Wow, does time fly! I've been back to work for close to a month now, this helps to explain my lack of posting.
When I started back to work I was still non weight bearing and in the locking brace all day unless I was taking a shower. Over the last three weeks or so I have made amazing strides in terms of my recovery. To start I have been working with a two man team in physical therapy and they have progressed me to almost 100% weight bearing. I still need the crutches for mis-steps and rough terrain,(grass, gravel, etc). The brace is all but gone, I only need to wear it to sleep for the next few weeks. My mobility is up to about 115% degrees outside of the CPM and the CPM is there just to keep my leg moving while I'm sitting around.
I'm driving again which makes me happy, and the wife as well. She doesn't need to shelp me around any longer.
I'm making good recovery, but I have to remember that the area where they replaced the cartlidge is still very soft and I even though I am starting to resume normal activities I still risk destroying everything if I go to fast.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
PT Appt #2
Today was my second Phyiscal Therapy appointment. We started off pretty aggressive, I was allowed to "toe touch". This meant that I could walk using the crutches and put my right leg down on the floor as if I was walking on egg shells without breaking the shells. Needless to say it was akward and nerve racking at the same time. I got better as it the farther I walked. In the next couple of weeks I'll go to 75 percent weight bearing which will get me down to one crutch.
As the appointment went on we talked about my stuggles with the heel slides. The therapist said it was likely due to scar tissue build up, normal with the amount of surgery that I had. She had me do the heel slides and stop when it felt uncomfortable, at that point she lifted my leg off the table and pushed it another 10 degrees or so and held it there and then returned it back to straight. She did this for about 10 minutes or so each time pushing my leg a little further than the last. This exercise, or torture, is designed to break up the the scar tissue and low and behold after a couple of repetitions my knee started sounding like a bowl of Rice Krispies as the scar tissue broke down. I was able to increase the bend in my knee about 10 degrees from just that treatment.
Needless to say this treatment was horribly painful and all I wanted to do was stick my leg in side the Game Ready and leave it there for about 5 hours.
As I write this entry I'm still sore, probably the most sore been in weeks.
Next week I head back to work....I know I'll be wiped out by the end of the day but it will be well worth it to feel like a productive member of society.
As the appointment went on we talked about my stuggles with the heel slides. The therapist said it was likely due to scar tissue build up, normal with the amount of surgery that I had. She had me do the heel slides and stop when it felt uncomfortable, at that point she lifted my leg off the table and pushed it another 10 degrees or so and held it there and then returned it back to straight. She did this for about 10 minutes or so each time pushing my leg a little further than the last. This exercise, or torture, is designed to break up the the scar tissue and low and behold after a couple of repetitions my knee started sounding like a bowl of Rice Krispies as the scar tissue broke down. I was able to increase the bend in my knee about 10 degrees from just that treatment.
Needless to say this treatment was horribly painful and all I wanted to do was stick my leg in side the Game Ready and leave it there for about 5 hours.
As I write this entry I'm still sore, probably the most sore been in weeks.
Next week I head back to work....I know I'll be wiped out by the end of the day but it will be well worth it to feel like a productive member of society.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Long Time No Post
Its been a long time since my last post. Nothing much has changed in terms of my recovery. I'm in the last week of my time off and am looking forward to heading back and attempting to being productive.
My work on the CPM has continued with gradual improvement. My focus is to continue increasing the degree gradually as I am comfortable.
The swelling in the knee has decreased significantly. Its begining to look more like a knee and less like a swollen mass from thigh to calf.
The at home phyiscal therapy has gone well so far, I've been able to do straight leg raises on my own and the heel slides are begining to get easier.
All I can do is just keep plugging away and get a little better everyday.
My work on the CPM has continued with gradual improvement. My focus is to continue increasing the degree gradually as I am comfortable.
The swelling in the knee has decreased significantly. Its begining to look more like a knee and less like a swollen mass from thigh to calf.
The at home phyiscal therapy has gone well so far, I've been able to do straight leg raises on my own and the heel slides are begining to get easier.
All I can do is just keep plugging away and get a little better everyday.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Rehab #1
Today I had my first Rehab appointment. They took some initial measurements and had me do light exercising. We focused on things like ankle slides, quad squeezes, and straight leg raises that would strenghten the quad muscle. Overall nothing was too strenuous but its amazing how when you don't use a set of muscles for weeks on end how hard something so simple would be.
