Thank you everyone for your input which is really appreciated.
To clarify a few things....I can't take ibuprofen as I'm on Apixaban blood thinners for another 4/5 months. Regarding the driving, with only being able to lift my foot about 4 inches off the ground, my query really was regarding the length of time before I'm unstiff enough to drive, not anything else. I'm a very confident driver, so once I'm able to sit comfortably in the car and in control of my legs/feet then I'll drive. Currently, with very long legs, it is with extreme difficulty that I can even get into the passenger seat In my car. In taxis I get into the back seat by sitting on a silky, slippery, piece of material I take with me, sit on it and have to haul myself backwards to almost the entire back seat before being able to get my feet in. I then sit askew. Not great for my back of course but I have no choice.
I cannot do elevation whilst sitting. It hurts my back and hips. I'm doing elevation lying flat on the bed. Ice pack on, minimum 45 minutes, twice a day. In the evening I sit in my chair and have my legs straight in front of me on a stool. Preferable to having my feet on the floor. I don't sit longer than an hour before getting up and moving around a bit.
I rang the clinic yesterday to book to see another physio. I explained I didn't want to see the previous physio again or even speak to her. Was told a senior physio would ring me. Guess who rung? The original physio. She said that any other physio would be the same as her. I told her how her hurting me a week ago caused my knee to swell and be so painful that I couldn't do anything for several days. No apology of course. I then decided not to bother seeing another physio. I know what I need to do now.
I actually haven't done any of the exercises since seeing her a week ago but I am beginning again today with stretches and perhaps a few GENTLE heel slides. Walking as and when. I'll try and gauge my knee's reaction to the exercises to decide whether to increase or decrease them.
To clarify a few things....I can't take ibuprofen as I'm on Apixaban blood thinners for another 4/5 months. Regarding the driving, with only being able to lift my foot about 4 inches off the ground, my query really was regarding the length of time before I'm unstiff enough to drive, not anything else. I'm a very confident driver, so once I'm able to sit comfortably in the car and in control of my legs/feet then I'll drive. Currently, with very long legs, it is with extreme difficulty that I can even get into the passenger seat In my car. In taxis I get into the back seat by sitting on a silky, slippery, piece of material I take with me, sit on it and have to haul myself backwards to almost the entire back seat before being able to get my feet in. I then sit askew. Not great for my back of course but I have no choice.
I cannot do elevation whilst sitting. It hurts my back and hips. I'm doing elevation lying flat on the bed. Ice pack on, minimum 45 minutes, twice a day. In the evening I sit in my chair and have my legs straight in front of me on a stool. Preferable to having my feet on the floor. I don't sit longer than an hour before getting up and moving around a bit.
I rang the clinic yesterday to book to see another physio. I explained I didn't want to see the previous physio again or even speak to her. Was told a senior physio would ring me. Guess who rung? The original physio. She said that any other physio would be the same as her. I told her how her hurting me a week ago caused my knee to swell and be so painful that I couldn't do anything for several days. No apology of course. I then decided not to bother seeing another physio. I know what I need to do now.
I actually haven't done any of the exercises since seeing her a week ago but I am beginning again today with stretches and perhaps a few GENTLE heel slides. Walking as and when. I'll try and gauge my knee's reaction to the exercises to decide whether to increase or decrease them.