FrogFeathers
post-grad
- Joined
- May 25, 2009
- Messages
- 1,083
- Age
- 55
- Location
- Southern Wisconsin
- Country
United States
- Gender
- Female
I've been going to physical therapy for what I thought was arthritis in my right shoulder (brought on by having to use the cane for three years leading up to my surgery and the subsequent recovery). I have to drive an hour from my house to the hospital where I do this PT (its at the VA hospital in Madison, WI).
Anyway, the PT has been working with me on our "goals" (to be able to do yoga again- that's the big one, but pain reduction is the basic goal). She's helped me with some modified-by-us-as-needed yoga poses and some other typical PT type things. She's also the person to see at the hospital for edema, which I've been dealing with for nigh on five years now. But back to today...
Not only did I walk down three flights of stairs (first floor to the "ground floor" to basement one to basement two) like a normal person (as in, one foot in front of the other), I was able to get on my hands and knees on that big PT table/bed thing! I had weight on my surgical knee and we did some weight-shifting to make sure I could do it. Then we took a break, she gave me a pillow to add extra padding and we did it again. I did the yoga pose known (mostly known) as "the cat" or "cat/cow". On your hands and knees, then you arch your back up, then down (like a swayback horse). Ten reps, then a break.
This was my first actual on my knees moment since before the surgery. I've tried a few times only to chicken out before I ever made it to the floor. I'll be doing this on my bed for a little while- for the height and the padding (even though yoga isn't really recommended for such a soft surface- we're just starting out though!). But yeah! I got on my hands and knees with NO joint pain! Fronkensteen (my scar, for those not keeping notes at home) is the only thing that caused discomfort, but that's because he's tender anyway.
She also gave me a broken link removed: https://www.circaid.com/Images/Products/readyfit/readyfitpull.jpg compression thing. That photo is obviously not me as my leg isn't that skinny and my hands are not... well, manly. :hehe: She had to take it to "the seamstress" and cut off about a half inch at the bottom and run it through a sewing machine. Otherwise we'd have had to order a custom device which would take weeks.
Then, after all that, I walked up three flights of stairs. I beat the elevators. I was outside waiting on my truck at the free valet parking stand by the time the people waiting for those elevators walked by the main doors.
So, here I go... doin' the happy dance. (that used to be the gimpy happy dance). :D
Anyway, the PT has been working with me on our "goals" (to be able to do yoga again- that's the big one, but pain reduction is the basic goal). She's helped me with some modified-by-us-as-needed yoga poses and some other typical PT type things. She's also the person to see at the hospital for edema, which I've been dealing with for nigh on five years now. But back to today...
Not only did I walk down three flights of stairs (first floor to the "ground floor" to basement one to basement two) like a normal person (as in, one foot in front of the other), I was able to get on my hands and knees on that big PT table/bed thing! I had weight on my surgical knee and we did some weight-shifting to make sure I could do it. Then we took a break, she gave me a pillow to add extra padding and we did it again. I did the yoga pose known (mostly known) as "the cat" or "cat/cow". On your hands and knees, then you arch your back up, then down (like a swayback horse). Ten reps, then a break.
This was my first actual on my knees moment since before the surgery. I've tried a few times only to chicken out before I ever made it to the floor. I'll be doing this on my bed for a little while- for the height and the padding (even though yoga isn't really recommended for such a soft surface- we're just starting out though!). But yeah! I got on my hands and knees with NO joint pain! Fronkensteen (my scar, for those not keeping notes at home) is the only thing that caused discomfort, but that's because he's tender anyway.
She also gave me a broken link removed: https://www.circaid.com/Images/Products/readyfit/readyfitpull.jpg compression thing. That photo is obviously not me as my leg isn't that skinny and my hands are not... well, manly. :hehe: She had to take it to "the seamstress" and cut off about a half inch at the bottom and run it through a sewing machine. Otherwise we'd have had to order a custom device which would take weeks.
Then, after all that, I walked up three flights of stairs. I beat the elevators. I was outside waiting on my truck at the free valet parking stand by the time the people waiting for those elevators walked by the main doors.
So, here I go... doin' the happy dance. (that used to be the gimpy happy dance). :D
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