I've gotten behind on this blog...again. So let's back track a little bit.
April 9th: I reached 90 degrees on my last PT appointment, just before three weeks post surgery. Right now since I can't put any weight on my leg, we are mainly focusing on bending (with a few strength training activities thrown in). Because I've reached my approved degree range of 90 (I am not allowed by my doctor to go past 90 degrees until my next appointment as apparently any higher causes too much friction/force on the new knee), my physical therapist and I decided I no longer need to go to PT twice a week at this time.
April 22: Today marks five weeks post surgery. At five weeks I can add the stationary bike to my workout. Today at PT I did just that. Plus, I added the leg press. The bike felt amazing! My joint has been feeling so stiff lately it felt great to be able to move it around. It was a different feeling than just using my CPM machine. The leg press was painful but it also felt good to use my muscles again. I only lifted 32 pounds, which is why I can do the leg press and still be non-weight bearing. I asked my therapist why they were different and she told me that 120 pounds is too much right now, but thirty pounds on my joint was OK. Next week I have a regular PT appointment on Tuesday, and I also decided to add one more day on Thursday to accommodate my first pool PT appointment. I meet with my doctor that same morning for my 6 week check. I am hoping he will let me off these crutches!
How often were you doing physio when you had your right knee done? and how long did you keep going to physio for after the surgry? I am 5 weeks away from my surgery day now! I have my CPM rental lined up as well as a cryo cuff. Is there any other must haves you would suggest I get to make things easier? I have heard a chair/stool for the shower is extremely helpful!
ReplyDeleteLast year i went twice a week for three months (until i went back to work). Then i think i went every two to three weeks till about November. I am now going twice a week to PT again because now I'm trying to build up muscle. After i write you back I am going to update this blog, so I'll talk about that more here shortly. Oh yes get something to sit on in the shower. I found a walker was nice to have the first week or two after surgery. This time around i barely used the walker. But it really helped me out the during the first surgery. Its just preference. We found my walker at a thrift store and washed it. It was really cheap. It really just depends how much pain you're in. My first surgery was very very painful so I was really glad I had the walker. This surgery less painful, so i moved onto crutches pretty fast. I think that's about it: CPM machine, massage tool, walker, crutches, stool in the shower. Ice machine but my hospital gave me mine... I'm sure yours will too.
DeleteHow long did you use your CPM machine for? I am trying to figure out how long I should mine rent for....some companies where I live have better deals the longer you rent it for.
Delete@ Osteotomy Girl
DeleteHope no news is good news!
Hello, so glad I found your blog. I am now 10 days post op from the Fulkerson Osteotomy, no MPFL. Just the Tibial tubercle transfer. I had my surgery on May 15th 2014. My story has been different. no CPM machine doctor didn't recommend it, even though it was mentioned. I opted out of a nerve block, I had a patellar tendon repair in 2012 and I didn't like it so this time i decided I didn't need it. I am happy I didn't have it. I was off my pain medication 2 days post op. I thought I needed it longer...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have an old fashioned mother that believes ice will cause arthritis and she has allowed me no ice. My doctor knows of this even tried talking to my mom about it...oh well. I only have pain in my ankle and calf. Like you not a lot about this surgery. I made some youtube updates if you care to look
http://www.youtube.com/user/EminentStar/videos
It's been tough I had my first accident today but thank goodness leg was in brace. I've had 3 surgeries:
1. Lateral Release (Right knee)
2. Patellar tendon repair (R knee)
3. Fulkerson (Rknee)
reading this has brought courage but it sucks to see people enjoy themselves while i stay in my room all day not being able to do anything.
Per my doctors request I can weight bear as tolerated...but brace is locked at 0. I have my first post op app. this Thursday.
Thanks so much for sharing this... I truly appreciate this. =)
How is your knee currently doing? Would love even a little update! Hope all is good!
ReplyDeleteOh man i have really let this blog go! dang it! Well lets see... I'm back to work at the hospital. I went back a little sooner then i wanted to, but work made me come back by June 12th. I made it through though. The knee was doing great till I started using my brace at work. Besides work and days when I'll be on my feet all day I do not wear my brace anymore. However, at work I have been wearing it; and just this last week I took two steps back in my recovery. My left quad muscle will not fire. When I'm at home walking around my knee snaps back (completely straight, which if you think about it your knees are always slightly bent when walking); which causes my knee to be very achy/exhausted a lot. Also my knee has been buckling more. I saw my PT about this last monday and she thinks it is because I am wearing my brace at work. But also because I am doing more activities on my days off work. She suggested I wear my brace on and off at work this next week to see if that helps. Also at my appointment she hooked me up to the muscle stimulator (I cant remember what its called, but it uses electrical stimulation to make the muscles contract). She said if that helped she may order me a muscle stimulator to take home and use for a couple weeks. Mainly on the left knee (most recent surgery) but also on the right leg as well.
DeleteThat's my main concern right now. I was pretty frustrated about it the other day. I know every day it is getting better, and I know I will have set backs every now and then. But it can get annoying when you are doing so well, every day is better than the last, then you have a set back. But I am trying to look on the bright side, it is getting better; and I can walk so i guess I can't complain too much!
I'm going to try and write an update blog right now. But I'm pretty sure I said that last time i replied to your comment. I'm going to try! How was your surgery!?!