Hi Team
I wanted to update on what's been going on through week 6! First, let me say I feel better this week than at any point since the surgery......still a little tired, still achy if I walk too far or stand too long....but much better!! Not surprising I know, but when you're in the midst of feeling so incredibly crappy......it's hard to imagine you'll ever feel normal or see a light at the end of the post-op tunnel!! My therapist and her asst kept giving me goals....hang on until week 2, hang on until week 4, hang on until week 6.....now I understand how good week 6 feels. The last few days......really heading into week 6.....I've been feeling pretty good and definitely much stronger (physically and mentally, amazing what getting off all the medication does for your spirit). I've starting getting out of the house a little more, even actually went to the grocery store by myself to grab a couple things!
I had my 6 week dr. appt a couple days ago, and he is very pleased. It was a good appt!! Walking in cold I was able to flex to 116 and the scar looks super good (thanks to acupuncture)! He told me to keep on working out and riding my bike, of course keep on 2x a week to PT, and keep on taking pain medication when I need it....primarily at night before bed and for PT (funny I needed that permission since I thought I should NOT be taking them and had been trying to manage without)!!
Let me give you an update on what I've been doing exercise wise. I am still riding my bike just about everyday.....1 or 2x a day...I am up to 8.15 miles in 30 minutes......meaning I'm averaging slightly over 16 miles an hour. Basically...I'm cooking!! lol!! In PT: bike x10 minutes, stretching on balance board 3x1 minute, tke with green band 4x10, wall sits 1 for 2 minutes and 3 for 1 minute, calf raises 4x10, single leg raises 2x10, quad sets or short arc 4x10, heel slides 10 minutes, and single leg balance for 1 minute!! I haven't been able to completely ditch my cane yet, but have been walking around the house without it and I imagine I'll be able to get rid of it in the next week or so.
Hope everyone has a good week!!
Ralean
PS.....I haven't started back to spin yet....I still don't move too fast and quite honestly I'm a little nervous (I have no idea why)! I'm really thinking about starting back this Sunday, which would be just about 7 weeks! :)
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Happy New Year....4 weeks 3 days!!
Hi ACI Team!!
So......I have survived through the 4 week mark and watched the new year come in......boy am I glad to put 2013 behind me! For the record I don't generally make much out of new years resolutions......but his year my resolution is no more knee surgery! :)
Let me just say, heading into 4 week was significant!! The pain has dramatically decreased in its intensity and I've even started tapering down the pain medication.....to be honest, every once in a while it doesn't even hurt.....STRANGE I KNOW!!! My therapist and her asst. kept telling me a couple weeks ago to hang on until 4 the week mark..... I am pleasantly surprised!!! In fact, I've even made it out of the house other than therapy....lol....we went to an indoor lacrosse game last weekend....I managed to make it through the stadium and to our seat!! It was a harrowing experience.....but fun nonetheless!!
You'll be surprised at the quick changes in strength, here is my current list of exercises. Bike x10 min, balance board stretching 3x1 min, squats on total gym 4x10, tke still with orange band 4x 10 (I'll be moving up the band next week), heel slides 10 min (replaces ball range of motion), wall sits 4x 1min, quad sets and MY QUAD IS MOVING AND MY FOOT IS OFF THE TABLE!!! 4x 10,today I did 4 single leg raises and balanced on that leg for 7 seconds.....sounds lame I know but this is some serious improvement!!! I'm still riding when I'm at home, but still feeling very tired most of the day and still in that post surgery funk......so sometimes I'm just a slacker. My therapist said this morning I should head back to spin class....would it make you laugh if I said I was scared....why? I have absolutely no idea....but I may try one next week!
Hope you all had a wonderful (and pain free) new year!!
Ralean
So......I have survived through the 4 week mark and watched the new year come in......boy am I glad to put 2013 behind me! For the record I don't generally make much out of new years resolutions......but his year my resolution is no more knee surgery! :)
Let me just say, heading into 4 week was significant!! The pain has dramatically decreased in its intensity and I've even started tapering down the pain medication.....to be honest, every once in a while it doesn't even hurt.....STRANGE I KNOW!!! My therapist and her asst. kept telling me a couple weeks ago to hang on until 4 the week mark..... I am pleasantly surprised!!! In fact, I've even made it out of the house other than therapy....lol....we went to an indoor lacrosse game last weekend....I managed to make it through the stadium and to our seat!! It was a harrowing experience.....but fun nonetheless!!
