Hi friends...just checking in with everyone who is following & recovering! I hope to receive all the input I can and I am wishing everyone continued wellness.
So, after a good FIRST full outpatient physical therapy session on Friday, the 29th with flexion, extension, knee bends, etc (I refuse to discuss numbers with my PT), recumbent bike, recumbent stepper, treadmill, quad exercises, stepping steps, etc, etc...today was NOT so good.
My PT was openly discouraged that the flexion in my right knee is showing little improvement. He says, "There's a tendon, or some type of band that he's gotta break through that's holding things up (?), if not I will have problems, blah, blah."
Yes, of course I still have generalized pain in my knee with most of it being the lateral aspect just adjacent to the knee and a tight, burning band feeling across the top of the knee (which others seem to experience). My right knee measured nearly 2 inches larger than my left one last week due to swelling. All of this I expected, accepted and anticipated.
Well, my stomach and my spirits sank today when this was the first thing out of my PT's mouth after heat was applied and bending/flexion started. He was also upset that I did not pre-medicate with oxycodone before my PT. Therapist said, "If you do not pre-medicate, we won't get anywhere."
Again, today I accomplished:
-5 minutes stretching & flexion after heat applied
-8 minutes Nu-Step recumbent step machine
-8 minutes recumbent bike, forward & backwards
-8 minutes on treadmill
-15 repetitions on step blocks
-15 repetitions quad strengthening
-15 minutes icing
I felt I was doing well up until today. I'll pre-medicate for my next PT session come Wednesday. I'm still having some nighttime pain, which does either keep me awake and/or waken me every few hours but oxycodone and/or Tramadol seem to help at night. I dislike taking narcotics during the day 'cause they make me drowsy, which furthers disrupts my nighttime sleep (if I doze during the day).
Am I doing something wrong? I'll be 5 weeks post-op come Thursday.
Thanks everyone for caring