Doing "The BEND"!

The Olympics are fun to watch and also inspiring for keeping us motivated. The "sport" that I am learning is, "The Bend"!! Yes, I am learning to BEND my left KNEE!

At the hospital Rehabilitation department my Physical Therapist helps me with my BENDING exercises but having me on the BioDex machine. My ankle and thigh strapped in and then the machine bends my knee to what I can tolerate. I then use a machine where I extend my legs in and out, a Press machine. I don't know the name of it. After than I use the NeStep (spelling?) machine which also helps me bend my knee and strengthen muscles in my quad.

I go up the stairs. I can do that.  But then I go down stairs. I can do a 4 inch stair but most stairs are 7 inches so I am not yet able to go down stairs. I do not know though that I will be able to do 7 inch stairs since I have had problems with stairs since breaking my left ankle almost twenty years ago!

I go to the mat and work at bending my knee. Then my PT bends it for me until I cry out, "STOP". She does so immediately. Then she measures my knee's bend.

Last week I was able to bend my knee 75 degrees and my PT bend my knee 83 degrees. Yesterday I was able to bend my knee 78 degrees and my PT bent my knee 82-83 degrees, essentially the same. I cry "STOP" too soon. I just don't tolerate pain very well, even though I take strong pain pill just before I go to the Rehab department.  My goal for bending that the Doctor would like to see is 100 degrees but he said that I might not be able to get past a 90 degree bend. I've been working on this for over 7 weeks now.

There are certain exercises that I do at my home between Rehab visits. It is hard to keep motivated in doing these and I really depend on my trips to Rehab. These will end in September.

My Rehab will continue to be three times next week but then two times a week for the next three weeks and then only once a week for the remaining three weeks that the insurance will pay. That is even with the 18 extra Physical Therapy sessions that Insurance has awarded me.  My time with the help of my PT is passing quickly but my progress is going slower than she and I would hope for. Two factors are that my knee continues to be quite swollen and also that I continue with pain (although it is lessening).

I would appreciate prayers that my knee would not swell, that my pain would end and that I would be able to bend my knee 90-100 degrees. Thanks.

Today's Positives:
1. Last night Omaha had 5 minutes of hard rain and this morning it is much cooler here. I have the door open to get some fresh air.
2. I'm still enjoying watching the Olympics.
3. This afternoon I will go downstairs to particpate in group exercises. A physical therapist from some rehab department in town comes to our apartment each Thursday to lead exercises for anyone interested.

Have a great day!!

PT Progress + Surprise Visitors!

Wednesday at Physical Therapy I made Progress. Before that I had bent my knee 70 degrees but Wednesday I bent it 75 degrees. Before that the Physical Therapist had bent my knee 75 degrees but Wednesday she bent it 83 degrees!

Just after I had lunch today I got a call from my brother Bill and he and my sister-in-law Shari were in town for Shari's 35th High School reunion. They live in Colorado. I had seen Bill awhile back but I had not seen Shari since last Summer at a family reunion. They came over and we chatted for about an hour. Here are two photos, one of Shari and Bill and the other is of Bill and me.





Today's Positives:
1. I had a good morning session at Physical Therapy. Even got to show the PT that I could walk without the cane. Of course I was walking right next to the paralleled bar, just in case. She gave me suggestions to make my walk more natural. I'll still be using my cane but it felt good knowing that I could walk without it!
2. I had an unexpected visit with my brother Bill and sister-in-law Shari.
3. It's FRIDAY!!

Physical Therapy!

I had a good Physical Therapy session at the hospital this morning. Here are some photos:

Me on the BioDex machine. My ankle and thigh are strapped in and the machine is calibrated and set to the knee bending that I can tolerate. Then the "GO" button is pushed for about a ten minute session.


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My first walk around the PT gym....using a quad cane.


Today's Positives:
1. I was able to tolerate more of a bend with the BioDex machine.
2. I was able to walk around the P.T. gym with a cane.
3. I was able to step onto a 6 inch step with my leg that has the new knee. A normal step is about 7 inches high so I am about ready to climb stairs.

