Today is the 9 week mark from the microfracture surgery on my left knee. These 9 weeks have been as trying as any in my life. The only match would probably be the microfracture surgery on on my right knee about 3 and a half years ago. Until a week ago, as each week went by, the following week seemed to go by even slower than the previous. Patience is definitely something I’ve had to practice following the surgery. Or, as a friend told me today, give it time grasshopper.

Last week, as I hit the 8 week mark, I finally started to put some weight down on my left leg. The first few days were tough as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the knee weren’t strong enough to hold me up on their own. At the end of the second day walking with the crutches, I finally took a few baby steps. On the fourth day I finally started walking without the crutches. Each day since I’ve seen progress, some days more than others. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments seem to get stronger each day too. I try to get out and walk on it a litte here and there (sometimes at Home Depot). For the most part, my knee tells me when it’s done for the day. Although, there are times I can feel me knee wobble when too much weight is put on it.

As for the surgical areas within the knee, everything seems to be ok as there is little pain when I’m carefully watching my step. There is still some grinding under the knee cap when I bend it. Let me clarify, the grinding is a hundred times better than it was before the surgery. And, according to information I’ve read on the Steadman-Hawkins website, this grinding should dissipate within a few weeks. The surgical area at the lower portion of the knee (I believe it’s called the trochlear groove, of which there are 2 grooves in each knee), seem to be ok too. This is the area I’m worried about the most as my body weight is pressured into these 2 grooves when walking, running, and jumping. How the surgical area within the trochlear groove handles the surgery will determine how active a lifestyle I’m able to live upon recovery.

And, finally, a little story about my venture to the gym on Saturday, where I was able to get in a quick 20 minute bike ride with no resistance and an upper body workout. I belong to 24 Hour Fitness, which has a majority of it’s gyms west of the Mississippi. The gym I go to has 2 floors. The first floor includes the lockers / changing rooms, cardio equipment, and a basketball court. The second floor includes some additional cardio equipment, free weights, and weight machines. There are two ways to go from the first floor to the second floor, one is the stairs and the other is the elevator. And, I’ve always had it in for people that take the elevator. I’d even say I mock them, especially the ones taking the elevator at the gym. I mean, you’re going there to exercise and you take the elevator?! Well, when it comes down to it, I became one of those people I mock at the gym on Saturday. I’m still not able to walk up the stairs, at least not like a normal person. I can go one step at a time using my right leg to pull me up each step, but that takes too long and would have caused some traffic on the stairs. So go ahead, mock me as you see fit, I can take it. Just be prepared to have it thrown back at you at some point in time. I’m not above revenge :-0.