Your Life Safe and Sound

  Friday, manipulation day.  Woo hoo!  We decided yesterday to go ahead with the procedure, and try to get all the motion I can while I'm still off.  I ate dinner about 9 last night, and went to bed about 10:30.  Of course, I didn't sleep very well.  Can't have any pain meds either.Not food or water after midnight, for a noon procedure.  Dumb.   So, here I am really thirsty, really hungry, and it's only 9am.  We have to be at the hospital by 11, so Kym is rushing around, getting everything ready.  They told me I would be there for a 23 hour hold after the procedure.  I will try to hold them to that.  Looking at the pictures from the last one, I think I was there for 2 days.  That leg was way more swollen the whole time, so I'm hopeful that this stay will be shorter.    It's almost time to go, and I'll try to write from my phone. IMG_6036.jpg 1.6 MB

  Thursday.  This morning my knee was sore, pretty much every morning.  I think most of it is from trying to straighten the knee.  I usually end up with the ice bag on to sleep.  I long for the day when I can sleep in a position other than on my back.    I thought I made progress yesterday, but when I got up this morning, it was still a crooked leg.  I got up and had breakfast, it was another warm sunny day, I think officially a record for the day.  I tried the bike this morning, and went off to PT at 11.  We measured first, and then Cassie, one of the PT girls started doing massage.  She worked a lot on the back of the knee, hamstrings are a lot of the reason it won't straighten enough.  By the time she was done, I think I picked up 10 degrees of extension.  They say you want to get to 0 degrees, but 3 or 4 is ok.  My left knee is at 4 degrees, and my right one ended up at 8 today.  So close, it's hard to tell the difference looking in the mirror.  I was really close to canc

  Wednesday, it's Christmas!  I slept until 8 am.  Making up for being awake in the night again.  My knee was pretty sore this morning, all the weight work I guess.    This was probably my worst point emotionally in this whole experience.  I don't ever remember feeling this way with the last knee.  I'm not sure what's so different this time.  Maybe because I was expecting this one to go a little easier.  The doctors always say that the pre surgical range of motion and everything is the best predictor of post surgical results.  I know that the bending isn't really improving very rapidly, and I guess I figured that would come with time.  That's kind of how it worked with the left one.  I even saw improvement when Anderzej came to work on the right one.  It's the extension, or straightening that isn't getting better.  I really need to be able to stand, and do a lot of walking with what I do at work.  The way it is now, makes it really painful to walk afte

  Tuesday, Christmas Eve.  This was the day we have Christmas at home with the kids.  We sleep in, have a nice breakfast, and open presents from each other.  It's nice to not having to go anywhere for a day.    I didn't get much sleep again, you never know.  We had a friend from church who is a PT guy come over after lunch today.  He stopped on his way home from work, to take a look at my knee and see if he could offer any hints on what else I could do.  He told me on Sunday about putting weight on top of my unsupported knee.  I've been using a bag of flour, and he brought a proper weight that velcros around your leg.  He did an exam, and listened to my account of what everyone else has been doing with me for rehab.  No earth shattering developments, just small adjustments.  So we keep working until Thursday morning.... All in all, it was a good day.

  Monday, Christmas Eve Eve.  Andrezej came today, and we gave him a new measuring tool.  It got broken the other day, and I thought would get him a new one as a gift.  He won't take any money for coming, he keeps saying that I'm his research project.   We did the massage and measured.  My left knee measured 115 degrees, and the right one came to 93,  The right one started at 83, and after working on it, measured 93.  The problem is that I can't get it straight enough.  I got in to see Jessica about an hour after he left.  I tried to explain as well as I could what he was doing every visit.  I wonder what she's really thinking, but she can tell that I'm doing better than the last time we worked together.  One more session on Thursday, and then the manipulation happens at noon on Friday.  I feel like all the work on minimizing the scar tissue will help minimize the trauma from the manipulation, and make the recovery better than the last one.   At pt today while I

  Sunday before Christmas.  We had some good family pictures before church this morning.  I was another bright, sunny day if Plano, I think it got up to 50 degrees.  Not your regular first day of winter.   I talked to a friend at church who is also a PT person, and he gave me a couple ideas to try this week, to maybe work on the extension mostly.  He is going to come by on Tuesday after lunch, and see if he can think of anything else that might help.  I'm sort of resigned to the prospect of doing the revision, but if we can skip it, that would be great.  It's good to have friends that care about you.  One thing he suggested was a 10 pound weight on top of my thigh, with my foot on a chair.    One funny thing from last night.  I didn't sleep very well again.  I put the special lotion on, and applied an ice bag to get to sleep.  I think I laid awake for an hour and a half before I went back to sleep.  About 4am I remember lying in bed with my legs out straight, and I coul

  Saturday.  I feel more resigned to the fact that I'll be getting the revision next Friday, but I think with the progress I'm making, the recovery won't be as bad as last time.  I feel like I'm getting a little more bend each day, but it's really hard to not lose it by the next day.  Actually I feel like the extension, or straightness is the bigger problem.  Bending I can work around, but if your leg doesn't get straight, it's really hard to walk properly.    So, Andrezej gave me some different things to do.  Mostly the supporting my leg, and letting gravity bend it.  Now I have some weight hanging on each foot to help the bend.  I can also use the heating pad on my thigh before I do the work.  

