Hi fellow ACI-ers!!
I'm am feeling really good today!! Went to spin this morning and am riding this endorphin high!!
Wanted to provide a couple updates!!
The first is I had x-rays done on that dr. appt on 4/10 and he couldn't see much bone growing. In fact, as I was leaving that day he reminded me to think positive thoughts. It kind of amused me......my technical orthopedic surgeon telling me to think positive thoughts. At this point in the game......I'm thinking positive thoughts, carrying a rabbits foots, and got everything crossed! lol!
The second update........only someone who's had this type of injury or surgery will understand.....but I rode STANDING up in spin class....TWICE last week. Yes I know, sounds like small potatoes for a person with a healthy knee.......but for me this was some serious stuff!! In fact, my husband and I went riding outside yesterday and I stood up for a tiny bit too. It's seriously harder to stand and ride outside, and my back and knee were seriously sore last night. However, I felt good this morning, went to mega-spin, and rode STANDING up!! YEAH....I haven't been able to do this since before the injury.....almost 2 years ago!!
The last update........I am actually ALMOST able to get down the stairs.....you know, that whole step down thing. It's kind of a funny thing for people who've never had our type of injury or surgery.......I mean just walk down the stairs.......it is like the last frontier!! However, it is quite a feat......my PT would be proud.......I am proud.......it's been a long time!! :)
I've got another dr. appt in another 1 1/2 weeks to take more xrays (seems excessive I know) to see if that bone is growing. I FEEL like it's growing.......now looking for some proof!!
Talk to you all then.........
Monday, April 29, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Hold On....I've made it to the 17 month mark!!!
Hi fellow ACI'ers!!
I've decided that's our new name....ACI'ers......and only we can understand how difficult the journey is!!
AHHH.....it's been a whirlwind these last few months, I can't believe I haven't posted since November. So, I had the Sinvisc (sp) in November and it only lasted until Christmas...seriously......by the time Christmas hit I was back in pain and actually more depressed as I'd had a few weeks of NO pain.....I had forgotten what that felt like!! I'll walk you through the next steps!!
- After the surgery in Sept where we found out 1 of the implants didn't work my dr. suggested a partial replacement
- I chatted with my physical therapist after the new year and she gave me a couple names to get another opinion. I have to say, I've loved my doctor....to get another opinion felt very dis-loyal...but I did it anyway..
- I saw this new dr. the beginning of Jan 2013 and he said I need a total knee.....but said I needed to wait another 10 years until I was over 50. WHAT? This dude, I mean dr. thinks I should suffer with this crap for another 10 years.....he even said I should have it injected every few months and scoped once a year......honestly.......this is crap and needless to say I didn't go back to him!!
- I called my dr. and told him what the other opinion was, he suggested I see another dr. in his same practice who specializes in replacements on younger patients and keeps as much bone as possible for future revisions. Btw, he definitely doesn't think I need to wait another 10 crappy years! :)
- The beginning of Feb 2013 I saw a new dr. in the same practice. He was super nice, we did new x-rays.....and wait....we cannot discuss a knee replacement because the bone from the tibial tubercle osteotomy never healed. WAIT.....back up.....the bone never healed? At this point it had been like 14 months since the "big one" and the bone never healed. Basically, my knee cap is being held down by screws....it was the most devastating news I'd heard in a long time!!
- After I had time to drink/smoke/feel sorry for myself/ then get back to being healthy........I talked with my dr. and we scheduled a bone graft on my tibia. Lets be clear.....I can't have a knee replacement if that bone is not secure.
- I had ANOTHER surgery the beginning of March.....I have to say.....no where near the type of pain we're all used to because it wasn't in my joint but was right below it. It still hurt, don't get me wrong....but it was much more manageable than I had feared.
- TODAY.....it's been 4 weeks since that surgery and I've got an appt on Friday to take new x-rays and see if the bone graft is working. I'm just sick.....seriously sick........but keeping my fingers crossed.....I'm sure it worked!
