SO, today was the end of my four weeks of therapy at the new Out-Patient center in Parkesburg. I have really felt like, while doing the exercises and getting to each appointment, that I was not making a great deal of progress. There were days when I was being measured to see how well that I was doing that I was only seeing a degree or two improvement. And with the really cold weather here the last couple of weeks, the knee was really feeling stiff and puffy.
Today was right around 32 degrees when I left the house. While it was freezing, it almost felt balmy by comparison. I went into therapy and began with the normal bike exercise. I do not do a complete revolution because the new knee does not quite bend that way, but I do rock back and forth to the farthest limits of the new knee and it gets it warm and loosened up.
Then Heather sat down with me and began to manipulate the knee. It really feels good until she starts pushing. Her goal is to get my knee completely flat... 0 degrees and then get it bent 120 degrees. She pushes down on the knee to stretch it out. It is fine until she passes by the level I can stand, but as they say, no pain, no gain. And she is not doing damage, she is just pushing the edge. The last time I was measured, I was able to get to an 8 degree bend without aid and a 3 degree bend getting the leg straight. Today, I was able to get to the 3 degree bend alone and she got the leg to 0 degrees with aid.
But the biggest improvement was in the bending. I was only able to do an 87 degree bend alone and a 97 degree with help. Today I was able to do a 95 degree bend without aid and she got the leg to a 102 degree with her pushing. I am thrilled. It is quite the improvement! And here I thought I was not doing well!
I guess there is a light t the end of the tunnel after all!
Friday, January 31, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Single Digits, Stiff Knee....
There is not a great deal to report. It is COLD. Most mornings begin in the single digit area, if not the low teens. The snow on the ground is on the ground and crunchy. It blows when the wind blows and each time the wind picks up, I have to plow my driveway the next day. The snow that used to be on the filed across the street, races along the road, creating a slick, icy drift and then drops in my front driveway so I have plowed several days in a row, even though very little snow has actually fallen from the sky.
I am going to physical therapy. My knee is very stiff and I blame the extreme cold. But by the time therapy is over, it is better. But then I go out in the cold and the knee gets all stiff again. Come on spring!!!
I feel as though I am not making much progress, but getting in and out of cars is easier each day. I also can get up from chairs better and the last two days I have had some shopping to do and I find that I no longer have pain while I wait to check out. I still have to think about walking correctly. It has been so long since I have walked correctly that I am truly learning to walk again. But it does feel really good to not walk like a pirate!
I set up another 4 weeks of therapy. I need to be bending better and on my feet by mid April so I can be 100% for the trip to Fancy Gap. Goals are a good thing!!
Hope you are staying warm wherever you are! I am doing my best!
I am going to physical therapy. My knee is very stiff and I blame the extreme cold. But by the time therapy is over, it is better. But then I go out in the cold and the knee gets all stiff again. Come on spring!!!
I feel as though I am not making much progress, but getting in and out of cars is easier each day. I also can get up from chairs better and the last two days I have had some shopping to do and I find that I no longer have pain while I wait to check out. I still have to think about walking correctly. It has been so long since I have walked correctly that I am truly learning to walk again. But it does feel really good to not walk like a pirate!
I set up another 4 weeks of therapy. I need to be bending better and on my feet by mid April so I can be 100% for the trip to Fancy Gap. Goals are a good thing!!
Hope you are staying warm wherever you are! I am doing my best!
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Winter is NOT pretty.....
I guess I got spoiled with the last couple of winters. The first winter alone to handle the snow removal I think there were only a couple of storms that left barely enough to plow but I did so, just to keep my plowing skills up to date. Last winter, I did not even have to put the truck in gear as the few flurries did not require any plowing at all. I guess it gave me a false sense of security as I did not even factor in snow and plowing when I opted to have my knee replaced.
Snow came in plowable depths while I was still in rehab. I had folks coming to the house to shovel snow (the plow was still in the garage and not on the truck) so that I could get safely inside the house when I was discharged.
We had another plowable snow after the new year but before I was released to drive. I was so fortunate to find members of the church I attended who were able to come out and use my truck (the plow was installed over Christmas) to move the snow so the in-home therapist could get in and later the Rover bus could come and pick me up.
Since being released to drive, there have been two more plowable snow storms and it is not even February which has historically been the snowiest month of winters here.
