After reading this article, it made me understand that although this injury sucks... some people have it worse and have managed to make it work, in the words of Tim Gunn. Please read this article. It's short but it will make you feel better about your injury and maybe even give you that extra push the next time you are at PT to strive more to be better than you were.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
An article to consider on Injuries
After reading this article, it made me understand that although this injury sucks... some people have it worse and have managed to make it work, in the words of Tim Gunn. Please read this article. It's short but it will make you feel better about your injury and maybe even give you that extra push the next time you are at PT to strive more to be better than you were.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
You've come a long way baby!
Day 31-
So today is officially one month since my surgery and I’ve come a long way, baby! I can walk a little bit without assistance in the house, I can get into the shower on my own, I only need pain meds at night, I can sleep on either side, and I only need the cane outside (unless I’m sore or tired or its wet or icy out). The big thing is not pain just soreness still from surgery but I can handle that. So dinner last night with friends was great and I have leftovers to enjoy today for lunch! Planning on just taking it easy today since I did a lot yesterday and am planning on going out tomorrow with my weekly parental outing. So nothing wildly exciting but that’s just as good as well. It’s cold outside so staying in bed wrapped up in the covers is a good way to spend the day… and that’s my plan. See ya’ tomorrow!
So today is officially one month since my surgery and I’ve come a long way, baby! I can walk a little bit without assistance in the house, I can get into the shower on my own, I only need pain meds at night, I can sleep on either side, and I only need the cane outside (unless I’m sore or tired or its wet or icy out). The big thing is not pain just soreness still from surgery but I can handle that. So dinner last night with friends was great and I have leftovers to enjoy today for lunch! Planning on just taking it easy today since I did a lot yesterday and am planning on going out tomorrow with my weekly parental outing. So nothing wildly exciting but that’s just as good as well. It’s cold outside so staying in bed wrapped up in the covers is a good way to spend the day… and that’s my plan. See ya’ tomorrow!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Progress
Day 30-
Had PT again today and I’m just cruising right along. Was finally able to do a couple leg lifts today and that’s been my biggest obstacle. So today I got my knee to 102 degrees, walked outside with just my cane and lifted my leg… I LIFTED MY LEG!! I haven’t been able to do that since the surgery and today I finally did it. I laugh with my therapist that this is such a workout and it really is. After she leaves, I ice the knee and take a nice, long nap. Tonight, I’m going to dinner with some friends and I’m really looking forward to that as well. I’m even planning on having a beer with dinner!! That’s my reward for all my hard work and for all the hard work to come. After this upcoming week, I’ll be heading to out-patient PT instead of at home. We were also talking about the pain that I’m having now and she said that the soreness and whatnot that I have now is surgical pain and that with my improvements it’s all a sign that the surgery was a success! A SUCCESS! That’s a wonderful thing to hear especially after how much pain I’ve been in for so long. Ah, such an exciting day… now, for a nap!!
