I'm officially 9 weeks post-op today!
Today was my first day back to work since my surgery. The doctor restricted me to "seated work only." Basically "seated work" at Disney means rolling silverware in napkins or making kid meal boxes. Today, I was at "Pavillion" rolling silverware in napkins for 6 hours.
Well, had a LOT of walking that I had to do and then my knee is not accustom to sitting in a chair for about 6 hours. I kept straightening it every once in a while, but it didn't help much.
Talked to my physical therapist today before work and they said that I would probably be sore so to give my knee a break from exercises for a day or 2. I did 3 days of physical therapy in a row before my doctor's appointment (so I could use all of my prescription) and so my knee was already a bit tired. Then I started work on top of that.
When I got off of work, my knee was KILLING me. Once I got home I hooked up my E-Stim machine and it helped, but I'm still pretty sore this evening. Ice is my friend.
Tomorrow is my day off so I plan to kind of take it as easy as I can. I have a couple errands that need to be done, but other than that, I will be relaxing my knee. It needs it badly.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
2 months Post-Op
Tomorrow I am officially 9 weeks post-op!
So today I had my 2 month post-op appointment with my OS.
I was SO nervous as at my last appointment he didn't seem happy with my progress. Luckily, today was SO much better!
Went to PT this afternoon before the doctor and they did my evaluation.
My measurements were all done cold without warming up my knee:
Active flexion (laying on my stomach and bending on my own) is at 114 degrees
Passive flexion (laying on stomach and bending using my other leg to push) is at 120 degrees
Active flexion (laying on my back and pulling my heel toward my bottom) is at 125 degrees
Active extension (sitting on edge of bench and straightening my leg) is at -12
Passive extension (sitting on edge and using other leg to make my leg straight) is at about -4
Strength is still needed in the Quad of my op leg.
I really focused the last month to getting my extension back. It is a TON better than last doctor's appointment. The doctor even said my "extension is perfect!" Yea!
The doctor said I'm a bit behind on my flexion, but said it will come with time. He said I am only behind about 10-15 degrees and then I'll be back to my pre-op flexion.
Asked the doctor about the "catching" I feel in my knee cap - basically after I have my leg totally straight I feel like something right below my knee cap catches at about 80 degrees of flexion and hurts so I can't bend my knee farther. Once I straighten my leg again and bend it again most of the time the "catching" goes away. The doctor said that he thinks it is due to having a weaker quad muscle. He thinks that once my quad is stronger, it will pull the knee cap the right way and the problem will go away. I hope this is the case!
He said I don't need to wear my brace for day to day walking, but to wear it if I'm going to be in crowds like at work at Disneyland . I also will wear it when I begin being more active like jogging, jumping, pivoting (which is still a ways away)
I also got black and white photos from the surgery. It's weird to see the inside of my knee. Can't see a whole lot, but they are going to try to email me the color pictures so I can see more.
Still doing physical therapy 3 times a week for the next 4 weeks. I'll have my 3 month post-op appointment September 23rd.
I'm going back to work starting tomorrow, but seated work only. Still a LONG way before I'm dancing in the parades again, but at least it is one step closer!
So today I had my 2 month post-op appointment with my OS.
I was SO nervous as at my last appointment he didn't seem happy with my progress. Luckily, today was SO much better!
Went to PT this afternoon before the doctor and they did my evaluation.
My measurements were all done cold without warming up my knee:
Active flexion (laying on my stomach and bending on my own) is at 114 degrees
Passive flexion (laying on stomach and bending using my other leg to push) is at 120 degrees
Active flexion (laying on my back and pulling my heel toward my bottom) is at 125 degrees
Active extension (sitting on edge of bench and straightening my leg) is at -12
Passive extension (sitting on edge and using other leg to make my leg straight) is at about -4
Strength is still needed in the Quad of my op leg.
I really focused the last month to getting my extension back. It is a TON better than last doctor's appointment. The doctor even said my "extension is perfect!" Yea!
The doctor said I'm a bit behind on my flexion, but said it will come with time. He said I am only behind about 10-15 degrees and then I'll be back to my pre-op flexion.
Asked the doctor about the "catching" I feel in my knee cap - basically after I have my leg totally straight I feel like something right below my knee cap catches at about 80 degrees of flexion and hurts so I can't bend my knee farther. Once I straighten my leg again and bend it again most of the time the "catching" goes away. The doctor said that he thinks it is due to having a weaker quad muscle. He thinks that once my quad is stronger, it will pull the knee cap the right way and the problem will go away. I hope this is the case!
He said I don't need to wear my brace for day to day walking, but to wear it if I'm going to be in crowds like at work at Disneyland . I also will wear it when I begin being more active like jogging, jumping, pivoting (which is still a ways away)
I also got black and white photos from the surgery. It's weird to see the inside of my knee. Can't see a whole lot, but they are going to try to email me the color pictures so I can see more.
Still doing physical therapy 3 times a week for the next 4 weeks. I'll have my 3 month post-op appointment September 23rd.
I'm going back to work starting tomorrow, but seated work only. Still a LONG way before I'm dancing in the parades again, but at least it is one step closer!
Friday, August 21, 2009
What I Miss The Most.... .
So don't take this blog the wrong way. I am not complaining that I cannot do these things, but I was thinking today about the simple things that I miss after my knee surgery. I wanted to make a list so I could be happy to look back once I'm completely healed and know what not to take for granted.
