Hi Team
Forgot to mention that Memorial Day marked the 3 yr anniversary of my knee injury. It's bitter sweet you know.....the seemingly innocent knee injury that has taken over and consumed the last 3 years. However, I am on the other side of this tunnel and feeling better than ever!! So....happy anniversary!! :)
Friday, June 6, 2014
7 Months Post TKR!!! WOOHOOOO!!!
Hi ACI Team
Seriously, I am a kinda sucky blogger......don't think this could ever be my profession since I don't update very often! lol!
So, if you've read anything I've ever written you will not be surprised to hear me say....I cannot believe I've made it this far! I have survived 7 months post TKR and in fact just realized today this is the longest stretch of not being cut into since Aug 2012.....my story seems unimaginable....but I'll take 7 months all day!! :)
Wanted to give everyone an update since my last post in March. I stopped PT at 4 months for a lot of reasons, some of which started centering around depression stemming from anesthesia and plain ole surgical trauma. Seems odd I know, to be honest I had felt so horrible since the surgery back in August and since I've never suffered from any type of depression really didn't recognize the signs as they were happening. I've never shared too many feelings in all of my posts since I figured if you're reading my blog you probably already know how it feels. I also didn't want to "poison the well" if you know what I mean and never really wanted my blog to be about anything other than physical recover. After some therapy (mental) and research surrounding Post Surgical Anxiety and Depression (it is a real thing here's a link if you're interested or feeling the same way http://www.rolereboot.org/life/details/2013-04-depression-after-surgery-is-a-real-and-dangerous-thi) I feel better than ever!
So....getting back to it. I stopped PT at 4 months and decided I could handle the rest on my own. At first I took a week off. This was advice from my acupuncturist, we had a long conversation about active and passive recovery and chances are I needed a little passive recovery! On a side note, I also quit going to spin class for a while, spin was really bothering both my knees, hips, back, etc.....really I just wasn't ready. After that week I started walking around this small reservoir near our house, then getting around it twice, then walking fast around it twice. After a couple weeks, I headed back to the rec center and started walking on the treadmill 30 minutes alternating between a 2,4,6, and 8% grade, kind of doing my own tabata drills....on off days I was doing Pilate's and total gym at home. Then I started alternating between the treadmill and arc trainer (stepper type thing).....won't lie, that was a little scary but I did it....doing cardio 3x a week for an hour and strength training 2x a week. About a month ago I bought a set of Body Pump DVD's and weights to add in more strength training, also started working on the elliptical I have in the basement. SO....the last 4 weeks have been pretty awesome. I've been working out 5 or 6 days a week with 3 of those strength training and the other 2 or 3 cardio.....Big difference! I feel so much stronger and I seriously love these DVD's.....like everyone I had gained some weight after these last few surgeries but I have seen serious improvement in the last 4 weeks.....I'm talking I can see quad in that leg, you know the line on the side where your quad is and starting to see definition in my back, chest, arms, etc....just kinda of buff looking....lol! Only those of you who've been through it know....if you know then you know! lol!
I've also been riding outside about once a week and so far the longest ride has been 15 miles. During the rides my knee feels good...I mean really good! In fact, my next ride is one of my fav ways to go and its 16 miles.....which is what I was doing last year when I was riding outside.
My 6 month dr appt the dr asked me if this surgery was worth it.....it almost made me cry and if you've read any of my posts you know how my dr loves it when I start crying.....anyhow the answer is YES!!! If you had asked me at any point before that my answer would not have been yes....but now that the pain is almost none (I hardly even take ibuprofen anymore) I can't believe it took so long to get to this point!
Anyhow......I'll keep you all updated and hope you all are doing well....we are a TEAM you know!! :)
Seriously, I am a kinda sucky blogger......don't think this could ever be my profession since I don't update very often! lol!
