I was talking with my physical therapist and she said that after we enter Phase 3 she would teach me how to walk on stairs again! I have been just taking each step one at a time with my bad leg straight. I've been doing that for so long that I actually got excited at the idea of being able to walk normally up and down stairs! And then I get a little embarrassed that I got a little excited. But seriously, my house has three floors and tons of stairs. I can't wait to relearn them!
She did say not to try it on my own first. That is definitely something to begin with her guidance.
I still plan on walking around the grocery store this weekend. If it goes well, I will start going into the office. My job has been great since they have been letting me work from home. Before my surgery, days in the office were my most painful. The concrete floors there just killed my knee. I am a little nervous about going back, but the grocery store seems like a good test to see if I am ready.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
No More Whining (13 weeks and 5 days)
I have been hesitant to post lately because the progress is so slow it just feels like whining. In reality, I am not whining much and am actually pretty happy with the current state of my knee. No, it's not feeling awesome. But it feels much better than it used to! So I will try to keep posting, but focus on what has changed rather than the current state.
I had an appointment with Dr. Trice today and he was pleased with my progress at the three month mark, but said I am about two weeks behind so he wanted me to wait another two weeks before beginning Phase 3 of the recovery protocol. Phase 3 is a substantial return to activity so I am obviously excited, even if I know that it will be gradual. He also pointed out that at this time the implanted cells should be changing from a jelly-like consistency to a waxy consistency, so I still need to protect them. No squatting or twisting! I really wasn't planning on doing that anyway. :)
I am feeling like I haven't pushed myself as much lately. The little things are getting easier, like walking into a store but not around it. That used to wipe me out just a few weeks ago, but this past weekend I was less affected by it. So I was thinking that I might try grocery shopping (like actually walking around the store) with my husband this weekend. If I get tired there are places to sit and it is nice and level, as opposed to walking outside.
I have noticed a change in how each step feels. I realized that as I took each step, the knee would settle into a position as the weight went through it. There was a lot of movement and shifting going on and I walked so very slowly to allow that shifting and settling to occur. As my muscles around the joint have gotten stronger, there seems to be less settling when I put weight through it. As a result, I am actually walking a little faster. I just noticed this happening in the past week, but I sure like it!
I had an appointment with Dr. Trice today and he was pleased with my progress at the three month mark, but said I am about two weeks behind so he wanted me to wait another two weeks before beginning Phase 3 of the recovery protocol. Phase 3 is a substantial return to activity so I am obviously excited, even if I know that it will be gradual. He also pointed out that at this time the implanted cells should be changing from a jelly-like consistency to a waxy consistency, so I still need to protect them. No squatting or twisting! I really wasn't planning on doing that anyway. :)
I am feeling like I haven't pushed myself as much lately. The little things are getting easier, like walking into a store but not around it. That used to wipe me out just a few weeks ago, but this past weekend I was less affected by it. So I was thinking that I might try grocery shopping (like actually walking around the store) with my husband this weekend. If I get tired there are places to sit and it is nice and level, as opposed to walking outside.
I have noticed a change in how each step feels. I realized that as I took each step, the knee would settle into a position as the weight went through it. There was a lot of movement and shifting going on and I walked so very slowly to allow that shifting and settling to occur. As my muscles around the joint have gotten stronger, there seems to be less settling when I put weight through it. As a result, I am actually walking a little faster. I just noticed this happening in the past week, but I sure like it!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Nearly 13 Weeks
I just reread the last post here and realized how slowly things are changing. On June 3rd I was hoping to drive soon and I was occasionally going without the cane in the house. Now it is June 21 and I am driving short distances and regularly going without the cane in the house. Hmm. That doesn't seem that much of a change for 18 days.
So it goes. I am getting a little stronger. Every few days I just catch myself feeling maybe not so weak. On Saturday I actually ran a few errands. I can't shop for groceries, but I could walk into the grocery store, find one thing in the produce section, and go straight to the checkout. It was a huge challenge! So, does that deserve a woohoo? Meh. I wouldn't have done that on June 3rd, so I guess it is progress.
The straight leg raises are still very painful and are really the only part of PT where I haven't come a long way. Whenever I do them, I try to do 40-50 total. The first ten are one at a time, and I rest after each. I try to visualize the pain as water flowing over me and dissipating, flowing down to the floor and away from me. The second ten I do in sets of 5, and if I can, the rest I do in sets of ten. They get easier as I go, which is why I can keep increasing the number in each set.
Last week I was having a particularly hard time and could only manage sets of 5 all the way through to 50. I had been pondering why and I think I have figured it out. It was the same culprit as before: those stupid prone exercises! My leg had been straightening easily so I thought I could cut them out finally, but spending a little time prone seemed to help something shift in the knee so that it was less painful to lock it straight. Honestly, the remaining pain I am dealing with is very hard to describe, so forgive me for failing to convey it. It just hurts whenever I rely on the muscles around the knee to support it. That occurs when I lock it straight, lift the leg in any way, or if it has been in one position for too long and the muscles cramp from holding it there.
I am still in less pain than before the surgery and I try to keep that in mind. However, I am pretty sick of being a little weakling. Meep.
