Wednesday, July 15, 2009

No holding back . . .

KNEE SURGERY SUCKS!!! Especially the 4th knee surgery. . .the 2nd anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on my right knee.

Let's back up: in September 1998, during a karate competition, I tore the ACL and medial meniscus on my left knee. Six weeks later I had reconstruction of that knee. A year later almost to the day, in September 1999, I tore the ACL in my right knee during karate class. (I got mad because a kid who was 'way taller than me punched me in the chest, so I threw up a beautiful roundhouse kick to the head, planted my knee back on the ground & that was all she wrote.) I originally was scheduled for surgery six weeks later. I ended up getting a nasty cold/bronchitis so I had to reschedule. I waited until January 2001 for the reconstruction of my right knee - pretty much the same procedure as the doctor did on the left.

All was well in my little knee world until March 2007, when I tore the medial & lateral menisci on my left knee. I was so disheartened. After all, I was scheduled to do my very first triathlon in April!!! The doctor went along with my grand plan to rehab the hell out of my knee . . . do the triathlon . . . then have the surgery in May.

So that is what I did. When the doctor went in to operate on the left, he found a LOT of arthritis and osteochondral defects in my knee. Bad news for me. Running was not my friend & he said I really should not be doing it.

Needless to say, I was not great at heeding that bit of info. But, I was diligent about really strengthening my quads and stretching & I even started aqua jogging, which is much easier on your joints. Good for my horrible back & my horrible knee.

Again, things in my little knee world were . . . well, just o.k. After any long run I would get a swollen, painful left knee. It eventually would get better within a week. The cause of this was the osteochondral defects that I had. But whatever - I can deal with that. Just keep aqua jogging, hit the trails & run on hard surface only when I was racing or really had to do a long run.

I mean, I had to train . . . I had IMAZ coming up in November. Remember - my very first Ironman-to-be??

Or not to be?? It is not a question really, but rather a concrete statement that my doctor made after we found out that indeed I had torn my ACL - during the Mud Run - see my last post.

So, on July 6th I had a re-do ACL reconstruction with a medial & lateral menisectomy & chondroplasty!!! They also removed a staple that was still in my knee from the last surgery. That involved a saw blade, hammer & chisel! No, I am NOT kidding!! I have the bruise to prove it.

Overall, the surgery went very well. They found some arthritis, but not as bad as in the left knee. So, guess what? This right knee of mine. . . now with 2 ACL surgeries, is my good knee!! ha ha ha

Yeah, I'm not really laughing.

Well, I am being a good patient - despite what some of you may think - and everyday I am getting better. It will be a long rehab, but I am in for the long haul!

IMAZ 2010, here I come. See you there.

Much peace & love, TracerX