I have been asked about the knee, so let's get that out of the way first.
I have been doing local walks of 5 to 6 miles. It is not painful whilst walking, but that distance is enough - swelling and stiffening are the signs. If I move the leg in a sort of sideways direction, for example when getting over stiles, there is specific intense pain in a particular area about the size of a 50p piece - perhaps where a tendon attaches. There are other minor niggly internal pains and clicking and clunking sensations. The muscle on top of the thigh still feels weak. Despite ongoing exercises I can't get the leg to go completely straight. I am using the exercise bike once or twice a day for 20 min sessions. For the first few turns of the pedals the pain is intense causing me to break into a forehead sweat, but then it settles down and I pedal away.
I have had several sessions with a local masseuse which have been particularly beneficial, and for anybody else with similar problems this is something I highly recommend.
On the 4th September it will be four months since the op, and I hoped for a better outcome than this after that amount of time. I cannot see me doing any full day walks this year. Yes, I am frustrated, and I guess perhaps too impatient. The thought of possibly having to go through all this again with the other knee doesn't bear thinking about. For the moment I am thankful that I can do decent little walks in uplifting environments which is more than I could do before the op, but that is nothing like the day to day unfolding of a multi-day backpacking trip with all its happenings, surprises and problem solving combined with the overall sensations and enjoyment of merging through one region into another.
Two recent local walks
Kentmere: from Kentmere village up the eastern side of The Kent to Kentmere Reservoir and back down the western side.
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| Looking north up the Kent valley |
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Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick - the western side of the Kentmere Horseshoe which is a celebrated fell
race |
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| Kentmere reservoir - Lingmell End is the pointy one - Thornthwaite Crag and Beacon in background |
Gurnal Dubs and Potter Tarn: From Garnett Bridge via paths and track to Gurnal Dubs and Potter Tarn. Return via Burneside to Garnett Bridge road.
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| Distant Kendal |
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| Gurnal Dubs... |
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| ...trout were rising in abundance, and swallows were skimming the water |
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| Arrow points to a rare moment - a swallow resting - I was trying to snap them but was hampered by no viewfinder on the camera - this pic is a 12 x zoom shot... |
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| ...and this is a crop from the pic above - goodness knows how many times it is magnified. |
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| Potter Tarn |
