Last week started with such optimism that soon deflated as Tom Williams confirmed my suspicions that the soreness in my knee from my new exercises had seen a measly increase in range of 2% compared to the 20% last week ! Obviously I was disappointed, but he assured me that I was still doing well for just over three weeks since the operation. The tough thing to do, is to not get disheartened but stay focused and not neglect my exercises, which despite my timetable disciplines, I seem to have done! BUT I’m just a bit down in the dumps about it and not recognising that I can confidently stand on one leg, walk down stairs (albeit slowly and a bit tentatively) and can sit on a chair with my legs equally bent beneath me… so cheer up misery pants!

Again, I was ‘told off’ for walking with a limp, so this week’s priority is to concentrate on walking slower, smaller steps, but even steps and keep stretching out the last of that calf tension. Who’d have thought after the torture of last week that the knot in my lower leg would have almost completely gone!

Simple pleasures!

My first bath since the operation was amazing! The sterri strips from after having the staples removed had all but fallen off and the wounds now only a little pink, so bubbles, bubbles and a few more bubbles! I’m actually really impressed that I managed to keep my fingers away from the scabs. I’m a picker I’m afraid, and the holes left from the staples heal like little scab plugs! Gross for the non-pickers, but absolute temptation for those who’d like to pull them out like coring an apple! BUT that’s why I have dot scars on my other leg, so gold star to me for leaving them alone and leaving only freckle marks!

Gym determination

On Friday I was treated to VIP tickets to see the Spelthorne Acrobatic Gymnastic Club Christmas Display Now these guys and girls are European and World Champions and I was blown away! The brut strength of the boys and girls even as young as 6 years old was inspiring! These children put any gym ‘juice monkey’ to shame! I felt a right old fatty watching them, 4 men high, doing a triple somersault to land on the crossed hands of the base guys! The tiny girls were doing one handed straddle above another girl’s head! If there was a motivational kick up the booty to get fit again, it was watching the champions in front of me.

Icy roads panic!

Just as my confidence was growing, the bad weather began. The last thing I needed was to slip over on the ice and bust my knee all over again! Crutches weren’t going to save me on the ice! The concrete steps leading out of my flats were very slippery and caught me out on my down step, pushing my knee bend farther than was comfortable! I’m still very tentative and this did knock my confidence a bit. Oddly, I seem to have maintained the extra bend in my knee. I expected it to stiffen up and feel really sore, but it actually didn’t. So what began as a confidence knock has actually had the opposite effect!

Wonky party

The Christmas ‘bash’ at Liquid Leisure was a good acid test of how much my leg could take before I was exhausted and it started to complain. I’d managed to get round the shops without too much discomfort with Nikki and Claire Mansfield, who’s awaiting exactly the same operation from a netball incident. It was more my energy levels than anything that was catching me out. But a new dress and a party for the evening, I was determined to not make excuses and have a good night.

I was certainly in sympathetic company at the Wonky Party. Charlotte Bryant was there, and LDB who’ve both had this operation and been through the lengthy rehab process. As confident as I was to leave the crutches behind for the evening, I was firmly perched on the window sill by the bar for the best part of the evening being plied with wine. Doesn’t get better really! It was nice to see everyone as I was feeling a little house bound and in need of seeing familiar faces. The hangover the next day bought an unwelcome normality. So this is Christmas!

Links
www.activ8rehab.co.uk
www.reboundfitness.co.uk
Spelthorne Acrobatic Gymnastic Club
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If you missed Sarah’s previous blogs catch up with them here…
Sarah Kingdom ACL rehab blog – Week 3
Sarah’s ACL blog, week 2 – First Physio Session
Sarah Kingdom ACL reconstruction blog