One of the positives to the snow storms is that during the storm itself, the traffic on my busy little highway comes to a crawl until it is basically only the Penn DOT snow plows working to keep the road as passable as it can be. It makes things quieter but I find I sleep less on those nights as the plows must be waking me up. Last night I was up every couple of hours and finally gave up around 3:30 AM, turned on Netflix and watched early episodes of The West Wing until around 6:00 AM, when I fell asleep until about 10:00 AM, so about 4 hours of solid sleep. It will be a long day of being tired, but a short day since I did not get started until later. I did go out and plow the driveway some. We had a couple of inches of snow yesterday and then winds overnight, so there were areas where the state plows had piled snow along the driveway, places where the snow had blown deeper and it just made sense to even everything out. The sun is out, off and on, so I am seeing asphalt, which is good.
I have been making plans for the spring/summer. I found a lovely Mountain Chalet near Fancy Gap, VA that has a lovely view of the North Carolina plateau that I can rent for a full month for less than a week on the Outer Banks. I debated and debated in my feeble mind and finally decided that a getaway following this never-ending winter and rehab would be just what the doctor ordered.... Doctor Jane, that is. So I will be heading there mid-April until mid-May. I am hoping that I will have guests off and on during the month, but I will be taking my sewing machine and testing out some projects for the fall retreat and travelling around the area to see some of the local sites.
I will be spending my birthday, in June, in Alaska. Rob & Kate will hopefully be recovered from the chemo schedule and, prayers going everyday.... in remission. Kate is doing well with minimal side effects and has learned to deal with the ones she is getting. She sounds good and upbeat whenever I had spoken to them. I will be experiencing the land of the midnight sun. While I am there, the days will be close to 21 hours long!!!
I will also be in Atlantic City, NJ at an Embroidery Convention. My brother and his wife will be attending as well and I will be staying with them in a timeshare nearby. Come October, I will be on the Outer Banks. Never too far from home!!! But travelling and seeing new things.
Therapy is moving along. Almost at 0 degrees straight but still in the 90's for a bend. I only have three move scheduled, but am sure it will be extended for another couple of weeks. The doctor will approve whatever needs to be done as long as there is progress. So as long as that happens and Medicare approves, I will be doing therapy.... weather permitting!
I hate snow!! It is days like this that make me wish I had a place in a warmer climate. But even Florida is not that warm this winter. And I am much more comfortable only having one house to be responsible for and this has been my home for 30+ years, so here I stay... snow and all.
Snow came in plowable depths while I was still in rehab. I had folks coming to the house to shovel snow (the plow was still in the garage and not on the truck) so that I could get safely inside the house when I was discharged.
We had another plowable snow after the new year but before I was released to drive. I was so fortunate to find members of the church I attended who were able to come out and use my truck (the plow was installed over Christmas) to move the snow so the in-home therapist could get in and later the Rover bus could come and pick me up.
Since being released to drive, there have been two more plowable snow storms and it is not even February which has historically been the snowiest month of winters here.
One of the positives to the snow storms is that during the storm itself, the traffic on my busy little highway comes to a crawl until it is basically only the Penn DOT snow plows working to keep the road as passable as it can be. It makes things quieter but I find I sleep less on those nights as the plows must be waking me up. Last night I was up every couple of hours and finally gave up around 3:30 AM, turned on Netflix and watched early episodes of The West Wing until around 6:00 AM, when I fell asleep until about 10:00 AM, so about 4 hours of solid sleep. It will be a long day of being tired, but a short day since I did not get started until later. I did go out and plow the driveway some. We had a couple of inches of snow yesterday and then winds overnight, so there were areas where the state plows had piled snow along the driveway, places where the snow had blown deeper and it just made sense to even everything out. The sun is out, off and on, so I am seeing asphalt, which is good.
I have been making plans for the spring/summer. I found a lovely Mountain Chalet near Fancy Gap, VA that has a lovely view of the North Carolina plateau that I can rent for a full month for less than a week on the Outer Banks. I debated and debated in my feeble mind and finally decided that a getaway following this never-ending winter and rehab would be just what the doctor ordered.... Doctor Jane, that is. So I will be heading there mid-April until mid-May. I am hoping that I will have guests off and on during the month, but I will be taking my sewing machine and testing out some projects for the fall retreat and travelling around the area to see some of the local sites.
I will be spending my birthday, in June, in Alaska. Rob & Kate will hopefully be recovered from the chemo schedule and, prayers going everyday.... in remission. Kate is doing well with minimal side effects and has learned to deal with the ones she is getting. She sounds good and upbeat whenever I had spoken to them. I will be experiencing the land of the midnight sun. While I am there, the days will be close to 21 hours long!!!
I will also be in Atlantic City, NJ at an Embroidery Convention. My brother and his wife will be attending as well and I will be staying with them in a timeshare nearby. Come October, I will be on the Outer Banks. Never too far from home!!! But travelling and seeing new things.
