Today, after my exercise therapy session, which was rather intense, I had a light lunch. After that, I felt myself drowsing off, no matter how much I wanted to stay awake.
I managed to get to the bedroom, changed into jammies, crawled into bed and the next thing I knew, it was 5pm. I woke up in the exact same position I had laid down in. I hadn't moved an inch.
I haven't been that wiped out in a long time.
My ass hurts. That being typed, I can also say I don't have another session on Friday, as Meg tested positive for COVID. As much as my ass hurts, this stop and go (dare I say) exercise routine leaves much to be desired.
I'm supposed to be going twice a week, but lately it's been once a week. I'm tired of having to start over from almost the beginning. I don't fault Meg for getting sick; life happens. Do the exercises at home, you say? I can't. I don't have the equipment. I do what I can to mimic them, but without the resistance training devices, I'm at a standstill.
Water from helping Wing take a shower (he had surgery on his right hand) made its way under the rubber backed bathmat. I didn't notice that water had made it's way under the bathmat.
I walked in as usual, left foot lead, stepping on bathmat which sudden slid forward, and I found myself doing a 'split'. I managed to stop the downward momentum by grabbing the shower wall, and the vanity top.
I bent both knees and stood up carefully. Everything seemed ok.
Until this morning. Left leg only hurts when I move it.
Umm, ow.
Simon the Sadist altered the list of rehab exercises. I do try to them all every day, but some days are harder than others. This morning on the stationary bike, I had about 4 rotations of the pedals where the tendons felt as if they were being scraped across jagged rocks. (#6 on the scale from 1 to 10). I didn't stop, I kept going because I had to. The pain faded, and I managed the full 10 minutes.
On an aside, I have found two perfect songs for a 10 minute ride. Both are Moody Blues songs. "Nights in White Satin" and "Question".
And in other news, I have decided to become a dual citizen. U.S./Australia. With the anger in the world today, I don't want to travel on a U.S. passport, even though I have an Australian visa. I am not giving up my U.S. citizenship, but I don't want to be 'stuck' . The good news is because I am an 'old fart', I won't have to sit the Citizenship test, just an interview.
From first bend as far as I can, to 5 minutes on stationary bike, it takes me 22 minutes and some seconds. Since Samsung health tracker doesn't have specific category for what I do, I selected "Circuit Training".
The only exercise I fudged on was stepping up a stair on my left foot, then raising my right leg up to a 90 degree bend, and hold it for 5 seconds. I tried doing it on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and all that would happen, is I would lurch into wall.
I substituted one of the exercises Meg showed me. With hands against wall (or other unmovable structure) stand on right foot, lift forward and hold left leg up for a count of 5. Do this 10 times, and repeat but starting with the right leg.
I have my physio table/bed set up and am using it instead of the bed. Bed is too soft to do some of the physio work. I have used it twice now, and wow, can I feel the difference. I find it easier to do the exercises without hubby and son helicoptering around me. They mean well, but it can be a bit smothering.
Doing almost 5 minutes on the bike. I'm supposed to lower the seat, for a greater bend in the knee, when it get 'too easy. I'll be happy to do so, when my left knee doesn't feel like it's trying to tear itself apart when I push down.
Husband and son set up my physio table last night. So, today, I did the 'bridging' exercise, the lay on back and pull heel as close to the butt as you can, and the cross legs at the ankles, keeping the surgical leg in the back (the left one in this case) and using the right foot to assist, bend the left leg as far back as you can (to discomfort).
Got done with that, and used the washing machine for balance, slowly shifted weight from the right foot, to the left, and lifting the right foot off the floor, until at least 90% of the weight is on the left foot. Repeat, but going the other way, from left to right.
Here's where the virtual betting comes in. Will I:
A: Hop out of bed, ready to start a new day.
B: Groan, and using right heel on side of bed, haul my self to sitting position, kind of glad it's a new day.
C: Groan, try to move, and realize my legs, glutes and abdomen wish it was yesterday, and just stay in bed.
