We had another beautiful weekend and I'm holding onto summer with both hands. I did my exercises on Saturday and took Sunday pretty much off. Brent and I went to Wildwood for a quick 1.25 mile walk before heading off to dinner with friends. If you like Italian food and haven't tried Dolce Vita in Enola, give it a shot. It's BYOB and the food was pretty good.
Things were a bit tight on Monday. I struggled with seat setting #6 on the Nu-Step and my knee was killing me on the bike. I just cannot get my stinking left knee around without sacrificing form. I always think about what my yoga instructor, Cindy Zubritsky always said. Push it a little further, as far as you can with no sacrifice to form. That would be me on the bike. I'm reconciled to the fact that for now at least my left hip is going to come way up, I do my absolute best to keep my knee coming straight back rather than compensating by bending it in, and my ankle/foot just can't do exactly what it's supposed to.
Tuesday was a really good knee day. The right leg was great and the left leg was at least loose enough that it didn't feel like I was dragging a weight around the middle of my leg. By 7:30-8:00 at night they were tired and a bit stiff, but on the whole, it was a good day. I have my home exercise regimen down pretty good. It takes me about 40 minutes in the morning to do the exercises on my stomach and back. During the day I am very conscious about pulling my knees in as far as I can while I'm sitting. I try to do 30 of the exercises where my knees are pulled in and I stand up and sit down. Then, at night, I do the standing stretches and the ones on my stomach. I am going to start trying to at least rock them on the bike trying to get them around.
Today seems to be another good day. My knees were pretty loose going to PT this morning. Jeff commented that he's puzzled as to why the left knee isn't doing better on the bike. Apparently you need between 100-105 degrees flexion to make it around okay. He feels that I'm very close to getting that with this stinking left leg, but I am really struggling. At the end, he thinks it's the hamstrings being so darn tight. He asked what I did yesterday at home. I went through everything and he was stunned. He said I am certainly doing more than I need to and that he wished even half of his patients would do as much.
I have approved PT sessions 3 days a week through November 18. I guess I just keep pushing on and hope this knee comes around.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Phystical Therapy - Day 7
Today marked my 3rd PT day this week and now I'll be going 3 days a week. Jeff said I'm easily getting about 110 in my right knee; don't know about the left but I'm sure it's not close to that. That being said, however, he's not displeased with the progress I'm making on the left.
He approved my exercise plan for non-PT days, just adding the bike in for those days. I tried the regular bike today and it was a real chore. I have to concentrate on every movement my left leg/ankle/foot makes. Whew, it's a lot of work! It's getting closer, but even if I keep my knee coming back straight, get the correct ankle/foot movements (all of this really makes my knee bend and it hurts!) my hip is still rocking to compensate. Oh well, I guess it just takes time.
Not to mention I'm supposed to take a day off over the weekend. Wahoo! Another guilt-free day off. The important thing is that Jeff feels I'm definitely making good improvement so I think I'll just bask in that for awhile!
He approved my exercise plan for non-PT days, just adding the bike in for those days. I tried the regular bike today and it was a real chore. I have to concentrate on every movement my left leg/ankle/foot makes. Whew, it's a lot of work! It's getting closer, but even if I keep my knee coming back straight, get the correct ankle/foot movements (all of this really makes my knee bend and it hurts!) my hip is still rocking to compensate. Oh well, I guess it just takes time.
Not to mention I'm supposed to take a day off over the weekend. Wahoo! Another guilt-free day off. The important thing is that Jeff feels I'm definitely making good improvement so I think I'll just bask in that for awhile!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A Good Knee Day
Finally. For the first time in a very long time I can honestly say I'm having a pretty good knee day.
Last night was achy and a bit painful so I popped some Advil and Tylenol before bed. I slept pretty good from 11:30-5:30. I know there were a few times I sat up to turn over and a few heat flashes in there, but all in all, it was pretty sound sleep. I gingerly got out of bed like always and was surprised that the knees were feeling pretty loose. I did a series of exercises, got a shower, and now, at 3:00 today, they are still feeling pretty loose.
I spent most of my day in meetings, trying to keep my legs pulled in as far under the chair as I can manage for as long a period of time as I can tolerate it. I'll go through another set of exercises tonight and then hit PT hard again tomorrow.
I'm afraid to hope I'm on the right track and things are finally going to start improving!
Last night was achy and a bit painful so I popped some Advil and Tylenol before bed. I slept pretty good from 11:30-5:30. I know there were a few times I sat up to turn over and a few heat flashes in there, but all in all, it was pretty sound sleep. I gingerly got out of bed like always and was surprised that the knees were feeling pretty loose. I did a series of exercises, got a shower, and now, at 3:00 today, they are still feeling pretty loose.
I spent most of my day in meetings, trying to keep my legs pulled in as far under the chair as I can manage for as long a period of time as I can tolerate it. I'll go through another set of exercises tonight and then hit PT hard again tomorrow.
I'm afraid to hope I'm on the right track and things are finally going to start improving!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Physical Therapy - Day 6 - Tuesday
And another day begins in PT. I prefer doing it in the morning. Perhaps I just became accustomed to it right from the get-go following my surgery. But, despite not being a morning person, I seem to be able to force myself to get up and get 'er done without too much trouble. It's later in the day that I struggle.
