Well good news first. I feel like I'm reclaiming my life back a bit. I'm back on stage! I've just started rehearsals for a comedy play which will be performed at the beginning of July. And I'm going to be in the Olympics! I'm part of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony on 29 August and will be performing some form of dynamic dance/movement based role. So that's all very exciting! Rehearsals start in July so I've got to make sure my knee is a bit stronger by then.
It’s now seven and a half months post op and I’ve just had another check up. I saw a different consultant this time – even though he didn’t perform my surgery it was good to have a chat with someone else about it all. Fresh perspective and all that! He was very reassuring when I complained about still having pain and explained that it would most likely be a year post surgery before I start to feel remotely normal. I’ve recently been having some crunching/cracking around my kneecap and he said it could be sorted out with anthroscopic surgery which would involve the back of my kneecap being scraped. Ick. The screws could also be removed at this time as the ligament would be embedded by then. I’m not really keen – I feel my knee has had enough trauma without being prodded and poked further. I mean, never say never, but I’ll wait to see if things improve when my muscles return from their very long holiday …
Ever since the surgery I’ve been meaning to ask what the bump is on my shin near the scar. I’d thought it must be sutures/stitches or swelling due to the incision but it has never gone away. I was gobsmacked when the consultant said it was most likely to be the screw! I thought the screws were drilled deep into my bones. Just to make sure, we did an x-ray and there it is. The screws are right near my skin so one is protruding slightly causing the bump. It doesn’t bother me, it’s a bit icky - and looks like a screw from B&Q - but it’s also quite cool!
So here is the x-ray photo. If you look really closely you can see the man-made pcl at the back of my knee and running from screw to screw.
I’m swimming a lot and still going to the gym although finding the gym a bit boring. I have to keep reminding myself how much I wanted to start exercising when I was unable to. I just don’t like gyms much and would rather be doing something fun. Not to worry though because it’s paying off. My quads might still be MIA but I’ve lost nine pounds! Hoping to start aqua aerobics soon which I think will be a good way of introducing aerobics back into my life with the support and protection of the water.