To end my super cool 17 month post......I will sound like a broken record and say again....I CAN'T believe I've made it this far. The last couple months I've actually been thinking I can just get used to this pain because the thought of another surgery just makes me sick. However, I want good parts...and if it's a total knee......then that's the way it'll be!! :)
I'll also update on my exercise stuff.......I quit going to PT right before the surgery in March....she was afraid to keep working on me with the knee cap and tibia situation. However...you know I've been continuing to work it on my own!! I'm still going to spin class 2 or 3 times a week and have started lifting more weights about 2x a week. The last couple weeks it's been warm enough to start riding outside, so I've added that also. Honestly, the last couple weeks I've been in a funk......I seriously think it has something to do with all this anesthesia and pain killer crap.....but I'm back on it. Spin 2x a week, outside rides (16-20 miles) 2x a week, and weights (including many PT exercises) 2x a week.
Hope all my fellow ACI'ers are doing well and most importantly I hope my blog helps in some way!!!
I've decided that's our new name....ACI'ers......and only we can understand how difficult the journey is!!
AHHH.....it's been a whirlwind these last few months, I can't believe I haven't posted since November. So, I had the Sinvisc (sp) in November and it only lasted until Christmas...seriously......by the time Christmas hit I was back in pain and actually more depressed as I'd had a few weeks of NO pain.....I had forgotten what that felt like!! I'll walk you through the next steps!!
- After the surgery in Sept where we found out 1 of the implants didn't work my dr. suggested a partial replacement
- I chatted with my physical therapist after the new year and she gave me a couple names to get another opinion. I have to say, I've loved my doctor....to get another opinion felt very dis-loyal...but I did it anyway..
- I saw this new dr. the beginning of Jan 2013 and he said I need a total knee.....but said I needed to wait another 10 years until I was over 50. WHAT? This dude, I mean dr. thinks I should suffer with this crap for another 10 years.....he even said I should have it injected every few months and scoped once a year......honestly.......this is crap and needless to say I didn't go back to him!!
- I called my dr. and told him what the other opinion was, he suggested I see another dr. in his same practice who specializes in replacements on younger patients and keeps as much bone as possible for future revisions. Btw, he definitely doesn't think I need to wait another 10 crappy years! :)
- The beginning of Feb 2013 I saw a new dr. in the same practice. He was super nice, we did new x-rays.....and wait....we cannot discuss a knee replacement because the bone from the tibial tubercle osteotomy never healed. WAIT.....back up.....the bone never healed? At this point it had been like 14 months since the "big one" and the bone never healed. Basically, my knee cap is being held down by screws....it was the most devastating news I'd heard in a long time!!
- After I had time to drink/smoke/feel sorry for myself/ then get back to being healthy........I talked with my dr. and we scheduled a bone graft on my tibia. Lets be clear.....I can't have a knee replacement if that bone is not secure.
- I had ANOTHER surgery the beginning of March.....I have to say.....no where near the type of pain we're all used to because it wasn't in my joint but was right below it. It still hurt, don't get me wrong....but it was much more manageable than I had feared.
- TODAY.....it's been 4 weeks since that surgery and I've got an appt on Friday to take new x-rays and see if the bone graft is working. I'm just sick.....seriously sick........but keeping my fingers crossed.....I'm sure it worked!
To end my super cool 17 month post......I will sound like a broken record and say again....I CAN'T believe I've made it this far. The last couple months I've actually been thinking I can just get used to this pain because the thought of another surgery just makes me sick. However, I want good parts...and if it's a total knee......then that's the way it'll be!! :)
I'll also update on my exercise stuff.......I quit going to PT right before the surgery in March....she was afraid to keep working on me with the knee cap and tibia situation. However...you know I've been continuing to work it on my own!! I'm still going to spin class 2 or 3 times a week and have started lifting more weights about 2x a week. The last couple weeks it's been warm enough to start riding outside, so I've added that also. Honestly, the last couple weeks I've been in a funk......I seriously think it has something to do with all this anesthesia and pain killer crap.....but I'm back on it. Spin 2x a week, outside rides (16-20 miles) 2x a week, and weights (including many PT exercises) 2x a week.
Hope all my fellow ACI'ers are doing well and most importantly I hope my blog helps in some way!!!
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