That’s right, I’m finally back in the saddle.  I officially pedaled a full revolution the day after Thanksgiving.  Must have been all the eating I did…good impetus for getting my saggy butt back on the bike.  And I’m not kidding about the saggy butt thing, a ton of muscle has disappeared from the left cheek and leg.  It’s freaky…my knee is huge and my leg is skinny and one cheek is saggy. 

Meanwhile, I have been doing a TON of physical therapy.  It’s not so painful now that I have 115 degrees of flexion, and my PT has stopped pushing on my leg.  I’m 7 weeks and 2 days post-op, and I should have about 130 degrees of flexion at this point, but the damn thing just won’t go any further.

At this point, I’m not too worried.  The more I pedal, the more I break through the scar tissue.  The scar tissue might be even freakier than the saggy butt, though.  Over the incision where the graft is, the scar tissue is so thick it feels like bone.  That’s what I have to break down over the next few weeks and months.  Every so often when I’m pedaling, I get this horrible, terrible pain right over the graft, then something kinda snaps, the pain goes away, and my knee gets looser.  Fun stuff.

I donned my pretty pink chamois and my bike shoes this morning for a 30 minute spin. Kinda weird, but I never thought that I would miss my chamois…but in some sick, disgusting way, I kinda did.  It’s been three months since I rode, and I have to say that I am SO FREAKIN HAPPY to be back on my bike, wearing bike shorts/ bike shoes, and pedaling with two legs.  Now, if only I could get off the stupid trainer.

Despite my tiny leg, I am already getting stronger.  I discovered yesterday that I can walk up stairs.  Believe me, you never notice that something like that is hard until you can’t do it.  Walking down the stairs is a bit harder, however, as it requires more bending.  I can manage a funny sort of hop and get down the stairs nonetheless, much to the endless amusement of those around me.

School is almost over for the semester, and I can’t wait.  I’m looking forward to a month of riding and leg strengthening…and working on my MA thesis.  I don’t think I’ll be able to race again until March, but I should be good to go for next season.  I’ll just be really well rested and my pain tolerance will be so much higher than before…maybe I’ll become a short track/ crit superstar…since I’m not sure which is more painful, a short track race or knee surgery…

Until next time, Happy Holidays!