Knee Reconstruction from Dx to Recovery

[Melissa]

I don't know if anyone remembers this, but I'll tell you the back story

Well, I've hurt myself pretty badly!

I decided to bring Katie to the park today. I made us both lunch so we could have a nice mother-daughter time. We were having a great time until I decided to go onto the log roll in the play area. Even though I was holding on, I fell off. I pinned my lower leg under my upper leg, heard all SORTS of snaps, crackles, and pops and was in intense pain immediately. Thank GOD that I had my cell phone at my hip and not in the car, or anywhere else because I literally couldn't move and Katie certainly don't know how to follow those directions yet.

I called Reed first and said, "I NEED YOU HERE RIGHT NOW, I'm at the playground!" I then thought of calling 911, then thought, "nah we can do this" Well, I tried to get up again, my knee went out of joint and then back in and I thought, "911 is a good idea!" So I called them and had to have them connect me to the 911 operator on base instead of the county one.

Well, the abulance got there about the time that Reed did, followed by a police car. Katie was still playing happily saying, "are you OK mommy? What happened mommy?" Then when the abulance came, "Mommy, fire truck! Fire truck mommy!" Meanwhile, I'm still on the ground!

So the EMTs get to me and ask me how I'm doing and I say, "well I was great until I tried to log roll and then it was all over." So I tell them what happened and we start joking around because laughing is so much better than crying and swearing at this point. My vitals are fine and they decide to take me to the ER to make sure I didn't break anything.

They were able to offer me morphine and even though my pain was at a 8 to a 9 (on a 10 scale where 10 is child birth) I declined it because there was no way I was going into the ER of an unknown hospital loopy! I had X-Rays and everyone and their brother asking me what I did and I got all kinds of funny looks when I said I was trying do a log roll (yep, folks, I'm an idiot!).

Nothing is broken, but I screwed up my knee pretty good. I have it immobilized and I have crutches to use when I need them. Oh and the best part is I have a prescription for Vicadin! mmmmmmm off to Vicadin land! LOL I haven't used one yet, but I did get a strong dose of Motrin.

Well, if you are ever contemplating doing the log roll at the local playground, I would highly recommend to move right along. Even if you think you can do it, it really hurts when you fall!

My knee healed fairly well, I was back to my old exercises and such, but in February I hurt my knee again stepping into a pool. I just have ALL the luck :roll:

SOOOOOO. My knee has just been popping out of place randomly when I was walking. It would pop out and back in, not really hurting but popping. It has been getting progressively worse as time goes on, I'm not exercising like I should because it hurts like hell. Even walking, stairs are a chore right now. I have an MRI tomorrow and I just need some vibes saying, "let there be something FIXABLE!" :awink: I'm sick of my knee holding me back. I'm ready for it to feel better now!

Thanks in advance.

[stass]

:vibes:

[Clare]

I hope it's fixable and there's an end in sight to the pain :hug99:

[Mary DK]

:vibes: for a fixable diagnose going your way! :bighug:

[Bev]

Good luck tomorrow!

:vibes: Let there be something fixable!

[pam]

Ugh! How painful that must have been! I hope your MRI goes well tomorrow & that whatever it is that's hurt is easy to repair.

[LISA]

OMG Melissa! :bighug: that was painful to read, I can't imagine how you must have felt :bighug:

Good luck tomorrow..let us know how it goes :crossfing:

[Dennis]

Good luck!

[Brandi]

You are in my thoughts. Let us know what happens!

[Lyoshka]

Sending all kinds of fixable thoughts your way, dear!!!! :hug99:

[MrsPeacefrog]

good luck, I hope you hear what you want to hear. :hug99:

[Joan]

I couldn't even finish reading! Good luch with the MRI.

[Melissa]

Thank you everyone! Sorry Joan, you don't even want to know what my knee does now. :dead:

I had my MRI this morning, it was in a new machine called an "open MRI." That meant I wasn't in the tube like you see on TV :up: SO happy about that! I was lying on a table that had sides, it was confining, but not claustrophobic. They even had a TV that I could watch while the machine was running. It did sound like a soft jack-hammer at points, but all in all it was OK.

