The Surgery
Post-surgery Week 1
Post-surgery Week 2
Post-surgery Week 3
Post-surgery Week 4
Week 5
Day 29 (Thur) – I realized this morning that I really feel
heavy all the time; not weight gain heavy, but tired muscles heavy. It’s to be expected since I’ve been so
inactive the last 29 days but it drains me both mentally and physically. I know that this all has been messing with my
sleep patterns. Relaxing the mind and
body isn’t easy to do when you’re convalescing especially when simple things
and simple movements are part of what drains you so.
I had to take the trash out this morning, as
well as the recycling. This 2 minute
task took almost 10 minutes with all of the pushing and pulling, crutching up
and down my steep driveway, having to rest multiple times, and repeatedly having
to catch my balance.
Perhaps the oddest
part of the day was the fact that going to work was actually relaxing.
The prospect of starting PT in the morning
feels like hitting the landing on the 40th floor stairwell, sure I
have 40 more to go but I can rest here and regain some strength and mental
balance.
Day 30 (Fri) – Physical therapy started off annoyingly this
morning: The packet of forms I was given
to fill out was thicker than the ones I signed to buy my car, it took so long I
was late starting PT. I met with the
Physical Therapist (after participating in the murder of an innocent tree) to
tell him my story of running, core pain, the femur and labrum issues, the
surgery, and finally about all I’ve done and not done during the last
month. I told him about the surgeon’s assistant
telling us that I wouldn’t really need a transition period from using my
crutches all of the time to not using them at all, the physical therapist agreed
with Charlene and I that I would need a transition period but it wouldn’t have
to be a long one. He explained to me how
he wanted me to walk with the crutches; putting more weight on the left leg but
not total weight, how to heel strike and then roll through and off the toes, to
lift the left foot above the ankle of the right one when stepping forward. Because the forms took up so much time we
didn’t spend a lot of time doing exercises but any start is a good start so I’ll
take it.
I practiced the method of
crutch supported walking as much as possible throughout the day, trying hard to
do it the way my PT explained.
Day 31 (Sat) – I crutch/walked a mile with Charlene this
morning, at Mountain’s Edge Park. I
think I followed the new walking procedure pretty well, Lord knows it was
tiring enough. After we finished the
walk we found some cool shade to rest in and to stretch. Sis had to help me a little to get the stretching
done, for balance and for a reminder, I wanted to perform the same stretches
that I had routinely done after running.
All in all, my leg, hip, and knee felt good after the long walk even
though it took quite a lot of time.
We
went to a new (to-me) restaurant for breakfast somewhat near the park, to kind
of celebrate my first long walk and because we were both hungry. I won’t be getting their pancakes again,
assuming I every go there again and that I remember, but I’ll happily seek out
their egg breakfasts.
I ended up relaxing
for the rest of the day, plus working on my recovery blog and icing.
Day 32 (Sun) – I ended up staying awake until sometime
around 7 am to work on my blog, and because I couldn't get tired enough to go to sleep. When I finally did get in a nap it didn’t
last very long but it was good enough to reset my brain.
On a whim I decided to try walking a few
steps while heading into the shower: I quickly found out that my left leg
doesn’t have a lot of strength in it and isn’t very useful for support.
Later in the day Charlene and I went to a
promising track club meeting; it was pretty interesting to see the “behind the
scenes” stuff. When Sis and I returned to her house a few
hours later to drop her off I wanted to show Charlene that I was getting
stronger so I walked around my car without crutches, keeping one hand on it at
all times for support. Thankfully I didn’t
fall over or embarrass myself doing it.
Day 33 (Mon) – I tested myself at work today; to see if I
can stand and sit without the aid of my crutches. I had to brace myself on the arms of my chair
but not a lot, I’m happy with that.
Lately
my knee hurts a lot when I straighten it with or without putting my weight on
it, not under the knee cap but off to one side of the knee always in a
particular spot. I’ve also noticed that
my left foot hurts as I move it and increase the weight I put on it. I guess these are all of the little aches and
pains that come along with using the leg again.
I tried sidestepping tonight too, more tests to find out what I can do;
it only worked a little better than walking forward which isn’t saying much.
The first at-home PT session tonight went
well though it took a little rooting around the house, I had to figure out a
way to simulate the leg curl machine.
Day 34 (Tue) – Today at work was surprisingly good; I felt
strong and well balanced. I was able to
move easier when I had to get up for ice or for nature brakes, I could even
take several unsupported steps inside my office.
I walked for my sister and brother in-law,
crutch free, when they came over tonight for our special celebration and to
watch the premier of “The Muppets”. It
was in no way graceful but it was under my own power, I’ll take that any day.
Day 35 (Wed) – 5 weeks down, 7 more to go.
I was able to take 3 short walks at work
today, from office to office. I felt
good enough doing them but my leg, hip, knee, and foot complain a lot during
and after. Thankfully icing makes quick
work of the discomfort.
I’ve been using
a Patella strap on my knee when it starts to hurt: The pressure pad can be placed right on the
spot of pain and it seems to help a little.
Tonight’s home physical therapy felt pretty good, it makes me feel just a little closer to normal.
I’m spending more and more time off the
crutches when I’m at home, saving their use for when I’m very tired or when I’m
going upstairs. I worry about developing
poor walking habits but every time I catch myself moving in awkward ways I
stop, straighten up, think about my ChiWalking lessons, and then start moving
again.
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