Wanted to update on a few things.
1.
@Josephine we were talking in the Al Roker thread, but it was off topic. I messed up . . . I confused the quad sparing with the minimally invasive. THAT is what I asked my surgeon for way back when, and THAT is what he said he is not trained in, yet. My mistake.
2. Friday at the Y, I FINALLY was able to get up off that lat pulldown weight machine all by myself, did not have to holler for help. I expected it to take me 4 weeks; it took 6, but I got there! Not a normal 'stand up and get off' as yet, but being independent is a huge improvement!
3. At this point, my biggest problem is my left leg . . . NOT the knee, but the hip pain. When recovering from the second knee, the right, I did not swap sides of the bed; I continued getting in with the left leg first. To swap sides would have upset the dogs, who have their spots and Willy has a melt down if he can't be in HIS spot. Plus it is a full size bed, the night stand is on the side I use most often. Anyway . . . . I would start with both feet up on a chair, move my left (at this point the 'good' knee) on to the bed, now I am sitting in quite the 'split' position. Then I would use the leg lifter to get the right leg on to the bed. Several times I had extreme pain in the left hip, while doing this - pain to the point I would scream.
I had the surgeon xray the hips at the Sept 12 visit, he said it is all fine. To me, this means what I've done is soft tissue damage, which I figured would heal in time. Well, I guess it IS better than it was, but wow it is still quite painful. I can't straighten due to the pain. In other words, I can't lie flat on my back, or on my stomach. I can't walk without a limp, as when the left leg is supposed to be extended behind me, the pain prevent full extension - FROM THE HIP. Again, nothing to do with the knee.
I can reach my right foot, put on socks and shoes, clip my toe nails. Can not do that with the left, do to this left hip issue. I am quite annoyed with myself! The pain is a constant ache as I sit doing nothing, and becomes sharp the moment I decide to move and do anything. It is holding me back from improving my knee ROM, getting back to life as normal, prepping the yard for winter, very frustrating. Since it IS improving, I guess I just need to keep waiting.
Interesting point - it does NOT hurt when I use the weight machines or pedal the upright bike at the Y. Now, getting on and off the bike, in and out of the machines, oh yes then it impedes what I am doing. But the actual exercise, nope, no pain.
So that is my update.
I will close with this: we entered a Halloween costume contest on Saturday; they said if you dress up along with your pets, you get bonus points. Well: WE WON! Frankie is spiderman, Belle is a Butterfly. They tied for 3rd place, each has a ribbon. Willy is the pirate Jack Sparrow, he tied with a Yorkie team (they were R2D2 from Star Wars). 2d place received a ribbon and a huge bag of treats. Tasha is wearing a costume called 'Punky Dog.' Finally, Riley is the Good Witch - she won FIRST PLACE! A ribbon and a $10 gift certificate!
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