Day 21 - July 23 3 WEEKS!!!

It has been three weeks today that I had my knee replaced. It is crazy...I am starting to not remember what it was like to be in chronic pain. Meghan and I had an argument about what pain is...I think I am more of an expert than she is.

The adjectives that I use to describe what I feel sometimes feel in my knee and leg is: achy, stiff, and sore.

The old adjectives were: throbbing, shooting, sharp, stabbing, excruciating, horrible, chronic, grinding, sucking all energy, pain...

Total different. My knee did well today, it did not ache as much as it did yesterday. I only went to the Y one time today. But I did my exercises, but only 2 times....

BUT tomorrow I have physical therapy at SEVEN AM!!!! Than I am going to work on a special project at the Hope Office tomorrow!!! Cause I am not on Drugs and I can drive!!!!

I took a long hot shower, it really helps my leg, especially since I put it on massage, extra hot, and I use it to massage my very sore muscles!!! I also ice my knee EVERY time I do exercise!

Gotta go to bed, see you tomorrow!

Day 20 - July 22 - Hard day

Did you ever have a day where you feel like it is too much. Well that was my day today. I really have been getting depressed because 2 of the things my PT wants me to do I can not do them. It is 2 patella exercises. I can not find the top and bottom of my patella (Honora says cause it is too swollen) that I feel like giving up...mind you I don't but it feels like it.
The achiness is getting to me to. It is like...why am I not healed yet...Honora gentally reminds me, "it has only been 3 weeks." So it has been one of THOSE kind of days.
It started out rough because I woke up stiff, sore, achey....and best of all SICK. :( my nose was running and stuffy and I just did not feel good. Needless to say, I did not do all of my exercises this morning.
We ran to the library, YMCA, and the store.
Even with all the "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE..." I still managed to make myself go do the bike for 10 min at the YMCA....I drove to different places today with...and to the store and such.
I rode the wheelchair at the store because I did not want to walk and I was icing my knee from biking.
I did not take a walk today....
I did not do my exercises 3 times...only 2....
:( I really had a hard day.
But I did make myself do my exercises 2 times with the wonderful help of my Honora the first time... :) she shouted the numbers to me and encouraged me :)
and my Meghan...she softly encouraged me and told me how well I was doing! for the 2nd set...
I love my Honora and Meghan they really helped me today!
Sometimes...you just need a little encouragement...
I was also depressed...because I can not go swimming for 3 more weeks... :( and I have to be strong about this...even though I really really really really really want to soak in a hot tub...DR orders...6 weeks... I can not risk an infection in my knee...sigh.....
Oh well...I am done exercising..I was not even going to blog today...but I think it is good to write the good AND the bad...that way it will help me push forward, keep going, and NOT GIVE UP!!!!!

GO CANDICE

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!!!