You'll be surprised at the quick changes in strength, here is my current list of exercises. Bike x10 min, balance board stretching 3x1 min, squats on total gym 4x10, tke still with orange band 4x 10 (I'll be moving up the band next week), heel slides 10 min (replaces ball range of motion), wall sits 4x 1min, quad sets and MY QUAD IS MOVING AND MY FOOT IS OFF THE TABLE!!! 4x 10,today I did 4 single leg raises and balanced on that leg for 7 seconds.....sounds lame I know but this is some serious improvement!!! I'm still riding when I'm at home, but still feeling very tired most of the day and still in that post surgery funk......so sometimes I'm just a slacker. My therapist said this morning I should head back to spin class....would it make you laugh if I said I was scared....why? I have absolutely no idea....but I may try one next week!
Hope you all had a wonderful (and pain free) new year!!
Ralean
Thursday, December 26, 2013
2 years Post ACI....TKR!!!
Hi my fellow ACI'ers
I hope everyone had an awesome and pain free holiday!! I thought I should give you all a quick update. So I DID have the TKR on 12/2 and so far have survived a little over 3 weeks post op. I won't lie friends, it has been extremely painful and leading up to the surgery I was getting super anxious and really did not know if I had 1 more in me, but.......I did it.......honestly, it has been surprisingly painful. The difference is there is absolutely NO pain in my joint......I will say that again because it seems utterly impossible.....there is absolutely NO pain in my joint!! Can I get a WOOHOOO!!! However.....there is serious pain.....just about everywhere else! :)
I'll also say, that my last post I talked about being in prime condition heading into the TKR.....and I absolutely followed everything I planned out. I ate super healthy, exercised and went to spin 5 days a week, and also went to acupuncture every week for the 4 weeks leading up to the surgery......there is nothing else I could have done to be better prepared. However.....I don't remember reading anywhere OR hearing anyone discuss how quickly your calf, hamstring, and quad basically clamp down and really don't want to move.....is it possible I missed this key information and was caught off guard? Oh well......moving on.... It has been pretty tough.....I'll update quickly on the exercise I'm doing and what I've done since the surgery.
The doctor recommends home PT for 2 weeks following surgery.....as you all know...I've been in therapy for so long I'll only let my favorite therapist touch my knee.......so I nixed the home therapy part and starting at PT the 5th day after surgery. In saying that......it was probably the best and the worst thing I've ever done. When I say I felt like shit, that is an understatement....however, it did give me an opportunity to leave the house. My first visit I was able to get around on the bike after a few minutes, range of motion on the ball, and flexion was 110 degrees.....which is INSANE!!!! My therapist was blown away......it was pretty cool. I haven't had much trouble with flexion, although my quad has been slow to fully turn back on.....but I digress. The following 4 appts were basically the same. I should also add, starting on day 6, I started riding my bike in the basement and the first couple tries was riding at about 4 miles an hour. Over the last couple weeks I've been riding 2x 30 minutes and am up to 7.5 miles every 1/2 hour......or riding close to 15 miles an hour and 15 miles a day. Riding's been fantastic...makes me feel better and allows my new knee to get stretched out.
This week.....therapy includes: wall sits (today I did 2 for 1 min and 1 for 30), ball range of motion, bike for 10, total gym squats 4x10, tke 4x10 with orange band, quad sets 4x10, and stretching 4x30 seconds. I'll add that today.....FOR THE FIRST TIME......I was able to get my foot off the table doing quad sets with the foam roller......basically like a short arc....seems like small potatoes but really was pretty exciting! At home I basically alternate ice and heat for pretty much the entire day and work frequently on stretching my calf and hamstring.
That's all I've got for now.......heading into the new year.......I am looking forward to continued recovery and a LONG stretch of NO surgeries!! :)
Now that I'm feeling better and am back to PT fulltime, I'll keep my progress updated!
Ralean
I hope everyone had an awesome and pain free holiday!! I thought I should give you all a quick update. So I DID have the TKR on 12/2 and so far have survived a little over 3 weeks post op. I won't lie friends, it has been extremely painful and leading up to the surgery I was getting super anxious and really did not know if I had 1 more in me, but.......I did it.......honestly, it has been surprisingly painful. The difference is there is absolutely NO pain in my joint......I will say that again because it seems utterly impossible.....there is absolutely NO pain in my joint!! Can I get a WOOHOOO!!! However.....there is serious pain.....just about everywhere else! :)
I'll also say, that my last post I talked about being in prime condition heading into the TKR.....and I absolutely followed everything I planned out. I ate super healthy, exercised and went to spin 5 days a week, and also went to acupuncture every week for the 4 weeks leading up to the surgery......there is nothing else I could have done to be better prepared. However.....I don't remember reading anywhere OR hearing anyone discuss how quickly your calf, hamstring, and quad basically clamp down and really don't want to move.....is it possible I missed this key information and was caught off guard? Oh well......moving on.... It has been pretty tough.....I'll update quickly on the exercise I'm doing and what I've done since the surgery.
