irrational fear

Having spent over 20 years thrashing the body around the hill, and with the occasional 'oops', things finally catch up.

For me, amongst others, it was a ruptured ACL and cartilage damage, referred to as an articular cartilage lesion.  When this happens the articular cartilage loses its normal smooth gliding articulation and the ability to resist compressive forces at the joint. These changes can cause pain, swelling, loss of motion, weakness and reduced function or performance.

One option for treating articular cartilage lesions is a microfracture procedure. When performing this, the surgeon will start by tidying any frayed tissue or flaps at the margin of the lesion. 

After this, the calcified chondral layer is debrided to expose the underlying subchondral bone. 

Removing this layer allows the surgeon to pick holes into the subchondral bone with an awl.  By picking holes in the subchondral bone, blood and fat droplets are given a pathway to flow into the lesion. 
This develops in to a mesenchymal clot, which will mature and form in to fibrocartilage.

The rehabilitation process is crucial for the success of this procedure.  


So, I'm now into my 4th week on crutches and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. 


I have discovered the best way to avoid boredom on the static bike is to download movies onto the iPad and peddle way.


Swimming is something that I am slowly learning to enjoy.  I have never swam in the sea before this week and am disgusted by my complete irrational fear about anything bigger than a tadpole.

We swam for about a mile today (thats after my 1 hour of enforced triceps dips to get to the beach).  Boredom is something that most definitely doesn't enter my head, since it is full of irrational fear about sharks, octopus, seaweed, leopard seals, killer whales ......