6 Weeks!

I finally got to lose the crutches. I had my 6 weeks post-op checkup with my doctor yesterday. He said that I am exactly where I should be. I have a little more than 90 degrees of flexion, although most of my muscle strength is non-existent. I can finally drop the crutches, and my brace is allowed to bend to 70 degrees (it has hinges on the side). This allows me to practice walking without my knee giving out and me falling on my face.

Therapy is going really well too. My toughest workout is seemingly the easiest. I have to flex my quad, which pushes the back of my knee into the ground. My therapist puts a blood pressure cuff slightly pumped up below my knee. I then push down and flex, and hold for 10 seconds at about 60 pounds, and I do that 20-30 times. The idea is to get my heel off the ground while doing that. ITS SO FREAKING HARD. And it's my goal.

Anyways, I'm getting better.

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

I'm feeling better. The inactivity gets to me, but I'm trying to deal with it. That's one of the worst parts about this... the boredom. I'm just going to have to get creative and figure out what I can do by myself that involves my leg being propped up. I shouldn't have to rely on other people for my happiness because I should be able to take care of myself. I'm used to being independent, and I want to continue being that way. I just can't carry things... and stairs are an obstacle :)

Therapy went well on Tuesday. I was able to do all of my exercises, and managed to get to 80 degrees of flexion. Thursday did not go so well. I should be with one therapist, and I was with a tech. He's my friend and I like him, but I needed someone with way more experience. After a few exercises, I was in tears, which is NOT good. After my therapist came over an evaluated what was going on, he told me that I'm on my feet too much. So I have to rest more.

It's better that I'm not going out or being active right now for the health of my knee. I don't need to aggravate anything or risk tendonitis.

Again, I'm feeling better. It was a down point, hopefully now will be more of an up.

I'm not going to lie, I've been pretty bummed

When I would get sad or upset about anything going on, I would go for a run, workout or something. I'm pretty limited in what I can do now, so the depression builds and builds and has no where to go. And this weekend hasn't helped. It's musicfest, I can't enjoy it. And my friends get so drunk at night that they forget or don't care to call me. Makes me feel pretty shitty and alone.

On a positive note, I start physical therapy. I'm at 70 degrees of flexion, but I have no strength on my left leg. I can't lift my leg straight up without the immobilizer on. And there is no muscle to flex. In three weeks I will hopefully regain some muscle and get to 90 degrees of flexion.

I'll be at therapy twice a week... I'll have updates after that. I really miss being active. I've been reading facebook updates of those who ran at the Flying Pig. I'm jealous of you all, but my ultimate goal is to run the full Flying Pig one year from now. I'm going to work hard to get there... Just need to regain muscle function by then.