So, if you've read anything I've ever written you will not be surprised to hear me say....I cannot believe I've made it this far! I have survived 7 months post TKR and in fact just realized today this is the longest stretch of not being cut into since Aug 2012.....my story seems unimaginable....but I'll take 7 months all day!! :)
Wanted to give everyone an update since my last post in March. I stopped PT at 4 months for a lot of reasons, some of which started centering around depression stemming from anesthesia and plain ole surgical trauma. Seems odd I know, to be honest I had felt so horrible since the surgery back in August and since I've never suffered from any type of depression really didn't recognize the signs as they were happening. I've never shared too many feelings in all of my posts since I figured if you're reading my blog you probably already know how it feels. I also didn't want to "poison the well" if you know what I mean and never really wanted my blog to be about anything other than physical recover. After some therapy (mental) and research surrounding Post Surgical Anxiety and Depression (it is a real thing here's a link if you're interested or feeling the same way http://www.rolereboot.org/life/details/2013-04-depression-after-surgery-is-a-real-and-dangerous-thi) I feel better than ever!
So....getting back to it. I stopped PT at 4 months and decided I could handle the rest on my own. At first I took a week off. This was advice from my acupuncturist, we had a long conversation about active and passive recovery and chances are I needed a little passive recovery! On a side note, I also quit going to spin class for a while, spin was really bothering both my knees, hips, back, etc.....really I just wasn't ready. After that week I started walking around this small reservoir near our house, then getting around it twice, then walking fast around it twice. After a couple weeks, I headed back to the rec center and started walking on the treadmill 30 minutes alternating between a 2,4,6, and 8% grade, kind of doing my own tabata drills....on off days I was doing Pilate's and total gym at home. Then I started alternating between the treadmill and arc trainer (stepper type thing).....won't lie, that was a little scary but I did it....doing cardio 3x a week for an hour and strength training 2x a week. About a month ago I bought a set of Body Pump DVD's and weights to add in more strength training, also started working on the elliptical I have in the basement. SO....the last 4 weeks have been pretty awesome. I've been working out 5 or 6 days a week with 3 of those strength training and the other 2 or 3 cardio.....Big difference! I feel so much stronger and I seriously love these DVD's.....like everyone I had gained some weight after these last few surgeries but I have seen serious improvement in the last 4 weeks.....I'm talking I can see quad in that leg, you know the line on the side where your quad is and starting to see definition in my back, chest, arms, etc....just kinda of buff looking....lol! Only those of you who've been through it know....if you know then you know! lol!
I've also been riding outside about once a week and so far the longest ride has been 15 miles. During the rides my knee feels good...I mean really good! In fact, my next ride is one of my fav ways to go and its 16 miles.....which is what I was doing last year when I was riding outside.
My 6 month dr appt the dr asked me if this surgery was worth it.....it almost made me cry and if you've read any of my posts you know how my dr loves it when I start crying.....anyhow the answer is YES!!! If you had asked me at any point before that my answer would not have been yes....but now that the pain is almost none (I hardly even take ibuprofen anymore) I can't believe it took so long to get to this point!
Anyhow......I'll keep you all updated and hope you all are doing well....we are a TEAM you know!! :)
Monday, March 10, 2014
14 Weeks....OR 3 1/2 months :)
Hi Team!!
Ok, so I'm a slacker blogger and didn't even realize my last post was in January. I'm still in PT, still working on getting that quad back, and still trying to build enough stamina to go for a bike ride of any significance sometime soon. :)
Here's the lowdown! Since my last post I've had another doctors appt. and of course my fears were all the same; was I far enough along, did I heal okay, was there any sign of an infection, was I getting enough flexion, and should I STILL be taking pain medication. The doc was very pleased. I was able to ditch the cane for good at 7 weeks and actually have still been taking pain medication at night....up until the last couple nights. I'm not even taking a whole one anymore, I split them and have been taking half every night. I've always had so much trouble taking pain medication I NEVER thought I would still be taking it over 3 months later. The pain I do have is primarily muscular and there is quite a bit of nerve pain. I don't feel the nerve pain in my back or hip, the pain actually starts on the outside of my knee and runs down into my foot and ankle. Actually, it is quite painful and really has begun to just be kind of a pain in the ass! I always try to look at the bright side.... but I'm getting kind of over some of this stuff! lol!
I DID go for a bike ride....wait for it...OUTSIDE in week 10. Honestly, it was probably the scariest thing I've done in a while. Of course, once I got over my crazy fear I rode 7 miles. I've done this a few times since....it still creates quite a bit of anxiety, but I persevere. I went back to spin class in week 7....basically it hurt like hell and was WAY too early! I tried again in week 8...and while I felt a tad better, it still felt too early. I waited another month before trying again and went to one in week 12. At that point, it was tough but manageable. I haven't tried yet since....I swear I don't know what it is about some of these irrational fears...but I will try again this week!!!
