13 month TKR update

Hello everyone! As you can see I'm not the best blogger but figured I would update ya'll about my new left knee. It has now been 13 months since I had my new knee put in and it's doing great! I did have a little mishap back in early July but thank goodness it was not my new knee itself! My family and I were on a fishing vacation back in my hometown of Detroit Lakes, MN, I was out on a 10 mile run about 7 miles into the run I felt this sharp pain in my new left knee. I had to stop, I could not run another step! I had to limp back to the hotel. I thought for sure I had broken something in the new knee! As soon as I got back to Austin I got right into my orthopedic surgeon. They took x-rays and the knee itself was fine, but I partially tore my quad tendon that attaches to the top of the knee! So for the next 6 weeks I was in a brace and could not bend my knee. It worked! The last 8 weeks I've been back training hard for the 2012 Boston Marathon and my knee feels better then ever! I'm back running 70-80 miles/week and really enjoying the training to get ready for next April 16 in Boston! It's hard to believe it will be the 30th anniversary of what is now known as the "Duel in the Sun" the race Alberto Salazar and I had against one another in Boston. I can hardly wait! I will try to keep this blog a little more up to date and let you know how my training is progressing. Take care everyone and have a great day!

Dick :-)

6 month Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Update

It's been 6 months today since I had a TKR on my left knee, it's doing super! My new right knee is now 2 years old and I don't even think about it anymore, my left one is almost to that point! I'm back training hard and running about 70 miles/week. I still have a long way to go to get where I'd like to be but it's coming! I've had incredible support from my wife Jill, friends, and Dr. Matt Heinrich! I know I may be pushing the envelope a bit but I'm listening to my body and back it off a bit when I need to. My hope God willing is to be ready to run Boston in 2012, it will be the 30th Anniversary of "Duel in the Sun" which excites me to no end!

14 years of sobriety

Febuary 12 is a very special day for me and my family as I've been blessed with another year (14 years) of sobriety! It has not always been easy and the past couple of years with 2 knee replacements and 2 back surgeries I've been tested! But the good Lord has given me this incredible faith, my wife Jilly has been there every step of the way to make sure I didn't go backwards, my family and friends who have supported me from day one, the doctors who helped me through these past couple of years, to all of you and your prayers and well wishes, it really helps! The disease of addiction is like nothing else a person can go through. There are times when you wonder if you will ever get better, there are times when you think it would be better to go back to your old ways. This is the disease talking, it's always right there to jump on your back in the slightest moment of weakness. This is where your faith, your support system, your attitude, you remembering the hell you went through can really help! But know this, taking it " one day at a time" or even one minute at a time, you can get your life back and it can be better then ever before! Will it be easy? Are you kidding! It will be the hardest thing you ever do, but it's worth every ounce of energy you put into it! Thanks to all of you who support the Dick Beardsley Foundation, it is greatly appreciated! Take care and have a GREAT day!

Dick :-)

1 month post TKR

Today i'm 4 weeks out from my total knee replacement and things are going well! In the past week I've been able to ride the stationary bike without any problems and yesterday I actually went out for a 30 minute ride on my road bike! I can also go up and down stairs like normal people do! Don't get me wrong it's not like it has been a walk in the park so far! I still have trouble sleeping at night as my knee tends to throb during the night. And if I'm up on it for too long or over work my physical therapy it gets sore and swells up a bit. The hard work is paying off though! My range of motion is getting more and more and I'm able to walk faster and farther now. I really feel the pool therapy has helped me a lot in getting my range of motion back! Hopefully I will continue to get stronger and stronger each week! Have a great day all! :-)

First day of PT (post hospital stay)

Without doubt the most difficult part of a total knee replacement is physical therapy! Being able to straighten and bend your knee is what it's all about! With my first TKR getting it to bend was the easier part and straightening really took a lot of hard painful work, this time it seems to be the exact opposite! I have my same therapist (Renae) from before and she expects a lot but that's good! I'm already at 4-5 degrees straightening but have quite a ways to go on the bending. I have to remember it's only been 8 days since surgery, I need to keep working hard and to have patience! Tomorrow I'm off to pool therapy. I love it and it's amazing how much more you can move things while in the water! :-)

Home from the hospital

Hi everyone!

Jilly picked me up yesterday afternoon from St. Davids Hospital, it was so nice to get home and see my furry critters! My surgery last Wednesday Sept. 29th went great! I can't say enough good things about my doctor, Dr. Matthew Heinrich and the entire nursing crew at St. Davids Hospital, it is second to none! I was in the hospital for 5 days but those first couple of days I don't remember a whole lot! They had me up and moving on Thursday morning, needless to say I was pretty unsteady on my walker but doing the rehabbing is the most important part of this whole process! Jilly would stop by on her way to and from work for a visit, it was something I always looked forward to! Friday, Saturday, and then again on Monday I had pool therapy, it's amazing how much better you can bend in the water! By Sunday I was able to straighten my leg out almost completely which was way better then when I had my first TKR done. That was something I had really struggled with! I was able to bend it to about 112 degrees so that's not to bad this early after surgery but I still have a long ways to go! My knee is very sore but not anymore then I expected it to be. The key is to keep on top of the pain level with the meds and ice and that seems to help! It's so good to be home! First out-patient rehab tomorrow morning. I will have my same therapist I had last time (Renae), she worked me hard but that's good! Until next time, have a great day!

Dick :-)

Upcoming Total Knee Replacement

Hello everyone! I've received so many emails from folks that have followed my first total knee replacement (TKR) asking about how it's doing, so on and so forth. My right knee I had replaced on January 7, 2009 is doing great! I don't even think about it and it feels super when I run! The problem now is my left knee! 22 years ago I was in a very bad farm accident and my left leg got all ripped apart. I had a wonderful surgeon in Dr. Richard Schmidt of Minneapolis and he did a wonderful job of putting my leg back together again! For 21 and a half years it was doing great! I knew this time was eventually coming for a new knee. It really started getting bad about 6 months ago so I went back to my orthopedic knee doctor here in Austin (Dr. Matt Heinrich) They went in and cleaned it out, even received a injection but nothing seemed to help as it was down to bone on bone. So, tomorrow, September 29 I go in for my new left knee. If it turns out anywhere close to how my right one has, I will be tickled pink! Needless to say I'm very nervous but also looking forward to getting rid of the pain and be able to get out and really enjoy the great outdoors once again! I am in GREAT hands with Dr. Heinrich! I will try and keep everyone posted the best I can! Take care all and have a great day!

Dick :-)