That Time of Year

Yes, it's that time of year when the mornings and evenings are chilly. Chilly times make for great hot tubbing. Last week was the first I've been in since the surgery. It was a little dicey the first time trying to get in. I was a little hesitant - sure don't want to slip or fall. I used to love to get up on the weekends and hit the hot tub before the sun hit it. I'd take my bagel, juice, and a good book to the tub for a little quiet breakfast time. I missed doing that this summer. But, we're heading into Fall and I think I see myself resuming one of my favorite quiet times. This morning I hopped in, got things good and warmed up, then hit the ol' exercise routine. Things were really limbered up and I rode the bike with the seat down another inch. I live for weekends.

Cocktail de Jour

Last week was tough - very stiff knees for some reason. I thought perhaps it might be because I finished up the tramadol. I hit the hot tub at night and iced afterward hoping that would help with mediocre results. So I finally called the surgeon's office and talked to Molly. Molly told me that the doctor's cocktail de jour was one ibuprofin and one tylenol every six hours. I'm not very good at taking stuff like this but decided to give it a try. I was very consistent yesterday and whether the pills made a difference or not, my knees were a little better today. I'll do my best to take them as directed and see how it goes.

Someone told me I just don't get it. This isn't a finite thing and it's just going to take time. Apparently I like to rail against reality.

Lessons Learned

Today marks the 3-month mark since my surgery. Here are a few things I've learned since then.

Pick your spouse wisely. That part in the vows that says “in sickness and in health” doesn’t seem like much of a reality when you’re young and idealistic. As you get older, however, it looms as a much more important issue. With the state of our health care institutions today, someone who can deal with the doctors, the hospital staff, and the bills is a necessity. Someone who can deal with not only your physical well being but your mental well being too is priceless. I am blessed.

You can’t pick your family. If Lady Fortune smiles upon you though, you may be lucky enough to have a close, loving relationship with them and be able to depend upon them. Family knows your positive traits and they are all too aware of your faults. All pretence is wiped away: they know how to best help in stressful circumstances and you know their limitations. Count me blessed.

When you’re in pain or in trouble, you want your Mom first. Always. Double blessings here.

Have faith. I don’t often talk about faith with people and since everyone’s walk in faith is so different, I was hesitant to put it on the list. I'm not going to say much about it here either, but, it’s hugely important and cannot be discounted.

Have realistic expectations of your friends. There are the keepers, those you can count on through thick and thin. The good timers who will be around if nothing better is happening. And there are the acquaintances you rarely see who are in the periphery of your life. Usually you know who the keepers are and what to expect from them; continue to nourish them because they are important. The thing is that in troubled times the good timers and acquaintances don’t stay in the little boxes you put them in. Some will surprise you by giving their time, putting forth an effort, and supporting when you need it most. Try not to be upset with the good timers and acquaintances who lived up to your limited expectations and focus on enriching the relationships with those who positively surprised you. Gobs of blessings in my life.

Commitments are important. If you are going to do something, have the fortitude to do it right. Pushing physical and mental boundaries are never easy. Your spouse, family, and friends can be the biggest assets enabling you to meet your goals.

Patience is a virtue. It reminds me of a children’s song from a Christian album called The Music Machine, “Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry. When you get impatient, you only start to worry.” I have no idea how one develops this desirable quality, but I suspect that life is smoother if you learn to take it as it comes. I’m not having a great deal of success in developing this elusive trait, but I am trying. I’ve done enough worrying over the past three months to turn my eyebrows white.

Perspective is subjective. Just because your drama is not life threatening, it doesn’t mean that it’s not the most devastating thing that’s ever happened in your life. It’s important.

Count your blessings. Over and over again if you need to. Which apparently I need to do several times a day!

The Quick Measurement

Nate took my measurements right after work last night. I was apprehensive because despite spinning in the morning and walking a mile at lunch and icing, my knees were very stiff. Also, measurements are typically taken after exercising the joints and getting them good and warmed up, but that wasn't possible last night. I walked in, hopped up on a table, and Nate did the measurement. I was devastated. Cold the good right knee was only 110 degrees (it was 120) and the left was 100-105 (it was 110).

Nate told me to be patient, continue doing what I'm doing and not to feel bad about taking a day off here and there. Well, I'm not patient and I'm just plain tired. I continue to ask, how I can be doing all the things I'm told to do and not only not make progress but regress? If anyone has the answer, I'd love to hear it.

Patience Required?

After work tomorrow I'm going to see Nate, my physical terrorist. I'm nervous about several matters. First, measurements were always taken after everything was warmed up and I will be getting there right after work when things are not so great. I will have no time to warm things up, so I'm really hoping this doesn't affect the measurement too much. But, what I'm really worried about is not making any progress. I don't get how I can work so darn hard and make such slow progress.

Nurse Sebbie and Kimberly both tell me that I should be paying more attention to the quality of my every day life and how that's improving. Well, I have moved the seat on the spin bike down two inches. Lately I try to warm up for 5 minutes then lower the seat another inch to finish up. I go foot over foot going up the steps, although I really have to think about making my left leg go up straight without compensating and letting it go out to the left. I try to go down the steps foot over foot but that doesn't go as well. I wouldn't say that I have perfected that yet by any stretch. I don't think I walk quite right yet. Things are still pretty stiff, especially when I'm tired or at the end of the day. I try to walk every day and if I walk at lunch, it's at least a mile. If I walk at home it's about 2/3 of a mile. For all I'm walking you'd think it would be prettier! I still don't sleep all that well but it's better than it used to be. Some nights I string together 3-4 hours and that's a really good night.

I guess it's still to early to have a real life because of all the exercises I still have to do. During the week I can only do the full program after work. It's hard to do anything in the evening except go out for dinner. Till I get the exercise done, ice, make dinner, it's time for bed. You'd think I'd be able to get two full sets of exercises in on the weekends, but that's been tough too. Friday we ate a quick dinner and went to the movies so I just had time/energy to spin that night. Saturday I did everyhing in the morning, Brent and I went for a walk on the Green Belt, and then I took a nap before going out to dinner with friends. You get the picture. Just trying to have a life here!

Friday it will be 3 months since the surgery. I thought I'd be further along. Do I just need to be more patient and not expect much until 6 months or so? I want to get back to normal!

A New Knee Can Set You Free

That was one of the headlines in the Patriot News yesterday. After 3 months, I'm still waiting to be set free. One thing they got right was that "Replacements become common but are still a major undertaking." No sh** Sherlock.

Interestingly enough, the doctor I originally saw here in Harrisburg said that while 20 years ago it was rare to see anyone younger than 60 who needed a replacement, today they see quite a few baby boomers getting them. Yes, that would be me, and he was pretty adamant when I saw him last fall that he didn't want to do surgery because I was too young.

The article got it right that a substantial commitment of time and energy is needed to recover and rehab the knee. They stated that, "Patients need to be able to take two months out of their lives for surgery, physical therapy and home exercises and be committed mentally and physically..." I've done pretty good on the physical side but sometimes battle with the mental side of it. Nobody can say that I haven't worked my tail off, and it's been a struggle the whole way.

I called Nate, my physical terrorist today and he's going to do a measurement on Thursday evening. Brent took a measurement this weekend but didn't seem very confident about it. Not to mention that 110 L and 120 R was exactly where I was a month ago. This would mean that I've spent a month back to work, exercising as much as possible, and making zero progress. If that's truly the case, I see a bigger mental struggle ahead.

Woohoo for Padding!

My bike shorts came in yesterday and I had my firt chance to try 'em out this morning. What a huge difference. My nether regions are smiling!