Unfortunately, my follow-up isn't until the 21st which is a bummer. I did take a look on the screen when I was done, but I have no idea at what I'm looking at. :lol:

[Lyoshka]

I hope whatever it is, it's not serious and it's fixable :hug99:

[Bev]

Gald to hear the procedure went well. I hope the results are good. :)

[MrsPeacefrog]

wow, that sounded way better than the tradition version, I couldn't handle that tube it would make me throw up feeling so confined. Bummer how long you have to wait for the answers but atleast you know they are coming :aok:

[Melissa]

wow, that sounded way better than the tradition version, I couldn't handle that tube it would make me throw up feeling so confined. Bummer how long you have to wait for the answers but atleast you know they are coming :aok:
I agree! :phew: I was so glad it wasn't a tube. I told my friend about the MRI and she just said, "they'd have to give me valium before the thing!" :lol: That was before I was able to tell her it was an open MRI.

[Dennis]

I did a stand-up MRI once and it was very cool. They said it's actually a better scan that way because it shows how everything is while it's weight-bearing, so they can see things they miss when you're lying down.

I hope you get good results!

[pam]

That sounds like a decent experience for an MRI. Nice that it was the open kind.

I had a standard MRI years ago. I had to stay absolutely still in the closed up tube for what was at least 30 minutes with a hurt knee. No music, no tv, no sound except the occassional pounding. I got to the point where I almost couldn't take it any longer. I don't think of myself as claustrophobic but I had a really hard time with the tiny amount of space. A valium would have been really nice.

[Melissa]

I did a stand-up MRI once and it was very cool. They said it's actually a better scan that way because it shows how everything is while it's weight-bearing, so they can see things they miss when you're lying down.

I hope you get good results!
I didn't know that, thanks for telling me!

Of course I'm totally jumping the gun and thinking I might have to have surgery. I'd really hate to have to wait a long time, until late July/August, but we have our trip planned to Colorado in July, if I have the surgery in June, would I be walking by then? A friend of mine, who was a nurse for the orthopedic surgeon I'm going to, thinks I tore a meniscus or my ACL or both.

[Lyoshka]

I had my MRI this morning, it was in a new machine called an "open MRI." That meant I wasn't in the tube like you see on TV :up: SO happy about that! I was lying on a table that had sides, it was confining, but not claustrophobic. They even had a TV that I could watch while the machine was running. It did sound like a soft jack-hammer at points, but all in all it was OK.

I remember the MRI i had a year ago for possible stress fracture from running.... the tech was all worried..."Are you cold? .... are you comfortable? ... are you bored?" I told her, "Are you KIDDING me? I have a 5 month old at home, this is happy nap time!! keep me in here as long as you want". I actually fell asleep in there :lol:

[Jayne]

You should have asked the tech if they felt they saw anything. They can't officially tell you anything but they can say what they see. My mom is in charge of the x-ray department and thankfully she can read these things so I take her every time I need anything like this. I really hope they find what is going on.

[sheila]

I'm glad you were able to do the open MRI. That sounds much more comfortable. I wonder if you could call your dr back and get an earlier appointment for the results.

[Melissa]

Unfortunately, my doctor is going to be out quite a bit this month. My friend who used to work for this doctor couldn't get an appointment until the 22nd.

Jayne, I thought of that, but the tech was already setting up the MRI for the next person and well.... :shuffle: She had some freaky eyes going on. :lol: I HOPE she had yellow colored contacts, otherwise she needs to stop being so close to radiation.

[Melissa]

UPDATE:

I had my appointment with my orthopedic surgeon and I do need to have surgery. From the look of the MRI he said, "You did a real number on your knee." :sigh: I tore my cartilage and possibly my ACL. They won't know if I tore the ACL until they take a look at it in surgery. If I tore the ACL, that means that I would need a replacement, from a cadaver. :dead: They could take part of my hamstring and do an auto-replacement, however, my surgeon says the cadaver ACL is the better way to go. It also means that I will be on crutches for a while (I'm going to have a post about this in a moment), I'll also need physical therapy to help strengthen the new ACL as well.

I'm waiting to hear when my surgery will be. I hope it is sooner rather than later because I'm so ready to be on the road towards recovery!

[Michele]

That stinks, Melissa! At least it is fixable, but that stinks you will have to have surgery.

