Week 8: In Charge of My Own Recovery
Now that my OS has released me to my own devices, I have done the following:
* dismissed my PT, with thanks
* resumed driving
* celebrated with a chocolate bar
I have devised the following plan for this new stage of my recovery:
* extend my walking gradually until I can again walk my neighborhood the way I used to BA (Before Arthritis)
* continue to elevate and ice after any lengthy exercise, including shopping trips, errands, and grocery store
* continue to work on ascending and descending stairs (carefully) foot over foot until doing so feels natural again
* set up the recumbent bike (when it arrives) in my office and ride it twice a day starting with five minutes and gradually building up to longer times
* resume my life of reading, writing, and leisurely activities
* at all times, listen to my knees
Yes, I am a slug. I'm low energy, which is typical of introverts. Put me in a high energy situation and I do my best, but all I really want is to find a corner to curl up in and recuperate. I spend my days inside my own head, creating stories, or reading stories, or watching them on TV. Maybe, if inspired, I will garden, or cook, or do some other solitary activity. Clean a closet if it really, really needs it. I appreciate order. But the house can have a few dust bunnies in residence. I dust shelves when I realize I can write my name on them. Exercise? Nothing that makes me sweat. Walking is my thing.
Which is to say, I am a natural for the BoneSmart way of TKR recovery.
I had a talk with my OS about this, the BS philosophy, which dovetails with mine. He said he knew I'd do well with bilateral replacements. He asked what I did, and I told him: Minimal PT (I totally controlled my therapist) only because OS ordered it, and... hardly any exercise at home except a few heel slides, stuff around the house, and daily walking. I like the walking. I did the three football fields OS asked for, but only when my knees weren't sore and it wasn't raining. He laughed and said, "That's perfect." To which I asked, "Then why did you order the PT?" His answer: "Because some people won't do anything, not even get out of bed, unless I order it."
Well, that makes sense. How can one recover if one doesn't get out of bed? Movement is what makes a knee. A knee that doesn't move isn't very useful. I had one of those. Lefty was, at the end, a terrible knee.
Today I walked completely around my block. About a mile. It's a long, winding kind of block. And it was wonderful! I got to see what the new neighbors who live behind me did with the front of the house. Nothing. But at least I've satisfied my curiosity. And when I got home, I pulled my little car out of the garage where it has lived for the past two months, and drove her around the neighborhood. The streets are really quiet at 7 in the morning. She ran perfectly and we worked out any flat spots on her tires. Getting in and out was not a problem, even though she's a 1999 Toyota and very low to the ground.
The morning car test was in prep for going out on errands today. YES! Today was the FIRST day since surgery I have ventured out alone (not counting walks on my block within sight of the house). I drove to the bank, where I talked a bit with one of the managers there, who I've known for years, about knee replacements. She couldn't believe I was doing so well. She's thinking of having the operation also. Bilateral? How was it? I told her I was happy I'd done it that way. So a nice talk. I gave her my OS's card. And then I drove to the Mail Stop store and mailed some gifts to the grandkids, because that's what grandma's do. And then to the pharmacy. And home. All these places are within a mile of my house. I live in a dense, utterly convenient suburb. I could walk to all of them... but not on my new knees.
By the way, Lefty is almost pain free now. Bending causes... a slight twinge. Sometimes, not all the time. I would say Lefty is where Righty was about a month ago. I've seen a lot of improvement this past week.
So it was a great morning. Laid back. Casual. Just enough human contact for me to feel like a member of the community. And now I'm back home and... you got it, elevating and icing. I do a lot of that. And will keep on doing it. I'm still recovering... just in a new phase.
United States
I'm sitting in my recliner preparing to shower and then off to another day of work. Checking in with my Bonesmarties is the first thing I do when drinking my coffee. Have a good day!
Susie. Thanks for the update.
let's give those new joints a workout.
