A heck of a lot better than 20 years ago. Could hardly walk in my late 30s due to skiing accident in early 20s and a carbon fibre ACL replacement that was OK for 10 or so years then started shredding. It was removed and I had a huge reaction to the disturbed fibres and was in hospital for 2 weeks on morphine. Sent home and told to come back at 60 for TKR. 3 school age children, my own retail business and online store. working 6 1/2 day weeks on all the painkillers. Don't remember much through the haze. Zero exercise, overweight.
Started googling treatment, referred myself to a knee specialist in the days of choose and book (how lucky was I) Surgeon agreed I couldn't go on and replaced it, age 42. Once the block wore off no more painkillers required. Moved to Bristol after selling business 10 years ago, live on a shared use path, started cycling a bit, into city and to my new job in a supermarket. Entered a 100km sportive. crashed at the end, bust my ribs, bought a road bike and did 100km ride every month hoping I wasn't wearing out my knee.
Then I tried a 100 miles and survived, then 200km. Again thought I shouldn't push it but in Jan 2019 entered a winter 200. Did it and then rode a 200 every month for a year. (Audax RRtY award) started another, then c___d Im slow, I never really lose the weight (still overweight and would love to lose 10kg) I completed my 2nd RRtY on Saturday. I'm fit enough for a 57 yo. all of that whilst going through menopause and not having muscle memory to fall back on like athletic types do.
I was always told each 1lb excess is 4lb downhill so when people say I shouldn't worry about the 10kg it's not true medically. I had years of prolapsed discs from limping which slowly sorted themselves out as I got fitter. Every now and then my back goes, I keep going until it sorts itself ouyt again. Takes up to a year.
Still not great at standing/walking. I do weights but no running. Swimming, yoga and spin classes for HIIT training. i have quite a lot of arthritis all over now, it's a lot worse when I don't get exercise.
I also no longer drive due to eyesight (rare genetic disease) so a good job I'd sold my car 2 years prior to optician saying at a check up 5 years ago, that my sight had just dipped below as I was cycling everywhere anyway. Lucky that OH drives though. Far worse things have happened to others, I'm so lucky.
Often think I should change my name here now
