Bragging Rights - 10 Days Post-Op
Unfortunate nap times have interrupted my blogging. I also starting working from home on Wednesday and have a strict "no blogging during work hours" personal policy.
So rewinding a few days, my first appointment post-op was pretty damn awesome. I had been wrapped from ankle to thigh in ace bandages so I had no idea what my leg looked like. Aside from the idiodine from surgery still discoloring my leg, I had pretty much no bruising and very little swelling. I'm glad I didn't try to change my dressings at home, because the amount of dried blood was pretty freaky. Normal, they say, but it would have scared me for sure.
After the dressings came off, I got my first look at the placement of my first official surgical scar. Not bad. About a 3 inch insicion from the middle of my knee down. It was still covered in sterile strips, so I didn't get a great view. I had the stiches removed from the 2 smaller incisions, but I have to wait until Tuesday to get the rest out. Yes, that means no shower until Tuesday. More hair washing for Big Tony until then.
The surgeon came in took a look and tugged at my knee a little. He was very happy with the stability. He had a cold, so he didn't want to get too close or spend too much time. He'll check in with me when I go in on Tuesday to see Nicole, his assistant, to get the rest of my stitches removed.
After I visited the doctor, I moved on to my first post-op physical therapy appointment. This is where the bragging begins. One of the first concerns after you have an ACL reconstruction is the ability to straighten your leg to zero degrees. I had been doing my post-op exercises religiously, and my first measurement was -6 degrees. My PT was psyched. For bending, I could get to 60 degrees on my own and 90 with assistance. Very, very good news. Range of motion is a huge part of recovery and I am well on my way.
I also ended up on the exercise bike my first visit, which surprised me but the stretch felt so good. I just went back and forth slowly, but not all the way around. I tried, but couldn't do it because my quad muscles are so tight. And I walked across the PT room without a brace, but with my crutches. My knee feels weak, but not unstable. It's cool to move and not feel the side to side looseness I had with my ACL gone.
Yesterday I was was doing my PT at home and hit another great milestone. I went all the way around on my exercise bike. It took a few minutes of warming up, but by the third minute I was going around in full circles. Yeehaw!
I went back for my second therapy session today. I had a great time showing off my full circle around on the bike. My PT took off my sterile strips and I got to check out my scar. Not bad. Nice and straight. Kind of gross with old blood. I have plenty of pictures but I'm debating whether or not to post them. They're pretty gross. But if Anthony can handle it, I think most people can. He's not so much for the blood.
I had my extension and flexion measured again today. -9 degrees on the extension (full for me is -10 degrees) and 90 degrees unassisted/100 assisted on the flexion (full for me is 120 degrees). I am so damn happy and so glad I did my pre-op PT religiously. I walked with no brace and one crutch at PT today.
I'll be headed back to work on Tuesday. I'm a little nervous, but excited to be back in the land of the living. I'll take ice with me and elevate my leg while I'm at my desk. I know I'll be tired and sore, but I'm ready to do more. I'll wear my brace and use my crutches at work, but around the house I'm down to the brace and one crutch. I know these are baby steps, but I love seeing my progress. It's so satisfying watching my work pay off.
I got a new exercise today that's a bit painful. I lay on my stomach (which is more complicated than it seems with a bum knee) and do a hamstring curl. I hold the curl and lift my leg off the bed with my glutes. This is the most painful exercise by far. It taxes the area where my tendon was removed to create my new ACL. I only have do do 5 reps and that's plenty.
Overall, I'm feeling great. I'm ready to get out of the house more, drive again, and to not have to ask Anthony to do so much for me. He's been my hero and a freaking angel throughout this entire process. I don't know how I'll thank him for this. I would do the same for him if the situation was reversed, but he's been an amazing caregiver and has put his life on hold for a couple of weeks to be with me. Lucky, lucky me.