What I miss:
Going out in public without carrying a cane or crutch
Walking without a limp
Wearing no knee brace
Being able to walk or go somewhere in public without people staring at me or asking what happened
Not being worried when I go out of the house that someone will bump into my hurt knee
Walking long distances
Walking Fast/Jogging/Running
Skipping
Cardio - dancing, jumping, biking
Not being as worried about what I am eating because I can exercise
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Sitting for a long peroid of time with my knee bent
Being able to bend my knees the same amount
Having no pain in my knee
Having no numb spot on my knee
Having a reason to get up, get dressed and actually look nice
Performing
Seeing my friends when I go to work
Being happy because I am not missing out on anything
Feeling whole
DANCING!!!!!
What I miss:
Going out in public without carrying a cane or crutch
Walking without a limp
Wearing no knee brace
Being able to walk or go somewhere in public without people staring at me or asking what happened
Not being worried when I go out of the house that someone will bump into my hurt knee
Walking long distances
Walking Fast/Jogging/Running
Skipping
Cardio - dancing, jumping, biking
Not being as worried about what I am eating because I can exercise
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Sitting for a long peroid of time with my knee bent
Being able to bend my knees the same amount
Having no pain in my knee
Having no numb spot on my knee
Having a reason to get up, get dressed and actually look nice
Performing
Seeing my friends when I go to work
Being happy because I am not missing out on anything
Feeling whole
DANCING!!!!!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Update...
Well, I stink at keeping up with my blog. :)
Just wanted to give you an update on how things have been going.
I have been attending physical therapy 3 times a week for the past 6.5 weeks. I started with being able to bend my knee only to 70 degrees and now am up to 120 degrees.
I started on 2 crutches and now I am off of crutches, but if I go out in public I take a cane to help keep people from bumping into me.
Back at the end of July I flew back to Kansas City to attend a wedding. It was a bit scary to fly after surgery, but the people at Southwest were very helpful. I was able to board the plane first and sit in the front row so I could stretch my leg out in front of me. While I was home, my brother sprained his ankle and was also on crutches. We were quite the pair.
I finished my work with the knee CPM (Constant Passive Motion) machine on July 21st and so was on it for a little less than a month. For the first 6 weeks, I was given an electric stim machine that sends electric shocks through my knee to help with pain. It has been my best friend. I went to see the new Harry Potter movie (2.5 hours long) and would not have been able to sit though it without my e-stim machine. It also helped with my flights when I went back to Kansas City. Luckily they extended the use of it for another 6 weeks and after that peroid, if I am still using it, they will go to my insurance company and ask if they will purchase it for me. I hope that happens.
I'm considering changing physical therapists as I am not getting as much 1 on 1 time with the Disney physical therapists as I'd like. They have too many patients and not enough space or therapists. I hate to hurt their feelings or make them mad, but I need to get better.
At my last doctor's appointment on July 29th, I had to wait for over an hour to be seen. Then, after having my leg bent that long in the waiting room, it did not want to go straight. The doctor told me I needed to work on this (I wanted to say he needed to work on getting his patients in faster, but I bit my tounge haha). Then he said that I was making good progress, but he hoped I would be farther than where I am. That was SO frustrating to hear. I feel I can only do what my knee allows me to do.
Anyway, I have another doctors appointment next Wednesday, August 26th. I think I'll be released back to seated work only. This means I'll be backstage at Disney rolling silverwear in napkins or making kid meal boxes again. Not excited to go back to that work, but ready to do something.
Just wanted to give you an update on how things have been going.
I have been attending physical therapy 3 times a week for the past 6.5 weeks. I started with being able to bend my knee only to 70 degrees and now am up to 120 degrees.
I started on 2 crutches and now I am off of crutches, but if I go out in public I take a cane to help keep people from bumping into me.
Back at the end of July I flew back to Kansas City to attend a wedding. It was a bit scary to fly after surgery, but the people at Southwest were very helpful. I was able to board the plane first and sit in the front row so I could stretch my leg out in front of me. While I was home, my brother sprained his ankle and was also on crutches. We were quite the pair.
I finished my work with the knee CPM (Constant Passive Motion) machine on July 21st and so was on it for a little less than a month. For the first 6 weeks, I was given an electric stim machine that sends electric shocks through my knee to help with pain. It has been my best friend. I went to see the new Harry Potter movie (2.5 hours long) and would not have been able to sit though it without my e-stim machine. It also helped with my flights when I went back to Kansas City. Luckily they extended the use of it for another 6 weeks and after that peroid, if I am still using it, they will go to my insurance company and ask if they will purchase it for me. I hope that happens.
I'm considering changing physical therapists as I am not getting as much 1 on 1 time with the Disney physical therapists as I'd like. They have too many patients and not enough space or therapists. I hate to hurt their feelings or make them mad, but I need to get better.
At my last doctor's appointment on July 29th, I had to wait for over an hour to be seen. Then, after having my leg bent that long in the waiting room, it did not want to go straight. The doctor told me I needed to work on this (I wanted to say he needed to work on getting his patients in faster, but I bit my tounge haha). Then he said that I was making good progress, but he hoped I would be farther than where I am. That was SO frustrating to hear. I feel I can only do what my knee allows me to do.
Anyway, I have another doctors appointment next Wednesday, August 26th. I think I'll be released back to seated work only. This means I'll be backstage at Disney rolling silverwear in napkins or making kid meal boxes again. Not excited to go back to that work, but ready to do something.
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