Next week I'll be able to do some light toe touching exercises...my first steps to being able to walk again.
Next week I'll be able to do some light toe touching exercises...my first steps to being able to walk again.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Post Op 2
I went for my second post op appointment yesterday it was very good. I got the incision stiches out and am now able to shower freely. The doctor looked over the knee and said the lack of swelling was good and that the soreness around the ACI site is normal since they did so much in there. The PA also said that if there was swelling in the site or if anything I did had a shearing effect on the area then I would have something to worry about.
In other news I've been able to hit 90 on the CPM machine and now have been given the go ahead to move farther.
Tomorrow I start PT...which I am not looking forward to. I'll be going 2 times a week for a long time.
The topic of returning to work did come up and they said I should be able to go back soon for a few hours each day....that's something I'll need to work out with my boss..since once i go back I'll have to be back full time. More details to come.
"Viva la libertad -- A Friend."
In other news I've been able to hit 90 on the CPM machine and now have been given the go ahead to move farther.
Tomorrow I start PT...which I am not looking forward to. I'll be going 2 times a week for a long time.
The topic of returning to work did come up and they said I should be able to go back soon for a few hours each day....that's something I'll need to work out with my boss..since once i go back I'll have to be back full time. More details to come.
"Viva la libertad -- A Friend."
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Visit from Cleveland
Today I had a visit from my buddy from Cleveland. We hung out and watched the World Baseball Classic and had Sonic. Normally I would enjoy Sonic but lateley all heavy food has made me nauseous...no doubt thanks to all the meds I am on.
I've made it up to 85 on the CPM getting slowly closer to the 90 I need to reach. Each 5 degree increment comes with its own levels of discomfort. Usually I work my way up to the next highest setting buy going a couple of degrees down to start.
I had to reschedule my second post op that was supposed to be on Friday. Suzanne has come down sick and was unable to take me. After a couple of days of rest she's feeling better, so Monday I'll be able to have that appt.
I had a bit of scare last night, I made my way upstairs to take a shower and I had a sudden cringing pain near the area of the ACI. I paniced a bit and had a bit of a melt down thinking I had somehow destroyed all that work that had just been done. After calming down I finished my shower and went to sleep. Today while in the CPM I had no pain at that site so things look ok. I'll be sure to cover it with the Dr on Monday.
I've made it up to 85 on the CPM getting slowly closer to the 90 I need to reach. Each 5 degree increment comes with its own levels of discomfort. Usually I work my way up to the next highest setting buy going a couple of degrees down to start.
I had to reschedule my second post op that was supposed to be on Friday. Suzanne has come down sick and was unable to take me. After a couple of days of rest she's feeling better, so Monday I'll be able to have that appt.
I had a bit of scare last night, I made my way upstairs to take a shower and I had a sudden cringing pain near the area of the ACI. I paniced a bit and had a bit of a melt down thinking I had somehow destroyed all that work that had just been done. After calming down I finished my shower and went to sleep. Today while in the CPM I had no pain at that site so things look ok. I'll be sure to cover it with the Dr on Monday.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Not Much Change...
The last couple of days have been status quo. The pain level has evened out at about 5-6 but flairs up to around 8 when the meds start to wear off. The pain has gone from the piercing pain that I have been having to more waves of pain. Its more tolerable on a day to day basis.
The area where the Osteonomy is has begun aching more and more as I spend time in the CPM machine. I've never had a broken leg, but i assume this is normal from the increase stress put on the leg from the machine.
Tomorrow I have my second follow up with the doctor. We'll talk about my recovery, get the stitches taken out, and get a better feel for when I can return to work and when I can start putting slight weight down on the leg. Physical Therapy starts next week...not really looking forward to that.
The area where the Osteonomy is has begun aching more and more as I spend time in the CPM machine. I've never had a broken leg, but i assume this is normal from the increase stress put on the leg from the machine.
Tomorrow I have my second follow up with the doctor. We'll talk about my recovery, get the stitches taken out, and get a better feel for when I can return to work and when I can start putting slight weight down on the leg. Physical Therapy starts next week...not really looking forward to that.
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