  Friday!  It's getting easier to sit with my feet on the floor for a longer period of time.  I haven't been able to sit very long without putting my foot up because of swelling and pain.  After the last couple days with Anderzej, that is getting easier.   Kym and I went out on a date tonight, for the first time since the surgery.  It seems like forever.  It was just a trip to Chilis, but it sure was nice to have someone cook and wait on us.  Time eating leisurely alone together was long overdue.  I know I haven't been the easiest to get along with lately, I hope I'm on the right track to changing that for the better now.   Kym got to watch him work again today, I'd kind of like her to see what he does.  I know we can't pick up what has taken him 40 years to learn, but maybe just a little.  He talked a lot today about the muscles inside and around my knee, and how they all move around each other.  He was trying to explain what he is doing with the soft tissu

  Thursday, what a day.  We stopped at the place I have been doing PT to see Jessica, and tell her my plan.  I had to cancel the appointments for the next few days, and I wanted to go over my plan.  I told her about the doctor appointment, and the plan of treatment by Anderzej.  If it all goes to plan, I'll be going back there to stabilize the knee, and get stronger.  I didn't want her to feel funny about getting treatment from someone else.  We are definitely going outside of the norms here.  I really hope this works.    Anderzej came by, and we did the second treatment, he does the massage, and I bend while he supports my knee.  He asks me where it hurts, and then he works on that spot.  The pain goes away, and the pulling/ pain lessons, allowing me to relax and bend further without pain.  Throughout the day, every hour, he wants me to lay on the bed, and hold my knee up, and let the leg dangle.  Then the left knee I do a sort of a lunge to stretch the muscles.  I was going

  Wednesday, I'm a little nervous I have to say.  This morning is a PT appointment, at 11:30 and then the doctor is at 4pm. I made biscuits and gravy this morning, just for a change from raisin bran.  Londynn likes it, so at least the two of us will have something good.   The sun is shining this morning, and I think it's about 25 degrees.   Just got back from the doctor appointment, and I'm cautiously optimistic.  Anderzej, the guy who did my home PT stopped over this afternoon.  I had texted him, wanting his opinion on the manipulation.  He had an appointment nearby, so he stopped by on his way home.  He did the targeted massage that he has done in the past, and the relief is immediate.  We talked, and he thinks he can get the motion back that I need, and is willing to give it a try.   So, when we got in the see the doctor, and he measured about 92 degrees, he asked what I wanted to do.  I told him about the PT at home, and how we thought that in a week or so we coul

  Tuesday, Christmas with the Koehlers.  No PT today, they're only open in the afternoon on Tuesday.  Can't miss Taco Tuesday and presents...    I went for a walk in the morning, about a half mile I think.  It was cold, mostly the breeze.  We had a little snow on the ground, and most people don't clear their sidewalks, so I mostly walked in the street.  It's nice to walk, but my leg not bending or not straightening all the way, my limp starts to get pretty bad quickly.  Most of the afternoon is icing and massage, trying to alleviate the pain and swelling.  Kym found me some lotion that helps with the pain.  I'm still trying to not take many more pain pills than I really need.   Christmas with the family was nice, still hard sitting for any length of time with my foot on the floor.  I did end up with a book I've really wanted to read, and a gift card too.  It's still fun to see the kids opening gifts and playing with toys.  Throwing wrapping paper balls a

  Monday, stinkin monday!  Jessica, the physical therapist, asked this morning, "how is your knee today?"  I said, Well, another day.  My knee is swollen, stiff, and doesn't want to bend.  Same story, different day I guess.  I think it measured 91 and 7.  I think that's what it was last week.  Not any worse though.   So, I did the 10 minutes on the bike, back and forth.  Then start the measuring.  We usually do it cold, and then do some stretching and warm ups before again.  Today she had my foot up on a bolster, like a big pool noodle.  Then she would push down on my knee, trying to straighten it out.  That might have been the first time I really made some noise out loud.  I'm talking real pain.    Today I did reverse lunges, the total gym is every day, I actually like that one.  I feel like I'm getting some strength back that way, but I sure don't have the ability to go down the same with both legs.   I still can't get a good night sleep most n

  Saturday.  Again.  Well, it turns out that I really know how to make my wife mad.  She still isn't saying anything after I drove last night.  I followed the rules.  I guess I'll have to win her over with my wit and charm.   I'm thinking about trying a heating pad to warm up the area around my knee, and then try to massage it, and get the knee cap moving.  I feel like that might be the key to the whole thing.  Get that all loosened up and moving in there, and maybe be able to skip that whole manipulation thing.

