DISCLAIMER: As you read this blog please remember: this is simply MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I am NOT a doctor! Your case is unique to you.
That said, I hope you find helpful insights, ideas and enjoy what I have to offer.
Mon. Surgery day: with a brace on my leg to keep it stiff (femoral block is still in place), I walk a short distance in the hospital hallway with a therapist at my side. We use the walker for a few steps, then switch to crutches. My left (non-operative) knee almost buckles a couple of times. I think I twisted it yesterday, as the calf was very cramped this morning on the way to the hospital. Something different this time: No forced compression of the knee..they have learned that this technique is not good on a partial knee replacement.
Day 1: Checkout from the hospital is delayed several hours. I am ready to go home, and relieved to finally get there. My hospital physical therapy was very effective: I climbed a whole flight of stairs (wish I'd counted the steps!) and walked the circuit of the floor. Able to put 80% weight on my leg.
Day 2: this knee already feels more stable than the other one did. In dealing with the mix-up in ordering my in-home therapy, I make 2 trips down our stairs in the morning..so 3 total for today. Outside walk: 240 feet. (Counting the distance based on house-lots on our block mostly being 60 feet wide.) 90-95% weight bearing on leg.
Day 3: I really don't need the crutches for walking, but I use them outside for extra safety. 100% weight bearing on leg. Outside walk: 750 feet!! (I felt like I could walk farther, but chose to be cautious, remembering More is NOT Better when in rehab!!
Day 4: rain and physical therapy keep me in. Sally tells me to use crutches in order to maintain proper walking gait, advises me to go easy on the exercises and mostly focus on walking. New research indicates passive flexion is not good for partial knee, so no pressing on my knee like last time.
Day 5: I set up my exercise regimen, create a chart, and do all exercises in moring and afternoon. Walk 1,230 feet..felt so good. Walking very slowly and watching placement of each step. Evening brings a lot of pain medial below knee. Pain pills needed - guess somehow I did too much. Will re-evaluate exercises tomorrow. Don't think the walk was the cause of the pain.
Day 6: Set-back. Had a lot of pain late evening and during the night. Decided I did too much. So no exercises today, walk 1,230 feet. Used cane most of the day except for my walk. Took a shower...BIG deal, and felt sooooooo good!! I am officially a fan of "press and seal."
Monday, week 2.
Day 7: had pain again during the night. Aching which woke me up, then sharp when I tried to lift the leg. Decided I still need to rest, and think maybe I need to rely on crutches more. Used big resistance ball to get legs above heart while resting. Decided to increase walk: 1,350 feet..I still get these sharp pains on the side of the knee from time to time. Makes me worry.
Day 8: last night was better, no pain pills to sleep.
Physical Therapy today. Walk 1,590 feet..almost a quarter mile!
Day 9: exercises on my own, walk 1,590 feet. Finally feel pretty good.
Day 10: Tired. I am aware that my muscles feel tired, just as they should after a muscle-building workout. So I take the day off. Shorter walk, only 1,230 feet.
Day 11. Physical Therapy. Heel slides and Short-arc quads cause significant pain medial to the center of the incision. Stitches come out in the late afternoon: ask Doctor about the pain. His advice: don't do an exercise that causes pain, substitute something else! Also, he tells me the spot that hurts is where the joint capsule was opened. Ah-Hah! Needs time to heal!! My conclusion: a partial knee is a different protocol of exercises than a full knee..no surprise. Walk: 1,230
Day 12. Take it easy on exercises: walk 1,230
Day 13. Increase walk to 2,070
Day 14. Walk: 2,430. Also did my own set of exercises: physio-synthesis, isometric quad/glute squeezes, chair seated flexion/slide.
Day 15. Physical Therapy. Seated flexion to 110 degrees. Walk: Half mile!!Whoohoo!
Day 16: Muscles tired from session yesterday. Half mile walk. I start doing what I call "step-ups" when I go up the stairs: I step up with my good foot, then lift the other knee as far as it goes easily, touch the step and put the foot down. I do this on all 16 steps of our staircase. The Step-downs are a little more difficult. I go down the stairs backward, because that is easier on the knees. I hang on tight to both hand rails, lean forward from the hip and watch my feet. (This is the correct posture one would use when doing step-Reebok classes.) Then I lower myself on the "new" knee just as much as it wants to. I only do 3 today.
Day 17: Still feeling tiredness in muscles. Half mile Walk, first time without crutches along for security. Step-ups: twice up the staircase. (so 16, two separate times, not consecutive) Step-downs: one trip down.
Day 18: "My" set of exercises (See Day 14). Walk 1/3 mile, quicker pace, just because it feels good. Step-ups: 16 Step-downs: 16
Day 19: A day of rest. Walk: 1/3 mile. I discover that my knee lifts all the way up when I try the step-ups, so I gently add a bit of weight, and go up 3 steps with alternating feet…sweet!
Day 20: I walk a mile!! Please note, these walks are all very slow, deliberate steps, with focus on form. I discover that I can go all the way up the stairs easily, alternating feet, (SLOWLY! and VERY CAREFULLY!!). I try the step-downs the same way and discover it is also easy.
Day 21: Much too busy. I spend time at the computer 2-3 times during the day, trying to keep the sitting time to under 15 minutes each time. Up and down the staircase 3-4 times, alternating feet each time. Short walk: 1,230 feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment