My Ta-Da for the week. And I need to quit limping!

Coming up on the end of week 5, progress report.

I swam!! OMG, right? I swam Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Tuesday was 10 mins, just a test and all of 300 yards. Some aqua-jogging and walking. The life guard kept a close eye on me :)

Thursday was Anton and I made it more of a just-swim, no aqua-jogging. Some walking. 

I was using a pool buoy, not hurrying, not really setting a goal other than "get to the pool" and time, all accomplished. Towards the end of Thursday I started thinking about form, bilateral breathing, joining a master's class...

Got new PT exercises on Weds and Friday:

Weds: added clams with yellow band, hip bridges with yellow band, side planks, and prone knee bends. All felt good.

Friday (today): added hurdles (yay! I've been watching others do hurdles, my turn!), green band for hip bridges, cat/camel, and planks on knees. This too me seems a big step, I'm doing something off the PT table :)

Saturday I swam 20 mins and covered 500 yards with my new watch app. Let's not dwell on the fact that I can usually swim 1000y in 21-22 or so mins.

Sunday I did 10 mins of elliptical. Oh boy. So exciting. Better once you turn OFF the stupid telly screen shoved into your face on the new machines. I was OK forward, not so good doing a backwards stride. 

On  Wednesday TV and I were having lunch on the plaza and I saw my surgeon walk by. I walked up to her, focusing on being strong and walking good. She asked how long it's been, how I was doing, then said "you need to quit limping". HAHAHAHA!! I loved this, best admonishment.

So lately I've been focused on that. Walking. Seems so simple. And it really is when I stop thinking about it. So I'm adding that to my PT goals, walking. 

One month today!

Surgery now a full month behind me!!

Today so far better than yesterday, less lateral knee/IT pain and less surgical site discomfort. I'm working on walking the right way without a wobble or limp.

But now as of 2pm my lower back is pissed off, can't sit or stand without discomfort.

So now time for a Ta-Da list:
In the past month...  surgery and two weeks non-weight bearing, CMP machine and ice machine, up to 20 mins twice a day on The Bird with zero resistance, two weeks completed of PT, off crutches and able to walk the dog a few short blocks, now up to walking her twice a day, driving rental car (that's an accomplishment for me!).

My To-Do List:
For the next month...start swimming even if just 10 mins or just aqua-jogging, next week (6 weeks) start elliptical, strengthen back and pay more attention to posture and "time off" to rest that irritated nerve, build upper body strength as possible cuz I'm tired of feeling weak there, get to where I can walk dog more than a few blocks.

Fourth week, on my own now

First day was Saturday. TH had planned to stop by but her doggies were sick and they needed her more. I spend the day focused on being elevated, yet still moving around. Established habit of bike and PT twice a day. Bored but felt good to just relax.

Sunday TV and MP took poor Sugar to TGP for a walk. I was jealous! A lot like Saturday -- elevated and resting. My Dollar Store puzzle book seeing a lot of action

Monday I tried driving and going to work. I could only get a 2hr meter spot and refed it around midday. Four hours was well enough time, my back was quite unhappy. Sitting hurts the left outer leg just above the knee and standing aggravates my back. Home to get rid of the swelling.

Tuesday drove to Dr L who said my back needs to be unloaded, as in not sitting or standing. That's hard to do at work! But I'll do it. He worked on the back and leg. Scraped some adhesions in left hip flexor. Ooooh that's a special type of ouch. Only a 2hr meter again, and by two hours I was done anyway. And I needed to rent a car, so on the way home got myself a little black Nissan to drive until Sunday. $165!! Hope it's worth it.

Wednesday PT and discussion of the various aches and questions. Why the pain in left leg, lateral and just above knee? Guess is maybe irritation from a tourniquet used in surgery? Why the wobble in my walk -- gotta practice quad-glut-quad-glut. Why the pain in hip flexors overnight? Try doing some PT exercises instead of lying still, maybe being less still would help? Walking better when I put my mind to it. Gotta learn to walk before you can run! Iced before going to bed, haven't done this in a few days.

