When last I blogged, I announced this anticipated break necessitated by upcoming surgery. Surgery has "come and gone" and I now have a new knee. Tomorrow, I return to the orthopedic surgeon to have my staples removed. Then the day after, I begin out-patient physical therapy.
But, I have NOT been idle. Oh, no--I am spending a good part of my waking day doing the requisite exercises to get the new knee to flex and bend, and also being strapped into a CPM machine (*Continuous Passive Motion) which, slowly over time, increases the angle of the bend of my knee, all the while flexing my leg up and down, back and forth.
So, I have time to .... read (but I get bored); watch TV (oh, previous reaction ten times over); play some games on my Kindle Fire (only lasts so long); nap (yes, I have succumbed); and think--ah, think.
What I have been thinking is the life lessons learned on the CPM machine.
Lesson 1--It's you or no one.
You are the one who has to commit to doing whatever work there is to keep yourself healthy. There's no one else who can be put on the machine, and have the results work out for you.
Lesson 2--Give in to the pressure as it increases.
The first several times I notched up the machine a degree or so, I felt myself inadvertently resisting the machine. I quickly learned that as the machine moved, and the pressure bending my knee increased, it worked better if I gave in to the pressure. Instead of pushing back, I went with the bend. Thus, the machine could work its magic and I didn't experience pain by pushing back.
Lesson 3--You have to commit to the time that is needed.
Since I use the machine three times a day, each time preceded by about a half an hour of assigned muscle strengthening exercises, it is OH SO TEMPTING to cut corners. But, the whole point of the exercise regimen is to help me regain full control and use of my leg with its new knee. So, cutting corners only spites myself.
Lesson 4--Stay the course.
Since the exercises start out slowly, the improvement is incremental, even seemingly non-existent...at first. But then after two days, four days, seven days--with each passing day change occurs. And "suddenly" I realize, hey, I can bend my knee much further than when I first came home.
Lesson 5--Chill.
Sometimes, when my knee is feeling pressure, the best way to handle it is to use a little ice. So, chill.
Lesson 6--Up with Good, Down with Bad.
My surgeon gave me this little mnemonic device as a way to remember which leg to use when going up or down stairs--"up with the good, down with the bad." In general, not bad advice!
Lesson 7--Accept the Love.
My recovery has been quick and steady. And in great part I owe that to the wonderful help from my loving husband who is doing double duty--his usual work and mine as well. In addition to his love, the dog has been very sweet in checking on me periodically. And the three cats have taken turns snuggling up next to me as I spend hours on the CPM machine. Top off this love with phone calls and emails from family, and cards from friends--well, all I can do is just accept the love.
No doubt, I will learn a few more lessons. Maybe that's why you only have the machine on loan for 3 weeks--if you had it longer, you'd figure out how the universe works, or maybe come up with a unified theory of everything.
Gotta go....time to get back on the machine.
11 comments:
I agree completely about FaceBook. I closed my account after 2-3 months.
Hope you do well from the surgery. I think 99% of people do. May Aunt did not. This is going to sound nutty but I think it was because we can't have anything metal in our body. It moves! I could tell a story here but comments are a little like FB. :)
This sounds like so much fun and like something I will probably have to contend with in the future.
AC--Got for it. It is LOADS of fun...depending, of course, on how one defines fun. Truth is--time will tell when a knee replacement becomes a necessity. I was fortunate to be just a touch ahead of excruciating need. Some people wait and are really debilitated until it gets done.
I'm glad you are having "fun"! Reading your account brought back many memories of my double knee replacement a bit over two years ago. However, your Lesson 6 did not apply to me; I didn't have a good one to use. Nor did I use a CPM machine, although I've known others who did. Perhaps it was due to having a particular doctor who doesn't choose to use that type of therapy.
I wish you the best as you continue to recuperate and trust you have good results. It is definitely worth the effort to allow the exercises to do their intended job.
Faithe--I remember when you had both your knees done simultaneously. You are one brave woman. Of course, you come from hardy stock!
Thanks for the comment and the wishes. So far so good. I know your success helps inspire me.
Love all your insightful observations about life learned as you patiently get your bend back. :c) I love it when things force me to slow down, and listen to my body as it tells me what it needs. Here's hoping you are up and running soon ... then again, maybe we need you to figure out world peace.
You have a great attitude toward your rehab. Once you get your range of motion, work just as hard with the weights and strengthening. Wishing you all the best!
So glad the surgery is over and you are on the mend. I've been thinking about you.
I am glad you are on the mend. It is interesting that you find meaning in your machine. You must have been a PK (Preacher Kid) ;)
Your struggle remind me of my physio therapy to get the use of my shoulder when I got frozen shoulder after being struck by a tree I was felling.
The doctor told me I had to force it. He said I could take as many pain pills as I needed. If I did not free it up he said he would put me under and he would force it. Eventually with ten months of twice a week therapy and daily efforts to expand my reach I accomplished getting full range of it. Thank goodness for universal healthcare which paid for it all. Now physio therapy is no long covered.
I am glad you are blogging again.
Hope all is still going well with your rehab.
wonderful attitude and wise words! All the best.I
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