Gayle -- I tore my ACL skiing almost 30 years ago at a the dawn of sports medicine.
After a repair and 6 weeks in a cast, then frozen muscles --the exercise bike was invaluable. Many injuries, marathons, falls, sprains, strains, et al later -- the PT says the bike is still the best for both ROM and strengthening. Backwards as well as forward. I am 9 days out from TKR on my bad knee with staples in until 15th day and PT says on Sunday I can try the bike. Seat very high as you read earlier, and the tension set at the lowest - like almost no resistance. Just to work on ROM at first. Because you are ahead of me and your staples are out you may be able to do some resistence but take it very slow at first. That regime of gradually lowering the seat sounds like a really good one.
I too hope to get back on the bike as spring approaches (will it EVER come). But the last time I tried biking outdoors - not even mountain biking - just on flat ground - it was a rented bike which was a bit too big for me (I'm short). And I fell off the stupid thing twice!!! Felt like an idiot. Aren't you supposed to remember how to bike all your life? Fell on my bad leg side too but luckily didn't get hurt. so now I'm actually afraid to try a real bike again.
Maybe with the new knee and balancing exercises from PT my overall core strength will improve and I won't fall off? Sure hope so.
So don't be discouraged. You will progress at your own pace as long as you keep working at it..... The key is to find ways to keep working at it with your other problems. I will bet the asthma attack was not just because of your cold but also because of all the stress with your knee recovery. I know before I had the operation I was so stressed out I was making stupid mistakes at work. so try to consciously calm down and take it as it comes -- and goes....
On the other hand you get hydrotherapy which we don't get here in the US. I have a hot tub at my gym but it's got so much chlorine in it and people don't shower before they use it -- so I'm rather afraid to go in.
But as soon as my doc says I can --i WILL get flotation devices and walk - and later run - in the pool at the gym. That is really great because it's aerobic with about a third of your regular weight on your feet/knee.
And oh yes yes yes!!!! keep losing weight if you are overweight. I credit a lot of my good recovery to being thin and in shape. As you get more into the real exercise it will be easier to lose weight because you won't have to starve yourself!! Just remember the mantra - calories in= calories out.
So set your goals, visualize how you want to be, and go for it!!!
Stephani
United Kingdom
