Working up a sweat!

So today is 28^th January and in ten days it will be five months post surgery. I can hardly believe it’s been that long. 

I don’t feel anywhere near being right yet but I think I’m coming along, slowly! The good news is I can start swimming and I’m going next weekend. I intend to go 2/3 times a week and also partake in a bit of zumba. Really need to shift this stone in weight I’ve put on due to this long period of inactivity.

So I was at my parents’ over Christmas and we’d been watching a film. When the dvd finished a shopping channel popped up on the screen and they were doing zumba. I started to join in and happily discovered I could actually manage it. Not full out yet (no jumping) but I can certainly do most of it – enough to work up a sweat which was such an alien feeling! So I’ve ordered a dvd and, although I’d prefer to do a class, at this stage it’s some form of exercise I can do in my lounge.

I had a check up earlier this week. I get the impression my knee is never going to be perfect but it’ll be as good as it can be. As long as I can do everything I want to do then I’ll have to be happy with that. The main problem seems to be muscle wastage. No matter how many leg raises and squats I do, I just don’t seem to be getting any muscle back in my quads. Apparently I should be on a bike and running by now so my surgeon didn’t seem too happy with my physio programme.

Next time at physio I’m going to be referred to a gym which will be free of charge for six weeks. I need to get on the bike for half an hour at a time (yawn) as that’s what will work my muscles in exactly the right place. I’m also starting leg strengthening classes next week (a six week course). Not quite sure what to expect with that but I’ll certainly go along and find out.

I saw a private physio therapist over Christmas. I felt like I was cheating on my regular PT but I desperately needed a second opinion. She actually tore her acl just over three years ago, skiing like me.  She said her knee is definitely not the same but she’s sporty and it hasn’t stopped her doing anything she wants to do. She gave me a few new exercises and a bit of reassurance. She showed me a great tip for kneeling down; kneeling on a cushion with a pillow under your bum – makes it easier to sit back on your heels.

Watched a documentary on Darcey Bussell over the holidays. Was surprised to learn she’d torn her acl but she was back dancing five months later. It must be because ballet dancers have quads of steel. And Manchester United’s Vidic has torn his acl – the photo of him landing on a twisted knee made me very squeamish. No-one ever tears their pcl though!

Of course lots of people I know are going off skiing now which makes me very gloomy! I’m not even close to thinking about going back yet so I just have to force a smile when they tell me what a fabulous time they’ve had.

And I have an audition for the opening or closing (not sure which) ceremony at The Olympics in a few weeks. I’ve no idea what I’ll be asked to do. I won’t be able to dance for a while yet.  But I’ll go along and see what it’s all about.