Had PT again today and I’m just cruising right along. Was finally able to do a couple leg lifts today and that’s been my biggest obstacle. So today I got my knee to 102 degrees, walked outside with just my cane and lifted my leg… I LIFTED MY LEG!! I haven’t been able to do that since the surgery and today I finally did it. I laugh with my therapist that this is such a workout and it really is. After she leaves, I ice the knee and take a nice, long nap. Tonight, I’m going to dinner with some friends and I’m really looking forward to that as well. I’m even planning on having a beer with dinner!! That’s my reward for all my hard work and for all the hard work to come. After this upcoming week, I’ll be heading to out-patient PT instead of at home. We were also talking about the pain that I’m having now and she said that the soreness and whatnot that I have now is surgical pain and that with my improvements it’s all a sign that the surgery was a success! A SUCCESS! That’s a wonderful thing to hear especially after how much pain I’ve been in for so long. Ah, such an exciting day… now, for a nap!!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thoughts on Pain
Day 29-
So today I’m watching a “House MD” marathon… big surprise right?! There is a scene in the episode “Who’s Your Daddy” in season 2 where House is pacing his condo looking for relief from pain. I remember nights and days doing that just hoping for an ounce of relief. Well it got me thinking about pain. More specifically, pre and post op pain. Before I had the surgery, my knee was incredibly arthritic and painful. And not just painful, but a pain that you just can’t describe. It was deep in the bone and there were days when heat, cold, a bath, the sun, pain meds or my wedge pillow just didn’t help the pain and I would writhe in pain and just hold back the tears until I just feel asleep from pure exhaustion. That’s no way to live after years of that kind of pain coming and going was why I choose to have this surgery. Now, that pain is gone. That pain was gone even the day of surgery. I knew it was gone because I was sore, I was really sore, but that deep and intense pain was gone. I think that was part of the reason I was able to tolerate the pain so well and have been able to as well. Now, sure the knee is sore and weak but it’s manageable. It’s manageable… what a change! What a great change! Sure, I complain about the gimping around, about being sore and the staples and the ugly scar but when it comes down to it, the pain is gone and once my PT is over and the leg is strong again, the pain will be gone. GONE! That’s the most important part of this whole thing… the whole reason I got this done. Just think about it.
So today I’m watching a “House MD” marathon… big surprise right?! There is a scene in the episode “Who’s Your Daddy” in season 2 where House is pacing his condo looking for relief from pain. I remember nights and days doing that just hoping for an ounce of relief. Well it got me thinking about pain. More specifically, pre and post op pain. Before I had the surgery, my knee was incredibly arthritic and painful. And not just painful, but a pain that you just can’t describe. It was deep in the bone and there were days when heat, cold, a bath, the sun, pain meds or my wedge pillow just didn’t help the pain and I would writhe in pain and just hold back the tears until I just feel asleep from pure exhaustion. That’s no way to live after years of that kind of pain coming and going was why I choose to have this surgery. Now, that pain is gone. That pain was gone even the day of surgery. I knew it was gone because I was sore, I was really sore, but that deep and intense pain was gone. I think that was part of the reason I was able to tolerate the pain so well and have been able to as well. Now, sure the knee is sore and weak but it’s manageable. It’s manageable… what a change! What a great change! Sure, I complain about the gimping around, about being sore and the staples and the ugly scar but when it comes down to it, the pain is gone and once my PT is over and the leg is strong again, the pain will be gone. GONE! That’s the most important part of this whole thing… the whole reason I got this done. Just think about it.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
4 Weeks Out
Day 28-
So today has been 4 weeks since my surgery. Some days I don’t feel as though I’m progressing and other days I feel like I’m kicking ass in ten different directions. I mentioned this to my Physical Therapist and she told me that I’m really rocking it. When she started going through how much I’ve accomplished in just her couple of visits I suppose she’s right. I’m able to walk with a straight cane and even a little by myself, I can do stairs with a cane now, get into the shower myself and mostly hobble on my own. In fact, she even changed my status from Co-dependent to INDEPENDENT! To me, that’s a huge thing that after only 4 weeks I’m doing stuff on my own. Part of me thinks that its due in part to me being very active prior to the surgery and the injury with dance, Yoga and Pilates plus playing sports. It’s like I have an inner drive to get better and I really want to wear stilettos and wedges this summer with my Maxi-dresses since now my leg is so ugly that I’ll have to rock fabulous shoes to distract from the scar. I also got permission to start putting Cocoa Butter on the scar to help it fade out and to help desensitize it. The swelling that is above my knee is still really bugging me but I’m hoping that once the quad muscle gets stronger that it will go away or break up more as we work it. Also, the scar is moving better and she thinks that the scar tissue is breaking up well too. I guess I really am coming along, I just live with myself so I guess I just don't see it and it doesn’t dawn on me just how far I’ve come in just a short time.