So it goes. I am getting a little stronger. Every few days I just catch myself feeling maybe not so weak. On Saturday I actually ran a few errands. I can't shop for groceries, but I could walk into the grocery store, find one thing in the produce section, and go straight to the checkout. It was a huge challenge! So, does that deserve a woohoo? Meh. I wouldn't have done that on June 3rd, so I guess it is progress.
The straight leg raises are still very painful and are really the only part of PT where I haven't come a long way. Whenever I do them, I try to do 40-50 total. The first ten are one at a time, and I rest after each. I try to visualize the pain as water flowing over me and dissipating, flowing down to the floor and away from me. The second ten I do in sets of 5, and if I can, the rest I do in sets of ten. They get easier as I go, which is why I can keep increasing the number in each set.
Last week I was having a particularly hard time and could only manage sets of 5 all the way through to 50. I had been pondering why and I think I have figured it out. It was the same culprit as before: those stupid prone exercises! My leg had been straightening easily so I thought I could cut them out finally, but spending a little time prone seemed to help something shift in the knee so that it was less painful to lock it straight. Honestly, the remaining pain I am dealing with is very hard to describe, so forgive me for failing to convey it. It just hurts whenever I rely on the muscles around the knee to support it. That occurs when I lock it straight, lift the leg in any way, or if it has been in one position for too long and the muscles cramp from holding it there.
I am still in less pain than before the surgery and I try to keep that in mind. However, I am pretty sick of being a little weakling. Meep.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Slow and steady wins the race
I haven't posted for a bit, and I do think that at this point it makes more sense to post less frequently. Things are not changing on a day to day basis anymore as the recovery slows down.
Yesterday marked 10 weeks since I got a new chance at having a working knee again. It's been tough sometimes, but I am very lucky. Everything has been going to plan and there have been no complications so far. (And I just knocked on my wood desk.) My scar (GR 2) is healing beautifully and going through all kinds of fun colors. When I wake up, it is almost white. If I am cold, it turns dark purple. If I am hot, it is an angry sort of pink. And sometimes, one part of the scar is one color and another part is a different color. Whatever. I measured the scar too. It is a hair over five inches when my knee is perfectly straight, and 6 1/2 inches when bent. Not bad for scar bragging rights.
Last week I saw Dr. Trice again and he was happy with my extension (Yay!) so all that prone work paid off. At the time of the appointment I was down to using one crutch and he said to try to get off that remaining crutch within a week. Of course, I was very excited about that direction. About three days later I tried to switch out the remaining crutch for a cane. I was successful, but walking with the cane was quite difficult. I did notice that trying to walk with the cane made going back to walking with one crutch easier, so I am trying to continue the philosophy of going a little further than is comfortable and then pulling back. It makes the little steps more successful.
In fact, now I am trying to not use the cane when I am staying within one room in the house and there are surfaces I can reach for support. It is not good to do this too much, I think, because the limp is awful and I need the cane to practice walking correctly. But, I am hoping that walking a little without the cane will make it easier to walk with it. Go too far, and pull back. Another little step forward.
I working from home now and hoping that I might start driving again soon. It would be nice to be more independent and at least be able to get to my PT appointments by myself. My family has been wonderful in supporting me, but I really don't want to need so much support. It's been a year and a half since all this pain started and people have been compensating for my limitations for that long. I know that slow and steady will win out, but it's hard to feel like you might see the light at the end of the tunnel and not wish you could run for it!
Wow, I am full of clichés today, but at least I haven't broken out the sports metaphors. Well, now you all know I am still here, and I am still trying.
Heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe......
Yesterday marked 10 weeks since I got a new chance at having a working knee again. It's been tough sometimes, but I am very lucky. Everything has been going to plan and there have been no complications so far. (And I just knocked on my wood desk.) My scar (GR 2) is healing beautifully and going through all kinds of fun colors. When I wake up, it is almost white. If I am cold, it turns dark purple. If I am hot, it is an angry sort of pink. And sometimes, one part of the scar is one color and another part is a different color. Whatever. I measured the scar too. It is a hair over five inches when my knee is perfectly straight, and 6 1/2 inches when bent. Not bad for scar bragging rights.
Last week I saw Dr. Trice again and he was happy with my extension (Yay!) so all that prone work paid off. At the time of the appointment I was down to using one crutch and he said to try to get off that remaining crutch within a week. Of course, I was very excited about that direction. About three days later I tried to switch out the remaining crutch for a cane. I was successful, but walking with the cane was quite difficult. I did notice that trying to walk with the cane made going back to walking with one crutch easier, so I am trying to continue the philosophy of going a little further than is comfortable and then pulling back. It makes the little steps more successful.
In fact, now I am trying to not use the cane when I am staying within one room in the house and there are surfaces I can reach for support. It is not good to do this too much, I think, because the limp is awful and I need the cane to practice walking correctly. But, I am hoping that walking a little without the cane will make it easier to walk with it. Go too far, and pull back. Another little step forward.
I working from home now and hoping that I might start driving again soon. It would be nice to be more independent and at least be able to get to my PT appointments by myself. My family has been wonderful in supporting me, but I really don't want to need so much support. It's been a year and a half since all this pain started and people have been compensating for my limitations for that long. I know that slow and steady will win out, but it's hard to feel like you might see the light at the end of the tunnel and not wish you could run for it!
Wow, I am full of clichés today, but at least I haven't broken out the sports metaphors. Well, now you all know I am still here, and I am still trying.
Heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)