Is it true Bob had his right knee surgically enhanced to allow him to go "full throttle" even faster?!!

It makes for good copy, but it's not really true.

The reason I'm out of action is that my knee, after several years of minor problems, finally let me know last month that repairs couldn't be put off any longer. (And for the record, I do not believe the rumors that the ESP pony car guys finally received their mail-order voodoo dolls! <g>)

After consulting with Dr. J. David Grauer, surgeon at Colorado Knee & Sports Medicine, I decided to have my right knee "scoped" to have a tear in my medial meniscus cartilage trimmed--a simple snip, snip procedure that requires no more than a few days rest before resuming normal activities.

Unfortunately, after Dr. Grauer got inside my knee he discovered two other problems: multiple tears in the cartilage on the back of my patella (knee cap) and a hole in the cartilage on the end of my femur (the thigh bone). He made the wise decision to repair both problems while he was in working on the meniscus tear.

The primary problem, the meniscus tear, was eaily repaired by trimming away the ragged portion of the cartilage. Same for the ragged cartilage on the back of the patella--snip, whir, buzz... problem solved.

The "hole" in the cartilage on my femur was also simple to repair, but involved a different procedure. Since cartilage itself doesn't regenerate easily, the area needed to be stimulated by a procedure called "micro fracturing" where holes are drilled into the bone and the area fills with cartilage-like scar tissue. Not as good as new cartilage, but a lot better than having a hole there!

The biggest problem for me is that the area needs complete rest for a period of at least six weeks. Walking doesn't disturb the area, but bending the knee does. So I'm locked up in an ankle-to-hip brace that limits bending the knee to about 30 degrees. That may sound like a lot, but--trust me--it isn't!

But at least I can walk around, albeit rather clumsily and not too quickly.

So for now I'm prohibited from driving,but I should be given permission to bend my knee enough to drive sometime in early August. My leg will need significant physical therapy to get into "racing shape" before Nationals, but if PMA has anything to do with it, I'll be ready.

UPDATE: Minor setback 6/26... slipped getting out of the shower and bent my knee a little more than 90 degrees. Flat on my back again for a couple days with my knee packed in ice again. Set my recovery back at least a week, but the doc says I probably didn't do any permanent damage. Gonna be a *lot* more careful from here on out.

UPDATE #2: Competed for the first time at the ProSolo in Wendover Utah July 15th ­ with the brace on my leg. After making some minor adjustments to my technique I was able to drive without too much distration. Heck, I won the race so I can't complain! I'm now beginning to believe I'll be ready in time for Solo II Nationals in September. Woo-hoo!!

UPDATE #3: The brace came off as scheduled July 25 and, although I'm not in any pain, the old leg just ain't working like I thought it would. I start an agressive physical therapy program tomorrow to try to gain back some flexibility and trength, not to mention learn to walk normally again. <g>

UPDATE #4: I can't say enough for the work that Laurie Saige at RPT and Ryan Landis at RallySport Fitness Club have done for me by getting my flabby old wounded body in good enough shape to compete at Nationals. We leave tomorrow and I feel (almost) good as new.

UPDATE #5: Click here for the rest of the story. <g>

If you're interested, I've posted a few Before and After pictures furnished by Dr. Grauer of the inside of my knee. Click here if you're sick enough to want to see them. <g>

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