So today has been 4 weeks since my surgery. Some days I don’t feel as though I’m progressing and other days I feel like I’m kicking ass in ten different directions. I mentioned this to my Physical Therapist and she told me that I’m really rocking it. When she started going through how much I’ve accomplished in just her couple of visits I suppose she’s right. I’m able to walk with a straight cane and even a little by myself, I can do stairs with a cane now, get into the shower myself and mostly hobble on my own. In fact, she even changed my status from Co-dependent to INDEPENDENT! To me, that’s a huge thing that after only 4 weeks I’m doing stuff on my own. Part of me thinks that its due in part to me being very active prior to the surgery and the injury with dance, Yoga and Pilates plus playing sports. It’s like I have an inner drive to get better and I really want to wear stilettos and wedges this summer with my Maxi-dresses since now my leg is so ugly that I’ll have to rock fabulous shoes to distract from the scar. I also got permission to start putting Cocoa Butter on the scar to help it fade out and to help desensitize it. The swelling that is above my knee is still really bugging me but I’m hoping that once the quad muscle gets stronger that it will go away or break up more as we work it. Also, the scar is moving better and she thinks that the scar tissue is breaking up well too. I guess I really am coming along, I just live with myself so I guess I just don't see it and it doesn’t dawn on me just how far I’ve come in just a short time.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Taking Notice
Day 27 -
Have I mentioned how much I love watching “Wife Swap”?! So it’s on all day today and that’s good when I need to stay put and let the knee rest. I’ve been making progress so much so that now even I am starting to notice. I’ve been able to take a couple steps here and there and to me, that’s amazing!! I can’t believe that tomorrow will be almost a month out since the surgery (well, 4 weeks and that’s pretty much a month lol). I’m also getting myself into a bit of a routine as well. I get up in the morning and eat some breakfast and then do my exercises for my knee. Then I rest and walk around the house to get some more exercise and then I have lunch. Around 3-4 I start to tucker out and that’s when I take a nap plus I start to get a little sore. Then I get up, walk around the house again for about 20 minutes and maybe have a snack and then dinner and then I do some more exercises and rest and watch TV and color (don’t hate, I love to color and it helps take my mind off the pain) and then have another snack and then I fall asleep around 2am or so. So there it is… fun huh?! At least I’m getting better a bit at a time!
Have I mentioned how much I love watching “Wife Swap”?! So it’s on all day today and that’s good when I need to stay put and let the knee rest. I’ve been making progress so much so that now even I am starting to notice. I’ve been able to take a couple steps here and there and to me, that’s amazing!! I can’t believe that tomorrow will be almost a month out since the surgery (well, 4 weeks and that’s pretty much a month lol). I’m also getting myself into a bit of a routine as well. I get up in the morning and eat some breakfast and then do my exercises for my knee. Then I rest and walk around the house to get some more exercise and then I have lunch. Around 3-4 I start to tucker out and that’s when I take a nap plus I start to get a little sore. Then I get up, walk around the house again for about 20 minutes and maybe have a snack and then dinner and then I do some more exercises and rest and watch TV and color (don’t hate, I love to color and it helps take my mind off the pain) and then have another snack and then I fall asleep around 2am or so. So there it is… fun huh?! At least I’m getting better a bit at a time!
Friday, February 10, 2012
New Knee Lesson No. 1
Day 26-
Well I learned a very hard lesson today… I am not ready to lounge on the couch all day. I tried and man was my knee awful! I could barely walk when I got up and I was positive that I was going to fall a couple times. But I toughed it out and managed to stumble through the house and loosen up the knee. Still having problems with that swelling on the lower thigh that pushes on the kneecap and am hoping that this week during PT we can break it up more despite how much it hurts. So that has been my day, sat on the couch and watched “The Tudors”. But I keep telling myself that I’m healing and I have to just sit some days!!