The squat machine may not be a hack squat machine. It may be one of these. Regardless, no matter how much time goes by I still don't like it any better.
We picked up my dog collar last night so I was able to do the knee bending and knee extension exercises. Today I learned a trick that might just keep my crazy wacky feet going in the right direction. Since my feet want to turn to the inside, if I position the strap on the inside of my leg it forces the foot to turn out a bit. Not that I can see it of course!
Today was the last of my week long appointments following the MUA (manipulation under anesthesia). Jeff wants to go to 3 times a week and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the insurance will extend the therapy. So as of now I'll be going again Thursday morning this week and then M-W-F next week.
I really wish I could go every day. I need the structure and reinforcement I get there to keep me not only physically on track but mentally with the program too.
The squat machine may not be a hack squat machine. It may be one of these. Regardless, no matter how much time goes by I still don't like it any better.
We picked up my dog collar last night so I was able to do the knee bending and knee extension exercises. Today I learned a trick that might just keep my crazy wacky feet going in the right direction. Since my feet want to turn to the inside, if I position the strap on the inside of my leg it forces the foot to turn out a bit. Not that I can see it of course!
Today was the last of my week long appointments following the MUA (manipulation under anesthesia). Jeff wants to go to 3 times a week and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the insurance will extend the therapy. So as of now I'll be going again Thursday morning this week and then M-W-F next week.
I really wish I could go every day. I need the structure and reinforcement I get there to keep me not only physically on track but mentally with the program too.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Conversations With Gwen
Every time I have Gwen, I wish I could record our conversations. Here's a brief sample from Sunday.
We took bread down to the pond to feed the ducks and geese. One duck came flying in from the left, skimmed across the water, but was still separate from the rest of the water fowl:
Gwen: Come on duck, get in there with the rest of the herd!
You may know about the drama of Gwen's latest hair cut. She's such a girly girl and was not happy that her hair ended up way shorter than she wanted it to be.
Me: Gwen, something looks different about you today. Did you get your hair cut?
Gwen: Grandma, that girl just didn't know what to do with naturally curly hair like mine. She didn't even know that it's long when it's wet but the curls make it shorter when it's dry.
We talked about the fact that it's a good thing that hair grows so even though she wasn't happy with it right now, it would grow. On the way home from lunch, Gwen was looking in my rear view mirror:
Gwen: Grandma, I think my hair looks a little longer already. My hair grows really fast. Really it does.
In preparation for the Daily trip to India, Gwen has been struggling to take some pills for typhoid. The pills seemed to be a good option as opposed to a shot, but she is really having a hard time swallowing the things. She got some of them down, but still has a few to go.
Gwen: Grandma, I just can't take those pills. I tried taking them with tic tacs, raisins, and yogurt. Then applesauce worked. But now, those pills just go to the side of my mouth and won't go down my throat.
Yeah, those crazy pills have a mind of their own. As does the lovely Miss Gwen.
We took bread down to the pond to feed the ducks and geese. One duck came flying in from the left, skimmed across the water, but was still separate from the rest of the water fowl:
Gwen: Come on duck, get in there with the rest of the herd!
You may know about the drama of Gwen's latest hair cut. She's such a girly girl and was not happy that her hair ended up way shorter than she wanted it to be.
Me: Gwen, something looks different about you today. Did you get your hair cut?
Gwen: Grandma, that girl just didn't know what to do with naturally curly hair like mine. She didn't even know that it's long when it's wet but the curls make it shorter when it's dry.
We talked about the fact that it's a good thing that hair grows so even though she wasn't happy with it right now, it would grow. On the way home from lunch, Gwen was looking in my rear view mirror:
Gwen: Grandma, I think my hair looks a little longer already. My hair grows really fast. Really it does.
In preparation for the Daily trip to India, Gwen has been struggling to take some pills for typhoid. The pills seemed to be a good option as opposed to a shot, but she is really having a hard time swallowing the things. She got some of them down, but still has a few to go.
Gwen: Grandma, I just can't take those pills. I tried taking them with tic tacs, raisins, and yogurt. Then applesauce worked. But now, those pills just go to the side of my mouth and won't go down my throat.
Yeah, those crazy pills have a mind of their own. As does the lovely Miss Gwen.
Physical Therapy - Day 5 - Monday
I wasn't sure how things would be after taking Saturday off. Sunday I did the general leg lift stuff, and when I went to bed I did the bending stuff. This morning things were tight, the left leg especially.
I find that PT is a very strange thing. Sometimes when you think things aren't going so well, they really are going okay. Perhaps this has been a continuing theme with me, but since I had to have the manipulation, I do feel somewhat vindicated. Anyway, my left knee struggled with the closest seat setting on the Nu-Step machine this morning. Very tight, somewhat painful. The other exercises, with the exception of the squat machine went well. I have a hate/hate relationship with this machine. Same problems as Friday: legs don't bend enough, butt doesn't go down far enough to increase the bend, and $#@! legs struggle to push myself up. Grrrrrr. The balance ball thingy went great. No problems standing without holding, and I was able to go from side to side without holding on much. Going back and forth required some holding on, but I think I'll do okay with that too.
