Motherofmany
graduate
:flwr: Never thought I'd see this day come so soon, but on Monday when I went to PT, it turned out to be my last day. My therapist saw me walk in and said, "Rose, you know these exercises forward and backwards, would you like to try the machines today?" These were the words I was longing to hear. PT is useful, but I am able to do all the exercise at home. Just continued going because I want to do the best I can to improve my ROM. When all was said and done, I had tried 8 different machines. On the leg press, I was able to do 5 different exercises. Felt great afterwards, especially since she told me she thought I was ready to be set free from PT and advance to strength training with the professional trainers, since I'm a member there.
I felt great after working out on the machines. Even got in the pool for an hour afterwards and did some additional work, just less stressful, since I'm in the water. Was pretty tired afterwards and headed home to eat and rest.
I met with Bryan, my trainer who I know from home schooling. He has a PT background and works with orthopeadic patients. He led me through the same equipment, but this time I did 2 reps of 15 each. Goodness I was sore after some of those. A few I could only do 10. He encouraged me to only do what I felt comfortable with. We worked for about 1 1/4 hours setting up machines and adjusting weights to my comfort level. He set up a card with the machines and exercises, weights, etc. for me, so I can refer back to it and check them off as I do them.
I did get in the pool for some gentle walking and stretching exercises after I was finished in the gym, to try to walk out my sore and tired muscles that were spasming. He thought I had been doing too much, and I agreed. Went home to ice and elevate after a few minutes in the hot tub and a nice shower.
I feel it today though. Especially since I took the children to church last night and did the 30 steep stairs to youth and back again. This was all after the 3 hour round trip, morning drive to the airport and the 4 hour night at the children's birthday party the night before. YEAH....way too much!
Took today as a down day and will see how I feel tomorrow morning before deciding whether to go to aquatic aerobics or not. Time will tell what I can and can't do and how much is enough.
On a high note, after Monday's final session of PT, I finally measured 100 degrees in the RTKR! :wahey::wahey: The left was around 105 or more at one point. Still have a ways to go to meet my goals of 110 plus, but with common sense and hard work, I have confidence, along with my pt, that I will reach it.
At 7 weeks, I'm still early in this process and I have learned that time, patience, hard work, common sense and with plenty of RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), ROM will increase. My RTKR shows it, since I was stuck below 75 for so long and have increased it around 30 degrees since my MUA in June. It still has that pocket of swelling on the outside of the patella. I'm hoping it will go down soon.
Thanks to ALL of you and this forum, I am living life again! Most days pain free and happy. Some days wishing I hadn't done so much, but that is the hardest part of recovery for me.
Will adjust my workout schedule with the water aerobics classes and see what works best. Post as I can to keep you updated on progress.
Thank you once again to everyone for their encouragement and putting up with me these last 6 months. I'm looking forward to the day when knees aren't the focus and improved life continues without pain or swelling.
Blessings,
I felt great after working out on the machines. Even got in the pool for an hour afterwards and did some additional work, just less stressful, since I'm in the water. Was pretty tired afterwards and headed home to eat and rest.
I met with Bryan, my trainer who I know from home schooling. He has a PT background and works with orthopeadic patients. He led me through the same equipment, but this time I did 2 reps of 15 each. Goodness I was sore after some of those. A few I could only do 10. He encouraged me to only do what I felt comfortable with. We worked for about 1 1/4 hours setting up machines and adjusting weights to my comfort level. He set up a card with the machines and exercises, weights, etc. for me, so I can refer back to it and check them off as I do them.
I did get in the pool for some gentle walking and stretching exercises after I was finished in the gym, to try to walk out my sore and tired muscles that were spasming. He thought I had been doing too much, and I agreed. Went home to ice and elevate after a few minutes in the hot tub and a nice shower.
I feel it today though. Especially since I took the children to church last night and did the 30 steep stairs to youth and back again. This was all after the 3 hour round trip, morning drive to the airport and the 4 hour night at the children's birthday party the night before. YEAH....way too much!
Took today as a down day and will see how I feel tomorrow morning before deciding whether to go to aquatic aerobics or not. Time will tell what I can and can't do and how much is enough.
On a high note, after Monday's final session of PT, I finally measured 100 degrees in the RTKR! :wahey::wahey: The left was around 105 or more at one point. Still have a ways to go to meet my goals of 110 plus, but with common sense and hard work, I have confidence, along with my pt, that I will reach it.
At 7 weeks, I'm still early in this process and I have learned that time, patience, hard work, common sense and with plenty of RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), ROM will increase. My RTKR shows it, since I was stuck below 75 for so long and have increased it around 30 degrees since my MUA in June. It still has that pocket of swelling on the outside of the patella. I'm hoping it will go down soon.
Thanks to ALL of you and this forum, I am living life again! Most days pain free and happy. Some days wishing I hadn't done so much, but that is the hardest part of recovery for me.
Will adjust my workout schedule with the water aerobics classes and see what works best. Post as I can to keep you updated on progress.
Thank you once again to everyone for their encouragement and putting up with me these last 6 months. I'm looking forward to the day when knees aren't the focus and improved life continues without pain or swelling.
Blessings,
United States
