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| Wish I could recover here! |
I haven't taken any of the bandages off to see how it looks but I will see it in two days when I go to get the stitches out. I know I sure miss a shower! I'm looking forward to that, for sure.
Monday, October 24, 2011
6 Days Post Hardware Removal Surgery
Sorry, I haven't been by to blog. I caught a nasty, nasty, cold and haven't been able to even think about how my knee is coming along between the coughing, sneezing, sniffles, etc. It's been a long time since I've had a cold and this one hit me hard!
I am able to walk pretty well, but I can feel the tightness of the stitches pull at times. I haven't taken any pain killers since day 2. I can only assume it is healing well on it's own.
I haven't taken any of the bandages off to see how it looks but I will see it in two days when I go to get the stitches out. I know I sure miss a shower! I'm looking forward to that, for sure.
I haven't taken any of the bandages off to see how it looks but I will see it in two days when I go to get the stitches out. I know I sure miss a shower! I'm looking forward to that, for sure.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Hardware Removal, October 20, 2011
It's been 48 hours since my surgery. I had a lot of pain yesterday, but the Vicodin kept it under control. I was so tired I went to bed at 7:30 p.m. and slept for almost 12 hours. It must have done me a lot of good because my leg pain was noticeable better today.
Dr. R told me to try to do a little light exercises on the stationary bike so I did a little yesterday. It was tough just to make one rotation. It felt like the stitching would pull and tear, but after the first rotation, all was well. I went very easy and very slow.
Today, I've not used any painkillers, that how well the pain is. And I'm a big baby with pain and a gal with a whole bottle of Vicodin so I am very please how well this is coming along.
My biggest complaint is that my throat is really, really sore. I'm not sure if I am coming down with a cold or if it is from the tube going down my throat. My stomach also doesn't feel well either. As typical of Vicodin users, I have constipation and have been diligent about using Plum Smart with no luck. Guess that is the price you pay for pain relief.
I finally got to see and touch one of my screws that Dr. R. saved for me. They are thinner than I expected, but boy are they long! I can't imagine how big that plate must have been.
I am walking without the crutches now, although very slowly. It doesn't hurt to walk, only the range of motion is low because of the bandages, and of course, the stitches.
If I didn't have these cold symptoms, I would be feeling pretty darn good.
Dr. R told me to try to do a little light exercises on the stationary bike so I did a little yesterday. It was tough just to make one rotation. It felt like the stitching would pull and tear, but after the first rotation, all was well. I went very easy and very slow.
Today, I've not used any painkillers, that how well the pain is. And I'm a big baby with pain and a gal with a whole bottle of Vicodin so I am very please how well this is coming along.
My biggest complaint is that my throat is really, really sore. I'm not sure if I am coming down with a cold or if it is from the tube going down my throat. My stomach also doesn't feel well either. As typical of Vicodin users, I have constipation and have been diligent about using Plum Smart with no luck. Guess that is the price you pay for pain relief.
I finally got to see and touch one of my screws that Dr. R. saved for me. They are thinner than I expected, but boy are they long! I can't imagine how big that plate must have been.
I am walking without the crutches now, although very slowly. It doesn't hurt to walk, only the range of motion is low because of the bandages, and of course, the stitches.
If I didn't have these cold symptoms, I would be feeling pretty darn good.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Hardware Removal--Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Seventeen months ago I knew that I wanted my hardware out, if possible. Just having it, knowing it is there, was something I wanted to fix.
My big date was October 18th. I was to report to Kaiser at 7 a.m. I was scheduled to go off at 9 a.m. Well, nothing ever goes on time, but they wheeled me in at 9:20 p.m. The surgery was supposed to go on 65 minutes, which to me seemed pretty fast. But I digress.
Al tells me that Dr. R came out to talk to him about 50 minutes after I went off, which means it must have been an easy time of it. My first memory after the surgery was the time, since they have clocks everwhere. It was 10:50 a.m. and I sure was feeling groggy. So tired and so disoriented. I had no clue where I was when I woke. I thought maybe I was on the airplane, or maybe still in Argentina. I was hoping they would let me go back to sleep but they told me I would be going home in less than an hour. Are you kidding? Where was I again?
Alfred came by to see me early in the recovery and then came back maybe 40 minutes later. I'm happy to report that Al said I looked way, way better in just that short time.
