Well.......very happy to report I think Ive turned a corner!! The therapist has been working hard on the inside of my knee and it seems to have reduced/thinned some of the scar tissue that keeps getting in the way. The not so great news, I'm having trouble with my stride/gait and my knee kind of falls in when I walk. This, of course, has created an issue with my hip (possible bursitis). The therapist has suggested I start walking with the cane (again) until I get strong enough to hold my leg straight when I stride. I had a doctors appointment this morning and he agreed to going back to the cane temporarily until we get this stuff figured out. Does this make sense to anyone? It's hard to explain but I figure those having had this knee surgery probably know what I'm talking about! :)
So, I did have my monthly doctors appointment this morning......jeez I get so emotional sometimes about why I'm not getting better, if I'm recovering fast enough, if the implant worked, why does it still hurt,......all of these overwhelming ideas that float around. However, like Ive said before, Ive got a pretty great doctor and he spent the appointment reassuring me that I am heading in the right direction and am about 1/3 of the way through the recovery. He told me the cartilage is starting to get more like the consistency of rubber versus jello.....so my body will determine what it can or cant do. I think this setback in Jan really did a number on my emotionally and I'm still trying to recover.
However.......remaining positive....I have made a few strides this last week in therapy!!!
My current therapy routine:
ride on level 3 for 10 minutes, 4 wall sits for 1min 30 sec, 4 sets of 10 calf raises, 4 sets of 10 step ups (with bad leg and an extremely small step), 4 sets of 10 on the balance board, treadmill 10 minutes on 2.0, total gym 4 sets of 10 squats, straight leg raises 4 sets of 15, small arc with a 1 1/2 weight 4 sets of 10. On the other days I am still riding 10 miles a day (30 minutes) on high resistance and a 30 minute level 2 Pilates DVD.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Oh......One more thing
Wow.....I just realized that the 16 week mark is really significant! Ive made it 4 months post-op....Yahoo!!! I think that deserves a starbucks or cookie....or something!! :)
Weeks 14, 15, and 16
Well, I know its been a few weeks since my last post......honestly, it hasn't been a very good few weeks. In fact, it really has been the first time Ive had a set back since the surgery. After months of steady improvement, all of the sudden something strange happened and every time I turned or tried to take a full stride there has been alot of really painful pulling/sticking in my joint. It actually happened right after my last post. I had a doctors appointment that same week and he discussed how it could be 1 of 2 things; either movement of scar tissue or a torn implant. I won't lie, after the pain of the surgery I was pretty devastated thinking about future surgeries or a torn implant. Whatever IT was that happened, I was only able to walk at about half the speed I had worked up to and was back to using the cane about half the time, with an extreme amount of pain in the morning and after sitting for any extended amount of time. The therapist has spent the last 3 weeks focused on a large ridge of scar tissue on the inside of my patella- coming from the surgery where they lifted and flipped/moved my knee cap. It has been extremely painful....I don't mean to scare anyone but it has been pretty tough.
On the upside, today at therapy (3 weeks since the setback) I was able to walk at 2.0.....which is the fastest Ive been able to walk in weeks. I am definitely much, MUCH stronger and that part feels good! In therapy I am riding on level 3 for 10 minutes, 5 wall sits for 1.20, 4 sets of 10 calf raises, 4 sets of 10 on the balance board (forward and back), treadmill for 10 minutes on 2.0, total gym squats 4 sets of 10, small arc leg lifts with a 1lb weight 4 sets of 10, leg lifts 4 sets of 10, and 5 single leg stance for 30 seconds each. On my days away from therapy, I am still riding 10 mile a day (30 minutes) and completing a 30 minute Pilates level II dvd. Overall, this is the first time in weeks I have started feeling like there is a light at the end of this tunnel!
Ive got a doctors appointment next week.....will post the update!
On the upside, today at therapy (3 weeks since the setback) I was able to walk at 2.0.....which is the fastest Ive been able to walk in weeks. I am definitely much, MUCH stronger and that part feels good! In therapy I am riding on level 3 for 10 minutes, 5 wall sits for 1.20, 4 sets of 10 calf raises, 4 sets of 10 on the balance board (forward and back), treadmill for 10 minutes on 2.0, total gym squats 4 sets of 10, small arc leg lifts with a 1lb weight 4 sets of 10, leg lifts 4 sets of 10, and 5 single leg stance for 30 seconds each. On my days away from therapy, I am still riding 10 mile a day (30 minutes) and completing a 30 minute Pilates level II dvd. Overall, this is the first time in weeks I have started feeling like there is a light at the end of this tunnel!
Ive got a doctors appointment next week.....will post the update!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
One More Thing
I forgot to share how fast and how much Im riding.....I am up to riding 20 miles an hour and other than PT I ride 10 miles 5 times a week.....Pretty cool huh?
Recovery Weeks 11, 12, and 13
Recovery during weeks 11, 12, and 13 has been much of the same. However, I am starting to show some significant improvement in muscle strength and have been working hard in PT to add time and reps to every exercise.....we've also added a few more exercises. I am riding the bike on resistance 3 for 10 minutes, 5 wall sits for 1 min each, calf raises 4 sets of 10, balance board 4 sets of 10, single leg stance 4 sets for 30 seconds each, total gym squats 4 sets of 10, tread mill....Im up to 2 miles an hour for 10 minutes, and straight leg raises 4 sets of 10.......basically about 40 minutes of strength training. Im still unable to climb any stairs but Im sure that'll come.
