Day 15 - First walking steps...

This was a great day!  I did some teaching for the first time in weeks.  My client came and picked me up and I spent a few hours at her ranch helping train a couple horses.  I did demo a few things, where I stood, but mostly I sat in a chair and instructed the owner.  At one point, I just needed to move a couple feet and took a few steps.  I actually surprised myself!!  I walked w/o crutches!!  Granted, I looked like a lame 90 year old woman, but still - I covered ground w/o my dreaded walking sticks.

Later, I managed to figure out how to set the seat on my bike so I could spin (with my toes barely touching pedals since I only have about 100 degrees of flexion).

Did lots of PT, getting 0 degrees extension.

Things are looking pretty good.

Day 13 - Physical Therapy Begins

... and man, is it ever brutal.  Now, I don't mean to scare you if you are recovering from knee surgery and getting close to starting PT.  But, honestly, my therapist pushes so hard for improvement and the pain is intense.  More than I expected. This whole experience has been more than I expected, though.

For my first visit, I had 7-8 degrees extension and about 80 degrees flexion.  I'd been working on it on my own about a week after surgery.  My therapist, however, wants real progress.  It's pretty damn tough.

My quad is basically non-existent.  So, using the Tenz (?) machine at each visit.  Building range of motion and getting my quad back is going to be a 3-month process, the therapist says.  She said I could be running again at month 4.  I hope I can do better than that.

I've had 2 sessions now.  The 2nd session, I was able to sit on a recumbent bike and try to spin.  Here's the thing:  I can't spin.  My knee doesn't have that range of motion yet.  So I took the pedals back and forth, trying to force stretching and increased ROM.

I've never done PT before.  I've never had this extensive an injury or surgery.  I want to build ROM w/o my therapist as much as possible because she's so intense!!  I'll be working to push myself mutliple times/day so I can be ready for next week's appointments.

Day 9 - Progress!!

Good news from the doc today!  Stitches were removed and he examined my knee.  He was very happy with the stability, as well as my flexion ability.  I've been doing good work getting my knee moving.  He was impressed and said it was even better than he expected.

So, next phase.  I am now permitted to weight my knee 50%.  I will also be able to walk w/o crutches in 2 weeks!!  At that point he said to go for 100% weight as I build.  PT starts next week, too.

What a relief.  I was ecstatic leaving the doctors office.

I walked around much more that I had been, using crutches of course, and played with weighting it 50%.  Not really sure how to guage 50%, but I did my best.  Walked from the parking lot into the movie theater - about 400 yards and didn't have pain that night.  Optimistic!!

Day 8 - Gaining Mobility

This was a great day.  Had a horsetrainer and great friend come over for a while to play with my horses for me.  Loved watching her play with my newest horse, Chance.  We used the indoor and I got a little uncomfortable in the camp chairs, but it was ok.

Crutched around more than usual and spent more time with the able-bodied folks.

Had some friends bring dinner, which was delish!!  Lots of food!

Range of Motion didn't improve today, but I believe my leg is slightly stronger.

Day 7 - Getting an Education through Documentaries

I discovered documentaries on NetFlix.  Another bed day.  Feeling good about the rest as I assume I'm about to start the work of PT in a few days.  Moving around a little easier.  No pain unless I flex too far.  Still, only weight bearing at 20%, following doctors orders.  Flexion slow to improve, Ive got about 90 degrees still.  Quad muscle charlie horses are alive and well.

Day 6- Quiet Recovery

Quiet day - in bed, flexing, leg lifting, hanging around.  1 visitor and some time with my daughter.

Pain is way less.  Leg lifts are easier.  Flexion is slowly increasing.

Day 5 - Lots of Visitors

I went downstairs a couple times today for visitors.  One friend brought lunch and I ate with her and my family at the kitchen table (kinda nice!).  A couple visitors came to me in my bedroom, but for the last visitor I went downstairs and sat on the couch with her for a couple hours.

I tried to keep my knee elevated, but I realized later that I should have gotten my ColPac out and wrapped my knee while I sat on the couch.  I was missing my ice machine during that visit!

By the way, buy a ColPac knee wrap.  Money well spent.

Feels good being off of Percocet.  Working on my range of motion and when I took my shower at the end of the day, I was able to get a 90 degree bend in my leg.  That's progress, folks.  Lots of leg lifts today, too.  Have some bizarre muscle knots developing in my quad.  One on each side of my quad.  They are sore to the touch and it just feels like massive charlie horses.