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!
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