General Cycling Discussion - Surgery Update

So it's been about a month and a half since my surgery and I figured it was about time that I bored you all with my update.

Turns out that I dislocated my knee cap to the inside of my knee and by doing so both fractured the knee cap and tore up the surrounding cartilage. Unfortunately there was nothing they could do about it aside from removing the fragmented pieces so now I am both missing pieces of my knee cap and the cartilage that surrounds it on the inside.

So now I have been going to Physical Therapy twice a week and losing my mind while hobbling around. I was cleared to ride on the trainer about 2 weeks ago, but only for 20 minutes at a time. That lasted for about a week before I hopped on the bike and rode it outside.

All things considered, after four rides, I am in no more pain then I was without riding, and I am feeling a whole lot more sane. I guess my only problem now is the dissapointment in my avg speeds and power. The only real ride around here is one to Lake Mary or further to Mormon Lake. I used to be able to ride to Lake Mary and back in just under an hour without much effort and now it takes a lot of work to go 20 minutes over the hour. Climbing is a slow and painful process and my average heartrate yesterday for an hour and seventeen minutes was 185. I was pretty happy with my average speed though, I just have to remind myself I am supposed to still be on the trainer so I am ahead of schedule.

All in all it's just great to be back on the bike.

Here's a picture of the largest of that which was removed from my knee.

Didn't bore me in the least Badger! :) Glad to hear you're on the mend. Was wondering how you were coming along. By the time summer is here again, you should be in great shape. Keep it up and don't get discouraged. Best of Luck buddy!:beer:

Nice picture, heres to a safe and successful recovery!
:beer:

Nice to have someone joining me in recovery!!

Keep up the good work. Just suppose they said you could NEVER ride again??

You are far ahead of the game. Enjoy those rides, no matter how slow they are.

Hi Ba-Dg-Er. I was wondering what happened to you after your "return" a while back. Glad you're still with us. :thumbup:

Are you sure you still have a knee? Those pieces look pretty big to me. :confused:

Glad you're recovery is going well. Don't overdo it. You have all winter to mend and get ready for next year's racing season.

Did the doctors say anything about this preventing you from racing in the spring?

Dude, you're doing great! Always pushing the envelope!!! It'll come, just keep spinning!!!!!!

Some measure heros by the size of their achievements. I measure them by the size of the obstacles they overcome.

You are a hero to me, bud.

Keep spinning...

Good for you Badger, just don't overdo it, you've got lots of time left to get back in shape. :beer:

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
Here's a picture of the largest of that which was removed from my knee.
Ouch! Must have been like gravel in the knee. Glad to hear you're on the mend.

Best wishes for a continuing recovery! Your ordeal makes me realize how fortunate I am -- twice, my left kneecap has dislocated to the outside, which is generally a far less damaging injury. I found Dr. James Fox's little paperback, "Save Your Knees," very helpful during and after my recuperation.

Keep posting, keep riding, and spin those low gears!

Good to hear you're mending.

Take it slow and easy.

Store away the computer and heart rate monitor for a while.
:beer:

Glad to hear your surgery went well. I'm sure that no one here who hasn't experienced what you are going through can fathom being so demoralized. I know that racing/riding means alot to you, and I hope you have a speedy and full recovery.

wow... those pieces look pretty big... did they put anything in to replace them? just curious.. cuz i was lucky(now i consider myself that) to just crack my patella in half... geeeeez.
i was reading up on knee orthoscopy and how they are putting(i may have the jargon wrong here so forgive me) a type of liquid bone replacement.. its injected and works with existing bones and builds up much like bones do when assisted by weight bearing exercises..
its amazing you are riding.. .. so good to hear the news. :)

Originally posted by Dirtgrinder
By the time summer is here again, you should be in great shape. Keep it up and don't get discouraged.

Yeah I hope so. I keep trying to be positive about the whole situation but this has been such a crap year and I can't say I am not excited for it to be over with.


Originally posted by Rotifer
Nice picture, heres to a safe and successful recovery!

HAHA... Thanks, I like it. Thought about having it framed, but it disgusts too many of my friends so I decided otherwise.