Thursday I didn't have hip flexor pain but did have lateral pain again. And I have a numb spot in right upper arm? Started Tuesday night when taking off my shirt -- a zinger of burning pain like something bit me. Last night I kept thinking a but was crawling on me there, that's when I realized I have lost some sensation. Huh?  Anyway, hip feeling good but tight. Didn't get all my PT finished this morning (just got the bike ride) so I need to double up tonight. Carefully!

Friday PT again, feeling some pain and discomfort while walking so I'm hesitantly walking.

Saturday met TH for brekkie! She encouraged me to swim, I said I'd do it. But by the time I was done at work I didn't go. Not feeling great, more pain and discomfort. Pain in left hip flexor, discomfort over surgical site, back, left knee lateral.

Sunday, more like Saturday. Some work then home to rest. I'm dedicating time off my feet, but not really "flat on my back" to take the pressure off the spine. I need to dedicate there. I talked to Dad in the evening, wasn't in a terribly positive mood. I realize recovery is Peaks and Valleys, I was in a valley.

Week 3 after surgery: big appointments week!

Back in STL for appointments with Dr L, surgeon, and JB for first PT sessions. Mom still with me until early Friday. So this is my week to see if I can 'survive' on my own by the weekend.

Still on crutches, still minimal pain and discomfort. Dr L's appt went great, more pain and less suffering after things are loosened up. Later that day was followup with surgeon, and she reviewed the photos with me (yay!) and said I could start weaning off crutches. Maybe be off crutches in a week. Could try driving about that time. And can try swimming with the pull buoy after Friday. All good news! Fast appt, in and out. Any my hands LOVE the news about weaning off the crutches.

In my head I set a goal of swimming on Oct 1, as a way to start the month off with a good habit. This didn't happen, btw.

Wednesday was the first PT appt. The sign over my table was #RecruitGlutes and I think that's going to be the theme for these next few weeks. She did some evaluations and stretches, and got me going on a list of basic moves. I was so happy to hear 'hip bridges', TWENTY of them!! This is the most muscle activation I've had since surgery, yes!!

I started weaning from Bitch and Whore (I named the crutches but not the walker, the walker never pissed me off that much. B&W keep falling over, tipping, stubbing...) by hopping around the kitchen. Nervously, I kept waiting for that feeling of something going wrong.

I went to work for the first time Wednesday, but once there learned that my FMLA didn't release me until Thursday! I misunderstood the 'FMLA ending on 9-27' as 'I can return on 9-27'. Oops, I left fast!

Didn't try Thursday or Friday at work, I was having awful left leg swelling. My skin was muffin-topping over my Snoopy socks! JB called it pitting edema and said I need to spent more time with my feet elevated and do my dorsi-plantar-flex foot pumps. These all helped, but the swelling returned once I stood again, like water in a wave machine...back... and forth....and back...  Was ugly to see how much swelling accumulated.

On Thursday Mom took Sugar and I to the FoPa group run for a post run treats and celeb of LC's and IT's IMWI finish and IT's bday. LC suggested bringing something I can eat or something chocolate. So Mom helped me make choco-dipped bacon and orange slices :) Sugar was an over-excited pooch and didn't behave for mom. Bad dog!

TV and MP continued to help walk Sugar. Mom made great progress on her business blurbs, wish I was home more to help and see this launch. I told RM that I could "gradually" wean off B&W and he replied: "Gradual and TJ in the same sentence?!?!??!! Cubs win world series, Trump gets elected... Hell keeps freezing over and over". I think that will be the front quote to the 2017 blog book!

Mom left Friday after PT and a few last shopping errands to get me caught up for a few weeks. Hard to shop ahead when I buy mostly fresh food and produce. But my freezer is stocked and I have plans.

Really said to see Mom go!!!! But gotta cut the cord.

Week 2 after surgery

More summarizing.

Dr L is pleased with my range of motion, seemed excited even. I noted some tingling which he recognized as a nerve thing, not IT like I thought. I asked about "non-weight bearing" and how to balance that with "toe touch", and he said I could lightly touch, don't worry about it. I noted that for a scientist "zero is zero", and he asked mom if I was that "persnickety" when not injured. Then while asking more more questions about my sis and our similarities and differences worked on some nerve entrapment and more. Ooooh, yeah. Pain. He joked that if there was anything mom wanted to know, now would be a good time to ask -- while under duress of pain. HA!

