Surgery + 8 Weeks: Good Cop - Bad Cop

I refer to my two primary physical therapists as "Good Cop" and "Bad Cop". This has nothing to do with their abilities (both outstanding) or personalities (both cool), but there is a distinct difference between their methods. You know with BC that you're going to be pushed to the brink on most days and with GC the process is more conservative. I think they both do a great job and it's a good combination to have the two working together.

Yesterday was a prime Good Cop vs. Bad Cop encounter. GC walked me in and got me going with the usual Exercise Bike for 10 minutes and I followed with the normal stretches. Then, I asked him what was next. I was scheduled with BC and he checked with him. No surprise that I then was given the sentence of 10 minutes with the leg hang. I laid on my belly on the table with a (heavy) heating pad on the leg and a weight on the ankle. Everything from just above the knee down was hanging off the table. GC told me there would be no Quad Stim to accompany this therapy. I was so thanking the heavens that it was a GC day!

Two minutes later, BC came by to let me know that I was not getting off that easy. He attached the Quad Stim, and proceeded to ramp up the voltage to the usual excruciating muscle cramp. 10 seconds on - 30 seconds off. Not only did I get added discomfort, I got to start my time over!

When the buzzer went off "Time's Up!", GC started to walk over to release me from the weights and wires and all that good stuff. I'm usually unable to do much more than a very feeble army crawl at this point anyway. Unfortunately, though, BC spoke from across the room, "Hold up!" I got to wait an extra minute till he finished with the other patient and slowly came over. My 10-minute easy leg hang had turned into another torturous session with extra minutes added on!

I will thank them both when this is all over because they've been great in helping me, but I won't soon forget who's good cop and who's bad cop.

Surgery + 7 Weeks and a Day: Peaks and Valleys

Things have been good for the most part this week.

Somehow my PT seems to last more than 2.5 hours but not be nearly as painful and actually almost feels like a workout. Things I'm doing...bike, walking backwards on treadmill, some stair-like motions, balancing on one leg with actions, weights (3 or 4 machines per session - I'm @ 145 lbs for leg press w/ both and 70 with one and given my history of wimpiness this feels like a lot), the normal stretches, calf raises including on one leg, and practicing walking. I haven't returned to the "torture chair" in a week but do have two things I really dislike...therapist pulling and pushing the leg straight (kind of massage with a medieval torture theme) and prone hang off a table with the added benefit of quad stimulator at the same time. Today the full 10 minutes was unbearable and I give myself kudos for not screaming.

Through all this though, I realize that the PT and value of the trainers is worth every blessed insurance penny they get paid. They do great work and push me much harder than I would be able to push myself. This brings me to a big concern. I haven't gotten an answer back yet as to whether my insurance benefits have been extended for physical therapy. Given the fact that I'm not jogging yet, I'm really concerned with my progress if I'm left to my own devices.

The other bummer is that outdoor soccer season is starting. Well, I should probably revise the term "bummer". I'm really happy my friends that do get to play, but I am going to be a green-eyed monster. I've spent countless hours this winter working on the board of directors of my local adult soccer association to get our organization ready to have spring, summer, and fall leagues. It's ironic that during my first term on the board I'm not likely to play in a single game. I plan to practice some sports photography as my back-up hobby while I'm out, but will miss the exhileration of kicking the ball just right where it feels perfect coming off my foot and the general camaraderie of playing with different people which always keeps it interesting.

Alas, I guess it could be worse. Spring seems to have arrived (finally) and after a long Michigan winter this is a time where it's very hard not to feel a sense of wonder and happiness.

Surgery + 27 Days: License to Drive

Things are going well. The most exciting news is that I got the okay to start driving and have made a "full-time" return to work. So far so good on that front with today, Monday, as my first day back. I'm still on crutches, though, and hope to be off of them this week or next.

PT has also evolved, as well. I no longer have 20 minutes of quad stem which is hooking up the quad to electrodes. This makes it amazing that the sessions are still running 2 hours or more. Today, I had:

• 10 minutes of sitting stairmaster,
• stretches of calf and hamstring,
• range of motion heel slides,
• 10 minutes leg stretch with leg hanging off the table at the knee while I'm on my stomach and a weight at my ankle as well as weighted heating pad,
• 2 exercises to practice standing/balancing on the surgery leg,
• practice walking up and down stairs (about 4 inches for stepping up and about 2 inches for stepping down),
• walking & balance practice with half medicine ball,
• 2 different weight machines - super leg press and another (the weights for the super leg press are at 100 for both legs, 40 for single leg up down and 75 lb for both legs up single leg down
• 20 minutes of ice with shock electrodes on the knee to reduce swelling

All that before 9 a.m. - actually today it went pretty long - from 7 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. You know you've been at therapy for a while when you recognize faces and know backgrounds for other patients. I feel like a veteran when a new person comes in and starts out the first day. I can tell them "I've been there and know it will get better."

Surgery + 17 Days: Back to the Grind

It's funny how the warmth and sun of Florida makes everything feel better! I was so glad I made the trip. However, I returned to therapy Thursday after five days off and could definitely tell I'd taken a break.