  Friday, a day of disappointments.  It started with not much sleep again.  When I got to PT, they told me it was going to be an evaluation.  Ok, it's only been 6 visits I said.  I don't see the doctor until next Wednesday.  I guess the scheduling guy runs the place or something...   So I went in and we talked about mostly practical, real life aspects of the rehab process.  It's sort of discouraging for me most days looking at the things they measure, most importantly, the range of motion measurements.  I think I'm at about 7 degrees of extension, or straightness, and 91 degrees of bending.  I can't remember the official term for that.  Not really much different than when I started.    I do feel way stronger, more stabil, and better balanced when walking, standing, etc.  Getting in and out of the tub, the car and everything is getting better.  I go up and down the stairs to the boys room 5 or 6 times at once, multiple times a day.  Those are not normal stairs ei

  Thursday.  Woke up about 2 am again, laid down about 7 for an hour or so, then went to PT.  I had pretty sore legs this morning, and I can feel it in my hips too.  Once I got to the clinic, and got warmed up on the bike, the exercise went ok.  They tried a new way of stretching and bending my knee, with me lying on the end of the table, and using both of their legs to bend and stretch me up in the air.  Definitely didn't feel very modest... I spend a lot of the time with my eyes closed, I feel like it helps to relax and concentrate a little better.    A new little treat, when the person was doing the massage around the incision, they had a stitch come out at them, like popping a zit I guess.  I didn't see it, I was sort of embarrassed, but I was laying down, I can't tell what they're doing.  I'm just trying to stay relaxed and not flinch too much.

  Wednesday.  This was a tough one.  I said yesterday that maybe I turned the corner with the PT, but I was wrong!  I was in there for almost 2 hours.  By the end of the final massage, I was about to lose it, I couldn't even lay still.  I guess all the bending and trying to get more range of motion was just too much for one day.  I got home and laid in bed with my feet up, and ice bags on for a long time.  Most of the afternoon went by before I got relief.  This is probably the most frustrating part of the whole experience for me.    I moved the total gym up a notch, and I'm doing more squats and lunges, so my quads are really sore too.  Another thing I am getting again is when my knee swells up, my ankle does too.  I remember the swollen ankles, and painful shin..  Good times

  It's Tuesday.  Second day of PT this week, second day in a row I felt good when it was over, tired and weary, but good.  They told me yesterday that I was getting a few more degrees in flexion and extension.  Headed in the right direction.    I woke up about 2:30 am, and never went back to sleep.  I took the pain meds, so that wasn't it.  I guess my mind was just running 100 mph about all kinds of things.  It's pretty funny what you think of in the middle of the night sometimes.    I was looking at pictures from the left knee at this same point after surgery, that incision was really nasty looking for a long time.  I still wonder what was up with that, and how it can be so different.  I just noticed that the incision was similar looking, until after the revision procedure.  Right after that is when it started to open up, and get really nasty looking.  Another reason to try to avoid that procedure.   

  Monday, what a day.  It got up to 48 today, and then this afternoon the wind started to blow, and the temperature crashed.  I think we're officially into winter now.  It was good to be off PT for the weekend, when I went in today, I was hurting.  It turns out that even with new knees, I still get the aches and pains when the weather changes.    There wasn't much of a crowd at the clinic today, which was nice.  Riding the bike for a warm up, 10 minutes turning the pedals back and forth, trying to get them to go around.  Then the blue shoe/ calf stretch.  Massage is next, trying to get the knee cap to move, and to loosen up all the muscles so I can bend.  I guess all your muscle groups are surrounded by individual membranes, so they can move independently, and the scar tissue and swelling from the surgery gets in the way.  She was trying to show me what I can do at home while I'm sitting, to help.   The incision still looks really good, and the whole thing is closed up.