Therapy is moving along. Almost at 0 degrees straight but still in the 90's for a bend. I only have three move scheduled, but am sure it will be extended for another couple of weeks. The doctor will approve whatever needs to be done as long as there is progress. So as long as that happens and Medicare approves, I will be doing therapy.... weather permitting!
I hate snow!! It is days like this that make me wish I had a place in a warmer climate. But even Florida is not that warm this winter. And I am much more comfortable only having one house to be responsible for and this has been my home for 30+ years, so here I stay... snow and all.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Improving the Quality of Life.....
Things keep moving along. It amazes me how quickly my abilities change as I continue with therapy following my knee replacement. I had therapy both Monday and Tuesday since I had a visit with the surgeon on Wednesday. Wednesday morning Annette came through the fog and picked me up and we headed off to Lancaster. We gave ourselves plenty of extra time in case we ran into traffic or accidents. The fog was freezing on the roads in some areas so we left early and prepared for the worst. We arrived an hour early for the appointment not having any trouble at all.
So Annette and I sat for an hour until I got in to see my Surgeon (on time for the appointment time). He was very pleased with my progress and released me to go back to driving myself. So I am not back on my own and very, very happy.
Thursday I headed to the grocery store for the first time since November. I was getting low on some basics. I had done without some things as I did not want to ask someone to take me shopping. Nothing essential but it was very nice to be in a store and stocking up on some things that I had been hungry for.
Friday was another day for therapy. It was wonderful to not have to be ready an hour before I needed to be there to catch Rover. Do not misunderstand, I am really glad that Rover is available for me, but it is very nice to have my wheels back. My therapist, Heather, was thrilled when my straightening moved from 14 degrees on my own as measured on Tuesday to 4 degrees. That was a 10 degree improvement in three days. I think, as the stiffness eases and the minor swelling relaxes, I will be seeing some marked improvements. I just have to keep up the exercises at home and at the facility.
I am finding that I am pretty much pain-free. The knee gets stiff as the swelling increases after therapy or being on my feet. But I walked all over the grocery store and did not end up walking around like a pirate. I was able to keep walking and bending the new knee and standing without feeling the burn in the knee. It is the first time in years that I can say that and I know that as the knee continues to heal and exercises, that feeling is only going to improve.
Yesterday was a sewing and chore day. I support a friend in her quest to find a cure for cancer. She has retreats in the spring and fall for quilting as well as other activities, including the occasional Mystery Quilt weekends. I donate to her Relay for Life Team and in return I am included in the mystery quilt events. She send out fabric needs and cuts list prior to the day so we can prepare. The on the day, she sends out clues (instructions) step by step to assembling the block or blocks. We have no idea what the block will look like until she sends out the last clue. Saturday it was a nine-patch heart. I was a bit off on my colors and will try to make the needed correction tomorrow. But it was an easy block and has several ways to use the block. Here is a picture of the blocks with the off colors. I will post the corrected one once I get it done.
Today, after church, Marji and Danny Lantz drove up from Elkton, MD. They have been my lifeline since Rudy died. Since my surgery I have found that using the standard toilet in my bathroom difficult. It was much lower than I thought it was and getting down with the knee replacement was painful and getting up from there also hard. Thank goodness the sink and doorway were close. I increased my arm strength in getting up. Marji had been telling me that I would really find an ADA chair height toilet to be so much more comfortable to use. I had gotten three gift cards to Home Depot from my credit card points and used them to purchase a nice, Delta ADA high toilet.
Danny and I headed to Home Depot with the printout from the internet. The lady who asked if we needed help looked at the printout and said they did not have any. I told her that the internet indicated they had 2, so off she went to check things out. She came back, perplexed, as their computer indicated that they had three. She was determined and found that this was such a new model that they had not even hit the floor. So they retrieved one for us and we headed home.
Danny set about removing the old toilet, which is sitting on my back porch, hoping to be free-cycled. Then he dug in toe install the new one. It took him longer that he had imagined it would as it was a new system of attaching it to the floor and also had some other innovations to prevent leaking. It also had a soft closing lid and had a different setup than he was used to. But it is in, and functioning. While it is only a few inches higher than the old one, Marji was right..... what a difference.
Here is a picture of my new throne. I am sure, as I age and find creaking joints and aching muscles become more of a normal that I will appreciate the throne more each day!
So Annette and I sat for an hour until I got in to see my Surgeon (on time for the appointment time). He was very pleased with my progress and released me to go back to driving myself. So I am not back on my own and very, very happy.