Originally posted by DnvrFox
Nice to have someone joining me in recovery!!

Keep up the good work. Just suppose they said you could NEVER ride again??

Thanks... I hope your recovery is going well too. I can't even imagine what I would do with myself if the outcome had been so bad as my never riding again.


Originally posted by RonH

Did the doctors say anything about this preventing you from racing in the spring?

Originally they didn't think that it would, now they are thinking differently. Unfortunately after visiting my doctor again this past Monday it appears that my knee isn't healing properly, no fault of riding or walking or anything else according to the Dr, it just isn't doing what it's supposed to.

Regardless, I am back off the bike for an unknown period of time and if things don't start looking good soon, I may have to go under the knife again.


Originally posted by nebill
Dude, you're doing great! Always pushing the envelope!!! It'll come, just keep spinning!!!!!!

Thanks, you know better then anyone that I will be doing just that.... pushing the envelope! :D


Originally posted by LittleBigMan
Some measure heros by the size of their achievements. I measure them by the size of the obstacles they overcome.

Depending on how you look at it my obstacles could be very small, only a inch in diameter at most! Of course coming from my knee... well I would rather just not think about it!


Originally posted by aerobat
Good for you Badger, just don't overdo it, you've got lots of time left to get back in shape.

I keep telling myself that everytime I want to get back on my bike now... hopefully it's true! :)


Originally posted by roadbuzz
Ouch! Must have been like gravel in the knee.

To be honest, it wasn't as bad as you would think. It just locked up a lot and popped whenever one of those pieces because stuck in the joint. I had my fair share of falling down over it, which was embarassing, but not as painful as I would have thought... don't get me wrong though, if I have my choice I think I will avoid this injury in the future.


Originally posted by John E
Best wishes for a continuing recovery! Your ordeal makes me realize how fortunate I am -- twice, my left kneecap has dislocated to the outside, which is generally a far less damaging injury. I found Dr. James Fox's little paperback, "Save Your Knees," very helpful during and after my recuperation.

My kneecap dislocates on a regular basis now which is not a comfortable feeling. I will definately check out the book you recommended... give me something to do for the next month or so. Thanks.


Originally posted by Greg
Take it slow and easy.

Store away the computer and heart rate monitor for a while.


I am not sure which of those tasks is harder for me.... nor am I sure which one needs to be done more.


Originally posted by fubar5
Glad to hear your surgery went well. I'm sure that no one here who hasn't experienced what you are going through can fathom being so demoralized. I know that racing/riding means alot to you, and I hope you have a speedy and full recovery.

Thanks... it is difficult to see where I was a couple months ago and then where I am now. Everything seems so slow, and everything is so much more difficult then I remember. Climbing the smallest of hill leaves me dead for the descent. And now that I am back off the bike it's even worse. I know it will come though... just, like everything else, takes time.


Originally posted by juciluci
wow... those pieces look pretty big... did they put anything in to replace them?

No they haven't put anything in to replace the pieces... yet. Originally the hope was that to a certain extent things would heal on their own and I would be okay, as I was walking fine before surgery. However now they are thinking that they may need to go in a fix/replace some of the missing cartilage. Unfortunately, from what my doctor told me it's a much more invasive surgery and the success rate, based on where I lost most of the pieces, is pretty low.



Thanks everyone for you kind words and thoughts. I appreciate it, as it has helped me to maintain somewhat positive spirits throughout.

Thanks... I hope your recovery is going well too. I can't even imagine what I would do with myself if the outcome had been so bad as my never riding again.

I am pleased as I sit here on my trainer, heartbeat at between 140-150, peddling along this am.

One very neat thing is that my BP has DROPPED markedly. Doc said my very high almost uncontrollable BP was caused by the intense pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia, and lately I have been able to cut my meds in 1/2 and still have BP in the 130-135/80 range. It was running 160-170/120 before, even on a lot of meds.

I pray that your recovery of your knee wil improve and be just fine.

Ba-Dg-Er, nice chat with you earlier on.

I just hope you will recover soon. God bless.