I’m driving!

 

I just love Dr. Fagenbaum. Today’s checkup visit was majorly encouraging. He was quite pleased with the progress I’ve made in 7 weeks. No cane. Able to bend past 100 degrees. Incision looking good. Said my knee would probably not look like a normal knee for almost a year … when puffiness and swelling are totally gone. That’s ok. Just so I know.

Shared my concern about ROM being 120 by the end of January. He explained that 120 is the tops that this knee can bend. His example was a car that can do 160 mph, but that doesn’t mean he would drive the car that fast. My knee can technically bend to 120, but he would be pleased if it gets to 115.

Next week I only have one PT appointment because of the holidays.  Week after that, no appointments. Out of town, company, etc. Dr. Fagenbaum said that would actually give my knee a chance to rest. Of course, I’ll still be diligent with my at-home exercises and stretching.

Have a last prescription for pain meds to be taken one pill every six hours as needed.

And did I mention I’m driving! When I came home, first place I drove was Chick-fil-A. Yum.

(Pic from www.mycutegrapics.com. Free for personal and educational use.)

Stiff and Achy

 

Just completed week 7. Yesterday I reached 108 ROM, but it wasn’t without PAINful effort as Drew (PT) gradually bent my knee. Today areas around knees (yeah, both of them) have been stiff and achy.

Went to bonesmart.org, Recovering From Knee Replacement. Said it’s important to remember that sometimes pain can persist in one form or another for many weeks. “This is normal.” According to this site, “the early, sharp pain gets replaced with a deeper, more achy pain. This second type of pain still needs to be treated.  In addition, your physical therapy may cause some pain in your joints. You can prepare yourself for this pain with a dose of medication about an hour before your physical therapy sessions.”

So, am wondering if I started cutting back on the pain meds too soon. Around December 1, I went to a half pain pill and a half Tylenol every 5 hours with a full pill an hour before PT. I see Dr. Fagenbaum tomorrow for a checkup. Will talk to him and get back to you.

In PT in addition to the ROM, been working on loosening, stretching muscles. Purchased the Intracell Stick, which I feel like is helping – “A Toothbrush for Muscles.”

Over 24 years of research in this stick. Function of this technology is to extinguish trigger points (contracted fibers that feel like bumps in the muscles) and allow tight, contracted muscles to relax and recover.

Can’t close this post without mentioning maybe the best article I’ve ever read about the knee and its health. In the January 2014 Reader’s Digest, page 55, “A Day in the Life of Your Knee” by Jill Provost. Unique writing. It’s worth the read.  Goodnight.

Encouraging Progress

 

This past Tuesday was the beginning of week 6. I confess I’ve been stressing out a bit about ROM (range of motion) on my replaced knee. Last week it was 97. Goal for PT completion at the end of January is 120. My daughter, Heather, reminded me that was about two months away…and each week yields better results, so I could do this.

This week in PT Drew added deep tissue massage to my thigh … and calf massage. I think that must be so my leg would limber up and he could bend it more! Thursday he told me a silly knock knock joke to get my mind off the pain of bending. But that’s ok ‘cause I’m seeing progress!

Thursday evening I noticed a change in the feeling in my knee when I walk. It doesn’t feel nearly as much like something thick in my knee. I can tell it’s on the way to feeling more like a normal knee. Part of that is related to the decrease in swelling. I can actually see the outline of my  ankle bone and of my knee – not just a swollen glob.

Drew asked me the first day in PT about my goals. The first thing I said was I wanted to be back to gardening. Well, Brenda, this picture from sunny Friday is for you. (Brenda is an AVID gardener who is having knee replacement January 2.)

Note the gardening gloves and shears (and cane propped behind the fence). I was good for about an hour of tidying the flower beds. We have a very hilly yard, so I did need the cane a couple times. Need to ask Dr. Fagenbaum about sitting on the ground and getting up using mostly my “good” leg. That has to be possible.

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Lao Tzu