Day 18 - July 20 Outpaitent PT!!

Had my first out patient PT today and it went GREAT!!!

But before I get ahead of myself, let me start from the beginning.

I did not sleep again last night. I was up every 2 hours...for one reason or another. :(

When I woke Meghan at 9, than I took 2 9am meds because I was having PT today and I did not know how much pain it would cause my knee. I also wanted to prepare my knee so I did my exercises than iced my knee.

Then about 9:30 I made sure Meghan was almost ready to go...we left on time and made it to my appointment on time.

It was a long session today. 10-11:30

First, he played with my patella (moving it and such) but no tissues massage :( Then he measured my extension and flexion. The first time was only 94 than we did more stretches and patella moving..measured it again 95. Did some more patella stuff than had me get on a bike for 10 minutes. The first few minutes I could not go all the way around so I was suppose to go back and forth until I could make it around. PT said it would probably be easier to go backward first..and it was...I was able to go backward. Than I also was able to go forward. I did it a little longer than required (about 14 min instead of 10). Than got back on the table and he had me do some new exercises and a few old ones modified a little.

1. quad sets - tightening muscles in quad, push down, and tighten muscles in butt, all while pulling toes toward knee
2. straight leg lifts - lying on back, one leg bent, keep leg totally straight, knee locked, muscles tight lift leg straight
3. Hip Extension - lying on stomach lift leg up keeping leg and knee straight and tight
4. hip abduction - lying on side, one leg bent, leg kept straight and in line with back (this is hard) lift leg up keeping knee locked and muscles tight
5. hip abduction 2 - lying on other side, bend leg over straight leg, tighten and keep knee lock and lift straight leg.
6. heel raise bilateral - stand up and rise on ball of feet

These are the new exercises I am suppose to do at home in addition to the ones I did at PT.

1. using left leg to bend and straighten right leg when sitting up
2. using a bike for 10-15 minutes a day (will be going back to YMCA!!!)
3. Knee wall slides - walking up and down the wall while lying on back with knees bent
4. Patella massage and stretching - side to side and up and down. (when he did these at PT it did not hurt cause I was high... When I did them tonight...OUCH!!! :(

I am suppose to do each exercise 20 times for each set, 2 sets for each session, and 3 sessions a day! I am adding these exercises to the exercises I am already doing!

Than we came home. I was very tired so I took a long, long nap! Than we got to watch Elizabeth again while Honora had 2nd shift.

Meghan had color guard practice today, so instead of her riding the bus Elizabeth and I went with her! It was fun, we packed a blanket and sat on it and watched her practice and played together. It was great. She loves to be outside and it is good for me to get out of the house.

My knee/scar is looking great. The Steri-strips came off (so itchy) and it is healed so well I did not put any new ones on, I might still...

There was a bad storm tonight, so I could not go for a walk.

My Game Plan for tomorrow.

I want to go to the YMCA tomorrow to do the bike, the library to return and check out more books, bank (deposit money), and store (I need to buy a few things), go for a walk, go exercises 3 times...

Well I already did my exercises a 3 times today..but I might do them one more time before bed! Good night!