I got home fine and pulled out my crutches from the garage. I tried using two of them, but found that one crutch worked better for me. My pain level wasn't bad at all, but of course, I was on the Vicodin. They bandaged my leg up pretty well so I am not able to see how bad the incision is. Dr. R was able to give me one piece of my hardware as a souvenir. At Kaiser they normally don't do that, and I was very curious to see how it looks. I'll post a photo soon.
Now it is almost 24 hours after and my leg is much more sore today. With the bandages, I can't tell if it is swollen, but my guess is that it is. I've been using ice to keep it down, as well as keeping my leg elevated. I decided to try without the Vicodin this a.m. just to get an accurate assessment of my pain. It hurt indeed! Time for the Vicodin again. The leg feels sort of battered and I can feel tugging of the incision. I can bear weight on it, but can't really bend it with any weight on it.
We're really early in the game, so far so good!
My big date was October 18th. I was to report to Kaiser at 7 a.m. I was scheduled to go off at 9 a.m. Well, nothing ever goes on time, but they wheeled me in at 9:20 p.m. The surgery was supposed to go on 65 minutes, which to me seemed pretty fast. But I digress.
Al tells me that Dr. R came out to talk to him about 50 minutes after I went off, which means it must have been an easy time of it. My first memory after the surgery was the time, since they have clocks everwhere. It was 10:50 a.m. and I sure was feeling groggy. So tired and so disoriented. I had no clue where I was when I woke. I thought maybe I was on the airplane, or maybe still in Argentina. I was hoping they would let me go back to sleep but they told me I would be going home in less than an hour. Are you kidding? Where was I again?
Alfred came by to see me early in the recovery and then came back maybe 40 minutes later. I'm happy to report that Al said I looked way, way better in just that short time.
I got home fine and pulled out my crutches from the garage. I tried using two of them, but found that one crutch worked better for me. My pain level wasn't bad at all, but of course, I was on the Vicodin. They bandaged my leg up pretty well so I am not able to see how bad the incision is. Dr. R was able to give me one piece of my hardware as a souvenir. At Kaiser they normally don't do that, and I was very curious to see how it looks. I'll post a photo soon.
Now it is almost 24 hours after and my leg is much more sore today. With the bandages, I can't tell if it is swollen, but my guess is that it is. I've been using ice to keep it down, as well as keeping my leg elevated. I decided to try without the Vicodin this a.m. just to get an accurate assessment of my pain. It hurt indeed! Time for the Vicodin again. The leg feels sort of battered and I can feel tugging of the incision. I can bear weight on it, but can't really bend it with any weight on it.
We're really early in the game, so far so good!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
One Year Update
Well, today, one year ago, was the day I broke my tibial plateau. Like all of us, it was a day that I’ll never forget. I’m usually a very positive person but I have to say this was a very humbling experience. I wouldn’t wish it on any one. I was so naïve about what this entailed when I got my diagnosis. I truly thought that after the bone healed I would be fine and go back to life as normal. When I began weight bearing my leg was like a toothpick. My good leg was almost 3 times the size the bad one.
Looking back it seems like I remember every milestone, every setback, and I always celebrated the smallest of successes. I vividly remember walking to the mailbox (maybe 25 feet round trip) and feeling like I had accomplished a remarkable feat, which it was at the time. All through this ordeal I was lucky to have my dear husband Al with me every step of the way, literally. He went to every appointment with me, waited on me, encouraged me to press on and never seemed to tire about hearing how my leg was doing that moment. I’m sure he never thought his retirement would start like this!
So let me update you all on how I’m doing at one year!
Pros
Walking is very good, most of the time. I can do up to 5 miles a day, broken up into segments. Not all at once. I especially like to walk uphill. I think it builds up those quads and strong quads make the leg feel more stable and strong. I do get an occasional bout of swelling that puts a damper on the walking. Then it is back to ice and ibuprofen.
ROM is pretty good. Not as much as the good leg, for sure, but good enough for me. Pain is pretty much non-existent most of the time. I do get the odd aches, throbbing, and twinges. I’m thinking my muscle strength hasn’t totally come back yet.
Cons
Going down stairs is still awkward. Even when I try really had, I look like a dork. Going up is no problem. I still hold on to the rain going down, or try to use the elevator.
