The First Six Months with Medial Meniscus 2.0

Well, I intended on updating my blog weekly during round 2, but life just got in the way.  First of all, happy six month meniscus day to me (a week late).  Thanks to the Stone Clinic for putting me back together once again.  I'm now at the point that I really no longer think about my knee.  I'm doing everything I want to do including cycling, golf, training, tons of yoga, and I'm racing an aqua-bike in two weeks (swim and bike race) as I promised Anne as they put me under anesthesia.  I'm so thankful for my tissue donor, and his/her legacy lives on in and with me every day...I'll have some great journeys for you my friend.  So here is what went down the past six months. 

Weeks 2-4

These were the hardest weeks for me as there isn't much you can do. I went to therapy three days a week (more on that below) with a focus on getting swelling down and regaining the flexibility.  I found pain control was no problem with minimal drugs after week 2.  I was actually really bored. 

Lots of sitting in my favorite chair in the first four weeks!

I faithfully did my rehab, and by week 2, I was easily getting the desired 90 degrees without pulling on it at all.  I spent a lot of time on the couch, working in my office, and crutching (best crutches ever) to the kids' sporting events. 

Russian stim assisted leg lifts

Ice is so nice after a hard day of PT

I did have the wheelchair which we used a ton to access the remote locations, great for sitting with my knee elevated at work and events, and that was one of my smart moves this time around.   I went to the movies a few times (what else can you do when you are stuck like this), and thankfully, our local theater has awesome handicap accessible seating.  I started swimming at 4 weeks (incisions fully closed) with my knee locked in full extension in the brace.  I pulled for about 45 minutes each time, and while it was a bit boring, I was finally getting in some serious cardio other than the dreaded hand-bike. 

Return to work (2 weeks)...vino needed stat!

Stitches Out - Week 2

Yoga was an essential part of my rehab, three nights a week from the very beginning at home.  Mostly stretching, breathing, core, and upper body at first.  Solo yoga is mentally challenging, but rewarding in a different way.  My flexibility returned so quickly because of my yoga practice before and after surgery.  Always fully braced the first month.

  I went down for my one month checkup, and Dr. Stone was very happy with my progress.  My brace was not just unlocked, but taken off all together.  I was released to weight-bearing as tolerated, and instructed to use the crutches until I could walk without a limp...I was done with them about 4 days later. 

The Stone Clinic Team, Doc Stone, Hope, Susana, and Trish!

Months 2-3

Rehab went great, and I started Yin Yoga classes at about five weeks (gentle stretching), and nothing whatsoever involving my MT knee.  I was able to do very modified vinyasa classes at 8 weeks (I have awesome instructors who game me alternatives to anything that would risk the knee), and I believe the fact I had been practicing before the surgery put me in an excellent position for this recovery.  I was at 115 degrees of flexion by the end of the third month, and I was able to do most of my practice, but no catcher squat poses (goddess) or body weight shifting on the MT knee as per doc's orders. 

5 weeks, and the knee cap is coming back.

I went down for my three month checkup, and Dr. Stone was thrilled with my knee, and the fact it was almost equal to my other side.  By three months, I had little indication left that I had even had the surgery at all.  No limp, no pain, and I played golf (in my sports brace locked at 90 degrees) without Dr. Stone's permission on Super Bowl Sunday.  It was totally fine, and while I don't recommend playing golf this early, I know my body, and this knee so well I felt confident I would be safe.  I was very sensitive to not pushing the knee at all, and never experienced any pain whatsoever.

 Months 4-5

I stopped going to PT at month 4, and finished it on my own.  Yoga and returning to weight training were my focus, and by month 4 my muscle atrophy was mostly gone (still working on that pesky calf).  By month 5, I was starting to run a little (not for exercise, but when it was necessary to chase the dog or whatever).   I had no limitations in my yoga class except for the no catcher's squats or deep knee bends.  I did a modified child's pose using a rolled up towel behind my knee to make sure I didn't go to far (and another towel under the knee for anything with ground contract...that bit for awhile), and I have had very little pain or any indication during my yoga practice that I even had anything done.  My "good" knee feels worse than my MT knee and gives me a bit of trouble from time to time.  We vacationed in Hawaii, and I did several 1.3 mile open water swims, worked out, played golf, messed around in the sand, jumped off Black Rock, hiked up a local only river to secret falls (thanks Alex!) and walked a TON...all pain free. 

Yoga in paradise, balancing on MT leg at Month 4

Amazing hike to hidden falls in Hawaii over treacherous rocks and wet terrain, at month 4, no problems whatsoever.  Of course, I heard be careful with your knee no less than 500 times.

Month 6

By month six, I have stopped any specific PT exercises entirely, and I'm back to full weight training.  I played golf this weekend without the brace and felt nothing out of the ordinary.  My flexion is equal to my good knee.  Before this revision, I had severe catching and locking in the knee with it giving out entirely a few times a week just walking.  It feels so good to be free of that.  I feel like this time around was really much easier.  I'll remain diligent about protecting this knee as I'm not interested in going into an OR again anytime in the future.  I've decided to hang up my hockey skates, but not because of my knee.  Frankly, I just don't want to risk any more serious injuries at this point in my life, and full contact sports are a young man's game.  I miss it on hockey night, and I'm always looking for the next adventure.  I had 5 great years of hockey, something I took up after my first MT, and a passion I never would have experienced the game without Dr. Stone.  So hang in there, this is hope (she works at the Stone Clinic...lol), and recovery is just around the corner. 

No limits.  Month 6.

A note about PT. 

Because of a miscommunication with my old PT about my insurance, I went to a different guy at day 6 to start my home rehab.   It was a serious disaster.  He didn't follow the protocol  at all(which I had provided to him in writing and by email), lied to me about rehabbing MT's before, and told me after I confronted him that my doctor's protocol was too conservative.  I was livid, but I was still taking pain meds, and judgment was not fully there on saying NO WAY to his over-aggressive rehab.   This jerk even argued that he knew better than Dr. Stone, and I wouldn't have as good a result without him.  I was worried he ruined the surgery at day 6 with his incorrect protocol, but after a few panicked calls with Trish and Hope I was reassured that I was probably okay.  I immediately call my old PT John, and we worked out the situation so I could rehab with him again.  Everything worked out just fine, but BE CAREFUL (yes, I'm yelling) about finding the right local PT if you can't rehab at the Stone Clinic.   I went back to my trusted PT, and paid him out of pocket, and that was the best thing I could do.  John Zior, and his team at Rocklin PT, are the best, and once I got back to him it was smooth sailing.