The main focus (nothing new) is straightening and range of motion. I continue to have difficulty getting my leg to the right degree of straight, maybe five degrees away. The things I'm doing now to get it fixed, electrode machine and laying on my stomach with my legs hanging off the table and a weight attached to my ankle are painful. However, I hear that there is a "torture chair" that will have to be used if I don't make my knee comply. This is incentive enough beyond the simple need to do what the doctors say must be done. The rest of things are progressing well. My quad has made progress. I can now lift 55 to 60 pounds on the leg weight machine on my bad leg. This is a good thing.

I'm left home alone this weekend to work on my leg and get caught up with work and keeping the household under control. I'm sure I'll be ready for Jeff to get back upon his return from St. Patty's in Chicago. In the meantime, hopefully I can make some knee progress.

Surgery + 8 Days: Wisdom Inside Dark Chocolate

I found today's inspiration inside the Dove Dark Chocolate my friend Gerri gave me. Here's the wrapper:


What a great reason to eat chocolate!! Anyway, I would say today was a very good day.

Therapy was quite challenging and we made it on time in spite of six more inches of snow we were blessed with overnight. I swear that it has snowed 90% of the days I've had 7 a.m. therapy and with salt supplies running out in Michigan the roads have not cooperated. Today wasn't too bad, though.

I did the electrode stimulation for my quad for 15 minutes, "NuStep" modified sitting stairmaster for 10 minutes, range of motion exercises, calf stretch, standing work with exercise tubing, ankle pumps, and the newly introduced modified squat - a whopping 55 pounds with both legs and 30 with the knee alone - but not bad for 8 days post surgery. My therapist says I'm on track but he would like my leg to be straighter - this is painful! If you look at your leg, straight is actually a bit inverted and I'm not there yet. I do have 90 degrees range of motion - something I thought would be impossible last week.

I had a really good day of work today, too. Chloe was decidedly hands off. She must have tired herself out yesterday. I'm making my first non-therapy venture out of the house tonight for a board meeting for the soccer association. Tomorrow it's my big debut at work. Probably good so I don't get too used to working at home. It will be so exciting to wear something that isn't pajamas or sweat pants!!!

No Pain No Gain

One of the unfortunate side effects of PT is the pain that comes with it. I know I'm making progress just in 24 hours of exercises. It's already easier to do PT today than yesterday. Heel slides are currently my nemesis. I had about 125 degrees Range of Motion (ROM) pre-surgery. I would be surprised if I was at 40 degrees today. I need to get to 90 degrees ASAP!

Anyway, the PAIN part! All of the focus on strengthening the quad/upper leg is that those muscles feel used!!! Unfortunately, during the night the accompaniment to tired muscles appeared - cramps! Not only do leg cramps hurt a lot, but when you also are scared of an out of control tightening leg making your knee hurt more, there is pain and nerves attached. I probably got up in pain five or six times, but made it through. I'm anticipating a few more of these nights as I make progress, but am still so glad to have aggressive physical therapy to get me back on the road more quickly.

Other big news - I got a hsower - yippee! I would definitely recommend that if you have knee surgery, you buy some sort of chair for your shower before surgery. We hadn't done that so made a quick trip to the store first thing this morning - it was definitely necessary. I feel so much better now that I know I can refresh and renew with a shower every day. I know some doctors make you wait to shower until after your stitches are removed - I'm so glad I'm not in that boat!

Recovery - The First 24 Hours

When I made it home I was tired - the pain pills I'd been given made the ride home mercifully fuzzy. We had a wheelchair to get me in the house which was good. I went straight to bed and was out for about three hours.

We had the living room made into a "recovery room" with a pullout couch and lots of pillows. I would definitely suggest trying to get a sick room set up on the first floor of your house if you can.

I couldn't feel my leg for the first night due to the spinal block so didn't have a lot of trouble with discomfort. The painkiller did its job which was great. I have an ice cooler that brings cold water into my bandaged area. I had hoped I could actually feel the cold, but I just feel a little bit of cool every once in a while. I still think it's doing its job, though.

If you're a girl and having this surgery, stock up on nightgowns before you go in. I only had one but it's already been through the wash once and it's back on - definitely the most comfy way to go.

I didn't have any of the nausea problems other people have talked about in their diaries. Just a bit woozy once. I had to make myself focus on drinking water to stay hydrated which was difficult but necessary. My appetite was back that first night and I was able to have dinner. I'm glad I had to use crutches when I first got injured. I wouldn't want to be learning in such a weakened condition.

The morning after the surgery, I was still feeling good. Jeff was back to work, but a friend stayed home with me and my mom flew in Wednesday afternoon. I'm sure I could have handled the day by myself, but it was so helpful to have people around and I would definitely recommend getting helpers if possible.

I did my first PT exercises Wednesday morning - ankle pumps, calve stretches, and quad sets. It hurt a bit, but thinking about doing it was harder than it actually felt.

So far, so good.