6 Weeks Already

Okay, so I'm a little late writing this one again!  Life keeps getting in the way!  6 weeks post- op and feeling great.  I went to the orthopedic on 11/4 and they gave me the elliptical.  No arc trainer, but who's complaining?  Beggars can't be choosers.  They updated my orders for PT and sent me on my way.  1st stop, the gym for my 1st 5K on the elliptical since pre-surgery!  Woo-hoo!  The pictures below are from 11/10 exactly 6 weeks post-op.

                                   
                              Look at that, I can finally engage my inner quad muscle!

Physical therapy is going great now that I have the "great" PT's "I" selected and am doing more strengthening exercises.  They did inform me that the the orthopedic wrote NO RUNNING for 3 MONTHS on the new PT order.  Probably because they could tell I am getting antsy and wanted to reinforce that running is still a no-no!  I was actually talking to my PT about this.  My knee does feel great, but it doesn't feel perfect.  I know that there is no way that I am ready to run yet.  I am really paying attention to my limitations.  After trick or treating and a few trips to the mall, I now know I have about 60-90 minutes of walking in me before I need to stop.  Not because I can't walk any longer, but because I can hear my knee saying "Enough is enough."  I know that I can handle 60 minutes of cardio broken up between the elliptical and the bike.  I know that I can now put minimal pressure on my knee on a mat, but not on the carpet.  I know that even though I am feeling great, I need to proceed with caution because 6 weeks post-op is when most people re-injure themselves because their knee feels "great".  My PT said to me it is our job to pull people back when they get too ambitious....myself included of course.   Surgery was the easy part, (pain med complications put aside).....patience with the whole recovery is the hard part!