It has been exactly one month today that I had my meniscus surgically repaired, and tomorrow I can go back to work.
Working, ahhh that great escape from being a limited invalid, so liberating!
The first week was not bad at all, until I took a fall in our living room when my crutches got tangled up in the blanket that had become my ever present companion. That tumble did not affect the knee whatsoever, I was smart enough, or nimble enough to gracefully hit the floor. It was my now sore back that would be my nemesis.
Gotta love recovery time!
The key to the successful first week, other than the above boneheadedness, was that skill I have been accused of not possessing, listening.
I listened to my doctors, my nurses, and most importantly Sandy. All of this added to staying situated in my chair for three days straight, taking my medication, which the nurses were very clear about, take your meds don’t be a hero!
Not being a fan of medication, toughing it out was definitely on my agenda. Good thing I now have great listening skills. The medication is prescribed for a reason, do what they say and all will be good!
Perhaps you are like me, who have never really been injured before you lack that wisdom and knowledge. Be advised, stir-craziness starts to set in about the second and third week.
Being a pretty active fellow leads us to the I want to get up and get around phase. Thank goodness strategic planning on my surgeons part. I was back to see him ten days into the whole round two of the process helping a soon to be crazy person see the light.
Liberation was clearly right around the corner, or so I thought.
Stiches removed, doctors next round of advice, take it really slow and get into my physical therapy.
Cool, physical therapy will be just like working out, right?
Wrong!
Physical therapy is another round of slowly building back your strength, without damaging yourself and wrecking everything you have been working toward. My guy was Robbie Williams, of Orthopedic Rehab Specialists, excellent facility, and my man Robbie very knowledgeable and smart.
When you think you know everything, which sometimes I lead myself to believe I do and really don’t, having a new face and coach, trainer, motivator is awesome. For the next two weeks I would see Robbie six times, and he would evaluate my knee twice in amongst those visits.
Tip for you if you find yourself in this situation.
Schedule your appointments as early as possible, most of mine were 6:30am. This will get you back into some kind of semblance of normalcy with your sleep and this is really important. It is very easy to fall into crazy sleep patterns, and when your circadian rhythm gets messed up it sucks. I have never had a problem sleeping, going to sleep has been easy for me. When you lose that ease with something you take for granted, like sleep habits, it’s terrible.
I found myself unable to fall asleep, having never experiencing this makes you really appreciate something you just took for granted.
Robbie had me doing some really simple, yet somewhat difficult movements. Balance stuff, one footed heel tap squats, band work, BOSU etc. He had my number and I was sweating!
By the time we finished I looked at this as my workout of the day, as Cross Fitters would say. In the end I may not have been 100%, but I was feeling pretty darned good. Nice job Robbie!
Man that listening stuff, it really does work!
Oh and did I mention watched the entire five seasons of Board Walk Empire? 
Bless the person who invented On-Demand. Man am I glad to be going back to work
Peace,
T