So rewinding a few days, my first appointment post-op was pretty damn awesome. I had been wrapped from ankle to thigh in ace bandages so I had no idea what my leg looked like. Aside from the idiodine from surgery still discoloring my leg, I had pretty much no bruising and very little swelling. I'm glad I didn't try to change my dressings at home, because the amount of dried blood was pretty freaky. Normal, they say, but it would have scared me for sure.
After the dressings came off, I got my first look at the placement of my first official surgical scar. Not bad. About a 3 inch insicion from the middle of my knee down. It was still covered in sterile strips, so I didn't get a great view. I had the stiches removed from the 2 smaller incisions, but I have to wait until Tuesday to get the rest out. Yes, that means no shower until Tuesday. More hair washing for Big Tony until then.
The surgeon came in took a look and tugged at my knee a little. He was very happy with the stability. He had a cold, so he didn't want to get too close or spend too much time. He'll check in with me when I go in on Tuesday to see Nicole, his assistant, to get the rest of my stitches removed.
After I visited the doctor, I moved on to my first post-op physical therapy appointment. This is where the bragging begins. One of the first concerns after you have an ACL reconstruction is the ability to straighten your leg to zero degrees. I had been doing my post-op exercises religiously, and my first measurement was -6 degrees. My PT was psyched. For bending, I could get to 60 degrees on my own and 90 with assistance. Very, very good news. Range of motion is a huge part of recovery and I am well on my way.
I also ended up on the exercise bike my first visit, which surprised me but the stretch felt so good. I just went back and forth slowly, but not all the way around. I tried, but couldn't do it because my quad muscles are so tight. And I walked across the PT room without a brace, but with my crutches. My knee feels weak, but not unstable. It's cool to move and not feel the side to side looseness I had with my ACL gone.
Yesterday I was was doing my PT at home and hit another great milestone. I went all the way around on my exercise bike. It took a few minutes of warming up, but by the third minute I was going around in full circles. Yeehaw!
I went back for my second therapy session today. I had a great time showing off my full circle around on the bike. My PT took off my sterile strips and I got to check out my scar. Not bad. Nice and straight. Kind of gross with old blood. I have plenty of pictures but I'm debating whether or not to post them. They're pretty gross. But if Anthony can handle it, I think most people can. He's not so much for the blood.
I had my extension and flexion measured again today. -9 degrees on the extension (full for me is -10 degrees) and 90 degrees unassisted/100 assisted on the flexion (full for me is 120 degrees). I am so damn happy and so glad I did my pre-op PT religiously. I walked with no brace and one crutch at PT today.
I'll be headed back to work on Tuesday. I'm a little nervous, but excited to be back in the land of the living. I'll take ice with me and elevate my leg while I'm at my desk. I know I'll be tired and sore, but I'm ready to do more. I'll wear my brace and use my crutches at work, but around the house I'm down to the brace and one crutch. I know these are baby steps, but I love seeing my progress. It's so satisfying watching my work pay off.
I got a new exercise today that's a bit painful. I lay on my stomach (which is more complicated than it seems with a bum knee) and do a hamstring curl. I hold the curl and lift my leg off the bed with my glutes. This is the most painful exercise by far. It taxes the area where my tendon was removed to create my new ACL. I only have do do 5 reps and that's plenty.
Overall, I'm feeling great. I'm ready to get out of the house more, drive again, and to not have to ask Anthony to do so much for me. He's been my hero and a freaking angel throughout this entire process. I don't know how I'll thank him for this. I would do the same for him if the situation was reversed, but he's been an amazing caregiver and has put his life on hold for a couple of weeks to be with me. Lucky, lucky me.
posted by Kate at 1:33 PM
2 Comments:
I love reading all this even though you've told it all to me already! It's so amazing that you are healing so quickly, I'm truly impressed by all the work you're doing and progress you're making!
Big Tony deserves a prize. He's the cream of the crop!
xo
it makes me so happy to see you on the mend so fast! lucky you, indeed!
//heart
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