[Shel]

My mom had to have her ACL repaired about a year and a half ago. It was actually a pretty simple procedure, and she went home an hour after surgery. She was actually upset she waited as long as she did to have it checked out because it felt so better once the swelling went down! She was in PT for about 2 months, and then just did the exercises at home after that.

[Melissa]

Shel- did she have it replaced, I see you said repaired. I'm hoping it can be repaired and not replaced. From what my doctor said it is the replacement surgery that really takes a toll.

[Shel]

They were actually able to repair hers.

[sheila]

I'm sorry that it looks like a replacement instead of a repair. At least they know and you can go ahead and get the surgery scheduled. And who knows, maybe they'll get in there and it will look better than they thought and you'll be able to get away with a repair. :crossfing

[Melissa]

Thanks Michele, Shel and Sheila, I'm hoping for a repair as well!

[Bev]

Oh, too bad Melissa! :blue: At least it is repairable/replaceable. Sucks all around though. :hug99:

[Lyoshka]

Melissa, :hug99: I'm sorry you need surgery, but like everybody else said, I'm glad you'll be able to recover after it's all said and done. Bummer that you have to go through all that, but it sounds like the drs know what they are doing and have a clear course of action :aok: I hope you are fully recovered really soon, dear!! :hug99:

[Melissa]

I have to admit, I am completely nervous about tomorrow. I've never had general anesthesia before. :tearhair:

[Lyoshka]

Melissa, I will keep you in my prayers :hug99: It'll be over before you know it.

[Dennis]

I'm sure you'll do great!

[Kara]

Good luck tomorrow Melissa!!!! I hope it turns out better than they think once they get in there!

[Mary DK]

Best of luck, Melissa! Prayers for a smooth surgery & a speedy recovery :pray:

[Alysia]

I hope it goes smoothly, Melissa! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Michele]

Good luck today, Melissa.

[pam]

Thinking good thoughts for you today.

[marcy]

Good luck!

[Mandi]

I'm just reading this. I hope that everything goes smoothly for you today!

[Jayne]

Thanking of you today :hug99:

[Bev]

I hope it went well! :getwell:

[Melissa]

Thank you all!

Unfortunately, it was the worst possible scenario. I tore my ACL so badly it needed to be replaced, thank God for people who believe in organ and tissue donation as I received a cadaver ACL. They fixed the cartilage and my meniscus. I was in surgery for about 3 hours and I have a long recovery time ahead of me.

I'm actually home, I can bear weight on the leg, but not too much. I'm using a walker to get around, plus I have great drugs to help with the pain. I'll be in a heavy duty brace for a few weeks and then smaller braces as the knee gets stronger.

Thank you again for all of your well wishes and prayers, they worked because I came out of surgery!

=========================================================
Edited below to add information:
The knee scope surgery is done under general anesthesia and a breathing tube is generally inserted. I was nervous for two separate events, first I've never been put under before, and I've certainly never needed a breathing tube. But just like the doctor said, I wouldn't remember the tube at all. I did have a scratchy throat for a number of days and I think the tube gave me a bit of heart burn a few days afterwards.

On the night of surgery, the nurses tried to convince me to get out of bed and actually put weight on my knee. I could not believe that only hours after surgery they wanted me up already. I absolutely refused because: 1) I was scared and I didn't want to damage anything else and have to go under again; 2) I was so nauseous that I could barely sit up.

I was given at least four different types of anti-nausea medications that just didn't work. It wasn't until I was 12 hours after surgery that I finally stopped throwing up. :dead:

For pain, after the surgery I was given a steady stream of morphine with a button in case I needed an extra boost. I was only able to deliver myself that extra boost so many times an hour, so I couldn't over-medicate myself. I really didn't need it much at all. I think I only pressed it three or four times the whole night.

Thursday: the day after surgery. I get up out of bed with the assistance of a nurse and move about three feet over. I'm just glad I'm not puking anymore. I was taken off of the morphine drip and given percocet pills. About 18 hours after surgery, I have my first physical therapy session. I'm asked to get up and walk out of the hospital room and to the wall across the hall. I make it with a walker and the physical therapist holding onto a belt just to make sure I don't fall.

I wasn't pushed out of the hospital, other than pushing myself. I really should have stayed a second night as the first night home I was in no condition to even sleep laying down. I slept very restlessly and in the middle of the night I had to ask Reed to help me to the bathroom. :giggle: He wasn't happy.

