7 Weeks after Surgery - The Next Steps

This week was a big week for Koda. He went on a big trip to Eugene (which included long car rides, staying at a hotel and much more walking than his usual meanderings around the house), his 7-week Post-Op check-up with the surgeon and new x-rays, and 10-minute walkies... outside - in the neighborhood! No more of this boring house arrest!


Here's Koda on his second outdoor walk. Watch his rear left leg. He made it down the street (13 houses) and back. He started off with gusto, very excited to be walking in the neighborhood, but on the way back, had to stop three times and sit down to rest on the sidewalk.
I was sad.
He was sad.
He looked at me with sad eyes, as if to say, "Wow. I can't believe how out of shape I am! Would you mind if I rested a minute?"

Here's is my poor doggie, sitting and panting on the sidewalk. The same dog who used to run 10-13 miles with me in Forest Park. If anything, this just reminds me that long lay-offs from activity require patience and time to gradually build back up. We will do what the doctor said, and diligently do the 10-minute, 15-minute, 20-minute, 25-minute walks over the next month, until Koda gets the A-Ok to start running again. And then it will be the same gradual build-up for running. Hopefully, by the end of summer, Koda and I will be out running on a shady trail!

Here is the 7-week x-ray of his knee. Dr. Munjar pointed out that Koda has straight patella tendonitis, and prescribed some anti-inflammatory meds to calm that down. He said it's nothing too serious and that the tendon is irritated because it is working hard to keep his knee cap aligned since the leg muscles are too weak at this point. The new regiment of walking will help strengthen his muscles and relieve the patella tendon.

He also pointed out the new bone growth at the top of the tibia, where there is a "valley" after he rotated the tibial head. Eventually, that "valley" will fill-out with new bone growth.

Conversely, where the tibial head was rotated and extra bone now exists, that "nub" will wear down a little and smooth out as it integrates with his tibia.

All in all, Dr. Munjar said Koda is doing slightly above average in his healing phase. He's not doing fabulous - like some young dogs. But he's also not doing poorly - where the bone is not healing steadily or there are other complications.