Thursday I headed to the grocery store for the first time since November. I was getting low on some basics. I had done without some things as I did not want to ask someone to take me shopping. Nothing essential but it was very nice to be in a store and stocking up on some things that I had been hungry for.
Friday was another day for therapy. It was wonderful to not have to be ready an hour before I needed to be there to catch Rover. Do not misunderstand, I am really glad that Rover is available for me, but it is very nice to have my wheels back. My therapist, Heather, was thrilled when my straightening moved from 14 degrees on my own as measured on Tuesday to 4 degrees. That was a 10 degree improvement in three days. I think, as the stiffness eases and the minor swelling relaxes, I will be seeing some marked improvements. I just have to keep up the exercises at home and at the facility.
I am finding that I am pretty much pain-free. The knee gets stiff as the swelling increases after therapy or being on my feet. But I walked all over the grocery store and did not end up walking around like a pirate. I was able to keep walking and bending the new knee and standing without feeling the burn in the knee. It is the first time in years that I can say that and I know that as the knee continues to heal and exercises, that feeling is only going to improve.
Yesterday was a sewing and chore day. I support a friend in her quest to find a cure for cancer. She has retreats in the spring and fall for quilting as well as other activities, including the occasional Mystery Quilt weekends. I donate to her Relay for Life Team and in return I am included in the mystery quilt events. She send out fabric needs and cuts list prior to the day so we can prepare. The on the day, she sends out clues (instructions) step by step to assembling the block or blocks. We have no idea what the block will look like until she sends out the last clue. Saturday it was a nine-patch heart. I was a bit off on my colors and will try to make the needed correction tomorrow. But it was an easy block and has several ways to use the block. Here is a picture of the blocks with the off colors. I will post the corrected one once I get it done.
Today, after church, Marji and Danny Lantz drove up from Elkton, MD. They have been my lifeline since Rudy died. Since my surgery I have found that using the standard toilet in my bathroom difficult. It was much lower than I thought it was and getting down with the knee replacement was painful and getting up from there also hard. Thank goodness the sink and doorway were close. I increased my arm strength in getting up. Marji had been telling me that I would really find an ADA chair height toilet to be so much more comfortable to use. I had gotten three gift cards to Home Depot from my credit card points and used them to purchase a nice, Delta ADA high toilet.
Danny and I headed to Home Depot with the printout from the internet. The lady who asked if we needed help looked at the printout and said they did not have any. I told her that the internet indicated they had 2, so off she went to check things out. She came back, perplexed, as their computer indicated that they had three. She was determined and found that this was such a new model that they had not even hit the floor. So they retrieved one for us and we headed home.
Danny set about removing the old toilet, which is sitting on my back porch, hoping to be free-cycled. Then he dug in toe install the new one. It took him longer that he had imagined it would as it was a new system of attaching it to the floor and also had some other innovations to prevent leaking. It also had a soft closing lid and had a different setup than he was used to. But it is in, and functioning. While it is only a few inches higher than the old one, Marji was right..... what a difference.
Here is a picture of my new throne. I am sure, as I age and find creaking joints and aching muscles become more of a normal that I will appreciate the throne more each day!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Good News, Bad News.....
The laptop that I have used for my embroidery business died. It has been in the process since before Christmas. I have been getting warnings about the eminent failure of my hard drive. I had no energy or inclination to sit and work on the new desktop that I ordered as I am recovering from my knee replacement.
The last few days are the first that I am beginning to feel like I have the energy to do much beside exercise and rest. But, of course, by now, the hard drive had begun to make some very obnoxious sounds and yesterday.... it stopped working.
So I started the process of rebuilding my office computer on a new desktop computer that I ordered to be ready for this eventuality. I managed to get my indoor cameras up and running... with the help of my brother (Thanks, Andy). Then I managed to get my Office programs loaded into the machine and email up and running.
The embroidery program that I have been using, is another issue. The new computer uses Windows 8. The embroidery program is over 10 years old. As I tried installing it on the new desktop, I kept getting compatibility errors. So it is not going to work on this machine. I have downloaded a new, less expensive program that is being used by other embroidery owners. It is running nicely, but is totally different from the old one. It is going to be a learning curve for me! Guess I will be busy for the rest of the winter, learning how to make it work!
So, Bad News... my favorite program cannot run. Good News, I am preparing to replace it with something new to challenge my mind!
The last few days are the first that I am beginning to feel like I have the energy to do much beside exercise and rest. But, of course, by now, the hard drive had begun to make some very obnoxious sounds and yesterday.... it stopped working.
