July 15, 2008
7 Months
In just two days, I will be seven months post-op. I thought I would be back in the dojo by now, but I’m not, unless you count sitting on the sidelines watching Big I and trying to keep Lil C from running off with one of Hanshi’s trophies. The next opportunity to test for shodan is August. The next one after that won’t be until February.
For the first time in many months, my knee feels. . . good. One would think I’d be dying to get back in the dojo, but I’m just not quite ready. After having so much pain for so many months, I am enjoying the fact that I am pretty much pain-free for the first time in a long time. When I got to this point a couple weeks ago and went to the fitness center, I went right back to square one. Over the weekend, I woke up one day and realized that I wasn’t hurting. Steps aren’t bothering me much at all and although I still favor it and don’t squat down on it, even bending and doing things that previously caused me pain, isn’t causing me pain.
It’s not like my non-injured knee. I don’t think it ever will be. I still can’t kneel. I can’t crawl around on my hands and knees. I can’t squat down on that knee alone. But I’m feeling better and that has been wonderful.
Because of how I set myself back (going to the fitness center) a few weeks ago after I finally started feeling good, I’m afraid to ruin it. I’m afraid that if I start working out again or go back to karate now, I’ll rebound. I don’t want that to happen. I can’t have that happen with the move coming up.
So, I’m going to wait until August, see how I feel, and then start trying some things out at home before making a return to karate as usual. I am so afraid of pivoting, twisting and turning. I have made the decision that I would much rather wait a little longer to return, feeling confident that my knee is completely healed and solid, than return with shaky resolve and potentially set myself back months if not years.
I’m plugging along. I’m feeling confident that I’ll be able to return. I’m just not chancing it quite yet.
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Have you tried doing strictly stance work at home? Sitting in horse, cat,front and side horse? That would help your muscles get used to moving in that way again. A great way to do this is to go from one to the next very slowly, breathing and moving from hara. This may also build your confidence in your muscles. If your thigh muscles are strong and doing what they are supposed to be doing your knee will be safe. Plus you have a brace. Just get back into moving in a karate way. It doesn’t have to be fast, that would be very detrimental to your healing process. But move and play with what you know.
good luck, and happy packing! I’m gearing up for the pack myself…
karrie
Better safe than sorry. After the move, you can get back into it and start kicking some ass again.
Can you check with a physical therapist for ways to strengthen your knee before you go back to regular karate class? We have had a lot of injuries lately at my school and that seems to be a key to success — slowly building strength at first. Good luck!
You sound more positive about this than I have heard you in a long time. This decision sounds healthy phsyically and mentally!
I agree w/Renovation Girl – you do sound much more confident. You also sound wise – the not rushing it thing. You have the rest of your life…But I also agree with Karrie about maybe trying just stance work with no pivoting/etc. just to get back in the “feel” of it. And thanks for the update!
I think you’re showing a lot of self-discipline and restraint by not rushing back into it. I’m sure part of you is dying to start training/practicing again but it sounds like you rushed it once and that didn’t work out too well. =-) Waiting a month or two now can save you 5 times that down the road if you jump the gun. Good luck!