Gads. Posted too soon...intended to make a new paragraph, not post.
Ok. Yesterday I decided to do a little more than toe touch weight bearing, rationalizing that by thinking it made more sense to gradually approach full weight bearing. So I did half weight, but being Miss Get It All Right at Once, I also decided to try and lengthen my stride too. I've been limping for so long, and that limp is caused by a greatly shortened stride on my bad side. So I walkered (hehheh, new verb) around the house with more weight and longer stride, which resulted in a bit of a sore Achilles' tendon, a tendon that has probably shortened some because of my limp, and needed proper stretching before I went through stride lengthening! If I'd stopped and thought two seconds before just doing, I would have thought that out and done a little static stretching beforehand. Needless to say, I totally backed off that today. Tomorrow my PT comes and I will be properly warmed up beforehand.
I had a bit of a down night Saturday. Got up from watching the evening news, and felt a little discomfort behind my knee. Reached back there, and there was swelling there sufficient to cup my hand around. That freaked me out. I've had swelling daily, from nothing in the morning to a fat piggy looking foot by evening, and this was even more so than usual, and I've never felt it behind my knee before like that. Of course these things happen on a Saturday evening when everything is closed! I had taken a long hot shower earlier in the afternoon, and the warmth will open blood vessels exacerbating any tendency to swell. I'd also spent almost the entire day up in a chair. Bach to bed I went, leg up on pillow stacks, and ice. Of course I read all I could about DVT symptoms, and decided that although I had pretty diffuse swelling, it was painless, so probably just fine. Ha! That did not stop me from worrying none-the-less. We have a brand new ER only mini hospital near us that gets rave reviews, and had I had pain, I'd have had it checked out. It was also reassuring to read here and see just how many others also have issues with swelling.
I've turned my habits around. No more up in a chair all day except sleeping which had been suggested by PT. I spent almost all day on my back, pillow stack and ice my friends. Not only did the swelling decrease, it was the least I've had any day since getting out of the hospital. No more piggy feet! Listen to your body, not your PT!
. His advice was not right for me. I did do a lap around the house about every 45-60 min, and kept those muscles active, so they could assist moving blood.
I did get a mini lecture from the home health nurse when I told her about the episode. "You shouldn't be trying to diagnose yourself. That is too serious to mess with", and she is right. I HATE calling Drs outside hours! Don't know if I said this before, but my grandfather was a doctor, and Mom grew up in a home with Dad called away from family at all hours too often. Consequently, it had to be pretty darned serious, almost a bleed out, if, when we were growing up, a doctor was ever called outside 9-5! So I got a lecture, but a nice one.
That about brings you up to snuff on what's going on here. Tomorrow I look forward to PT progress. I have only one more visit and have asked him to give me a little time to practice what I learn tomorrow, so I'll have just Wednesday to work on that. He wants to get me cane walking which seems crazy considering the extent of the restrictions I've had to work under. We'll see! Ie, my body WILL be the judge of that!
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