So I started the process of rebuilding my office computer on a new desktop computer that I ordered to be ready for this eventuality. I managed to get my indoor cameras up and running... with the help of my brother (Thanks, Andy). Then I managed to get my Office programs loaded into the machine and email up and running.
The embroidery program that I have been using, is another issue. The new computer uses Windows 8. The embroidery program is over 10 years old. As I tried installing it on the new desktop, I kept getting compatibility errors. So it is not going to work on this machine. I have downloaded a new, less expensive program that is being used by other embroidery owners. It is running nicely, but is totally different from the old one. It is going to be a learning curve for me! Guess I will be busy for the rest of the winter, learning how to make it work!
So, Bad News... my favorite program cannot run. Good News, I am preparing to replace it with something new to challenge my mind!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Happy to report.....
I know, I know, where have I been and am I OK?
I have been doing well. I am OK. I am shortly going to be in better shape than I have been in years.
Right around the New Year, my in-home Physical Therapist, Gerry, suggested that I progress to Outpatient Physical Therapy as the things I could do here, were not progressing me along at all. So I signed up for Rover, a Shared Ride program here in Chester County, that would allow me to get to a local Physical Therapy facility where I had tables and machines and room to do some really hefty Physical Therapy.
So on January 6th, I waited fro Rover to pick me up and drop me off 5 miles on the northern end of Route 10 at the new Lancaster General Hospital Health Center. I have been there for lab work, but it is a really full service center and includes Physical Therapy.
I met Heather who manipulated, massaged and moved my new knee to determine the amount of straight and bend that my knee had. She planned out goals and we set a 4 week schedule for therapy sessions.
To date, I have only had 4 actual sessions. But I have gone from using a walker to get around, to using a cane to using nothing at all. I have gotten to a 92 degree bend and a 4 degree straight.
My incision is healing nicely. There are still 2 small areas where it has not completely come together. When I saw my surgeon on Wednesday, he indicated that I was having a reaction to internal stitches, but it would heal in time. He was quite pleased with my progress but most importantly, he released me to drive.... finally! After a bit over 6 weeks, I was more than ready for wheels.
Today, I went out in the van and did some needed grocery shopping. I was really running low on many things. It was wonderful to be out and walking through the grocery store and, even better, not having my knee lock up at the end of the first aisle. It did get a little puffy, but there was no pain and I was not walking like a peg-legged pirate out to the car with my bags.
I should have done this many months... or years... ago!! I will not let the left knee get nearly that bad!
I have been doing well. I am OK. I am shortly going to be in better shape than I have been in years.
Right around the New Year, my in-home Physical Therapist, Gerry, suggested that I progress to Outpatient Physical Therapy as the things I could do here, were not progressing me along at all. So I signed up for Rover, a Shared Ride program here in Chester County, that would allow me to get to a local Physical Therapy facility where I had tables and machines and room to do some really hefty Physical Therapy.
So on January 6th, I waited fro Rover to pick me up and drop me off 5 miles on the northern end of Route 10 at the new Lancaster General Hospital Health Center. I have been there for lab work, but it is a really full service center and includes Physical Therapy.
I met Heather who manipulated, massaged and moved my new knee to determine the amount of straight and bend that my knee had. She planned out goals and we set a 4 week schedule for therapy sessions.
To date, I have only had 4 actual sessions. But I have gone from using a walker to get around, to using a cane to using nothing at all. I have gotten to a 92 degree bend and a 4 degree straight.
My incision is healing nicely. There are still 2 small areas where it has not completely come together. When I saw my surgeon on Wednesday, he indicated that I was having a reaction to internal stitches, but it would heal in time. He was quite pleased with my progress but most importantly, he released me to drive.... finally! After a bit over 6 weeks, I was more than ready for wheels.
Today, I went out in the van and did some needed grocery shopping. I was really running low on many things. It was wonderful to be out and walking through the grocery store and, even better, not having my knee lock up at the end of the first aisle. It did get a little puffy, but there was no pain and I was not walking like a peg-legged pirate out to the car with my bags.
I should have done this many months... or years... ago!! I will not let the left knee get nearly that bad!
Baffled????
I have a dashboard that I can use to see how many views I get on my blog. I can see daily numbers, Operating Systems that are being used, Browsers that are being used and what country the view was made from.
I have noticed that I am getting some nice hits from the USA. But today, there were three times the number of views coming from Russia.
My question, are these 'views' little techy robots that are keying on my key words or do I have actual people in Russia who cannot get enough of my trials and tribulations?
I am guessing, techy robots!
I am going to try not using some labels for searching and see what happens.
