This is supposed to be the hardest day of the Recovery.  As the local anesthesia in the leg wears off, the pain rises. This is indeed how my day started, but I am pleased to say I am making it through. Here’s how:

1) The Cryo/Cuff Ice Cooler. This baby is great. It apples continuous cool pressure more effectively than ice packs, which slip off when you move. This one was provided by my neighbor Earl, a former MLS player who makes me feel like a knee injury amateur.

2) Sleep as needed. This morning I woke up after a few hours because it was getting tough to sleep through the pain. No worries- it was one of the most productive mornings I’ve had in a long time. I was exhausted by the afternoon, and fell into an easy nap.

3) The momentum of rehab. There is not much you can on Day 2. But you can still do quad clenches to get those muscles going. Did numerous sets of those. Meanwhile, I’m trying to work hard on right leg, the source of most my career injuries. Tomorrow I’m going to try leg raises on the left. Was impossible today, and no need to push it.

4) Figured out physical therapy. This was a drag. No one likes dealing with insurance, scheduling, etc. I was thinking of bifurcating my recovery into two physical therapists. After all, the first stage of PT is just getting your leg to work, and the second stage is getting back to peak athleticism. For stage 1, I really wanted somewhere close to me in Williamsburg. But for all the talk of gentrification, no highly regarded knee PTs out here, so I’ll be going into downtown Manhattan. At least then I’ll end up keeping the same PT for the whole process.

5) Painkillers. Obviously codeine is involved. I’m trying not to take more than one every four hours. (You can technically take two at a time.) Two at a time really makes you woozy, whereas you can be almost peak functional on one.

6) Friends rolling by. In addition to Anna’s steadfast care, I had three people come by today, with two more coming by later tonight.

Gonna kick it and try to illegally stream Hawks-Cavs tonight.