2 Week Checkup

[skigirl]

Wow, I am so relieved, I can drive now and can start to walk as long a distance as I want to try. And, I don't have to use a single crutch anymore---I kept forgetting it anyway!!

My range of motion is 120/0 which is pretty much where I was pre surgery. The doc told me that he wanted me to get to 140 so that I could flex enough for skiing.

It is fun to go to the gym now, I can ride the bike for 10 minutes and then the eliptical trainer for 10 minutes!! Then I do lots of balance and glut exercises. It feels good to start moving again.

I have to wait till next week for the pool. We have a therapy pool in our gym which has warm water, I can't wait until I can work out in it. It is fun to get into water becasue you can walk fast, even run and the water boyance protects your joint.

I scheduled the surgery right after I realized that I could not walk more than 2 miles because of the pain, and the varus thrust of my leg was so fatiguing! I have always feared a total knee---and now I can see that this is an answer for me. Now, I can spend the next six months rehabbing this knee and move forward with my life. Also the doc told me that hiking will be good for my knee and that I can start putting and chipping a golf ball next week. I have always wanted to work on my short game--this is the year!!!

Today, I felt great when I woke up, went to Pt at eight, went into my studio and did some work there. But, at noon, I crashed---stumbled upstairs and fell into bed--slept for two hours!! And, I always go to bed around 7 pm these days, but still, there was progress. It is exciting to see light at the end of the tunnel and to think that this will be all worthwhile. Kelly

 

[Texas]

Oh wow Kelly. I am happy for you. Good greif, you are doing outstanding. I know you will be able to ski again. And well if you have to rest thats ok. Sounds like you have your days all filled up, you might get tired. Keep up the good work and much success to you...You are an insipration to me....really, thanks for such a great post......I really am blown away...

 

[Judles]

Good going, Kelly! Your fatigue is just your body telling you......its tired from all your recent spurts of activity! Keep up the great recup!

 

[backbay38]

Kelly -- you sound great! The 2 week point is a big one; for most of us. staples out and for me too -- driving again. Much to my amazement I also would crash mid day or mid afternoon -- for maybe as long as 6 weeks. It just takes your body that long to get over the assault of the operation and the anesthesia and other drugs. I think I inadvertantly did a 3 mile hilly hike at about 4 weeks (and didn't repeat it for a few weeks) but the knee was fine after. So you'll find your way. If you overdo one day just ease off a bit the next day. It really is amazing how quickly you rebuild muscle strength when you work at it in a reasonable way. You should be fine by the ski season

 

[Jamie]

Kelly, what a glowing report. It's so good to hear! You are way, way ahead of where I was that soon after surgery. Just don't push too hard....or, if you do, don't be afraid to scale back for a bit. You are doing great!

 

[stives]

You are doing SO well!

I am now doing more or less what you are doing, but I'm 5 weeks post-op. Well, I'm doing quite a bit of walking, driving, and using the exercise bike - but I don't go to a gym. You are amazing being able to do that after only two weeks.

Just don't overtire yourself - as has been said, there's a lot of healing still going on. I've been told it can take over a year to get complete healing. I assume you can't do any harm to the new knee, but you can tire the rest of your body!

Keep us posted with your further progress as you are a real inspiration to the rest of us kneesies.

 

[Josephine]

Fan-bloomin-tastic, girl! I like the idea of the pool - wish we had one in or locality. Don't fancy a regular swimming pool.

 

[loggon]

:thmb: Wow Kelly super great!