Day 19 - July 21 - A day of Firsts

Wow today has been great. It has been a day of firsts!

1. Went for a walk ALL BY myself!
2. Did not take ANY narcotics only Ibuprofen 2 times all day!
3. Was able to read some of a book!
4. Went to YMCA and rode a bike for 15 minutes
5. Drove home from YMCA!!

It was a great day! I have done really well today and the knee is keeping up really well. There is some pain, but not too bad maybe a 2. Usually there is no pain, but when I move it, it is really stiff sometimes. Then I move it more and it feels better and is not so stiff.

The knee is still achy and stiff, but exercise still helps!

I am so happy I am doing so well!

Good night! Did all my exercises already so I am going to read a little more (it is nice to have a clear head) and go to bed (I hope I'll be able to sleep!)

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!

Day 17 - July 19

Well I had to sleep last night, I just had too. I have been getting MORE AND MORE exhausted...so I took 20 mg of my meds again. I went to bed earlier (ie finally was able to fall asleep at about 12ish). Meghan let me cuddle her so I was able to relax easier before I fell asleep! I was not awakened by aching, discomfort, or pain last night!!!! I woke up kinda early this morning (5:30am) but then cuddled with Elizabeth and went back to sleep! I finally got some great sleep last night!

I woke up tired...and I am still a little tired this morning (11ish am) but doing much better. I decided to take 20 mg again...I am feeling much better. I do not have many Oxycontin left so I need to go fill my prescription of vicoden very very soon! We are also almost out of toilet paper...YIKES!!! So I really need to go to the store today. I still also need to get my alternator tested to see if I need a new one (PLEASE NO!!!!)

I gave myself my last blood thinning shot today! So tomorrow I can start using anti-inflammatory to see if that will help reduce swelling and pain in the knee tomorrow!

We are planning on going to Harry Potter today...I hope that works out too...

As I was playing with Elizabeth my nausea hit me hard. I ran out of pills today and did not take some with my meds this morning. I had gotten a new script from the Dr, but for some reason I have not filled it yet. Elizabeth fell asleep so I laid down with her cause I threw up in my mouth a little. When Honora walked in the door, she was like, "let's go get your meds." She was my savior! She saved me from the horrid nausea. We ran to Wal-mart they said it would take 25 min, so we went to get toilet paper because we were out of that too. Then we hung out next to the pharmacy (me trying not to vomit, Honora feeding Elizabeth). Finally, it was done. We got it, Honora went for the car and now we are home!!! YAhooo...oh yah..I took my nausea meds as soon as he handed me the bottle!

Now I am waiting for it to kick in...

My nausea meds worked, mostly, but I had to take some Tums as well. Honora made us a YUMMY dinner of homemade Alfredo sauce with pasta and chicken. She also made a yummy cucumber and tomato salad. Than Daniel came over so we could all go see Harry Potter. We were waiting from Daniel's friend Trey (he works at the movie theater and got us 4 FREE movie tickets! So we got to go for free!) So since we had to take Trey with us, Honora and Elizabeth followed us to the movies. We go the movies and it watched it. Elizabeth was SO good! But bad news...stupid me did not remember to bring her 9pm meds....Movie started at 7:30...got over at 10:30...dumb me. By the time I got home I was in pain.
I took 2 9pm meds and Honora did a trick with my PRN med and soon I was not feeling any pain. It was important that we got the pain under control since it was a 6 and rising.. (VERY BAD). Got the pain under control, made myself high (DO NOT LIKE!!!), did my exercises and went to bed!

VERY TIRED!!!

Day 16 - July 18

Today was a non-eventful day except for a few things:

1. I was able to go shopping without a drive around cart!
2. I got a sunburn on my surgery leg and arm
3. My leg ached a little more today

The day started early today. Elizabeth and I cuddled until 10. Then we went to go wake up Meghan. I only took 10 mg of meds at 9..but had to take breakthrough meds. I did my exercises.

Meghan had a book to read for school that we had to pick up from the library. We also took Elizabeth over to Honora's work for a visit.

We ran to the store and Elizabeth and I went shopping for a few things while Meghan walked over to Noodles and Company to get us lunch/dinner.

I was able to WALK the WHOLE time, however, by the time we got to check out (after about 30 minutes) my leg was aching. Then add to that a PAINFULLY SLOW check-out lady and it made for sad ending to a great beginning.

When I woke up I discovered that I had gotten sunburned on my right leg and arm. It is not that bad, but since I am not allowed to use ANYTHING on my leg it makes it a little sad since it does burn a little. My steri-strips are also falling off and for the areas that are not quite healed all the way I am washing with rubbing alcohol and putting a new strip on it. Some places are healing so great! I have a tiny thin scar! The staple holes are the things that are kinda raised. I really think this scar is going to be much better than the one from 15 1/2 years ago!

It is weird, sometimes I feel things in my knee that I do not think I should be able to. It seems like I feel the joint rubbing against each other. But that seems to be impossible since the joint is all fake?? I am confused. I feel it bumping and grinding also. That maybe due to the vibrations that I can feel that...very strange. I wonder how long these feelings will last.

I HAVE to sleep tonight. I am planning on going to bed early tonight (ie before 12 - hopefully as it is 10:30 when I started writing this, than the computer had issues and it is now 11:14). I took 20 mg of my meds tonight... hoping it will help me sleep. I tried only 10 mg last night and slept even worse than before. I need to do my exercises one more time today and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Even though I took a nap I still think I will be able to sleep...I sure hope so.

Day 15 - July 17

Today was a good day I was able to catch up on my sleep. I took a really long nap this afternoon 5-8:30pm. Only problem is I am now awake! lol

Anyway, good news. I tried reducing my pain meds today with pretty good results. I only took 10 mg instead of 20 at 9 am today. It worked pretty well and I only needed my break through 5mg one time durning the day after PT about 1pm. I took only 10 mg at 9pm as well and was doing well. But had to take a break through 5mg at about 12am...I am hoping I can wean myself off these narcotics...but I also do not want to let the pain go crazy...balance balance.... I need to go fill my other scripts tomorrow....

It was a sad day because it was the last day with Tanan as my PT we had a great session. She did a lot of hands on work, watched me walk without a cane, up and down stairs and measured me. I finally got a ZERO!!! It was a painful zero...but I got it for the first time since I was 15!!! I also measured a 95 flexion. PT said she is doubtful of the 103 from the DR office...because each person measures slightly different. But it is still more then pre-surgery! I know I will get it even better.
When we did the stairs it was scary. I have fallen down the stairs so many times I do not want to fall ANYMORE...so we can to the agreement that I can go up and down alternating feet when there is a railing, but without anything to hold on to, I will continue to go down like a cripple and go up like a normal person! She said outpatient PT will really work with me on that. Since I have 6 weeks of PT I will learn a lot. She said since I have great mobility already so soon after surgery she thinks the worse part of PT (manual moving the leg forcibly, painfully, and icky) I should not need. I will still have a lot of stretching, massage, etc...but I will do awesome! I really want the next person to push me. I hope he is a good PT... :) I find out Monday morning!
I also saw the nurse this morning and she said I did exactly the right thing with the swollen issues. It is funny...I keep forgetting I had major surgery! ;) she said it was VERY normal what happened and that I handled it good. SO now I know. I have to keep my leg up if I am not using it!
I did my exercises today! I really like doing them. It makes me feel like I am making progress and I am doing something.
Honora, Meghan, Elizabeth, and I had a wonderful picnic outside. We put down a blanket and ate pizza and root bear and Honora got us ice cream from the ice cream man! It was a lot of fun.

Well that is all for today. I have to do my exercises one more time then hit the sack!