I’m almost a year out from the first surgery and walking around again. aside from running, life is probably 75% back to normal.

I generally feel okay, but there’s an effusion around the joint, which causes discomfort while I walk or do anything that involves bending my knee. I thought that my IT band had become tight, as I had tension on the lateral side of my patella. from what I understand, the synovial fluid surrounds the tendon and makes its natural movements feel strange. Alas. I cannot walk more than 12k steps per day without the effusion becoming too distracting to live.

probably the hardest part of this process is the uncertainty of it all. is the effusion the result of natural healing, or is it because the new cartilage surface (ie the one post-op) is being rejected by my body? I hope for the former but obviously cannot forget about the latter.

this whole process gives me much respect for the people that have dealt with chronic pain over long periods. I’ve been in this process for just a year: physically it’s been annoying but not debilitating, but mentally it’s been brutal. much respect and admiration to those who manage far worse.