Forgot to mention, visited Gramma over the past weekend. She beat me on the walker! Held the door open for me, looked after me, a role reversal. Also forgot to mention -- Jess visited Saturday morning for a few hours, sat in mom's newly decorated sun room.

And I was able to ride mom's bike as needed. The first day I rode at 12 mph. That felt slow to me! But the pain the next day indicated I was wrong there. Took a day off, then back to it at 3.5 mph. As I said to TH, I can only get faster from here! I mixed bike and CPM as best I could. Still lots of sitting, and learning as I go. Like how the dining room chairs that I spent too much time in hurt my leg. That the blue recliner was perfect for getting my feet up and pressure of my back. Lots of ice machine, that was vaguely prescribed as "as desired". But mom and dad asked and prompted me to use, otherwise I'd forget or skip.

This week stayed in STL from Monday to Thursday. Sugar was walked by TV and MP and stayed at the Watering Bowl while I was gone. She was excited to go!

Mom and I kept noting odd coincidences. The first was the Bees Knees card I found way back in April while card shopping for her birthday. I bought the card without knowing why I wanted it, aside from the bees, as it was a Thank You card. Other randoms -- we picked up a thank you gift for MP with a raw blue sapphire set in a necklace. Turns out it was her birthday and that was her birthday stone. (Also her nephew Bob lka Murphy was born last weekend!). Many weird coincidences, I'll never remember them all, but it left a feeling of This Was All Meant To Happen.

Back to Illinois Thursday, again stopping often to walk and stretch. Worked on notes for the new business, and with that the driving went FAST.

That weekend K slept over and even with pillows tried to kick me. She like the ice machine and CPM machine to heal her 'boo-boos' on her leg. She liked playing with the crutches when I set them as short as they could go. Both kids were careful around me, and I really enjoyed being able to just sit with them and having nothing else to do and no where else to go. 

Sooooo much happened, yet not much happened. Back to STL on Monday for Dr L and first visit with JB for PT.

Summary -- still no hip pain, all the pain and problem in my poor hands.

Surgery. Street Drugs. Stillness.

Writing this 3 weeks after surgery. A blessed 3 weeks of little-to-no personal internet time. I'll try to get all I can in without spending another 3 weeks trying to get it all recorded.

Week of surgery. Mom came down Sunday and the afternoon was spent readying. Errands, shopping, etc. Sugar and I never did get our camping trip in, and good thing as I didn't have the spare time in the end. And sitting in the tent with my hip in full-flexed position - not a good idea.

That morning there wasn't time for the Monday group ride (haha, I seriously considered it, but I don't think the surgical advice of shower with anti-bact soap, sleep on clean sheets, shower again the next morning was meant to be interrupted by a bike ride!) and we were at the hospital by 730am. No nerves at all. And almost happily, I walked in with my pained limp. And took as many steps as I could! Back in the prep ward - changed out of clothes, got IV-lined, hooked up to leads, and questioned and questioned more. There were delays, I didn't go back until maybe noon or noon-thirty. Mom and I worked on her new business adventure, it's so exciting for her!

It was funny while lying there, even after months of no running I continue to have a very low heart rate. The alarm was set to 55, alarm, reset to 50, alarm, reset to 45, alarm.  I went as low as 39! It served as proof that I wasn't nerved up (I was asked) and supported my request to skip the anti-anxiety medications (versed, I think) delivered with anesthesia. One of the anesthesiologists joked that I was probably healthier than anyone on the floor, and they weren't worried about my health for this. 

Once finally wheeled back, still no nerves. Of course the surgical room was cold, the traction boots set-up to pull my leg out of the hip joint was just as creepy looking as it was in the YT videos I studied. I joked with the staff, enjoyed looking around at the equipment, then .... off to sleepy time!

I remembered nothing until recovery, and at this point things get hazy. Not unexpectedly, I was coming out of anesthesia! But I don't remember everything that happened in the right order. I remember hearing that she found the tear, repaired it with sutures and anchors, and the surrounding cartilage was "that of a 20 year old". That's great news!

