9 Months.....Almost!!

Well......have I said this before? I simply cannot believe I have made it to the almost 9 month mark. I feel so accomplished and am physically stronger than I've been in........well 9 months! lol!

I'll start by saying I absolutely survived the Elephant Rock Ride!! Yeah!! I made it a grueling 34 miles and let me tell you it was grueling. I think the entire ride was uphill!! It took me close to 4 1/2 hours but I finished....I look forward to riding it again next year when I am physically stronger. Realistically, I was no where near ready....but I'm still glad I did it!! :)

Now, PT.....yes, I'm still in therapy 2 times a week and imagine I will be for another few months. I still have quite a bit of trouble with my hips and back and have started having a lot of trouble riding; thumbs, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and back. In fact, Ive managed to develop some nasty tendinitis in my shoulders. I had not had my bike properly fitted since the surgery and after getting re-fit, the guy at the bike store told me he thought it'd take care of pretty much all of my pain. Walking however.....that's another story!! lol

So......PT! Here's my current list of exercise: riding on bike 10 minutes level 3, side steps 3 laps with blue tube (this seriously makes me sweat), duck unders (basically back and forth side lunges like a boxer) 3 sets for 2 min, single leg stance 4 x 40 seconds, squat machine 4 sets of 10 70lbs, treadmill 10 minutes alternating uphill level 3 at 2.6 and flat 2.9, total gym single leg 4 sets of 10, v sits (killer) 2 for 45 seconds, planks (on elbows) 2 for 1 minute, hamstring curl 4 sets of 10 9lbs, small arc 4 sets of 10 7.5lbs, straight leg raise 4 sets of 10 5lbs, and hip series I'm up to 2 sets per side. Overall, I feel I'm making pretty significant progress. I won't lie, it's been tough and there are STILL times when I have trouble walking and serious joint pain when I stand up. I think at this point some of the pain is more muscular instead of joint, but my knee cap still hurts and sometimes just aches. The last thing, I am doing pretty good getting up the stairs now. In the last couple weeks Ive transitioned from pulling myself up the stairs with my arms, to actually using the muscle in that leg to get me up....pretty exciting! Sometimes it actually doesn't hurt.........that seems strange to say, but it has hurt for such a long time it feels very strange when I do go up the stairs and it doesn't hurt!! I STILL don't get down the stairs very well. I'm definitely getting stronger and can kind of "fall" down the stairs, but this step down business does not feel good!!!

Here's to getting stronger!!! :)