I have noticed that I am getting some nice hits from the USA. But today, there were three times the number of views coming from Russia.
My question, are these 'views' little techy robots that are keying on my key words or do I have actual people in Russia who cannot get enough of my trials and tribulations?
I am guessing, techy robots!
I am going to try not using some labels for searching and see what happens.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Making Progress....
I have gone to two days at the Physical Therapy Center in the new Health Center. I have used the local Rover Community Transportation System. Thursday I only took the service one-way. My friend, Annette, was going to pick me up at the end of my therapy and we were going out to lunch and then she was bringing me home so she could see how to get to my house so she can pick me up next Wednesday so we can go to Lancaster for my appointment with the surgeon and hopefully be released to go back to driving my car! Boy, will that be a wonderful day!
My first day of therapy was basically evaluation. The therapist, Heather, manipulated my knee and worked at getting it bent 84 degrees and flat to 8 degrees. My surgeon's goal is to have it flat at 0 degrees and bent to 120 degrees. Wow, I do not think I have done either of them for a long, long time.
Yesterday I arrived at the Health Center a good hour ahead of schedule. Rover, being a shared ride, picks up and drops off according to the passengers and their needs. The bus was full, yesterday, and I figured that I would be tootling around the area before I was dropped off. But no, we went right from my house to the Health Center. So I was very early.
I checked in at the Physical Therapy window and they had a cancellation, so they were able to begin working on me about 10 minutes after I arrived. Keri was my therapist and I really like the way they do their process. I was laid out on a table. Keri manipulated the knee and leg. There was gentle massage and bending, followed by deeper massage and more bending. Then there was pushing and straightening followed by more massage and bending. It really loosened up the knee and I was able then do all of the exercises. They even started me bending the new knee to step up and down the stairs. Up until today, I had to step down on the new knee and the up using the old leg. There was no measuring, but I really felt as though I had made progress.
I called Annette while I was getting stimulus and ice to let her know I was going to be finished early and she came walking in as I was being unwrapped from the ice. We went to Gap to Friendly's for a nice lunch and then she brought me home. Now she is ready to pick me up on Wednesday for the surgeon's appointment. Just have to pray for good weather that day. (Note to self... when I have to have the left knee done, schedule it in the spring!!!)
Last night I was picked up by a fellow Lion, Nancy Gauthier. She has been among my friends who have checked in on me and offered to do anything she could to assist. Last night was the first Lion;s Club meeting of 2014 and I really enjoyed being able to get out of the house for something other than doctor's visits and therapy. I found out I could get down into a regular car and get out with little difficulty. The key is having the seat back as far as I can before trying to get in.
All in all, I am making progress. I am sure that going to therapy in a facility that is set up for that purpose will get me farther along than home therapy. I have three more weeks scheduled. But I am in this, for as long as Medicare will pay to get my mobility back.
My first day of therapy was basically evaluation. The therapist, Heather, manipulated my knee and worked at getting it bent 84 degrees and flat to 8 degrees. My surgeon's goal is to have it flat at 0 degrees and bent to 120 degrees. Wow, I do not think I have done either of them for a long, long time.
Yesterday I arrived at the Health Center a good hour ahead of schedule. Rover, being a shared ride, picks up and drops off according to the passengers and their needs. The bus was full, yesterday, and I figured that I would be tootling around the area before I was dropped off. But no, we went right from my house to the Health Center. So I was very early.
I checked in at the Physical Therapy window and they had a cancellation, so they were able to begin working on me about 10 minutes after I arrived. Keri was my therapist and I really like the way they do their process. I was laid out on a table. Keri manipulated the knee and leg. There was gentle massage and bending, followed by deeper massage and more bending. Then there was pushing and straightening followed by more massage and bending. It really loosened up the knee and I was able then do all of the exercises. They even started me bending the new knee to step up and down the stairs. Up until today, I had to step down on the new knee and the up using the old leg. There was no measuring, but I really felt as though I had made progress.
I called Annette while I was getting stimulus and ice to let her know I was going to be finished early and she came walking in as I was being unwrapped from the ice. We went to Gap to Friendly's for a nice lunch and then she brought me home. Now she is ready to pick me up on Wednesday for the surgeon's appointment. Just have to pray for good weather that day. (Note to self... when I have to have the left knee done, schedule it in the spring!!!)
Last night I was picked up by a fellow Lion, Nancy Gauthier. She has been among my friends who have checked in on me and offered to do anything she could to assist. Last night was the first Lion;s Club meeting of 2014 and I really enjoyed being able to get out of the house for something other than doctor's visits and therapy. I found out I could get down into a regular car and get out with little difficulty. The key is having the seat back as far as I can before trying to get in.
