Progress (until last week)

I have been so excited about my fitness progress recently! I've continued working out at least weekly with my trainer and also added in cardio on days I don't work out with him. I started a "Couch to 5K" app so that  I could slowly build up to running again. It helps to do the intervals of walking and jogging. IT'S BEEN 20 MONTHS OF ACTIVITY RESTRICTIONS!!! Getting back in shape HURTS, but finally in a good way! 

I might be high on endorphins, but I love working out again. I love the challenge of working with my trainer. He also quotes movies and tells me funny stories that make me laugh when I'm working out. I love my couch to 5k plan. I'm loving getting back in the gym! I'm planning to get in the pool soon too! Everything was going great until last week. Here's what (I think) happened...

The whole right side of my body has been out of alignment since I got injured in March 2011. I was put in a walking boot and that tends to throw you off, because your feet are two different heights. Things got worse after the first surgery. Of course one side of my body had to get stronger since it was being used, while the other side atrophied while recovering. I also began to sleep with my foot up on a stack of pillows to get it above my heart after surgery. It was so weird to get used to at first. And I had to sleep on my back to keep it up there at first, which I hated! Eventually I got used to it. I have literally been sleeping with my right foot elevated on at least 2-3 pillows since September 2011. Eventually I could sleep on my stomach or my side with my foot still elevated. This has really been rough on my right hip. So recently I've noticed that standing for a while, like while at a swim meet, my hips and back hurt SO bad. Like SO BAD!! Then last week my right knee started acting up. Thanks a lot right knee. I don't need this!

Last week I told my trainer Mike about my knee and he had me back off some leg exercises. My arms got an extra workout that day! After a LONG swim meet Friday night, I spent the rest of the weekend resting my knee/ankle/hip. It felt like it was ready to go. Today I headed back to the gym to do a couch to 5k cardio workout. I could feel how bad my knee was when I was first warming up and walking. When it came time to jog I could not take the pain. I had to get off the treadmill and tried to use the elliptical, thinking it would be easier on my knee. It was easier, but I still had pain. So I got off that too and went home. I'm so bummed.

Tomorrow I will be putting in a call to my physical therapist to see what I should do. And next week I see my ortho surgeon again - it's supposed to finally be my last appointment! I thought I would have good news for him, but now I'll need to see what I should do to get back in alignment and stop having this crazy knee pain!