@KarriB I was the one who originally thought, before blowing out my knee, that I could go back after 8 weeks. My original surgeon, however, filled out the paperwork for 12 weeks, thank goodness, because I definitely now need the whole amount. He had told me I would probably regret trying to go back any earlier but I was hard headed. Now I know better and you are right, it takes longer.
@PegGar16 im glad to hear from another broken patella sufferer.
@PolarBear60 also sustained a patella break and described it as a loud crack. Mine was like a big thick rubber band stretched beyond its limit and giving way with a loud spring-sprung sound. Interesting that the sound is loud enough to hear beyond the confines of the body. And terribly creepy as well. You are correct, that pain now defines level 10 pain for me. Worse than my back surgery five years ago.
Not much new going on here except that the weather is changing for the colder. We are getting much more efficient with many activities of daily living that we struggled with earlier. Last night I finally got myself up to the bathroom and back down in bed without waking either my husband or my dog, which has been a milestone I've struggled to accomplish. I also bought an immobilizer to dedicate to the showering experience--meaning it could get wet and air dry in between uses. We cut the bottom out of a big plastic garbage bag (30 to 40 gallons) to create a large plastic tube. We slide that over the immobilizer, fully covering it, then tighten it around my upper thigh and tie up the plastic straps. Then we use two lengths of 2 inch wide heavy duty Velcro to cinch the top again, with the velcro straps running parallel to each other as they encircle my upper thigh (two cinches, running right next to each other). Finally, with another piece of the Velcro, we cinch the lower end closed around my leg just above the ankle, thus leaving the foot free to be washed. This system is much more workable than all the commercially available plastic covers I tried. The immobilizer stays in place, it does get a little wet but it does not move on the leg and we just hang it to dry when we are done. I have an assortment of dressing sticks and grabbers of varying lengths which I've staged at my four main living spaces--bath, bed, recliner, and breakfast table. I joke that it looks like we are running a rehab facility here, but in a sense we are, LOL.
We will see what tomorrow brings. Good and healing thoughts and energy to everybody tonight.
New Zealand
Even though sometimes this constant contact has irritated one or the other of us.
Just pretend this emoji is your electric wheelchair!
