Kimgrif
junior member
Hi all!
I had my first outpatient PT appointment today, along with my first post-op check.
PT went really well, it was fun to see my therapist again after a year. He's amazed at how much better my left leg is, compared to my right leg at the same time post-op. He told me I don't need to be using the leg immobilizer anymore unless I feel I need it, although he does want me wearing it if I find myself in a very crowded situation or if I'm going to be doing a lot of walking. I still must use the crutches, however. My ROM is officially measured at zero degrees extension and 80 degrees flexion. He measures flexion while I'm on my back which makes the reading a little different that say if he measured it with my legs hanging down over the edge of the table. I'm perfectly happy with that starting ROM!
The post-op visit went well too. My staples were removed with ease. It was such a nightmare, the staple removal, with my RTKR. My surgeon's assistant was definitely NOT a gentle person and she was annoyed to start with, so it was a horribly painful experience. This assistant to my new surgeon was so gentle, so reassuring, and just so professional, that aside from a few tiny pinches, all 23 staples came out with NO problem.
The surgeon is well pleased with my progress as well, and I don't need to go back for six weeks.
I'm feeling so well that I'm hopeful that I'll be able to get back to work next week! I'm at my desk now, rather than using the laptop in my recliner. It took me four weeks of recovery before I could get back to work after the RTKR and there are days now where I feel I could work, but I'm not going to "push it." I have a setup at my desk where I can keep my leg elevated and still sit here, and since I work from home, it's all good.
That's my update!
--Kim
RTKR 8/22/08
LTKR 9/11/09
I had my first outpatient PT appointment today, along with my first post-op check.
PT went really well, it was fun to see my therapist again after a year. He's amazed at how much better my left leg is, compared to my right leg at the same time post-op. He told me I don't need to be using the leg immobilizer anymore unless I feel I need it, although he does want me wearing it if I find myself in a very crowded situation or if I'm going to be doing a lot of walking. I still must use the crutches, however. My ROM is officially measured at zero degrees extension and 80 degrees flexion. He measures flexion while I'm on my back which makes the reading a little different that say if he measured it with my legs hanging down over the edge of the table. I'm perfectly happy with that starting ROM!
The post-op visit went well too. My staples were removed with ease. It was such a nightmare, the staple removal, with my RTKR. My surgeon's assistant was definitely NOT a gentle person and she was annoyed to start with, so it was a horribly painful experience. This assistant to my new surgeon was so gentle, so reassuring, and just so professional, that aside from a few tiny pinches, all 23 staples came out with NO problem.
The surgeon is well pleased with my progress as well, and I don't need to go back for six weeks.
I'm feeling so well that I'm hopeful that I'll be able to get back to work next week! I'm at my desk now, rather than using the laptop in my recliner. It took me four weeks of recovery before I could get back to work after the RTKR and there are days now where I feel I could work, but I'm not going to "push it." I have a setup at my desk where I can keep my leg elevated and still sit here, and since I work from home, it's all good.
That's my update!
--Kim
RTKR 8/22/08
LTKR 9/11/09
United States
