2nd Year of Recovery

Now one year of “weight bearing”.  Frustration and disappointment.

Walking and climbing stairs with a cane. Pain in left knee the same.  Femoral nerve pain in right leg has subsided a bit, less in medial knee and quad area but still pain in groin area. “Flossing” exercises are effective. A lot of arthritis pain in both knees and lower back that subsides with exercises. 

Some sort of “mechanical” issues inside right legs as I hear clicking and feel things dragging.

I am noticing that cold weather increases discomfort. 

Also noticed that knee pain has improved slightly—mostly noticed as less pain when putting on socks and shoes. Also less pain when doing partial squats. 

The right leg should be strong enough but still weak in hip joint and groin area despite exercises. Shocking how slow the healing process is. Still quite uncomfortable to stand on right leg only. 

April 2024, now 15 months of weight bearing-1 year and 5 months since accident. Finally, walked more than 1/2 mile without cane. (Walking an average of 0.8 miles per day. Able to do deep knee bends at about 50% range. Essentially no progress on left knee pain when bending knee past about 60 degrees—assuming IT band is dragging on knee bone or screw. Legs are stronger but still sore after use—Ibuprofen necessary twice per day.  Sit to stand from 24 inch seat possible but with sharp pain in left knee. Generally feel more mobile—bought two pairs of new shoes for better fit and ankle support. 

Volunteer Chaplain at UPMC Hanover Hospital once a week—lots of walking and standing. Relating well to patients experiencing pain.

May 2024, clicking in right leg is now concentrated to right knee. While descending stair, I seemed to twist knee and developed severe knee pain when bending. Strange that there is little pain while full weight bearing—it is when I release weight from knee when I feel pain. Rotating lower leg around knee while bending at knee lying on stomach produced substantial mechanical clicking sensation. Suspect femoral nerve or other nerve issue.