Had session with Hayden the Horrible. I told him I'd had a session with Matt the Torturer five years ago on my right knee, and it lamed me for the better part of the week. He wanted to know when. (sardonic laugh)
I searched through my blog last night, using different tag. And hurray, I found the exact date. Since I don't have his exact email address at SporTreat, I sent it in as a general message, asking it to be forwarded to Hayden.
Session was good, but as usual, my left leg is really complaining a lot. Got a bit of swelling around the knee. Regardless of that, I did get some good news. Hayden said that he can tell I've 'put the work in' about home exercises and walking. And it shows that I am on the right side of the bell curve, but he won't tell me what it is, because he thinks I'll go "Good enough." and discontinue the exercising/rehab on the leg.
He needs to talk to Matt, or Meg The Merciless. I don't just up and quit just because something is going right. If anything, it increases my determination to do what needs to be done, be damned about temporary discomfort. He's sorta new, but after a few more weeks, he will see I am up for challenges to get my leg strong.
I had my first appointment with Hayden The Horrible, physioterrorist. And as usual, I hurt more today than I did yesterday. He did find out, as Matt The Torturerer, and Simon The Sadist, I have a high tolerance for pain.
Got a new regimen of exercises, which I did expect. What I didn't expect was to be told to stop using any walking aids if I was walking somewhere I didn't have to worry about how fast I get from place A to place B. This kind of scares the bejeebus out of me, because we have this HUGE wide open area in the house, where there is nowhere for me to reach out should I start losing my balance, or if my left leg folds, or an ankle decides it wants to roll again.
I have ONE lace up ankle support, but there are issues. First off, I have two ankles. Secondly, if I wear it, my shoes don't fit. I do have some of those elastic type, but they aren't comfortable for a AA heel. Really digs in painfully after about 2 hours, maximum.
Saw "Meg the Motivator" (afterward, at home, I call her Meg the Merciless!). Because my heel was taped up in such a fashion, there was no pain, so I sort of overdid it on the weekend and again on Monday.
No mercy! Well, a little bit. Was on treadmill for 20 minutes, but a a slightly slower pace than I usually do. Then off to the "Reformer" (aka pilates machine) I used to snicker about those things, but I don't any longer! It keeps the spine and hips in proper alignment, so when you do the actions/exercises, it's equal, and helps correct poor posture. Mine poor posture is due to years of a bad disc, and it's subsequent collapse, and having a bad knee. The realignment isn't fun, or easy, but necessary.
Exhausted, but have to see Dr H, my GP, about getting my anti-seizure meds prescription. He only gives me two months worth, because of the law. It's deemed a 'controlled' medication. Me, I call it the "Three little white tablets a day that keep my body from trying to painfully fold into sharp geometric shapes. No nap, not yet.
By his choice, not mine. He agreed, though, with the logic of the moniker.
Logic train: His job is to hurt people (via therapeutic massage). He stabs them with needles.
He enjoys his job which causes pain = Sadist.
Was rough session, stabbed with needles this on the front and back of this most troublesome of lower legs! Have new stretching exercises for the plantar fasciitis. Fun! yay. :p
Bummed out today. Jared's birthday today. He would have been 45. I wasn't supposed to outlast him. Just doesn't feel or seem right.
Saw Meg the Motivator, exercise supervisor/merciless and Simon the Sadist yesterday, meaning I am on hurtin' unit today.
I pushed myself to do all the exercises, even though my left leg is shaking like a leaf in the wind.
After session with Meg, I saw Simon. He unerringly put his thumb exactly where my shin hurt, and because I didn't expect it, as a reflex, I swatted his hand away. *sheepish grin* I couldn’t apologise enough. He said no worry, he had been hit harder, and he should've been quicker. He then checked the problem I have my heel hurting. Yeah, it 's plantar fasciitis. He's surprised that it hadn't been referred to him as an injury, seeing as I have been dealing with it since January. After some work on my calf, he examined my heel.
