4-weeks
It’s now been 4-weeks and 2-days since the accident and only 3-weeks and 6-days since surgery. The Orthopedic surgeon said that week 4 would be the worst mentally and he was dead on. I’m supposed to be non-weight-bearing for 10-weeks. The end of week-4 is when you really start to feel like you should be doing something. There is no real pain in the leg and there is noticeable muscle loss. At the same time, you realize you’re not even half way there yet!
I can’t even begin to explain the muscle loss. You always hear that your body doesn’t start to break down until after two weeks, what they don’t tell you is how badly your body breaks down when it does start. I had seen people on crutches or in wheelchairs that had one leg that was almost skin and bone. I always thought that it would take a lifetime for that to happen or that they never had the muscle to begin with. I can rub my hand over my thigh and feel that it is half the size it was. Half; and it’s only been 4 weeks! With any luck, I will be able to get on a stationary bike at 9-weeks since spinning is not considered weight bearing. Still, how much more muscle will be lost in that time.
I try not to think too much about the future since I have no control over it. I try to remind myself that earlier in the year I opted for a surgery that could have required 10-weeks of non-weight-bearing. I worry about the MCL tear that I obviously have. I wish I could do something!