Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Graduation Day Baby! Day 113

I'm getting ready to leave these behind! Well ok, only while in the house but I can dream, right? (Using one when I'm out in the big, scary, fast world.)
So what am I graduating to/from? I made it to four pound weights today! I left those three pounders in the dust!! I'm learning how to balance while standing on my leg too.

It's been 113 days since my surgery and today in therapy my knee was pushed to 115 degrees. I know, I wanted him to stop at 113 to make the numbers match but he wasn't game. You know, day 113 and 113 degrees. Get it? Plus it hurt like you know what. I won't even say that!

The CPM machine is really helping with my range of motion. I'm walking better too! Still using one crutch but hey, nothing comes easy with a PCL surgery. We all know that by now!

Finally I'm able to start using my hamstring. Weak but will be getting stronger as time goes on. I do some hamstring raises and now even some calf raises. Mini squats too! Things are finally starting to get interesting and it's only been 113 days. Time flies when you're having fun!

4 comments:

Linda said...

Congratulations on your milestone. Dan is at day 13 today. He's getting around well on his crutches, but will use a wheelchair for school . . . big school and crowded halls. We didn't want a rough bump to stretch his healing graft. Four more weeks until the real work begins!

Skinnygurl said...

Good to hear from you Linda! Has Dan started physical therapy yet? I had surgery on the 16 and started PT on the 21 of April. I've been going 3 times a week ever since. I just counted, 52 sessions so far! Dan is young and will get better gains I'm sure, just don't let him hurt any progress my trying to go too fast. The wheelchair sounds great for him. Let me know how he's doing.
Hi Dan!! Hang in there, it does get better. It really does!

Pam

Linda said...

Dan's surgeon doesn't start PT until 6 weeks. He had him do PT prior to surgery to build up his quad. Now he has him flexing his ankle to keep blood flowing and flexing and holding his shrinking quad. I'm pretty sure the plan is to keep the brace locked straight and be nonweight bearing for 6 full weeks.
Take care,
Linda

Anonymous said...

I had PT starting at week 2. But I don't think it was helpful, as I couldn't really do anything. It simply gave the therapist an opportunity to look at me and my knee. I was doing multiple sets of quad sets and leg lifts (in the immobilizer) starting at week 1. I was in a wheelchair for 6 weeks. Weight-bearing started the day of my 6-week followup with the OS, and driving started one week after that. I ditched the crutches at 11 weeks post-op. My balance was off for a long time - don't rush doing without support (crutches, walker, cane, whatever). The worst thing would be to fall. My balance really didn't come back fully until about a month ago - 8 months post-op. So, be patient and careful everyone.