9 months since the operation

It is the morning of Tuesday 25th October. Yesterday I had another session with Steffi who was very pleased with my progress in that the reduction of the swelling on the knee continues. She worked on the area of the shin for a large part of the session and as I left her treatment room and climbed the steps up the garden my knee flection seemed much better. I have been having quite severe cramps in that area over the last few months but didn’t think to mention it before.

My ability to walk downstairs now is quite good most of the time but the pain below my knee is very variable. I am now convinced that this must be a trapped nerve as it comes and goes without any particular incident. When walking the dog, which I do twice a day, I can now walk, as long as the variable pain isn't too bad, at a much quicker pace. With my Fitbit watch recording all my steps and calories burn it sits well with my new diabetic software "MySugr". 

This last few weeks I have been much more productive and have completed a number of tasks which have been nagging me for some time. With the heavy rain fall recently we had a bit of a flood in the garage under the house so I finally got round to installing the cut off drainage channel to divert the majority of the water runoff down the drive. This involved a lot of bending to use the disc cutter to cut through the paviors, lift the bits out and regrade the bedding sand before fitting the plastic channels. 

This probably didn't do my back a great favour as I still have significant lower back ache, probably  resulting from the decompression operation from just over a year ago, but having Catharine’s help with back massage and sessions with Steffi it is gradually getting better. I just can't stay sitting or standing for too long and have to get up and move at regular intervals. 

As we have come to the month of October I have had to move the yacht from the swinging moorings at Holyhead to the Academy Pontoons at Plas Heli Pwllheli. One of my sailing colleagues joined me for a lovely sail round on a weather window between the significant high winds we’ve been experiencing over the  last few weeks. It seems like we have one good day and then back to storms. 

This was the view back to Bardsey Sound as we approached St Tudwal’s Island. Although lovely and sunny it was very cold and I had to ditch the shorts for some warm trousers! The trip takes around 8 hours and that is a long time to be moving about on the boat or standing behind the wheel for long periods so the knee does stiffen up a bit from these activities, especially in the cold. Now with the yacht down in Pwllheli we are taking part in the Winter Race Series every other weekend until the end of December. 

It is great to be back to racing with a bigger fleet and feeling fit enough to really participate. 

I now plan to get to grips with all the remaining outstanding tasks on my list, rather than just moving them forward to future dates! 

Catharine and I are giving some thought to a trip back to UPA Spa so that she can see what a great place it is and we can benefit from a few days spa treatment. 

Week 34 - 7.5 months since the op

Now 24th September and I have made significant progress having walked around 6 miles yesterday with an old work colleague from many years ago. I set off from my daughter’s house to drive my MX-5 the 54 miles from Dorchester to Exeter. The car is very low and l need the roof down to make it easy to get in and out. Fortunately it was sunny so ideal for open top driving.

Having arrived at 09:45 we sat and caught up over a couple of coffees before we set off from his house in Marlborough Road and walked down to the harbour having stopped to look at where the gate had been in the city wall.

From there we walked down the canal to the double lock pub for lunch. Watching kids swimming and of lots swans & ducks. The pub was busy with lots of external tables and friendly staff. Chris and enjoyed the food and a beer in sunshine and shade from all the trees.

After lunch we walked back a different way finally getting back to his house for a cup of tea and a well earned rest! -

My knee was a little sore with the recurrent pain below the joint and a bit of swelling but after a short rest I was able to continue walking from Chris’s house down to the Spanish restaurant for a tapas dinner before I drove my mx-5 back to Dorchester where I have been helping my daughter, who has not been well. The car is very low and I still have some difficulty in getting in or out with the soft top up so I drive it with the top down unless it is raining. Diving the mx-5 for a long distance is fine with a very comfy driver’s seat. but trying to get out in the tight parking Spaces is difficult unless I can fully open the door!.

The day before I had helped Amber with work in their allotment and according to Fitbit I have exceeded my targets for the last 3 days!

I had been avoiding long drives since the operation but I felt it was appropriate at this point in my recovery to drive the 340 mile journey.

When I saw Steffi this last Wednesday she was impressed with my progress and she spent time releasing the muscles and tendons on the outside of my right leg to give me more mobility in my ankle and less restriction at the knee.

Since my last blog I have been on several long cruises on my yacht so following on from the portrush cruise next joined other yachts form Holyhead m a cruise to the Isle of Man and more recently to Dun Laoghaire and Greystones. Both proved challenging but with improvements in my fitness and balance we overcame all the issues..

Greystones marina entrance

So it seems that I am now well into recovery and with a bit more work things will be as good as the left leg!