Recovering from Knee Surgery
Recovering from knee surgery sucks.
I can’t remember if I shared this or not, but my knee has been nothing but trouble this summer. Like most other injuries in my life, I ignored it until I couldn’t ride my bike anymore. No matter how much I rested, stretched, iced and strengthened through physical therapy, there came a point where I needed help.
I’ve been living with this Cold/Hot therapy knee compression. Click the photo for a link to it.
After a bit of haggling with the insurance company, they approved an MRI and low and behold, I had a torn meniscus. Technically I had a Complex tear posterior horn and meniscal root attachment right medial. The right lateral meniscus is intact.
With a good prognosis for recovery, my care team and I decided to perform a surgical partial medial meniscectomy - which basically means taking out the torn/ragging section of the meniscus.
Everything I read prior to my surgery had me prepared for a relatively simple procedure. I was honestly expecting to be in and out and back on the bike in a few days.
Spoiler alert - It’s not like that at all.
I’m currently five days post-op and still in a lot of pain. Small victories so far have included stopping taking the opiod painkillers (more on that later) , showering, sleeping through the night, and I’m currently on my first solo trip out of the house since surgery!
Not going to lie - this sucks. All I want to do is be out on my bike, hanging with friends, enjoying the finally perfect weather we are having here in Northwest Arkansas. Instead, I’m shuffling from recliner to front porch to bed, counting hours between ibprofuen doses, and dutifully doing my physical therapy.
I wish I was more optimistic about this, but right now, my patience is wearing thin. Really the only thing getting me through this right now is some really fun things planned for the next few months, kind friends bringing me food and goodies, and the slight improvements in mobility I’m having every day.
One of the most challenging elements might be trying to stay engaged on social media. As a creator/influencer/athlete, I have to play the algorithm game - stop posting for a day and I’ve found that my engagement rates drop, followers drop, and eventually I have to play catch up on a hamster wheel.
In an effort to stay engaged, share knowledge, and have some fun, I’m going to try something new. Every day for the next 30 days, my goal is to post about one of my favorite rides. I realized the other day that most of my biking career happened before social media. So let’s share them.
My plan is to do a short blog post about each ride, including a RideWithGPS route and some fun photos. Keep up with the series on my Instagram, Twitter, and of course here!
Van Gogh is So In Right Now (Recovery from Tympanoplasty Surgery)
The surgery seems to have been a success, although we won't know the full results for nearly 6 weeks. For those who don't know, I had a tympanoplasty performed last Wednesday on my left eardrum. I also apparently have a small ear canal, so they couldn't access the eardrum via the canal and had to make a big incision and go in from the back.
Recovery has been a mixed bag so far. The pain was at first pretty manageable. For the first few days, I didn't really even notice it and kept it at bay through a mix of prescription pain killers, sleep, and high CBD/low THC weed. I also took Wednesday-Friday off work, and Saturday-Sunday off life (basically) and pretty much just slept and watched Netflix. It was a big deal when I walked around the block.
Leaves on my walk around the block. Tiny victories.
This week, however, life slapped me in the face with my return to work on Monday. And holy shit does my ear hurt. I tried to tough yesterday out with just Tylenol Extra Strength because I figured prescription pain killers (opioids at that) and high level functioning don't work out so well. Turns out pain isn't conductive to work either.
The other complication from this surgery is the fact that I can't hear out of half of my head. If you've ever gone swimming and gotten water lodged deep into your ear, you know that feeling of having your ear feel really full. Well, that's how my left ear fulls 100% of the time right now. Intentionally. For the next 6 weeks. It's driving me bat shit insane.
I know that a key component to all of this is keeping a positive attitude and outlook. And I need to keep reminding myself of this. It's been made easier by friends bringing me deliveries of food, chocolate, pickles, home cooked meals, and pints and pints of ice cream. I am swimming in ice cream right now, and it's glorious. So, thank you friends. I love you all.
Even though I might not be ready to hang out with you, please don't forget about me.
Cake, cake, cake, cake!!!!