Rest and Recovery
If there is ever a perfect time for knee surgery then this may be it. The country is in lockdown, movement is restricted and the weather is suboptimal.
After a year of ignoring the pain and continuing to run and climb it was time to face the knife. Surgery itself was fairly quick. I opted for a spinal anaesthetic so I got to watch the offending piece of cartilage being removed from my knee joint. A few hours in recovery and then taken home (with cake) to start the hard part.
People who know me will tell you that sitting still and staying inside are not two of my strong points. I was sent back with the instructions to rest and not to do too much, but how much is too much? How do you know where the limit is? Do you stop before the pain or push forward a little bit further? I appreciate that I am very lucky and that the surgery was pretty minor, recovery from key hole surgery is quick. On the other side, after two days of sitting with my feet up I was pretty desperate to get outside. The sun was shining and the crutches I had borrowed from work were tempting me. After thirty minute hop round the park I was tired but infinitely happier.
Day 3 and my thoughts have moved on to training. Running and climbing may currently be some distance away but I have a pull up bar and fingerboard. Watching the European Championship Climbing means psyche is high.
Having done very little for a year due to COVID and knee pain I decide to start gently with some pull ups and core. We have a ZOOM core session every Monday, I find that organising my sessions with other people makes me more likely to complete them and makes the whole process more fun. Plus I love core!!!
I also worked out some shower beta using clingfilm so i now feel clean again.
Day 4 and I escape to the park again. This time without crutches. Am I overdoing it? No idea but my knee only hurts walking down hill and there is cake at the cafe in the park!
Nicki has given me some finger boarding to do (again, I’m more likely to do it if someone else tells me too.) It always shocks me how quickly my fingers get weak but also how quickly they get strong again. The proof of ‘easy come, easy go’.
With talk of lockdown ending next week I’m thinking about Spring climbing trips and runs in the peak.
Waiting for the spinal to wear off
Shower time
The only tree climbing I’ll be doing for awhile.