The doctor recommends home PT for 2 weeks following surgery.....as you all know...I've been in therapy for so long I'll only let my favorite therapist touch my knee.......so I nixed the home therapy part and starting at PT the 5th day after surgery. In saying that......it was probably the best and the worst thing I've ever done. When I say I felt like shit, that is an understatement....however, it did give me an opportunity to leave the house. My first visit I was able to get around on the bike after a few minutes, range of motion on the ball, and flexion was 110 degrees.....which is INSANE!!!! My therapist was blown away......it was pretty cool. I haven't had much trouble with flexion, although my quad has been slow to fully turn back on.....but I digress. The following 4 appts were basically the same. I should also add, starting on day 6, I started riding my bike in the basement and the first couple tries was riding at about 4 miles an hour. Over the last couple weeks I've been riding 2x 30 minutes and am up to 7.5 miles every 1/2 hour......or riding close to 15 miles an hour and 15 miles a day. Riding's been fantastic...makes me feel better and allows my new knee to get stretched out.
This week.....therapy includes: wall sits (today I did 2 for 1 min and 1 for 30), ball range of motion, bike for 10, total gym squats 4x10, tke 4x10 with orange band, quad sets 4x10, and stretching 4x30 seconds. I'll add that today.....FOR THE FIRST TIME......I was able to get my foot off the table doing quad sets with the foam roller......basically like a short arc....seems like small potatoes but really was pretty exciting! At home I basically alternate ice and heat for pretty much the entire day and work frequently on stretching my calf and hamstring.
That's all I've got for now.......heading into the new year.......I am looking forward to continued recovery and a LONG stretch of NO surgeries!! :)
Now that I'm feeling better and am back to PT fulltime, I'll keep my progress updated!
Ralean
Saturday, October 5, 2013
The TWO year mark!!
Hi ACI TEam!!
Well.........It'll be 2 years exactly next week!! I've said it before but it bears repeating....I can't believe I've made it this far!!
So since my last post it's been a good news/bad news couple months!! First, let's get the bad news over with. I had a dr. appt a couple days before the scheduled TKR and he decided he could not do the replacement and fix the tibia/bone graft at the same time. Initially he thought he could, but after measuring the replacement it didn't quite fit with the 2 screws needed for my tibia. Many of you have read the entire blog, so I'm sure you can imagine how upsetting and frustrating that was. In fact, I was so upset I almost felt bad for the dr. To clarify, the feeling of devastation stemmed from having to have another 2 surgeries instead of the 1 I had geared up for. Instead of the TKR I had another bone graft, you know the worst case scenario surgery I listed a couple posts ago. The one that meant screws out, debride the bone, screws back in.....YEAH....that one! So.....I've been recovering for almost 8 weeks now.......and NOW we're ready for the TKR! The bone is healing, looks good on the x-ray, wrapping up 6 weeks of PT next week.....and we're now moving on!!
The good news....the TKR has now been scheduled for 12/2......a couple weeks before I turn 42 and just a little longer than 2 years from the initial ACI surgery. Seriously......I didn't think I could do another surgery.....but I'm anxious to get to a closing point and be done with this knee business for a while. I just can't believe this business has been going on for a little over 2 years.......guess the universe is teaching me I have absolutely no control? I'll spend the next 6-7 weeks working out and eating healthy to make sure I'm in a prime healing position.....I won't lie...I'm a little nervous!!
Anyhow....hope the rest of the team is doing well!! I do receive your emails.....and hope the blog helps figure out some of this crazy ACI stuff!
Well.........It'll be 2 years exactly next week!! I've said it before but it bears repeating....I can't believe I've made it this far!!
