Day 6: Poseys and Potshots for the Therapists
Overall, I have done quite well! For the numbers-oriented, my most recent flexion is 94/94 and my extension in both legs is 2. I walk well with a walker and, much of the time, have little pain.
Compare that to my gnarly pre-surgical left knee. Only 88 flexion anyway -- and 10 extension. And it hurt no matter what. I knew from the moment I tested my new knees in the recovery room that I had upgraded.
It's hard to describe that feeling. Happy and humbled, I guess.
There have been, and still will be, bumps in the road. Some issues are specific to me -- like getting my blood sugar measured every couple hours because of the diabetes for which I am borderline at worst -- but I can share BTKR triumphs and woes.
1. I love my new knees and have become protective of them. I talk to them sometimes. Don't judge me. These are amazing knees.
2. Not all PTs are created equal. The woman I had on Saturday and Sunday was awesome. Gentle. Caring about my goals (which are modest) and supportive of my wanting them. She gets a +5.
Which brings me to Monday and Therapist #2. This gal had her own agenda foremost in mind from the get-go. She wants to see 0 extension or better. And she told me I NEED to get to 100 flexion.
I was, at that point, four days past being flayed open in OR.
I'm really happy with my progress so far. So are the nurses and doctors on my medical team. I'm doing great. So what's all this NEEDINESS about ROM?
It's bogus. It's her ego vs. mine. So where I'm wanting to walk and do a few stretches, she's hauling out her straps and wedges and rolls. And I tried them. I really did -- up to the point of pain. And then I stopped.
3. Occupational therapy for the win.
I learned a lot from this woman, including a way of walking up stairs with a cane that hurt significantly less than the standard method. Here it is: lead with the "good" leg, but keep the cane on the step where the good leg started and push up from there. It hurt less, maybe because I'm BTKR.
4. I am mentally prepared to push back if today's therapist proposes forcing my knee in any way.
5. Going to therapy is where I make other people feel bad. Because I'm doing well, they see my progress and feel bad about theirs. That's so wrong! I shared therapy Saturday with a lovely BTKR lady who broke out in tears. "I want what she has!" She was speaking of flexion. She'd had her surgery the day before mine, but her quads were unresponsive and she was so swollen she could barely bend her knee at all. Even though we got along really well, the therapist hasn't put us together again.
I truly think I could do the PT side of my recovery at home, off the grid, by using instructions and videos. The most useful part of rehab has been the OT and the nursing staff making sure of my safety every time I leave the bed.
Friday, when I leave rehab for home, cannot come soon enough.
Today I'm looking forward to walking. More glorious walking. Oh. And my swelling went down a bit overnight! My legs are still swollen and look like a bison did a victory dance up and down them, but every step forward gets me closer to the goal.
United States