[Bev]

Glad to hear the surgery went well even though the ACL was so bad. :crossfing for a quick and somewhat painless recovery.

[Dennis]

I'm sorry it was so bad but that's good it went so well. I hope you have a quick recovery.

[Alyssa]

I'd seen that something was going on w/ your knee, but this is the first I really read of it all - yeouch! I'm sorry it was so severe, but I'm glad you're fixed and wish you a speedy recovery.

[Lyoshka]

Oh honey! I'm so sorry things are so bad, but I'm so glad that they were able to get you a replacement and teh worst is behind you..let's hope that from now on, things will only get better, even if very slowly. Please be very careful as you move around..... I'm sorry you are in so much pain, I hope they are giving you some good drugs! :hug99:

[Michele]

That stinks that it was the worst case scenario...but at least you got some good drugs. I think your mantra is a good one. I hope you feel better soon, and the recovery time flies by....

[Kara]

Wishing you the least painful recovery. I'm sorry it was the worst case after all.

[Bridget]

:hug99: Thinking of you and hope you are fully recovered sooner than you expect! I'm sorry the news wasn't what you had hoped. :(

:hug99:

[Mary DK]

Oh Melissa, sorry to hear about the worse case scenario :hug99: I hope your recovery goes smoothly & you're back to hoping around in no time :awink:
:bighug:

[MrsPeacefrog]

It stinks it was the the most extreme of all surgery choices, but atleast it's done and you can start recovering :hug99: I am glad you made it through ok.

[Lynn]

I'm glad it's over and you're on your way to recovery. :hug99:

[Mary]

I hope you have a quick recovery!

Mary

[Melissa]

Good news!!! I am feeling SO much better!!! I am putting a lot of weight on the recovering knee, I got up the stairs fairly easily today with a crutch. I'm actually thinking of sleeping in my own bed tonight. :hehe:

I had physical therapy yesterday, I was able to move my knee to a 45 degree angle which shocked not only myself but also the physical therapist. I'm continuing the therapy at home, straightening out my leg, bending my knee and also lifting my leg off the ground. Lifting my leg was HARD but Reed helped out (which is what the Physical therapist told me to do).

I've been able to cut back on the amount of percocet I've been taking. I'm going longer than 4 hours between doses, not taking two at a time unless I really strained myself. I'm definitely getting better! :woo:

[marcy]

Your recovery is going great!

[Melissa]

Marcy, I think so! I was so worried about Reed trip on June 5th and being home alone, but I think I'll be able to handle it. Hopefully, I'll be driving by then and I might just be without the doctor's ok. :hehe:

[MrsPeacefrog]

I am glad your recovery is going so well :aok: I hope it continues like this!

[Dennis]

That's great you're doing so well!

[Clare]

That's great news, Melissa! :)

[Bev]

Wow! Look at you go! Glad to hear you're doing so well! :aok:

[Lyoshka]

What great progress you are making, girl!! :hug99: Good deal! :aok:

[Melissa]

There are two exercises that I do during the day whenever I think of them (which is around 10 times a day): foot circles and knee squeezes. Then I have two exercises to do without the brace on, I have to do leg lifts by using the quad muscle and knee bends. I'm up to doing two sets of 10-15, twice a day now. The knee bends and left lifts hurt! Katie is an awesome cheerleader though, anytime I grunt or scream she keeps saying "go mommy!!!"

Unfortunately, I did have a bit of an emotional breakdown today. It is just taking its toll on me. I hate walking through the house seeing all of the crap all over the place and just not being able to do much about it. Bending over to pick things up is tricky still. Plus, I am not a homebody. I am usually out and about everyday, going to the gym, doing fun things with Katie. I can't even drive yet. :sigh:

It will get better, it will get better, it will get better.

[Lyoshka]

:hug99:

[MrsPeacefrog]

It WILL get better, and before you know it will all be over and you will be shocked at how fast you got better! :hug99: Hang in there.

[Bev]

It'll be better so fast, even though it will seem like forever! :hug99:

Go Melissa! :rahrah:

[Melissa]

:hug99: You guys are the best!

Today I had my second PT session. They already wanted me on a recumbent bicycle. :faint: I must have given the lady a very odd look because she said to me "you don't have to spin it all the way around, just go as far as you can." I wasn't able to spin all the way around, but I did push myself quite a bit. I then learned a whole bunch of exercises that I'm going to have to do to strengthen the muscles around the knee. It took about an hour.