I remember what I think was an anesthesiologist sitting to my left (and mom to my right) asking me how I was feeling. I felt inflated, heavy, like my hands were leaded weights but full of air and swollen like balloons. I couldn't move. Soon after, or at some point after, I started to feel twitching. It progressed into what seemed to be like full body spasms. I lifted my back off the bed, I remember doing that, my arms jumping, my legs moving, and in all of this the terrifying fear that I was going to move my repaired leg and undo the surgery! I remember saying (or thinking) "don't move the leg, don't move the leg" and putting my right leg crossed over the left at the ankle.

In my head, I was fine. This wasn't a seizure, my head was calm and I tried saying this out loud. Not sure if I did. I remember someone saying "squeeze my hand", I couldn't. "Open your eyes", I couldn't, so they were opened for me with bright flashes of light. I could hear mom saying "this isn't normal, something's wrong". And that was it.

I found out later -- dystonic reaction likely due to the propofol and/or zofram in the anesthesia. Mom was repeated questioned about what street drugs I was using, that this reaction could be countered if they only knew what they were dealing with. She was at some point asked to leave. Six doctors from neurology, anesthesia, and surgery stood around the bed trying to decide what to do. Commenting about how they'd never seen this before, etc.

In the end, a dose of benedryl. Then 3 doses of valium!!! Finally put me out and I rested. TV and MP were there, I was admitted for observation, TV and MP bought me some dinner (HB eggs and ... something else...), I had a head CT, a CPM machine was delivered, it's a lot of fragments.

Woke up the next morning to a surgical assistant asking if my mom was OK. That was my first hint of what I later learned was I thought was a few minutes of twitching was in fact maybe 75 minutes! WHAT?! This turned into a long but calm morning. Mom brought brekkie, the hospital delivered brekkie of pancakes and sausage (seriously?) that Mom got to eat. Surgery came in and brought a file of pictures and info, and only now as I type I'm realizing that is the moment I learned about the surgery details and cartilage and some bone shaving she did. Neurology came in and assured us it was seizures. TV came by for lunch, at the same time PT came in for a training course on crutches and stairs and getting around.

To my surprise, no pain. In fact, never any pain. Never took the pile of drugs they left with me, which at first included zofram (medical errors, that's how that happens). Naproxen for anti-inflammatory. Aspirin for blood clots. A vicodin for pain along with zofram and some stool softener to counter the vicodin side effects. Got a LOT of vicodin in my drug pile now!

Next few days -- lots of CPM, couch time, mom helping me move around into and out of bed, into and out of CPM, no showering, changing bandages. She did SO MUCH, my Bees Knees. We drove back to home Thursday, then dad helped out. I was going great. Healthy, awake, looked OK, but couldn't move myself!

Still no pain, in fact my hands and wrists hurt more after a few days of crutches and walker. At the end of one week, we drove back to STL to prep for an appt with Dr L.

First week summary: all good! It seemed more stressful for the people around me.

Only days away from surgery

So what's been going on? Not much. I tried running but stopped due to pain. It didn't hurt so much while running, it was the nights after that were the worst. I'd run Saturday morning and live with the after effects until Monday.

I'm sleeping in because I don't sleep well. Still biking to work. Not walking much because of the nearly-continuous "popping". Watching Kitchen Nightmare clips on YouTube.

Planning. Lots of planning. Yesterday I got my first read of the post-op instructions and this is giving me a better idea of what to expect. Making lists and maps for Mom.

I'm thinking about going camping with Sugar tomorrow night out at Klondike. I've had the urge to do this for over a month now, but I don't have everything done like I need to before Monday. Still haven't fixed the back deck step. Haven't purchased the crutches I'll need next week. Not packed, for the post-surgery or the camping trip. When I called the campground today, I learned that I'd missed the phone-reservation option. This was holding me up, I waited as long as I could to see what I could get done first. Now I know that I can do this on the fly. So, what I should be doing right now is getting stuff done!

Make a list of what I gotta accomplish, haha, then go from there.