Let me update on what I've been doing in therapy....It's really only looking back at my last post that I see how far I've come.....Got some good news from the PT front! :)
I ride for 10 minutes, stretch on balance board for 3 min, single leg stand on the blue theraband 4x1min, leg press 110lbs 1 set of 10 and 3 sets at 100lbs, TKE black band 4x10, short arc 5lbs 4x10, long arc 5lbs 4x10, calf raises 4x10, straight leg raise 3lbs 4x10, hamstring curls 5lbs 4x10, and last week I just started the hip series and competed 2 sets.....btw....THOSE were a killer!! Some of these exercises hurt more than others obviously....for instance single leg stand has really become my least favorite and hurts quite a bit!
One more funny item to share.......my PTA told me a massage would be beneficial and my PT office has a massage guy. SO.....I had a massage....lets just say this wasn't a leisurely stress reducing massage...in fact I refer to it as fist in quad and IT band....for an hour. It was extremely painful and I was super bruised up near my hips...hip flexors. I was so sore for a couple days.....BUT, now that the worst is over I think it actually helped. If I could survive another one, my hamstrings and calf's really need...you know some fist work! lol! I'll keep you all posted....not sure if another one is in the cards or not!
Take care team!!
Ralean
Ok, so I'm a slacker blogger and didn't even realize my last post was in January. I'm still in PT, still working on getting that quad back, and still trying to build enough stamina to go for a bike ride of any significance sometime soon. :)
Here's the lowdown! Since my last post I've had another doctors appt. and of course my fears were all the same; was I far enough along, did I heal okay, was there any sign of an infection, was I getting enough flexion, and should I STILL be taking pain medication. The doc was very pleased. I was able to ditch the cane for good at 7 weeks and actually have still been taking pain medication at night....up until the last couple nights. I'm not even taking a whole one anymore, I split them and have been taking half every night. I've always had so much trouble taking pain medication I NEVER thought I would still be taking it over 3 months later. The pain I do have is primarily muscular and there is quite a bit of nerve pain. I don't feel the nerve pain in my back or hip, the pain actually starts on the outside of my knee and runs down into my foot and ankle. Actually, it is quite painful and really has begun to just be kind of a pain in the ass! I always try to look at the bright side.... but I'm getting kind of over some of this stuff! lol!
I DID go for a bike ride....wait for it...OUTSIDE in week 10. Honestly, it was probably the scariest thing I've done in a while. Of course, once I got over my crazy fear I rode 7 miles. I've done this a few times since....it still creates quite a bit of anxiety, but I persevere. I went back to spin class in week 7....basically it hurt like hell and was WAY too early! I tried again in week 8...and while I felt a tad better, it still felt too early. I waited another month before trying again and went to one in week 12. At that point, it was tough but manageable. I haven't tried yet since....I swear I don't know what it is about some of these irrational fears...but I will try again this week!!!
Let me update on what I've been doing in therapy....It's really only looking back at my last post that I see how far I've come.....Got some good news from the PT front! :)
I ride for 10 minutes, stretch on balance board for 3 min, single leg stand on the blue theraband 4x1min, leg press 110lbs 1 set of 10 and 3 sets at 100lbs, TKE black band 4x10, short arc 5lbs 4x10, long arc 5lbs 4x10, calf raises 4x10, straight leg raise 3lbs 4x10, hamstring curls 5lbs 4x10, and last week I just started the hip series and competed 2 sets.....btw....THOSE were a killer!! Some of these exercises hurt more than others obviously....for instance single leg stand has really become my least favorite and hurts quite a bit!
One more funny item to share.......my PTA told me a massage would be beneficial and my PT office has a massage guy. SO.....I had a massage....lets just say this wasn't a leisurely stress reducing massage...in fact I refer to it as fist in quad and IT band....for an hour. It was extremely painful and I was super bruised up near my hips...hip flexors. I was so sore for a couple days.....BUT, now that the worst is over I think it actually helped. If I could survive another one, my hamstrings and calf's really need...you know some fist work! lol! I'll keep you all posted....not sure if another one is in the cards or not!
Take care team!!
Ralean
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Whew......6 weeks 2 days!!
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! :)
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! :)
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!
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