Then we decided to go to Walmart. I was going to use a scooter, but all of them were taken. It was hard getting around the store. I'm exhausted! I did try to drive today. My brace is so huge, it is meant for someone at least six inches taller than me. :lol:

[Bev]

When my Mom had her knee replacement surgery in October she had to do similar exercises as you. She got a "free" wheelchair to use after making a charitable donation. She found it handy in grocery stores etc. because people don't pay attention to those with crutches but they do to those in a wheel chair. Just a thought. :hug99:

[Melissa]

Bev, I should be off the crutches in about a week :shock: My physical therapist says I have to be able to do 30 leg lifts in a row before she'll clear me. I was able to do 30 today with rests in between. I'm well on my way.

My MIL had knee replacement surgery as well, I hope she feels as good as my MIL does!

[Melissa]

Sheila asked me to change this into a journal as that is what this has become, a journal about my diagnosis and recovery. I asked her to make it public in case someone is looking for information about ACL reconstruction and recovery. I'm going to edit some posts to make things clearer about exactly where I am post surgery.

[MrsPeacefrog]

You are doing fantastic with your PT!!! WTG :rahrah:

[Brandi]

WOW! Melissa! You are doing great! I'm sure you are going a little stir crazy at home. BUT at least you can drive now! That is awesome! You are one tough cookie!

[Melissa]

You caught me while updating! Thanks Deb and Brandi!

Brandi: a friend of mine told me that I'm probably feeling so good because my knee hurt so badly for about 3 months! :lol:

[Melissa]

At 7 days past surgery (DPS), I was pretty much done with the crutches. I still bring them when I have to walk a long distance because the knee does start to hurt if I do too much.

I am doing physical therapy twice a week with a physical therapist and twice a day at home. Right now, I need to make sure I don't lose muscle in my leg around my knee, that is what is going to keep my knee stable as it is healing. The good news is, Katie LOVES to help!!! She is my cheerleader. She counts for me, she says to me, "Mommy, you can do it!" and now she is getting down on the floor with me to exercise with me! It is just too stinking cute!

Tomorrow, I will be 12 DPS and hopefully all of my staples will be removed. I have 33 staples in my leg. If some in the lower leg need to stay, I can deal with that, but the ones in the upper leg and on my knee HAVE to go! Those staples are really starting to bother me big time.

[Lyoshka]

I can't believe how well you are doing and how fast things are getting better! WAY TO GO, Melissa!!!! I am sorry the staples are being a pain to put up with....

[Melissa]

Hello Lena! :wavey:

Today I hopefully get all of my staples out, if not all, at least most. There are four on my knee that HURT and the skin around them are starting to look "angry." So they need to come out!

I have some pictures:

This is my huge honkin brace. It literally goes from 4 inches down from my hip to my ankle. Then again, I'm short and I have short legs. :giggle:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/captain_hug99/brace.jpg

Katie has decided to be my personal physical therapist:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/captain_hug99/katiemeexercise.jpg

Lastly, this is picture of the staples. I promise, it looks worse than it feels!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/captain_hug99/kneestaples.jpg

[Bev]

Yikes! It always looks worse than it feels, eh? Sounds like you're doing very well. :woo:

[Melissa]

Hello Bev!

I go the staples out today and I'm graduating to a new brace! I'll be back to update some more in a bit, I have to reread a paper and turn it in.

[Melissa]

Today begins a week without Reed around. Plus, I don't even have my parents to bitch with since they are in Jamaica with my sister and her family. I told my MIL that she should expect to hear from me a bunch this week. :lol:

Reed was off at 8 this morning, and then it was time for Katie and myself to get ready for her school. I got upstairs to take a shower and saw that my stool for showering (I sit on it) was forgotten downstairs. Since I wasn't about to go back downstairs, I decided to take a shower standing up, without my brace. I made it! :woo: I'm getting more and more brave walking around without the brace. I still use it 95% of the time because I'm supposed to, but I was reading a bunch of studies that some surgeons don't even recommend a brace after ACL surgery.

