Almost 6 months!

 

I remember when I was anticipating surgery, and then the first weeks of surgery, 6 months seemed soooo far away. April 29 will be the 6-month mark. I know different people have different experiences, but I’m glad I had knee replacement and so thankful that all went well.

Had a checkup appointment with Dr. Fajgenbaum yesterday. Knee x-rays look great. He seemed pleased with the progress. Still a little puffiness, but he expects that to continue going away over the next 6 months. Still some stiffness, especially when I work too much in the garden, standing on my feet for a few hours. Rode two miles on a friend’s recumbent bike Sunday and knee felt more limber Monday morning. Plan to make that part of each week, hopefully a couple times weekly.

Am nixing the Mederma cream for my scar. Can’t tell that it’s helping much. Scar still reddish. Changing to shea butter. . . a natural cream for skin bought from an acquaintance at the flea market who makes it.

Coming soon – “looking back” thoughts.

Past the 4-month mark

 

Just a quick note. At my last PT visit, range of motion was 117 with me bending my leg. That’s good.  I exercise daily – stretching and some strengthening. Still some stiffness upon rising when I sit in one position too long. Have to remind myself to use those quad muscles and not just put pressure on knee area when I first get up to walk. I’m pleased with recovery progress. Plan to work in the yard tomorrow if this dreary rain and cold is gone.

Have one follow-up PT visit in a couple weeks and a visit with Dr. Fajgenbaum.

Dreaming of spring and working in the yard …..

Yippee!!!

 

I feel like turning cartwheels! Last week had PT twice – Monday with Luke and Wednesday with Drew. Drew said Luke (owner of Trinity Wellness) is the best he’s ever seen at “fiddling” to find out the most effective way to come at a PT “problem.” Maybe those weren’t his exact words, but that’s the gist of it.

Luke decided to come at my range of motion from a different perspective. Started out with calf and quad stretches. Then on my stomach I did three sets of the following: one minute prone hang (knees at edge and legs hanging off table), 10 hamstring curls, and knee flexion stretch held for 30 seconds, using a belt to pull my foot toward my bottom end. Threw in total knee extensions using the green stretchy band. Then heel slides while on my back. . . sliding my leg toward my bottom as far as I could stretch it. With no pushing from Luke, it measured 115 degrees! Yes! Majorly exciting!

On Wednesday Drew and I followed this routine. Again, with no pushing from Drew (the torture method), I was able to pull my leg to 115 degrees. The PTs like for the range to be 120. Luke said I could run at 120 ROM. Thought to myself only running I intend to do is if I’m hiking and see a bear! Then I remembered you don’t run from bears. I think you stand as tall as you can and back off.

I have one more PT session scheduled. Then I’m on my own to stretch and strengthen daily. Calves got LOTS of stretching this weekend. Gardened at a flower bed at the church and then at home in my front yard. Love this respite of warm days.

3 months, 2 weeks out

Ahhh…sitting inside watching the snow falling. Looks like at least 3” on the deck. That’s my lavender bush covered with snow.

Went into PT last Wednesday with leg muscles to the right of and behind my knee so painful I could hardly walk on my leg. So PT wasn’t super productive. I think Drew is a bit frustrated with me. But it is what it is.  Not sure what was going on. He asked the owner, Luke, if he would see me for a session just for another set of eyes. (I saw Luke off and on for three years a couple years ago.)

Between now and then, I’m daily exercising, though I took 3 days off except for gentle stretching, so my leg could recover! Have also started back with Advil for possible inflammation (one in morning and one at night), and have been massaging the muscles every morning.

Am just into the the beginning of long term recovery – 3-6 month period. Just read that a positive attitude is everything.  And that I should be prepared for diligent work, some pain (more deeper, achy kind), and an expectation that the future is going to be bright!

Think I’ll put in a call to a friend who had both his knees done a few weeks apart a year or two ago. A support network of folks who’ve  been through this experience is super helpful.

It always seems impossible until it’s done. – Nelson Mandela

Moonshine Therapy

 

Got your attention, huh. I have progress news to share, but first the moonshine therapy. Actually I’ve never tried moonshine and never intend to, but someone did suggest that it might help me “limber up” while Drew works on my range of motion. Then he wouldn’t have to keep saying, “Relax that muscle” (as if I can while my knee is being squeezed in a vice grip), “Let that leg fall into my shoulder,” “You’re still tightening up. Loosen that muscle.” I wonder if moonshine really would work.

I’m almost at the 3-month mark. On the recumbent  bike in  PT I’ve been pedaling forward as far as I can and then backward as far as I can. Well…today I got down on the mats and rolled the front and sides of my thigh on the hard foam roller to loosen the muscles. Then I tried the recumbent.

I was soooo surprised and excited to be able to pedal forward in complete  revolutions! Yippee!  Drew eyed my leg as  I pedaled and said it was at least 100 degrees. Then we measured my range of motion. Was 112 (with pain). So it’s getting there slowly but surely, but that’s fine with me.  The slow but surely part.

Am taking occasional Tylenol now … before PT and on an as needed  basis. Works effectively. Dreaming of spring . . . .

I believe that we were meant to live as social creatures, to reach out and bless each other’s lives. – Author Richard Paul Evans

Back to the Office!

 

Glad I took two months off work for R&R. But this past Monday I was equally glad to return to the office. Drew helped me with a program that will fit with my work schedule. I've allotted 30 minutes in the morning and most evenings for flexibility and motion exercises. Once a day 3/4x per week I additionally do strengthening. I like the side stepping down the hall ‘cause a side benefit is that it seems to help with my lower back. Have other exercises I throw in here and there, like leg raises, leg balances, heel raises…

Still going to outpatient PT 2x per week through the end of January. Even the “torture chamber” where Drew bends my knee is ok ‘cause I know it’s helping in the long run. Did I mention that I yelled at him one day to STOP! And he did.

Oh, we practiced getting down on the floor and back up. Now I’m ready to garden for sure.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Bump in the Road

 

On the road to recovery I’ve encountered a bump in the road. Drew said that most folks who return to PT after the initial knee replacement therapy come because of secondary problems. Perhaps with the  back or other knee – areas that get a bit “out of whack” compensating as the body adjusts. I identify. Especially at night it’s uncomfortable turning over because of pain in a spot in lower left back. I have a couple stretching exercises, along with massaging, that will hopefully help.

In my last post remember I said I would continue with exercises at home over the holidays when I couldn’t get to PT. Well . . . that has mostly not happened. Being on the go, a house filled with people, activities, etc., put a damper on taking time out for exercises. Getting back into the swing of things today I noticed that the bend is not quite where it was last PT session.  I have two days to get prepared for Monday’s PT session.

New Year’s Eve (2 days past the 2 month mark) hanging out at Pullen Park with my honey, granddaughter, daughter and son-in-law. My mantra: Every day is going to be a little better. I’m gonna make progress today.

Thinking of my friend Brenda who had knee replacement yesterday, January 2, and wishing her well.

Everything on earth has its own time and its own season. Ecclesiastes 3:1