So since my last post it's been a good news/bad news couple months!! First, let's get the bad news over with. I had a dr. appt a couple days before the scheduled TKR and he decided he could not do the replacement and fix the tibia/bone graft at the same time. Initially he thought he could, but after measuring the replacement it didn't quite fit with the 2 screws needed for my tibia. Many of you have read the entire blog, so I'm sure you can imagine how upsetting and frustrating that was. In fact, I was so upset I almost felt bad for the dr. To clarify, the feeling of devastation stemmed from having to have another 2 surgeries instead of the 1 I had geared up for. Instead of the TKR I had another bone graft, you know the worst case scenario surgery I listed a couple posts ago. The one that meant screws out, debride the bone, screws back in.....YEAH....that one! So.....I've been recovering for almost 8 weeks now.......and NOW we're ready for the TKR! The bone is healing, looks good on the x-ray, wrapping up 6 weeks of PT next week.....and we're now moving on!!
The good news....the TKR has now been scheduled for 12/2......a couple weeks before I turn 42 and just a little longer than 2 years from the initial ACI surgery. Seriously......I didn't think I could do another surgery.....but I'm anxious to get to a closing point and be done with this knee business for a while. I just can't believe this business has been going on for a little over 2 years.......guess the universe is teaching me I have absolutely no control? I'll spend the next 6-7 weeks working out and eating healthy to make sure I'm in a prime healing position.....I won't lie...I'm a little nervous!!
Anyhow....hope the rest of the team is doing well!! I do receive your emails.....and hope the blog helps figure out some of this crazy ACI stuff!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Here We Go!!
Hi ACI Team!!
Wanted to quickly update......I'm having a TKR....in less than 2 weeks now....on 8/14/13. I'll post in a couple days all the juicy details.....however I will quickly say I'm scared shitless! lol! Seriously, you'd think after everything I've (and you've) been through the thought of a total knee would be a relief. Of course, there is this pesky little pain thing to deal with......and as noted in the last couple years of recovery.....it's kinda getting on my nerves!
Last year I definitely felt like a total knee was the only way to go, but the farther away I get from the ACI (or big one as I lovingly call it) I started believing I could go a few more years.
Welp......that's a no!
Anyhow, for my fellow ACI'ers who follow......wanted to update what was going on!
I'll post again before the surgery and of course will post about the recovery!! :)
Wanted to quickly update......I'm having a TKR....in less than 2 weeks now....on 8/14/13. I'll post in a couple days all the juicy details.....however I will quickly say I'm scared shitless! lol! Seriously, you'd think after everything I've (and you've) been through the thought of a total knee would be a relief. Of course, there is this pesky little pain thing to deal with......and as noted in the last couple years of recovery.....it's kinda getting on my nerves!
Last year I definitely felt like a total knee was the only way to go, but the farther away I get from the ACI (or big one as I lovingly call it) I started believing I could go a few more years.
Welp......that's a no!
Anyhow, for my fellow ACI'ers who follow......wanted to update what was going on!
I'll post again before the surgery and of course will post about the recovery!! :)
Sunday, June 30, 2013
The Un-imaginable Phase!
Hi Fellow ACI'ers!!
Well......just had another dr. appt on Friday and we are heading toward what I like to call the un-imaginable phase! Seriously......it doesn't seem possible!! So......still no bone growing on the tibia and it's clear my knee now needs to be "cleaned out". What to do? I have to say I love my dr. and he does try to offer alternatives....but we are now down to 2. Here's where we stand: he's going to talk with the dr. who is eventually going to do my knee replacement and see if I can go ahead and have a knee replacement with the bone like it is and they can bone graft more bone in there while they do it (sounds a wee risky) OR if that answer is no, we'll need to do this more invasive bone graft where the screws (I have many) need to be removed, the area debrided and a larger bone graft implanted, then everything screwed back together. During this surgery, he'd also take a couple minutes and "clean out" my knee......so it can move.
The dr. is touching base with my (now) other dr and he should be calling me by tomorrow. I normally try to stay positive......but you know......this business is getting kinda old! :)
I'll let you all know how it goes........
Well......just had another dr. appt on Friday and we are heading toward what I like to call the un-imaginable phase! Seriously......it doesn't seem possible!! So......still no bone growing on the tibia and it's clear my knee now needs to be "cleaned out". What to do? I have to say I love my dr. and he does try to offer alternatives....but we are now down to 2. Here's where we stand: he's going to talk with the dr. who is eventually going to do my knee replacement and see if I can go ahead and have a knee replacement with the bone like it is and they can bone graft more bone in there while they do it (sounds a wee risky) OR if that answer is no, we'll need to do this more invasive bone graft where the screws (I have many) need to be removed, the area debrided and a larger bone graft implanted, then everything screwed back together. During this surgery, he'd also take a couple minutes and "clean out" my knee......so it can move.