Today at physical therapy, the therapist decided that I was having much too easy of a time doing my leg lifts, so I must need weights. :errr: It was tough, but I managed. I'm not doing a full rotation yet on the recumbent bicycle. However, I am still impressing people with what I can do. I had people on either side of me today who had a great positive attitude and we all fed off of each other, laughing while gritting through the exercises.

I'm going to take a picture of my leg tomorrow, it looks like hell still, but I'm putting neosporin on it all the time (with my doctor's permission). On Monday, I go up to Richmond to get fitted for my new brace. I was looking online and those things can cost over $1000!!!!! yowza!

[Brandi]

YEAH Melissa! You are awesome! It must feel really good to hear all those positive things about your recovery from the doctors and nurses! Way to go!

[Bev]

Melissa! You're doing FANTASTIC!! Look at you go! :rahrah:

[Melissa]

Thank you Brandi and Bev!

Today I did my physical therapy at the gym. It felt so good to go back there! I'm sure Katie felt good about it too since that was our routine before my knee got too terrible. It was also nice to see a few friends there as well. I did a half hour on the recumbent bicycle, but still no full rotation around, I'm getting closer though!

:shhh: I did quite a bit of walking without the brace today.

[MrsPeacefrog]

Looks like things are well and truly on track! :aok: Keep it up. It's going to be amazing once it's back in full motion and working normally, you won't know yourself.

[Melissa]

Thanks Deb! It does seem that way, this morning I had another mini-breakdown though. My left leg just feels like it has run a marathon, the muscles are so sore. Then Katie is being so clingy, wanting me to do everything "mommy put on my socks, I can't do this, I can't do that." :sigh: I told her she had to suck it up and do things for herself until my knee was all better. She understood and had a huge change in attitude, especially when I started crying. :bawl:

So at physical therapy today, they checked my range of motion, I can bend to 85 degrees (I was at 45 degrees 2 days after surgery) and straighten my leg really well. Posting because it is time to pick up Katie from preschool.

[Lyoshka]

Melissa, you are doing fantastic!! Way to go with all that progress... just please please be very careful, ok? I agree, you are going to be unstoppable once you are recovered enough to exercise!!!

[Melissa]

Lena, trust me, I am SO careful! I don't want to go through surgery again! :lol:

Whenever I walk around without the brace (which my physical therapists have me do so I know it is kosher), I warn Katie to watch out. I also make sure there is a clear path. :lol: Even the doctor explained why I am in a brace, I have to watch for lateral movement of the knee, not the bending of the knee. My next brace won't have any restrictions on bending, but will have pads on either side of the knee that restricts lateral movement.

The scars on my leg have improved a whole lot since Monday when the staples were taken out. Some are very close to almost going away. I'm putting a ton of neosporin on them and I'm going to move to Maderma once I feel they are completely closed and healed.

[Melissa]

Today was the first full day where I really feel good. The healing knee feels so much stronger and not sore, OK not as sore. Plus, it is looking fairly normal, the majority of the swelling has gone down and my scars are almost completely healed (still visible, but healed).

Tomorrow I will hopefully get my new knee brace. :crossfing that they have one in my size and they don't have to order it. The person is going to fit me for it and it will allow me to bend my knee all the time now instead of being in an immobilizer.

[Lyoshka]

I'm glad things are going so well for you, Melissa!!! Yeah!! :aok:

[Bev]

Wow! What a fast recovery Melissa! I bet my Mom wishes she was 40 years younger! For more reasons than the knee replacement recovery, I'm sure. :lol:

[Melissa]

I haven't been here in a while, I haven't really had anything new to report until today!

Today I was able to do a full rotation around the exercise bike!!! My knee bent enough to go all the way around. :banana: I couldn't believe it! I was able to do a rotation backwards and then after some more rocking back and forth I was able to go forwards all the way around. It is amazing how different the two motions are and how much stretch you need to go all the way around.

I really think I was able to do it because I'm keeping the brace off 90% of the time (with my physical therapists approval). The brace just stiffens the muscles and tendons when it is in it.

Plus, I can bear my full weight on the one leg. I found that out in the shower when I was shaving my legs, I thought, "lets see what I can do, will this work?" :lol: :woo:

Friday, I still get my new brace, I can't wait! It will allow me the same range of motion that I have now, but it will keep my knee from having lateral movements.

My scar is definitely looking a lot better but I still got odd looks from people, I'm putting mederma on it all the time.

