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