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.