Hopefully tomorrow during physical therapy I'll be able to show my therapist that I can do a full rotation.

[Lyoshka]

holymoly,woman! you are doing this fast, huh? :clap: great job at keeping it up and having a great mental attitude!!! way to go!

[Bev]

:woo:

[Melissa]

Thank you Lena and Bev. I was so excited I was practically shouting in the gym today, "I'm going all the way around!"

[Bev]

I can't believe how fast your recovery on this is!

[Melissa]

I'm so surprised as well! I really thought I was going to be completely laid up for weeks! That's why I had the panic thread about needing to go to Colorado and not knowing what to do. I think there are a few things that are really helping me along on this, I have a positive attitude. I push myself so I can get better. Another is my age, 31 really isn't that old :lol: Lastly, I've normally been a fairly quick healer.

But there are certain things I can't do yet, climbing stairs is still a chore, I can't use both legs to climb the stairs. I use the good knee to move up each stair. Plus, I can't go down stairs normally either. It really seems like the bad knee has forgotten how to go down the stairs :lol: It is really odd, I'll say to myself, "lets try it" and my knee doesn't know what to do anymore. :freak:

I also tried going swimming and something didn't like that, I had weird muscular/bone pain afterwards. It was so bad I had to break out the heavy duty pain meds. :dunno: Maybe I'm not quite healed enough internally to swim?

[Melissa]

Note to self, update your journal!!!!

Last Thursday, I went to physical therapy and I can bend my knee 115 degree, plus I have complete extension back (meaning I can lock my knee out). :woo: Friday, I got my new knee brace. It is really odd looking and kind of makes me look like the bionic woman, but it is screaming yellow and I have a pair of crocs that match it! :lol:

Friday, we went to see Rush and for the first time, being disabled paid off! We got to park in a handicapped spot which was about 10 feet away from the gate. Then, I was able to use the handicapped entrance instead of waiting in line (and walking all the way back to the regular parking lot. :rolleyes: ). It was difficult standing for three hours though. With the age of the audience, I would have thought most of them would have sat down after a while! :lol:

The new brace is really working well for me though. It really lets me bend the knee. I have to take a picture of it so you can see.

Posting.

[Melissa]

Today, I was given a bunch of new exercises to do. They are HARD! I have a ton to balance on one leg (the injured one), with my eyes closed and open. I also had to use the elliptical today instead of the bike, it felt alright. I was surprised that it didn't hurt more, I guess I'm pretty well healed. :woo: I also had to do squats and then I had to bend my knee as if I was going to go down the stair and then bring myself back up. That HURT!!! OMG are those awful.

[marcy]

You're doing really good. I'm glad to see that you have the new brace.

[Lyoshka]

Glad you are pushing yourself and having success! Maybe your leg is not ready for a swim yet... were you kicking hard when you swam? Maybe if you tried not using your legs much, it would be better?

Well well well..... i'm glad the new brace matches the Crocs. That's what it's all about :lol:

[Melissa]

Here's a picture!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/captain_hug99/rainbowweek040.jpg

I have my 6 week appointment with my surgeon today. I'll let you know how it goes!

[Lyoshka]

:wow: That DOES go good together!! A Bionic woman in style!! ALRIGHT!!!!!! :lol:

[Melissa]

I got back from my doctor's appointment and he said my knee was looking great! He also said that my PT is working me well. However, no real bike riding for two more weeks and no rollercoasters for six weeks. I guess I won't be biking down Pike's Peak while we're in Colorado! :lol:

[Bev]

You're stylin! :) Glad to hear everything's on track!

[Lyoshka]

I guess I won't be biking down Pike's Peak while we're in Colorado! :lol: You had better not! That brace looks great, but we only want it on you for as long as absolutely necessary...

[Melissa]

Great news!!!! I've been discharged from physical therapy!!!! I told the therapist what we did on our trip to Colorado, which included me hiking up big hills at 6000 feet elevation, she saw how I was flexing my knee and said, "Goodbye!" :lol: I have to see my surgeon in a few weeks for a follow up, but things are feeling really good!

I also went to the gym today and did 20 minutes on the arc trainer, the knee felt great, did the bike and felt great. I'm also allowed to do water aerobics.

[Bev]

:woo: Fantastic! That didn't take long at all!