On the road to full recovery... Life & Art continued

    No more walker, be gone with it already!!! YEAH Freedom. 18 days since, my new knee and I slept almost all night last night; (with the help of Advil PM ) starting to be able to turn in my sleep a bit. I only take pain meds, when I go to the Physical Terrorist, or go out somewhere, where I know I am going to be walking a while or if I am in a lot of pain (which is not a lot lately). I am improving gradually day by day. I can lift my leg now, which I could not do before. Walking with a cane now; minimal use of cane. Before you know it I will be walking assistance free and kinda back to normal. I say kinda bc I am learning to walk correctly, which I haven't done in quite some time.  I am on the road to full recovery.
     Pardon the reconstruction interruption, Now... back to life and art.  I just finished my Island Breeze painting which was inspired by the artwork of Heather Brown, a North Shore artist. I have always liked innovative art techniques and am inspired lately by my new surroundings in Hawaii . As I looked at Heather's artwork, I had childhood memories of how I used to love to trace or outline things I colored, sometimes in black only and other times in coordinating colors. My usual painting styles include; trying to capture light variations and realistic representations. I occasionally like to try new styles, so I don't feel trapped in a box. As I was painting I thought about how the flat bands of color reminded me of paint by number art. I took a photo and interpreted it in a stylized manner. It was fun and I think I will try a similar technique with flowers in the future. My next painting will be for my sister, June. She has always wanted me to paint a bird for her, so I will...Soon to be posted, when I am finished.
   Today, I made the first steps to apply for a job at Scared Hearts Academy for girls as a K-12 Art Teacher.
 If that doesn't pan out..I think I will try to start my own private art lessons for children. I will keep you updated on these adventures.

Physical Terrorist :-0UCH!!!

    I go to Physical Therapy (PT) Monday, Wednesday & Fridays in Kaneohe @ Castle Professional Center. It is a nice place (friendly, knowledgeable staff) & the PT, I was assigned (Jacob: 30's) is very handsome, compassionate, calm (Zen-like) & nurturing (encouraging),but strong (no babying) and determined (he has predetermined goals).  After the first, evaluative visit; to find out how far I could bend my knee & other stuff;  I was told in a straight, forward way that, the pain I felt that day was minimal, compared to what was in store for future visits. That Sucks!!! because that hurt! ouch!    
     Day two of PT was a lot more painful, Jacob starts out easy... tells me to bend my knee as much as possible (not much by myself) , then push heel outward to straighten and hold out (He calls it turning on the muscles) Every time during PT, He makes me try to lift my leg when he knows dam right well that I can not. He slowly does his Mr. Miagi (Karate Kid Teacher) technique and talks to me to distract me...warms up the leg sorta to gradually bend it way beyond what I can do while I jump, flail, tense my neck, grab things and moan and groan (when its tooooo much I sometimes grab him to stop) He keeps saying "RELAX & BREATHE" Yeah Right? Hard to do in a torture chamber. I look at him and say is that it?, He gently smiles and says not quite...I know what that means...OMG!!! It feels like forever when its happening. We end up with some bending & stretching off the side of the table and some correct walking & standing exercises using the walker (bend bad knee slightly, put heel down in front of you, stand up straight) (distribute weight back & forth between good & bad leg) Continue PT at home. After all the torture and PT My leg actually feels more flexible for a "while", but by that evening, when it starts to feel really stiff and begins aching terribly. I MUST TAKE MORE PAIN MEDS!!! or cry:-(
PS... I took PAIN Meds (Vicodin) to get through the therapy.
      Day three: Scared to go to PT, but I know I must... I am not gonna give every detail but it gets worse & worse with bending beyond what you can do. AND HURTS LIKE HELL!!! I learned to use a bike a very little bit, which is good,  bc I have one at home Oh and I am starting to walk a bit better.
     I had a scary experience yesterday OOOps...kinda self inflicted life lesson. I was painting outside enjoying the weather, sitting with my leg down for almost 3 hours. NO NO!!! Ever heard of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Well...My leg started to throb a bit, but I was so consumed by enjoying painting I ignored it for about a half an hour...I thought its just another pain. I looked down at my calf and noticed a large (half dollar sized) dark bruise...WTF!!! It scared the heck out of me. I went in the house,  got an ice pack, propped my leg up and researched what was happening on the internet. What I learned was that after a knee surgery you  should never sit in one spot for too long without some type of movements EG..leg exercises, ankle pumps...walking etc... that's why you can't fly in a plane after surgery for 3-4 months. DAH!
Later that evening: I had a severe cramp/pain shooting in my calf & thigh: related I don't know, but I won't sit like that anymore...I promise me!!!  LESSON LEARNED!!!

Knee Replacement Progress

Day 10: Not feeling well today: stomach and headache :( I've been trying to take myself off some of the drugs (less Vicodin) The drugs have caused constipation: (have not gone in 5 days) I am starting to walk a lot better... bend knee, heel then foot, stand up straight. I actually, kinda slept a little on my side last night, which helped me sleep a little better, because I could move some. I wish my leg/knee would not feel numb, aching pain...at times my ankles feel like they are numb also.  The therapist says its like my legs are a highway and my new knee and the surgery are acting like a an accident/ roadblock and that slowly the injured nerves and muscles will  be stimulated and return through exercise, movement and ice.  

Knee Replacement #1

Replacement Knee Daily Progress: 
     Day 1: The surgery; Friday, April 1: Got to Castle Hospital (Kailua) at 6am. Anesteia options: Epidural or Spinal (not mandatory, but Dr. Rasmussen highly recommended the spinal) also regular anesteia to put yo to sleep. The worst part of the pre-operation process in my opinion was the spinal, I had to grab a pillow and hold on to an aide, lay over with my back stuck out, while they probe my back/spine to get the exact spot, really uncomfortable...but well worth the after surgery extended pain relief. After surgery, because I had the spinal I had very little pain in my leg (no pain until 2 am Monday)   I was also really stomach sick and dizzy; with a low blood count from the morphine. Constant Ice circulating machine going around knee.
      Day 2: Still dizzy all day: Physical Therapy: sat up, dizzy, then later stood up briefly: pain and drugs (NO MORE morphine; morphine makes me sick) Medicines: Narproxin for pain & swelling: Vicodin, Toradol in IV, Laxative, Some kind of pills to help with sick feeling,Oh and Benadryl to help me sleep! 
      Day 3:  Still a little dizzy, but made it to the potty chair,OT: Occupational Therapist helped me bathed and dressed myself :) and I walked 25 ft,to the door, but got dizzy, had to be wheeled back to bed. Group therapy with three other people , (84 Angelica from Peru (Knee), 70 Mrs. Livingston: Japanese(Knee), 35 hawaiian surfer(hip) Lunch and Instructional Video...Questions????
      Day 4: YAy!! today I am starting to feel lots better today, way less pain, less dizziness, I walked 300 feet; out the door and around the nurses station...Gotta move the bowels or else!!!! YUK They gave me double dulcolax, woke up really sick, but I went, Guess you gotta do what Ya gotta do.
      Day 5: Going home today, therapy is tough, getting better all the time. Bending the leg hurts like a bitch, but it has to move or it will swell and stiffen up. Wish me Luck!!! Recovery is all up to me now!!!