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!!!
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!!!
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