Of COURSE I can't have the usual type of PF, mine is directly in the center of my heel. My foot is taped up in a way to help with the PF.
While entering my next appointment, Simon asked if I could choose another name, other than Simon the Sadist, as Meg hurts me just as much, but she has MOTIVATOR. I got a laugh out of it. I did ask “You do deliberately cause pain, and stab me with needles.” He agreed that is true. I told him would think about it.
I thought about it after I got home, and yeah, I will now call him ‘Simon the Sensible’.
I joined a "Total Knee Replacement" group on Facebook. Why? Because there are certain well meaning people that are clueless. Or at least I hope they're well meaning but clueless.
I had one person tell me that 4 weeks after a total knee replacement,an uncle (or someone) was back to mountain climbing. Kind of intimated I was faking or slacking. I passed this information to my physio and he said that claim was (and I quote) "F&&king bullshit." Seeing as part of the tibia is sawn off, a titanium peg hammered into the tibia, and a titanium cap clipped onto the femer, it would take at least 6 weeks before the surgery part healed. Then comes the swelling and rehab.
Then there is battling the scar tissue. The same collegan that makes my skin so nice an not so wrinkled is the same reason the scar on my knee is so thick and deep. Lotions won't fix this. Breaking the adhesions is the only method, and it frigging hurts like hell for days afteward.
Then, there is the sciatic shin pain, that no pain meds can touch, because it's a pinched nerve, not muscular.
The members of the TKR group know about all of this, and when I say "Wow, today I managed to wash and hang the laundry outside! Cooked dinner and even cleaned up the cat's sand boxes." they know what an achievement that is. I can walk around without limping for over a half hour, longer if the sciatic shin pain stays away.
I don't marathons, but that's fine, because I didn't run them before. But I'm getting back to doing... even the mundane things, with a cheerful demeanor.
Oh yeah, and I cooked a 3+ hr prep and work turkey dinner for Wing... and yes, It was a bragging moment for me.
The Tibialis Anterior pain isn't going away. I have done the stretches and other things Matt The Physio said to do, and it's not changing anything.
After checking my blogs, and comparing when the pain started to when I was give the 'all clear' from having to do the rehab exercises, it seems the shin pain started shortly after. I have decided to go back to the rehab exercises. And if I see any improvement, it will just mean I have to take 10 minutes, 3 to 5 times a day, to do them again.
Here's hoping, because if it is compartment syndrome, that could end up requiring more surgery and NO thank you!
Did a full 12mins on the stationary bike this morning.
Might not seem like a lot to able bodied, but I started with a slow pedal speed 5 minutes, adding 10 seconds a day. Also, I upped the resistance slightly, but not to the point that the pain was unmanageable. I had to take a break for a few days because of umm 'chafing' (the seat is not very comfortable.)
The shin issue is still annoying me, but doesn't bother me when I'm on the stationary bike, because the foot isn't flexing heel to toe, which is what is causing the shin to cramp.
I am finished with Physiotherapist. I do have a 'penciled in' appointment for the 3rd of January, but unless there's something wrong, or goes wrong, I probably won't need.
The Shin Cramps: turns out the cramping is because of properly walking heel to toe. The muscle along the tibia is getting a work out, and it's not so much cramping, but just angry muscle from being used correctly. Matt did some acupuncture on the area, and it was funny watching the needles vibrate as the muscle complained, then settled down. Instructed to 'roll a tennis ball' firmly over the area. Also, if I lift the foot, and allow the leg to just dangle a bit, the pain/cramp subsides.
I also asked Matt about how much time it's taking, as a few people claimed that in two or three weeks, relatives/friends with total knee replacements were out doing stuff like mountain climbing and hiking. He slowly shook his head, and said "Not a chance. Takes 6 to 8 weeks for the surgical incision to heal. Mountain climbing or hiking would tear it open after two or three weeks." MAYBE if what they had was laproscopic, but even then, the surgeons instructions would be minimum of 4 to 6 weeks. He also said that my recovery is well beyond average.