  Sunday.  It was good to be there for the second week.  Singing a few Christmas songs, and worshipping together.  I met a young couple, whose names escape me, and they live in Plano.  That was nice, I hope they come back next week.     My knee is still sore today from the long walk yesterday I think.  It was a little easier standing and sitting at church.  Better than last week.  I need to remember to get my orthotic insoles in my tennis shoes tomorrow.  I remember from last time, once I started walking more, the flat feet start to be a problem.    Sitting in a chair this morning, I feel like my knee is bending a little more, not much, but some.  I think I woke up about 2;30 am.  Couldn't get back to sleep.  It's funny the wide range of random things I think about when I'm lying there sometimes.  So, after tossing and turning for an hour or so, I got up and did some web surfing.  Partly looking at property in Kentucky, dreaming of a place to retire.  A home in the wood

  Saturday.  Slept in today, not having to go to PT this morning.  After I got dressed, Kym and I went on a walk around town.  I think it was about a mile, if I remember right from the last knee replacement adventure.  It was good to be outside today, chilly, but not bad.  My knee stays sort of bent still, so walking isn't quite right.  I have to focus on heel and toe, heel and toe.  The bones don't hurt, and the walking was nice.    By the time we got around to Steward street, I was starting to suffer.  I know that there isn't any reason to stop, nothing structurally wrong.  I want to push myself, and I know that walking is good for a lot of reasons.  So we kept going.  Once we got to the fire station, I was thinking I should have turned back sooner, but we pressed on.  We never stopped to rest either.  No pain, no gain? 

  Friday.  Day two of PT, and it was a tough one. 10 minutes on a bike, back and forth, because I can't bend enough to get the pedals to go around.  Then the blue shoe, it stretches your calves.  One minute balance on each foot, twice.  Massage to get everything loose, and then bridges, short arc quad stretches, total gym, power vibe quad stretch.  I think that pretty much covers everything today until the last massage/ stretch/ torture session with Jessica.    The final, worst part was  when she tries to bend my knee farther than it wants to go.  She hasn't measured yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm not to 90 yet.  Kym and Emerson came in without me knowing it, and watched the last part.  She bends my knee slowly until I just about scream out loud and come off the table.  In the past she has tried different ways to do it, and I think they're all equally painful.   Kym is really distressed and upset that it is so painful, and slow going.  She doesn't think there

  Thursday, what a day.  Kym took me to small group at 6 this morning, that was a great start to my day.  I am always happy to see grown men, fathers, leaders, eager to get up early, on a work day, and get together to study God's word together.    I had my first outpatient PT today, and they didn't hold back.  Those girls know how to bring the pain.  After the warm up on the bike, and baseline testing, they had me doing mostly stretching and trying to get some bending and straightening going.  At the end, one of the therapists was doing "massage" with something that looks like a flat rock, and a squeegee, followed by a final round of bending and twisting.   Now, this evening I'll find out if the pharmacist is going to argue about refilling my prescriptions.

  Wednesday.  Today is the day to go see Jessica at Advanced Physical Medicine in Yorkville.  The same place I did PT for my left knee.  I'm scheduled for an evaluation with her today, and we'll probably get started tomorrow.  The doctor sent an order with me for 5 times a week for two weeks, and then I think 3 times a week for 4 weeks.   We had the follow up visit with the surgeons assistant yesterday, Rob.  I really like him.  He doesn't seem as rushed, and answers our questions.  He said that I must have sensitive nerves, as an explanation for the pain.  Kym really got a laugh out of that.  I'm sensitive, who knew....   I cut way back on the pain meds yesterday.  The ride in the car was very uncomfortable, as usual.  I have to rub all over on the knee to make it bearable.  It seemed a little better after we left the appointment, maybe it's just in my head, I don't know.  It was actually the best that I have felt for the whole time I was thinking.   Slee

  Tuesday, this is the 3 week follow up visit with Dr Schinsky today.  Still having trouble getting to sleep at night.  I think maybe I just need more activity during the day.  I was looking at pictures from the left knee back in June, the same time after surgery, and I think this one looks way better at the same time.  I never got the same extreme bruising all over the whole leg last time either.

  Monday, it's a new week.  I went to the library today, got some new books to read.  Kym dropped me off while she went somewhere for a while.  It was nice to sit there for a while, no recliner though.  I did use the elevator, too soon for all those stairs yet.  Little Annabelle was here for a short time, that was fun.  I miss little ones.    I have been trying to do the same massage on my knee that Andrej showed me, I'm not sure I'm doing it right.  The idea is to get the swelling away from the knee pocket, and allow the knee cap to be able to move, and get the flexibility I need to function as a super carpenter again!

  Sunday!  First time back to church since the surgery.  Great to be back.  It was good to get out of the house, and see some people.  I really do enjoy worship music, and it's just better in church.    I did a lot of walking, and standing.  It was a lot, and then we went to the grocery store, that was definitely too much.  It's pretty amazing how weak I get in such a short time, and how long it takes to get it all back.    Tomorrow I'm planning on walking outside some, with the doctor appointment coming Tuesday, and the evaluation for outpatient PT on Wednesday.  I think the workouts should start the next day, Thursday.    The incision still looks good, and the swelling doesn't seem too bad.  My knee cap is sore, as well as both sides of  my knee.  Just like before, my shin and calf seem super sore.  I think I know where they had the tourniquet for the surgery too.  My upper thigh is feeling bruised all the way around.  I don't see any bruising, I feel like l