Well I learned a very hard lesson today… I am not ready to lounge on the couch all day. I tried and man was my knee awful! I could barely walk when I got up and I was positive that I was going to fall a couple times. But I toughed it out and managed to stumble through the house and loosen up the knee. Still having problems with that swelling on the lower thigh that pushes on the kneecap and am hoping that this week during PT we can break it up more despite how much it hurts. So that has been my day, sat on the couch and watched “The Tudors”. But I keep telling myself that I’m healing and I have to just sit some days!!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Stupid Weather
Day 24-
Was still pretty sore from the weather changes (as in it snowed about a foot of snow overnight and it was 45 and rainy yesterday!! Eck!!). I stayed in bed most of the day and worked on bending the knee more since I’m hoping to go out tomorrow with my parents. I really do look forward to that every week, and I’m pretty sure my parents do as well since they get to see my progress. So not much is going on today, just resting and icing and bending and hoping to feel better. At least I plan to shower tonight and that’s always wonderful! I don’t know why it’s so great but it really is… and now I can get into the shower without having to be pretty much carried in. Again, independence is so wonderful and you don’t understand how great it is until you aren’t.
Was still pretty sore from the weather changes (as in it snowed about a foot of snow overnight and it was 45 and rainy yesterday!! Eck!!). I stayed in bed most of the day and worked on bending the knee more since I’m hoping to go out tomorrow with my parents. I really do look forward to that every week, and I’m pretty sure my parents do as well since they get to see my progress. So not much is going on today, just resting and icing and bending and hoping to feel better. At least I plan to shower tonight and that’s always wonderful! I don’t know why it’s so great but it really is… and now I can get into the shower without having to be pretty much carried in. Again, independence is so wonderful and you don’t understand how great it is until you aren’t.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Misery Loves Company
Day 23-
My PT was awful today. I could barely work the knee or bend it and I felt so wobbly when I walked. Today’s weather definitely isn’t helping since it’s rainy and almost 45 degrees today!! This weather is unusual for this area for this time of the year. I’d almost rather it would just get cold and snow and stay that way. That swelling is bugging me again but again I think the weather plays a part as well. Today I’ve stayed in bed and iced the leg all day. It helped that my friend came over and visited with me all day long but she was having a bad day as well so it was defiantly a “misery loves company” thing.
My PT was awful today. I could barely work the knee or bend it and I felt so wobbly when I walked. Today’s weather definitely isn’t helping since it’s rainy and almost 45 degrees today!! This weather is unusual for this area for this time of the year. I’d almost rather it would just get cold and snow and stay that way. That swelling is bugging me again but again I think the weather plays a part as well. Today I’ve stayed in bed and iced the leg all day. It helped that my friend came over and visited with me all day long but she was having a bad day as well so it was defiantly a “misery loves company” thing.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Looking Up!
Day 22-
I switched myself from the quad cane to my “House” flame cane. If I have to use a can at least be it a good looking cane. I hate the quad cane since it makes me feel old… you know, in case having a knee replacement doesn’t. But I’m walking better and am able to take a couple steps on my own like in my bedroom next to my dresser or in the bathroom with the counter near. I feel pretty good and I feel like I’m getting stronger. It's nice to be able to walk around the house or just get up and putter because I want to. I almost feel like my old self… then again, I’ve been in pain for so long that I forgot whats it’s like to feel like myself!! So, maybe I feel like me but v2.0!!
I switched myself from the quad cane to my “House” flame cane. If I have to use a can at least be it a good looking cane. I hate the quad cane since it makes me feel old… you know, in case having a knee replacement doesn’t. But I’m walking better and am able to take a couple steps on my own like in my bedroom next to my dresser or in the bathroom with the counter near. I feel pretty good and I feel like I’m getting stronger. It's nice to be able to walk around the house or just get up and putter because I want to. I almost feel like my old self… then again, I’ve been in pain for so long that I forgot whats it’s like to feel like myself!! So, maybe I feel like me but v2.0!!
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