So, I can keep doing the rehab exercises as needed (yes, I need them in the morning as the knee/leg is typically quite stiff), and then have occasional reviews with Matt and Mr Skinner, but for all intents I've been set free!
I still have a ways to go, but it will be done by daily living now.
Mr S is very pleased with my recovery, even though I am frustrated. He said I was being to hard on myself, and the fact that I am at what it normally takes 6 months to get to at 3 months shows all the hard work and effort I've put into my recovery.
He was a bit concerned about how the surgical scar has turned into a keloid scar. It's much thicker, and more livid than he would like. I showed him other scars I had that were from deep cuts, and although they are faded, they are also keloid scars. There is a treatment for it, and if it doesn't work, it can lessened with laser treatment. (On an aside, the reason I have such good skin is the same reason for the keloid scarring.. a goodly amount of collagen.)
The knee is stable, the leg bends only a half a centimeter less than the uninjured knee now. And I am developing strength back into the leg. Also lost another 2kgs.
The hypersensitive spot on my knee, just keep rubbing it. It will settle down. As will the involuntary twitching of the leg. I told Mr S that I have been having trouble sleeping, and although that is normal, he was concerned how often it was happening. It's because of the pharmaceuticals.
Medications: turned out that the last prescriptions I got were slightly screwed up. I wasn't given one of them, the slow release version, which is why I have been having shitty nights sleeping because of pain. The only one they filled was the quick release one, which would wear off in the middle of the night. This was rectified and I now have the correct dose of the correct medication.
I was sent home with an admonition. Even though my knee/leg feels better, do NOT overdo it. I've recovered well above average, and I don't need to muck it all up by doing too much, and screwing it all up.
Matt the physio has recommended I not use crutches, unless heading somewhere there is a lot of people, then use both of them as a visual cue to people that there is a reason I am walking slowly. He told me I have to learn to trust the new knee. I have to break myself of the habit of leaning towards the left, and start putting equal weight on the right leg. Wing and I went for a bit of a walk at the pet store, and the shops. And I'm "Post Physio Visit" sore as usual. Should pass in a day or so.
Also showed him my right hand, the one I fell on when I was in Denmark two years ago. After examining it, he said I had sustained a scaphoid fracture. The only thing that could've been done for it, was what I did for it. Wear a wrist brace to limit movement.
I see Mr Skinner next week for my 12 week post op check up.
Saw Matt, the physio/nicest sadist ever. I can bend my knee to 120 degrees unassisted. I showed him that my left leg, the uninjured one, and the right knee both bent back the same amount. Then I showed him how I could put my feet, sole to sole, with knees bent. He agreed that I might be as far as I can go for now, but for 11 weeks post op, it's excellent recuperation. I have been told to leave the crutches home, unless I go to a crowded area. Not so much for my need, but the need of a visual cue for those who think I am walking too slow for their liking.
But now we have to work on the tendons on the right side of the knee and calf. It's not stretching enough to be able to lay my leg flat. I have been sent home with new exercises. I will keep up doing the ones I have been doing, as they will keep my progress heading in the right direction.
Turns out the twitching of my leg at night is normal, as there's always nerve damage during the surgery. The feeling of rug burn on one part of my knee is over-sensitized nerves. To get it calmed down, I have to rub it with cold, warm, and textured things at different times.
Bending: Didn't have much improvement at all, but when Matt worked on the knee, I showed him the only place it was 'catching'... directly on top of the knee cap. Off to the leg press, and gave it 20+ weighted bends to as far as I could go. (Pain level 4). Then was shown new exercise, 'Split Bend'.. right leg curled behind me, foot resting on a surface, while holding onto a stable surface, bend knee and slightly sit back with the hips to increase the degree of knee bending. Was not fun, but I went from 114 degrees of bend to 120. Matt is still aiming for 130 for my next review.
Here's hoping!