All in all, I am making progress. I am sure that going to therapy in a facility that is set up for that purpose will get me farther along than home therapy. I have three more weeks scheduled. But I am in this, for as long as Medicare will pay to get my mobility back.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Changes coming quickly.... and yet, not fast enough!
I have folded up my lovely walker and am getting around the house and even outside to get the mail using only my cane. It feels very nice not to be leaning on the walker and I think it is forcing me to use the legs in a more natural way. I am still having to mentally think..."heel, toe, bend the knee... heel, toe, bend the knee". It has been so long since I have walked normally on my right leg, that I find myself wanting to keep it stiff and walk like a pirate.
The mental part to my recovery will be to teach my mind that the new knee is going to function correctly and that it will not collapse on me and can be used in the manner that a body should use it to walk and stand normally. Then the muscles have to be retrained to do the normal functions, allowing the knee to bend. And the knee needs to bend more without being swollen.
I am no longer taking any narcotics for pain. I am taking my usual Ibuprofen that I was taking pre-surgery for pain. It seems to be working nicely and is an anti-inflammatory as well. When I head for bed, I take my pills and then curl up in bed with the ice pack. Off and on through the night I will wake up, move around, keeping the cool pack on the knee as much as possible. By morning, the inflammation is down. But then I have to do something called living. It does not take too long, before the knee is stiff from swollen tissue and not bending well. But I keep exercising and walking and resting the knee and just doing things around the house. In time, this will all be a memory and I will have a normal gait without any pain or swelling.
So, walker is in mothballs, unless we get more snow when I will use it for stability on slick surfaces. It makes carrying things easier and keeps me from knocking into things in the tight spaces that are in my home.
I will have a full hour of therapy tomorrow at the Outpatient Center, then I am being picked up by a friend so we can go out to lunch and then she will bring me home to show her where I live. Annette is going to take me to see the surgeon on the 15th. The office is outside the region for Rover. It is the day that I will hopefully be given permission to once again drive a car!!! Fingers crossed and lots of positive thoughts would be helpful!!
The mental part to my recovery will be to teach my mind that the new knee is going to function correctly and that it will not collapse on me and can be used in the manner that a body should use it to walk and stand normally. Then the muscles have to be retrained to do the normal functions, allowing the knee to bend. And the knee needs to bend more without being swollen.
I am no longer taking any narcotics for pain. I am taking my usual Ibuprofen that I was taking pre-surgery for pain. It seems to be working nicely and is an anti-inflammatory as well. When I head for bed, I take my pills and then curl up in bed with the ice pack. Off and on through the night I will wake up, move around, keeping the cool pack on the knee as much as possible. By morning, the inflammation is down. But then I have to do something called living. It does not take too long, before the knee is stiff from swollen tissue and not bending well. But I keep exercising and walking and resting the knee and just doing things around the house. In time, this will all be a memory and I will have a normal gait without any pain or swelling.
So, walker is in mothballs, unless we get more snow when I will use it for stability on slick surfaces. It makes carrying things easier and keeps me from knocking into things in the tight spaces that are in my home.
I will have a full hour of therapy tomorrow at the Outpatient Center, then I am being picked up by a friend so we can go out to lunch and then she will bring me home to show her where I live. Annette is going to take me to see the surgeon on the 15th. The office is outside the region for Rover. It is the day that I will hopefully be given permission to once again drive a car!!! Fingers crossed and lots of positive thoughts would be helpful!!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
New Year, New Routine
2014 is now here and I am already used to writing it in the dates. That is sad, considering that it usually took me a good month to get in the habit of the new year. But I am filling out forms and signing off of treatments as I continue to heal from my surgery.
I had several weeks of in-home physical therapy. Gerry came three days a week and tested my knee for it's ability to bend and straighten. He coached me and gave me exercises to do at home. I did my best, but the knee just refused to bend more than a base 75 degrees, getting to about 80 degrees once or twice. The knee is just gently swollen which is preventing the bending from happening. Gerry felt that I might do better at an Outpatient Center where there were machines that might move me beyond the plateau I had reached.
I am also now off all of the additional meds that I was using following the surgery. I was allowed to stop the Coumadin after January 2nd and I ran out of pain medication last Saturday. Yesterday I started using plain and simple Ibuprofen and find that it is doing a really nice job in blocking the pain and could be actually reducing the inflammation that is preventing the good bending.
