Surgery and Rehab

Six weeks after full knee replacement surgery.  The old one had served me well over the years, supporting me through years of physical activity from football, caving, climbing, diving, walking and many other adventures in-between.

Pre surgery preparation was key; super slow foam rolling as well as direct and indirect Myofascial Release to release and rehydrate tight leg fascia (connective tissue) after 4,000 miles of cycling this year, thanks to my wife and business partner Yvonne; Myofascial Massage Therapist & Fascial Fitness trainer.

The surgery; I just lay there and played no part in the next hour. What came afterwards was the recovery and rehabilitation. This was the part that I had an input on and what I did to help the bodies natural recovery process was important to get me back up and running as quickly and effectively as possible.  This was the most difficult period of the whole adventure.

For those of you that have experience the long road to recovery through rehabilitation you’ll know what it entails; pain, patience and persistence.  Pain comes from the re-covering tissues and fascia (connective tissue) around the surgical site and surrounding muscles and fascia, ‘myofascia’, Patience is what is needed not to go too far at each step and persistence is what’s needed not to give up and watch more telly.

I had my first knee replacement 9 years ago but what was different this time, apart from the knee, was that I came equipped with new tools that I could use to help myself; namely I am now a fully qualified CranioSacral Therapist, an important tool to help recovery.  Listening to my body and the immediate trauma site, enabled me to help the body begin to restore balance. 9 years ago I didn’t know what CST was let alone be able to practice it but that wasn’t the case now.  I was able to use it on the couch, on a treatment table and especially in bed where I have spent so much time recently.

Yvonne is using her intuitive touch as a Myofascial Massage and Scar Therapist to help release ‘stuck’ scar tissue that has pulled the fascia tight causing restrictions and a great deal of pain and aching.  Did you know that tight fascia can exert up to 2,000lbs or pressure per square inch? Ouch!Yvonne has also recently qualified as an Earthing Guide; this is using the power of earths electricity to reduce inflammation and pain and charge our cells with more negative energy. I have been ‘grounding’ myself literally in our garden and as I became more mobile, walking barefoot by the river and dipping my feet in.  I was still having to take painkillers, especially through the night but have noticed that recovery this time year was much faster than 9 years ago.

So where am I now with the rehabilitation?  I’m back on a training bike with mileage increasing steadily.  I am walking along Frostrow Lane with and without a stick and more importantly getting ready to start work again so that I can help people to restore an inner sense of calm and softening to their bodies by treating them with CranioSacral Therapy.

Fritz Hrynyk - MA, CST-T. Give me a call on 07817 665662 or email me at daleswaytherapies@gmail.com if you want to ask me any questions about my surgery or about the therapies we offer. Visit www.daleswaytherapies.co.uk

Watch the 3 minute intro to CST at https://www.craniosacralsociety.co.uk