So first of all, Happy April Fool's Day. Thankfully no jokes were pulled on me at the doctor today. Jeff was hoping that they would because he had a joke pulled on him by a doctor one year that was hilarious. Well, it wasn't funny then, but it is now. But the appointment went great. He took X-rays, so I got to see my screws. I didn't get a copy but the screws go straight back through the bone and I would say are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. I have two of them holding the bone in place. You can see how that part of my bone is not connected either. I asked about getting a note for the screws for when I go through airport security, but the nurse said I wouldn't have any problems.
Next the doctor tested out my ROM. He lifted my foot and bent my leg and then asked me to pull it further than he had it. It hurt SOOOO bad, but he did it twice and said I got further the second time. I have to do those knee bends 4 times a day and do 4 sets of 5 each time. My goal is to push further each time I do it. He also had me try a straight leg raise. I was able to get my leg off the table a little bit while keeping my right leg straight. He also told me to do those 4 times a day with 4 sets of 5. Then in two weeks I start formal physical therapy (April 19th). So I'll be doing that 2 times a week with home exercises. He also told me that I should be using a recumbent bike to also build ROM and strength. So I am excited I get to go back to the gym now.
Apparently I have been wearing my brace too low on my leg, but he says I can cut back on it now. I only need to wear it when I leave the house. Or I can wear it around the house to walk without crutches. Yes, he told me I could walk without crutches if I wear the brace. I can't even think about trying that right now. He told me I could use as much weight as I want on my leg. But if I'm going to go without crutches I have to use the brace to keep my knee from buckling.
I got the two stitches from the arthroscopy removed today. The nurse covered them with steri-strips that I can remove Sunday if they don't fall off before them. The long incision is stitched and then glued, so those stitches will dissolve on their own. I'm allowed to get it all wet now and I can also keep it uncovered.
I talked to him about easing off of the Norco. I'm on 10s right now and he said I could start taking them further apart and breaking the pills in half. He also gave me a prescription for 5s to help me step down. As for switching to OTC pain medicine, he told me to only use extra strength tylenol, because Aleve and Advil will slow the bone healing. He also told me I could start taking my vitamins again.
I forgot to ask about driving, but it's not a big deal since I carpool with my husband. I should be okay to drive whenever I stop taking Norco, but I'll only be able to drive our Civic. The Evo is a different story since it's a manual transmission and I had surgery on the left leg. And of course the big car show to start the season is May 1st and I go back to the doctor on May 6th. So I will have to call or ask the physical therapist whether I will be able to drive my car to the show. My sister might get lucky and be able to drive my car that day.
I'll probably update a lot less now since the shaky part is over. I also go back to work on Monday so I will be really busy and exhausted when I get home. Thank you to everyone who has been reading and helping me through this rough time in my life.
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