saddle to climb a short but steep hill I felt something pinch and begin to swell in my right knee. Did I stop? No. Did I complete the marathon? Yes. Did my knee improve or get worse? Worse.
I did all the rehab possible without resorting to surgery to see if it would make the problem go away. It didn't. I booked the surgery for end of February and then got sick so had to reschedule. I was half tempted to cancel it altogether as I was at least walking and even running on flat terrain (low mileage) without too much difficulty and my VMO exercises seemed to be helping. But whenever I would ride, and especially try to climb, my knee would twinge again.
So, I had the surgery done March 10th. Doctor O. had diagnosed me with plica syndrome and posterior meniscus tears x 2. And that's what he found when he did the surgery. He cleaned it all out and when I went back for my day 1 post-op follow up visit he showed me the ghastly pictures. There was a plica the size of my thumb in there. No wonder I felt pain. Not only that, he said it was so hardened that it was acting like a knife and whittling away the bone it was adjacent to. Not good.
After seeing the before and after pictures I was so happy I had decided to go through with the surgery. Bottom line is that you don't know what's in there until you go in and take a look. Dr. O. said I was on a downward slippery slope and it was only going to get worse had I not had the surgery.
Pictures below are post-op of the incision sites and to show the swelling, in comparison to my normal knee. You'll easily figure out which is which.
This is day 20 post op and I'm still on crutches. Stitches are out but Dr. O. is not happy with the amount of swelling that remains. I tried to wean off two crutches too soon and put too much of a load on the operated knee. I'm milking this for all it's worth ... my dear husband is waiting on me hand and foot ... including chauffeuring me to/from work and all my appointments. I'm relying heavily on other family and friends as well, who have all proven their generous spirits. I am so thankful for everyone's help.
You definitely should not go through a surgical procedure without having your support network lined up.
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