Since I cannot drive yet, I had to sign up for a local service call Rover. It is a small bus transportation system that is funded by lottery money. As a Senior, I can ride to appointments or grocery stores or hospitals for $.75 one-way. It is a shared ride program. I make an appointment at least 24 hours before I need it. I tell them when my appointment is and they give me a pickup time. They came anytime up to 15 minutes before or after the assigned time. Then I can ride around the area picking up other riders before arriving at my destination. I give them a time that is about 15 minutes earlier than my appointment so that I will not be late. Then I tell them when I can be picked up and they come back and drive me home. It is a wonderful service that is available for the county and I am so grateful that it is door to door. Makes it so much easier than trying to find friends who can drive you here or then pick you up. But, nice as it is, I am hoping that I will be recovered enough to be allowed to drive after seeing the surgeon on the 15th! I miss being able to do things for myself. I already know I will not do well when I am no longer able to drive as I age.
So, yesterday I boarded the Rover bus and was dropped off at the new Lancaster General Hospital Health Center that has opened in Parkesburg. I was very early, but had lots of paperwork to fill out (hence the ability to write 2014 on papers) and began a new round of Physical Therapy. Heather evaluated my knee and through massage and manipulation she was able to get my knee to an 84 degree bend. By the time I got home, the knee was screaming and I could not find a comfortable position. So I curled up in bed and found a position that was comfy and immediately fell asleep. Once awake, I took the first Ibuprofen I have had in over a month and within an hour it felt better. I woke this morning with negligible pain.
It has been a good day. I did laundry. I cleaned up the kitchen. I have baked 2 loaves of bread. I am thinking about baking some cookies. Tonight is the first session of GriefShare at the church. I am once again a volunteer leader. I found such comfort in the program, I am looking forward to sharing it with people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. My friend Shelia will pick me up, so I can participate.
From here on out, with 4 weeks of therapy, 13 sessions of GriefShare and Lions Club, I am going to be very busy. Should make the winter go faster.
I had several weeks of in-home physical therapy. Gerry came three days a week and tested my knee for it's ability to bend and straighten. He coached me and gave me exercises to do at home. I did my best, but the knee just refused to bend more than a base 75 degrees, getting to about 80 degrees once or twice. The knee is just gently swollen which is preventing the bending from happening. Gerry felt that I might do better at an Outpatient Center where there were machines that might move me beyond the plateau I had reached.
I am also now off all of the additional meds that I was using following the surgery. I was allowed to stop the Coumadin after January 2nd and I ran out of pain medication last Saturday. Yesterday I started using plain and simple Ibuprofen and find that it is doing a really nice job in blocking the pain and could be actually reducing the inflammation that is preventing the good bending.
Since I cannot drive yet, I had to sign up for a local service call Rover. It is a small bus transportation system that is funded by lottery money. As a Senior, I can ride to appointments or grocery stores or hospitals for $.75 one-way. It is a shared ride program. I make an appointment at least 24 hours before I need it. I tell them when my appointment is and they give me a pickup time. They came anytime up to 15 minutes before or after the assigned time. Then I can ride around the area picking up other riders before arriving at my destination. I give them a time that is about 15 minutes earlier than my appointment so that I will not be late. Then I tell them when I can be picked up and they come back and drive me home. It is a wonderful service that is available for the county and I am so grateful that it is door to door. Makes it so much easier than trying to find friends who can drive you here or then pick you up. But, nice as it is, I am hoping that I will be recovered enough to be allowed to drive after seeing the surgeon on the 15th! I miss being able to do things for myself. I already know I will not do well when I am no longer able to drive as I age.
So, yesterday I boarded the Rover bus and was dropped off at the new Lancaster General Hospital Health Center that has opened in Parkesburg. I was very early, but had lots of paperwork to fill out (hence the ability to write 2014 on papers) and began a new round of Physical Therapy. Heather evaluated my knee and through massage and manipulation she was able to get my knee to an 84 degree bend. By the time I got home, the knee was screaming and I could not find a comfortable position. So I curled up in bed and found a position that was comfy and immediately fell asleep. Once awake, I took the first Ibuprofen I have had in over a month and within an hour it felt better. I woke this morning with negligible pain.
It has been a good day. I did laundry. I cleaned up the kitchen. I have baked 2 loaves of bread. I am thinking about baking some cookies. Tonight is the first session of GriefShare at the church. I am once again a volunteer leader. I found such comfort in the program, I am looking forward to sharing it with people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. My friend Shelia will pick me up, so I can participate.
From here on out, with 4 weeks of therapy, 13 sessions of GriefShare and Lions Club, I am going to be very busy. Should make the winter go faster.
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