I woke up surprisingly less stiff today. Yesterday’s stretching clearly helped, and even with a busy day full of standing and walking, the knee held up better than expected. That alone did wonders for my head. For the first time in a while, I could see a bit of light again.
I did some quick stretching and headed to the office. Cleyber gave me an important cue about using the crutches properly. The leg should stay straight when touching the ground and bearing weight. Heel first, knee extended, then slowly transfer the weight forward, always supported by the crutches. Simple in theory, but it requires focus and discipline every step.
There was a golf tournament today with a lot of friends playing. That stung a little and pulled my mood down briefly, but not enough to derail the day. Interestingly, tennis barely crossed my mind. I think my mental energy is fully invested in physiotherapy right now, and that might be a good thing.
I met Cleyber again later and we ran through a few exercises. We also called my doctor, Dr. Sergio, to update him before my upcoming travel. The conversation focused heavily on extension and how critical it is at this stage. Both of them were uncomfortable with the idea of removing crutches during my trip. Week six will land right in the middle of traveling, and we agreed it is better to stay conservative and keep the crutches until I return. Slightly disappointing, but clearly the smart call.
We sent a video to Dr. Sergio, and he was very happy with how the knee looks. Wounds closed, healing on track. His message was clear and consistent. Keep working on extension. Cleyber pushed it further today, adding some weight to help force it safely.
Then came the highlight. We went into the pool. And I walked again. Proper walking. It has been more than a month since I last walked normally. It felt strange, fragile, exhausting, and incredible all at once. Yes, it was in water, but it still counts. Pain, fatigue, and that quiet fear that something could go wrong were all there, but so was movement.
For a moment, I remembered that scene from Born on the Fourth of July, with Tom Cruise struggling through physiotherapy and falling. That fear sits quietly in the background. But in the water, it stays there. Safe, controlled, manageable.
It was a great day. Not perfect, but real.
Key Takeaways
- Reduced stiffness can quickly boost confidence and mindset
- Proper crutch technique matters more than it seems
- Staying conservative with crutches during travel is the right call
- Knee healing and wound closure are progressing well
- Extension remains the top priority
- Walking in the pool is a major psychological and physical milestone