Praise the Lord that I am making progress!

Two Weeks after Total Knee Replacement!

On Saturday two of my nieces and one of my grandnephews came to visit me for awhile. They live in Colorado so I was very glad to see them.



After they left I received a phone call from "Edible Arrangements" "Edible Arrangements" wanted to make a delivery that needed refrigeration. Here is the lovely fruit arrangement that I received. I found out later was from a retired woman from church.



Sunday morning I went to church. Veterans were honored during the 9am service. I am Veteran Army Nurse.

I am now on Post Operative day 13 since having my total knee replacement on June 19th. This morning I had another visit with my Orthopedic Surgeon after he had put me on strong antibiotics last Friday due to a very reddened area around my incision. The skin was much better today. I will finish the ten day of antibiotics but I do not need to see the Dr. again for four more weeks which will be my six week checkup. I was glad that the infection is clearing up.

This week I will finish up Home Health Care and on Friday I will start outpatient Physical Therapy. I will have Heidi, the same Physical Therapist who did electric stimulation of my "quads" for three weeks before my knee replacement surgery. I am glad that I will have Heidi again as I like the way she worked.

Today's Positives:
1. My infection is clearing up.
2. I am coming off of "shut in" status so I will be able to leave the house to do something special on July 4th. I'm not sure what it will be yet!!
3. When questioned about the bending of my knee Dr. said that he did not know if I would be able to bend it 90 Degrees even by the time I see him for my six week checkup. Most people need to bend their knee that much by a few days after surgery. Mine has bent between 60-65 degrees, today only 60 degrees. I am glad that at least I know what the Dr. expects of my knee/me. My knee has gone through a lot since I broke it on March 5th.

Thursday will be my Four Month Anniversary since I broke my knee. I'm not sure if that is something to celebrate or not. I prefer to celebrate that I can now WALK!!

What did I learn about S'Mores?

A marshmallow can be "roasted" over an electric stove! :-)



Countdown 'til my total knee surgery, 16 days (June 19th)!
Have a great day!!

Thanks for coming back for S'More of my BLOGGING! 246

Postponed Surgery!!

I saw my orthopedic surgeon this morning. He had consulted two other surgeons. One suggested that my repaired leg break needed to heal more before doing a knee replacement. The other one suggested that a knee replacement could be done at any time. Well, my surgeon left the decision up to me, but I could tell that he really thought it best to wait for surgery another 3-4 weeks. Mind you, I was supposed to have surgery NEXT TUESDAY! Well, I decided that I would WAIT for another 3-4 weeks....meaning 15-16 weeks total from March 5th's leg/knee break and 13-14 weeks after having had my leg (Tibia bone) repaired. I do not yet have the final date for surgery.

I'm not happy about being in a wheelchair and wearing this long leg brace for another 3-4 weeks but Psalm 18: 30-36 in the NIV translation has some thoughts that have been good for me. God's way IS Perfect!

30 As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

One thing has changed. I will have Outpatient Physical Therapy at the hospital three times a week until my yet unknown surgery date. The PT will be on my Quads (upper leg), above the knee and also my left ankle, both of which are weak from no or little use. I figure that having the PT before surgery will mean less PT need AFTER surgery!

Today's Positives:
1. After having two Doctors' visits today my friend Su and I went out to eat lunch.
2. Tomorrow I'm going to a Meeting at a Club House...and with my TOPS friends. I've not seen most of them since my "accident". TOPS is "Taking off Pounds Sensibly". Each time that I return from Africa I go back to the same TOPS club to help me keep my weight stable during my U.S. time.
3. I am very glad that I have a Handicapped Bus pass to be able to use for getting to and from the hospital for Physical Therapy. These three times a week sessions will start this Friday.

Thanks everyone for your many prayers over the past 11+ weeks. As you see, they are still needed. Bless you.