The Journey is Almost Over

9/9  Therapy today and new ways to strengthen. I was doing the Total Gym with both legs, now they want me to do it one leg at a time. Boy! That's a workout! Also did the chair squat - my "good" knee was complaining about that one - surgery knee was fine. I asked my PT when do you know when it's time to stop therapy. She said I was pretty nearly there. My flex is great, extension is almost perfect; mostly I am strengthening my legs and hips. Maybe a couple weeks more, then I am through, although I feel I'll need to stretch every day from now on.  I may have to do hamstring stretches the rest of my life. My knee is stiff without them. I've decided to start doing them first thing in the morning before I get out of bed.


9/12  Another good day in PT for me. How do you know when you've had enough PT? I think I'm headed there. I went ahead and made appts. for next week, but I think that may be the end. I'll miss it. Although it's hard work, I always come out feeling good.

9/15 Yesterday, we took an architectural boat tour of Chicago. What a glorious day for it - 70's, sunny, blue skies - great fun and a beautiful city. I walked all over Navy Pier plus driving up and back, and on the way home, I definitely entered into the ODIC (Over Doing It Club.)   I had taken my extra-strength Tylenol in the morning, but forgot to take any at noon, and by the time I got home at 3:30, I was definitely behind the pain. I almost felt as if I had the flu, achy all over. I resisted taking something stronger and waited for the Tylenol to kick in while lying down on the bed. Felt much better in the evening and just fine this morning. Just about the time I think I'm definitely over this surgery, it tells me I still have work to do.

9/19 I released myself from PT today. ROM is 141, extension -3. I'll miss PT, but time to move on and establish a routine with my knee at home and keep working on that extension. I've found that putting weights on my leg and letting it hang off the bed is as good a stretch as anything.

I told my husband several weeks ago that I would be glad when I could get up and move around without thinking of my knee. Well, that day has come. I don't think about it most of the time now. It gave me a little pain this last week with the weather change, but nothing bad. The numbness probably bothers me more than anything, but I guess I'll learn to live with that.
 
Today when doing chair squats at PT, I had to stop because of my left knee. Right knee was great!  I have OA in my left knee, not as bad as my right was, so I'm hedging my bet on having it replaced. If I have to, I have to, but I've had such a good recovery with this one, I'm afraid to tempt fate. 
If I decide to have it replaced, I will probably be looking at the left knee next Spring.