PRP Recovery & Wild Salmon Smoothies

The big day as I'm hoping I don't blow my chance at a lollipop.

“I see a bright light at the end of a tunnel. I want to go into that light. The only thing that could possibly stop me would be a … wild salmon smoothie. Any chance you could make one for me?"

The look from my wife, Amy, told me that she wasn’t buying any of it. But it was her fault. She had been the one to ask how I was doing.

It was actually a good question.

This was the evening of Friday, October 21. A good seven hours had passed since Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) had been injected into my left knee. According to the paperwork provided by my doctor, the first three days following the injection could be quite painful. Even to the point of requiring crutches.

But I’d yet to experience any discomfort whatsoever. Actually, the soreness I’d had in that knee whenever I got up had vanished within thirty minutes of coming home. The only notable change had been a slight lessening in that knee’s range of motion.

That was six weeks ago. Where we are now is the subject of today’s post.

How We Got Here

As I shared in previous posts, an explosion of pain in that knee in early July put an end to my training. Worse, while it improved, the knee never fully recovered, gaining a bit, losing a bit more as time went on. A sports medicine doctor in September put the blame on arthritis, recommending PRP treatment which I schedule for October.

By the time of appointment, my average pace for an easy run had slowed by anywhere from 30 - 60 seconds with my total distance limited to five miles at the most.

The procedure itself consisted of their drawing a sizeable syringe of blood that they spun in order to separate the platelets. Once that was accomplished, the doctor prepared to inject that - along with some numbing agent - into the area around my knee. However, before the actual PRP injection, they also drained fluid from my knee - an amount that impressed my not-easy-to-impress wife. With that done, it was a simple injection and I was cast forth back into the world.

As part of my recovery, I also use Red-Light Therapy for 20 minutes each day - typically following my morning walk/runs.

That takes us to the “bright light” and “smoothie.” From here, I’ll share some highlights, tracking progress with my recovery.

Behaving Myself!

That I never experienced any notable discomfort that first weekend meant that I could disregard the pain meds that had been prescribed. Like a cub scout eager to earn that first merit badge, I steadfastly adhered to the doctor’s instructions by taking it easy. That watching my Oregon Ducks beat the Wisconsin Badgers was also therapeutic made the Saturday that much more memorable. Shame that my Green Bay Packers didn't extend me that same courtesy the following day.

Twelve days following the injection, I went into my first Physical Therapy session feeling optimistic. I left that PT session armed with serious exercises to stretch that knee, an allowance to walk 20 to 30 minutes each day as well as a mutually agreed strategy on what the Packers’ needed to do in order to salvage their Super Bowl aspirations.

The following week's PT session showed continued improvement in both my range of motion as well as strength in that knee. That meant even more exercises and permission to up my walking time to 35 to 40 minutes - over two miles!

Life provided further tests with a long morning of driving and meetings that had me seated much longer than preferred as well as lawn mowing that weekend. But whatever I did, the knee responded well with no lingering problems.

Green & Yellow Lights

Day 28 had me back at the doctor for his check-up. The results were a "thumbs up" about a return to running. The caveat being that I conducted said return in a careful, cautious manner.

My knee proved a good guide as to what that actually meant by tightening up when I ran a full mile that next day. Once I broke the following run into segments under one mile, there were no issues.

Now that my knee has sufficiently recovered, cross-training is back in my future!

The PT I've been working with poured more cold water on that plan, having me instead follow a "Return to Running Protocol." Then meant walking five minutes, then running for one minute and so on five times. The following week would shift to four minutes of walking with two minutes of running and so on. My running is also limited to three days per week.

I've been on that protocol just over week know with no issues.

While I fully admit that I'm chomping at the bit to get back to what I consider "real running," all I need do is consider what's occurred these past six months and I grudgingly maintain the plan.

Going Forward

Along with adhering to the protocol's requirements, I've added some cardio work to maintain my conditioning, meaning the elliptical machine on my off-running days.

My next race isn't until mid-February when I compete in the Red Flannel 10K for the ninth straight year. (Why in the world is this the one race I've never missed due to injury?)

According to the doctor, the PRP injection could last anywhere from 4-15 months - although he's less optimistic about the latter timeline. I will need this again. It's just a matter of when.

Of course Winter in Iowa offers other forms of exercise!

There's also the question of what running looks going forward. Will I be able to run half marathons or do have I to seek shorter distances? Will I regain the paces I had before? If not, how fast will I be able to go? All questions with no answers until I can resume my full training.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely! Even if I face a diminished ability and need to seek another injection sooner than I like, I'm glad I chose this path. To able to return to my normal activities without any knee pain alone makes it worthwhile.

I don't know what this "new normal" will be, but I look forward to it. Just as I look forward to your thoughts on all of this.

Next Post:

Hope no one minds as I have some fun with Amy and my favorite holiday movie. Be sure to check out "Running With Rick" on December 19 where we whether or not "It's a Run-derful Life!" You can also subscribe to this blog at this link.