The dr. is touching base with my (now) other dr and he should be calling me by tomorrow. I normally try to stay positive......but you know......this business is getting kinda old! :)
I'll let you all know how it goes........
Monday, May 20, 2013
Dr. Update......and Other Stuff!!
Hi Fellow ACI'ers!!
Wanted to update you on my latest dr. appt from Friday. Basically, we did more x-rays and still nothing showing as far as bone growth. Interesting, I think my dr. was a little concerned except I'm feeling pretty good, so maybe something's happening and it's just not visible yet! :)......Anyway, that's my hope. We did have a discussion about what would need to happen surgically if something happens and bone in fact doesnt grow or I start to not feel so great.......I've got to say this surgical option makes me sick to my stomach. You all know this is my 4th surgery in less than 2 years......to now discuss removing all screws completely and rescrewing everything back together after adding more bone.......well......it's just un-imaginable!! In fact, I told my dr. that made me sick to my stomach and he said it made him a little queasy too......it made me laugh!! :)
On a good note....I'm still riding and the last couple weeks have ridden quite a bit!! In fact, my husband and I just rode in an event yesterday morning......30 miles!! YEAH!!! Funny, for a minute I kind of beat myself up because I have trouble climbing hills, I have to stop occasionally because my hips and back hurts, and am just kind of generally slow on these longer distances......I swear it's a battle to keep the mind in check!! However.....I effing finished it.....and not too shabby either......we finished 2:45!!! I've had so much trouble since "the surgery" trying to get back to pre-injury form.....when I ride I have to constantly check and adjust my form otherwise I hurt my shoulders, neck, ankle, hips, wrists, back, etc........it's really ridiculous actually. All this time I always think my family knows what I'm talking about and yesterday my husband mentioned on our way home that he never thinks about the "right" riding form, he just gets on his bike and rides. Funny, I remember pre-injury just hopping on my bike and going for a ride.....never thinking about proper riding form and nothing EVER hurt. Oh well.......guess it's just part of my now life.......nothing to get down about. I just keep on.......well keeping on!! I'll keep riding, trying to continue building back up so none of my other parts hurt so bad or carry the load and of course I'll keep spinning....
So goes it........got to thinking too.....it's been almost exactly 2 years since "the injury".....lol!! 2 years Memorial Day Weekend........I'm loving these little anniversaries of mine!! :)
Cause for a drink I suspect....... :)
Wanted to update you on my latest dr. appt from Friday. Basically, we did more x-rays and still nothing showing as far as bone growth. Interesting, I think my dr. was a little concerned except I'm feeling pretty good, so maybe something's happening and it's just not visible yet! :)......Anyway, that's my hope. We did have a discussion about what would need to happen surgically if something happens and bone in fact doesnt grow or I start to not feel so great.......I've got to say this surgical option makes me sick to my stomach. You all know this is my 4th surgery in less than 2 years......to now discuss removing all screws completely and rescrewing everything back together after adding more bone.......well......it's just un-imaginable!! In fact, I told my dr. that made me sick to my stomach and he said it made him a little queasy too......it made me laugh!! :)
On a good note....I'm still riding and the last couple weeks have ridden quite a bit!! In fact, my husband and I just rode in an event yesterday morning......30 miles!! YEAH!!! Funny, for a minute I kind of beat myself up because I have trouble climbing hills, I have to stop occasionally because my hips and back hurts, and am just kind of generally slow on these longer distances......I swear it's a battle to keep the mind in check!! However.....I effing finished it.....and not too shabby either......we finished 2:45!!! I've had so much trouble since "the surgery" trying to get back to pre-injury form.....when I ride I have to constantly check and adjust my form otherwise I hurt my shoulders, neck, ankle, hips, wrists, back, etc........it's really ridiculous actually. All this time I always think my family knows what I'm talking about and yesterday my husband mentioned on our way home that he never thinks about the "right" riding form, he just gets on his bike and rides. Funny, I remember pre-injury just hopping on my bike and going for a ride.....never thinking about proper riding form and nothing EVER hurt. Oh well.......guess it's just part of my now life.......nothing to get down about. I just keep on.......well keeping on!! I'll keep riding, trying to continue building back up so none of my other parts hurt so bad or carry the load and of course I'll keep spinning....
So goes it........got to thinking too.....it's been almost exactly 2 years since "the injury".....lol!! 2 years Memorial Day Weekend........I'm loving these little anniversaries of mine!! :)
Cause for a drink I suspect....... :)
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