My plate makes my leg look lumpy. Not that I’m vain, but my OS said that it is a bit too big for my small bones. The good news is that she told me I can have my hardware removed anytime. I have some big vacations coming up and wanted to do that before my removal, so it looks like November/December is when I’ll have it done. I’m thinking that HW removal will bring me a lot of closure and I’m looking forward to getting that done.
Yes, it’s been a long, long road. But, of course, looking back, it seems to have gone by fast. If you are just starting out, just remember, it does get better. Read up on everything related to your knee. Become knowledgeable about your condition and your OS will tell you things and you will understand what they are talking about. Remember, life eventually returns to a comfortable routine. Best of luck to all of you!
Looking back it seems like I remember every milestone, every setback, and I always celebrated the smallest of successes. I vividly remember walking to the mailbox (maybe 25 feet round trip) and feeling like I had accomplished a remarkable feat, which it was at the time. All through this ordeal I was lucky to have my dear husband Al with me every step of the way, literally. He went to every appointment with me, waited on me, encouraged me to press on and never seemed to tire about hearing how my leg was doing that moment. I’m sure he never thought his retirement would start like this!
So let me update you all on how I’m doing at one year!
Pros
Walking is very good, most of the time. I can do up to 5 miles a day, broken up into segments. Not all at once. I especially like to walk uphill. I think it builds up those quads and strong quads make the leg feel more stable and strong. I do get an occasional bout of swelling that puts a damper on the walking. Then it is back to ice and ibuprofen.
ROM is pretty good. Not as much as the good leg, for sure, but good enough for me. Pain is pretty much non-existent most of the time. I do get the odd aches, throbbing, and twinges. I’m thinking my muscle strength hasn’t totally come back yet.
Cons
Going down stairs is still awkward. Even when I try really had, I look like a dork. Going up is no problem. I still hold on to the rain going down, or try to use the elevator.
My plate makes my leg look lumpy. Not that I’m vain, but my OS said that it is a bit too big for my small bones. The good news is that she told me I can have my hardware removed anytime. I have some big vacations coming up and wanted to do that before my removal, so it looks like November/December is when I’ll have it done. I’m thinking that HW removal will bring me a lot of closure and I’m looking forward to getting that done.
Yes, it’s been a long, long road. But, of course, looking back, it seems to have gone by fast. If you are just starting out, just remember, it does get better. Read up on everything related to your knee. Become knowledgeable about your condition and your OS will tell you things and you will understand what they are talking about. Remember, life eventually returns to a comfortable routine. Best of luck to all of you!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
So This is It! My leg xray.
This is what it looks like to have a plate and a bunch of screws in your leg.
It's quite horrible looking at first, but you do get used to seeing it.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
11th Month Mark!
Today is the actual 11th months since I broke my leg. I'd like to say things are going well, but right now I seem to be slightly regressing a bit. My leg has been swollen and tight feeling for the last 2 or 3 weeks. I have cut my walking down from 5 miles a day to like 2 miles a day. I'm not sure if that is helping or not.
At night I get a lot of throbbing and it is definitely swollen, something that hasn't happened too much in the last 11 months. Advil (Ibuprofen) seems to help immensely so I have been taking that at night. I have been waking up in the morning with the swelling gone, but it comes back. I have an appointment with the OS in 10 days and hope I can discuss this with her. Hopefully, it is a temporary setback and will be gone by the time my appointment comes. I had so hoped to be well on the road to recovery by now. Maybe it's the hardware. When all else fails, blame it on the hardware.
At night I get a lot of throbbing and it is definitely swollen, something that hasn't happened too much in the last 11 months. Advil (Ibuprofen) seems to help immensely so I have been taking that at night. I have been waking up in the morning with the swelling gone, but it comes back. I have an appointment with the OS in 10 days and hope I can discuss this with her. Hopefully, it is a temporary setback and will be gone by the time my appointment comes. I had so hoped to be well on the road to recovery by now. Maybe it's the hardware. When all else fails, blame it on the hardware.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Bone Cold Truth
Ever want to touch and hold a tibia bone? I was at an event where they had a display of bones. Of course, I was only interested in the tibia--you know, the bone that I broke. Here is a picture of me holding one. Gives you a good perspective of where the plate and screws are inside the bone.
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