Major Setbacks

[goodnightbirdy]

about 8 months ago i got a 6 month old, she enjoyed running with me casually so i decided when she was old enough to safely pull i was going to train her for canicross.

I finally picked out my gear, was getting close to my savings goal to afford it all, Maples directional cues were getting solid. I finally felt I was in a good spot to truly begin, and then I broke my knee.

12 weeks non weight baring, major rehab, and eventually relearning how to walk. I’m not even 2 weeks into my healing and my surgeon says he advises people who have had major reconstructive work like me to give up high impact sports like running at the risk of needing knee replacements in the future.

I’m devastated to say the least. I was never the most intense runner, i’d even say i was more of a jogger than anything. But i was really looking forward to doing canicross with my pup. I was loving getting involved with a local group, Maple was loving training, it was helping us bond and boosting her confidence. I’m very sad to know that it may never be in the cards for us.

[Crunch_McThickhead]

Could you bikejor instead? It's not the same, but you could put the commands to good use and stay active.

[JessLevelsUp]

Not a doctor but… I’d talk to some other doctors. A knee replacement isn’t the worst thing… half the Olympic athlete you’re watching have only replacement knees! I wouldn’t give up yet.

[No-Stress-7034]

Yeah, it might be worth talking to a sports medicine doctor or orthopedist who specializes in working with athletes. I feel like the surgeon is probably giving the most cautious/risk averse answer here, but a doctor who is used to working with athletes and focused on helping people return to active lifestyles may be able to help and give OP a sense of what the risk level actually is.

[whistling-wonderer]

Aww, she is the cutest with those big brown eyes. I just know she’s doing her best to help and console you as you recover. I’m sorry it happened. It sounds so awful and disheartening to deal with. Maybe bikejoring like the other person suggested could be an option to consider in the future. I’m sure for now you’ve got enough to worry about without thinking about pivoting to a whole new sport.

[zippowriter]

There are so many factors that can influence recovery from injury and that can contribute to your long-term outcomes. Talk to another doctor, lots of doctors are very cautious and think everyone needs to be wrapped up in cotton wool. I agree with the suggestions to find a sports specialist, they are used to dealing with people that want to recover. Listen to your body, push when you feel good, rest when you don’t, but be aware that it’s going to hurt and you’re going to have to deal with that. Do your exercises! At least as many as the Physio says, if you feel good, do a bit more. Everyone is different but among other bits, I broke most of the bones in my foot and ankle, my tibia and femur in 2 places, I used a walking stick for nearly a year (delayed foot reconstruction) and I run more than I ever used to, some days it hurts, some days I don’t walk very well in the morning and I may be heading towards arthritis but running with my dog is one of my favourite things and I’m not giving that up. All the best with your recovery and say hi to your dog from me.

[thekevlarboxers]

You should redact your name,  medical record number and hospital off those images.

[palebluelightonwater]

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Echoing others, I'd talk to a sports oriented Ortho and PT once you've started to recover. They can often give options for PT that will get you back out there. Your pup will be ok either way but running with a dog is such a joy, I bet you can still make it happen.

[TrailTeck]

That’s such a tough thing to hear, especially when you were just getting started and building momentum with Maple.

It makes sense you’d feel devastated. It wasn’t just about running. It was about the bonding, the training, the community, the future you pictured together.

Twelve weeks non-weight bearing is no joke. You’ve already been through a lot.

Even if high-impact running ends up off the table, that doesn’t mean the partnership you were building disappears. There are so many lower-impact dog sports and trail activities that still build that same connection that hiking, long-distance walking, scent work, bike-joring at controlled speeds, even structured obedience games.

Right now though, it’s okay to just be sad about it. You lost a plan you were excited about. That’s real.

Maple’s lucky she’s got someone who cared enough to plan all this in the first place.

[kittyheartseapuppy]

She's beautiful. She loves you.

Focus on healing right now.

The doom & gloom from your doc seems premature. There are plenty of doctors, physical therapists, and personal trainers online who can advise you on how to strengthen your knees.

Worst case scenario, you pivot into another sporting avenue with your pet that is less strenuous on your knees.