I have been using the cane for about 4 weeks and am now pretty much done with it. Interesting though, if I sit for any amount of time and especially when I get up in the morning, I cannot walk without it. Once Im up and walking, I do okay without it. It's been a very tough transition....8 weeks on crutches, now 4 weeks on a cane......moving forward though.
One thing Ive also started noticing is the effect of the acute pain from PT and how that affects me emotionally. About 10 days ago the therapist was doing those stinking knee cap slides and tweaked my knee pretty good. It caught me off guard and hurt so bad I started crying......and quite honestly....was in a pretty serious funk for about 4 days after. Im not sure if its a reminder that i am not anywhere near healed and can be so easily hurt, or if it is truly a new neural pathway that has been created allowing this pain to affect my brain......whatever the case...it's been a trying few weeks.
Ive got a doctors appointment this week and we'll discuss a new round of PT......my current track is 12 weeks which will be up in another few weeks......the therapist thought the doctor would probably recommend another 12 weeks.......need to be able to get up and down the stairs someday! lol! :)
I have been using the cane for about 4 weeks and am now pretty much done with it. Interesting though, if I sit for any amount of time and especially when I get up in the morning, I cannot walk without it. Once Im up and walking, I do okay without it. It's been a very tough transition....8 weeks on crutches, now 4 weeks on a cane......moving forward though.
One thing Ive also started noticing is the effect of the acute pain from PT and how that affects me emotionally. About 10 days ago the therapist was doing those stinking knee cap slides and tweaked my knee pretty good. It caught me off guard and hurt so bad I started crying......and quite honestly....was in a pretty serious funk for about 4 days after. Im not sure if its a reminder that i am not anywhere near healed and can be so easily hurt, or if it is truly a new neural pathway that has been created allowing this pain to affect my brain......whatever the case...it's been a trying few weeks.
Ive got a doctors appointment this week and we'll discuss a new round of PT......my current track is 12 weeks which will be up in another few weeks......the therapist thought the doctor would probably recommend another 12 weeks.......need to be able to get up and down the stairs someday! lol! :)
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
One More Week 10 Point....
One more thing I should have mentioned. This weekend is new years eve and I should say I am grateful for having the opportunity to have this surgery this year and cannot wait to fully recover in 2012. Physically, 2011 has been a tough year and Im ready to put it behind me!!!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Recovery Weeks 9 and 10
So Ive made it to the 2 1/2 month mark.......lol!
Anyhow, weeks 9 and 10 have been relatively uneventful. Still going to PT 2 times a week and doing the same exercises: riding on the bike, balance block, calf raises, and quad sets. I am now able to flex to 120 degrees but still having trouble getting back flat to zero or even -1. The last dr appt he said he thought I would be able to walk without any appliances by the next appt in 3 weeks. That appointment happens this Friday and this may be the first milestone I am cant meet. I have been able to get rid of the brace.....which of course is great news! yeah!!! However, I still need the cane to walk sometimes. There are times when I feel strong and am pretty sure I can get around without it. Then there are times, especially when Ive been sitting for a while, when I cant walk at all. I know it just takes time.....and of course Im getting there! :)
I am also still exercising on my own on the days Im not in therapy and definitely feel this is how my muscle is coming back. I ride the bike (with resistance) for 30 minutes and then do a pilates workout for another 30. Riding the bike makes my knee feel pretty good and the pilates workout is definitely helping my quad and hamstring gain strength.....plus it makes me feel like Im not turning into a vegetable......lol! The first few times I rode the bike I was only able to ride about 1 mile an hour and I am very happy that I am up to 15 miles an hour.......some serious progress!
Overall.......feeling pretty good these last 2 weeks......and continuing to make progress!!!
Anyhow, weeks 9 and 10 have been relatively uneventful. Still going to PT 2 times a week and doing the same exercises: riding on the bike, balance block, calf raises, and quad sets. I am now able to flex to 120 degrees but still having trouble getting back flat to zero or even -1. The last dr appt he said he thought I would be able to walk without any appliances by the next appt in 3 weeks. That appointment happens this Friday and this may be the first milestone I am cant meet. I have been able to get rid of the brace.....which of course is great news! yeah!!! However, I still need the cane to walk sometimes. There are times when I feel strong and am pretty sure I can get around without it. Then there are times, especially when Ive been sitting for a while, when I cant walk at all. I know it just takes time.....and of course Im getting there! :)
I am also still exercising on my own on the days Im not in therapy and definitely feel this is how my muscle is coming back. I ride the bike (with resistance) for 30 minutes and then do a pilates workout for another 30. Riding the bike makes my knee feel pretty good and the pilates workout is definitely helping my quad and hamstring gain strength.....plus it makes me feel like Im not turning into a vegetable......lol! The first few times I rode the bike I was only able to ride about 1 mile an hour and I am very happy that I am up to 15 miles an hour.......some serious progress!
Overall.......feeling pretty good these last 2 weeks......and continuing to make progress!!!
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