Yesterday marks 14 weeks since my knee surgery. Today I went back to the orthopedist for another post-op appointment. Both the physical therapist and the doctor think that I can start to run again at 16 weeks, two weeks from now. I’ve come a long way since then and at this point I feel fortunate that I’ve been able to do what I can: walk normally, climb stairs without trouble, bike, and elliptical.
I’m surprised that both the physical therapist and the doctor seem supremely confident about me starting up again, especially so soon. I’ve read a few successful comeback stories on the internet where the patient started running at about four months, so I guess it can be done. The doctor says that the location of the cartilage damage is key in my ability to start back so soon. It was so high up that nothing but running seriously bothered it, and as the doctor said before, if I had to pick a place for the cartilage tear to happen, that’s where it would be. It was a fairly large area, and that will also play a role.
Ultimately, it’s my knee that’s at stake and nobody else’s, so I guess I’m right to be paranoid. I don’t want to scrape away the fibrocartilage by either running before it’s well formed or running too much. I’ll follow everyone’s advice, but I’ll do it cautiously. I’ve got everything to lose by going too quickly.
That said, I would really like to be able to run again and just going a few days per week would be enough. I’ve been going farther on the bike and elliptical to build up my leg strength and to be ready for the day that I can start again. Leg strength and flexibility is key for preventing any other return to running injuries as well. Despite all my efforts I have no doubt that I’ll be sidelined at least once early on by tendonitis. I’m sure it will be a slow walk/jog progression and I’ll feel absolutely awful even running for a minute, but as long as I progress without serious problems, it will feel better.
All these appointments are really wearing me down but in the end it’s for my own good. I would really like to just cut loose and go on my own, but I especially need guidance if I’m to start running again without any big issues.
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