Then came the stretches on my stomach. The therapist was giving me a little extra push which hurt, but he seemed really pleased. He said he thought for sure I was over 90 degrees on the right and very close on the left. That's a good thing.
Jeff worked with me then and as expected is very pleased with the right knee, not as pleased with the left. But, he did feel as though we've made good progress on the left knee. I have to buy a dog collar tonight to use as a strap. Jeff wants me to do the "lay on your stomach and bend your knee up using the strap to bend it more" exercise three times a day.
Ugh, there's a couch thing in the ladies room, but the thought of laying on that for anything is like a germophobe's nightmare. I guess I can bring a sheet or something in to cover it. I'm supposed to do this morning, noon, and night and I suppose I can bite the bullet and do it once at work. Yuck.
Tomorrow morning is my last scheduled PT session but Jeff is hoping to get it extended so I can go in 3 times a week. I really hope this is approved because I finally think I'm making some progress. I'd like that to continue. I'm clearly not where I need to be yet and seriously, I need to continue.
I find that PT is a very strange thing. Sometimes when you think things aren't going so well, they really are going okay. Perhaps this has been a continuing theme with me, but since I had to have the manipulation, I do feel somewhat vindicated. Anyway, my left knee struggled with the closest seat setting on the Nu-Step machine this morning. Very tight, somewhat painful. The other exercises, with the exception of the squat machine went well. I have a hate/hate relationship with this machine. Same problems as Friday: legs don't bend enough, butt doesn't go down far enough to increase the bend, and $#@! legs struggle to push myself up. Grrrrrr. The balance ball thingy went great. No problems standing without holding, and I was able to go from side to side without holding on much. Going back and forth required some holding on, but I think I'll do okay with that too.
Then came the stretches on my stomach. The therapist was giving me a little extra push which hurt, but he seemed really pleased. He said he thought for sure I was over 90 degrees on the right and very close on the left. That's a good thing.
Jeff worked with me then and as expected is very pleased with the right knee, not as pleased with the left. But, he did feel as though we've made good progress on the left knee. I have to buy a dog collar tonight to use as a strap. Jeff wants me to do the "lay on your stomach and bend your knee up using the strap to bend it more" exercise three times a day.
Ugh, there's a couch thing in the ladies room, but the thought of laying on that for anything is like a germophobe's nightmare. I guess I can bring a sheet or something in to cover it. I'm supposed to do this morning, noon, and night and I suppose I can bite the bullet and do it once at work. Yuck.
Tomorrow morning is my last scheduled PT session but Jeff is hoping to get it extended so I can go in 3 times a week. I really hope this is approved because I finally think I'm making some progress. I'd like that to continue. I'm clearly not where I need to be yet and seriously, I need to continue.
Relaxing Weekend
Wow - a Saturday where I didn't have to get up and get with the PT program. A night where I didn't have to kill myself yet again. Where to start. Hmmmm. How about the hot tub for breakfast. Putter around with some laundry, run a few errands, yes a leisurely day. Out to El Rodeo with the neighbors for dinner and then to the movies to see Secretariat. A good, clean, interesting family film. All in all, a great day.
Sunday morning was spent with the lovely Miss Gwen. A chatty breakfast at home, a word search, and a few puzzles in the puzzle book done together. We gathered up all the lawn ornaments and made a parade on the picnic table before putting them away in the garage. Gwen brought bread and we fed the ducks and geese. I can tell the migration started. Lots of geese and honestly, I don't think we ever fed them at the pond before. Quite a noisy bunch! Gwen sketched out two halloween cards she wanted to make and we did get one done before leaving for Isaacs for lunch. Gwen loves Isaacs...and Old Country Buffet. I picked the lesser of two evils! LOL! It was a great start to the day.
My folks came over for dinner and as the "gentlemen" had their cigars and drinks, Mom and I opted for hot fudge sundaes at 3B. Yummylicious.
Oh, and I also finished watching the Blind Side. I started it Saturday before dinner and finished watching last night. What a great movie.
All in all, a fantastic weekend.
Sunday morning was spent with the lovely Miss Gwen. A chatty breakfast at home, a word search, and a few puzzles in the puzzle book done together. We gathered up all the lawn ornaments and made a parade on the picnic table before putting them away in the garage. Gwen brought bread and we fed the ducks and geese. I can tell the migration started. Lots of geese and honestly, I don't think we ever fed them at the pond before. Quite a noisy bunch! Gwen sketched out two halloween cards she wanted to make and we did get one done before leaving for Isaacs for lunch. Gwen loves Isaacs...and Old Country Buffet. I picked the lesser of two evils! LOL! It was a great start to the day.
My folks came over for dinner and as the "gentlemen" had their cigars and drinks, Mom and I opted for hot fudge sundaes at 3B. Yummylicious.
Oh, and I also finished watching the Blind Side. I started it Saturday before dinner and finished watching last night. What a great movie.
All in all, a fantastic weekend.
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