Feeling the same

So it's been awhile since I last posted and it's been about 1 year and 1 month since I first went to the doctor for my hip and knee pain. Right now I feel exactly how I did a year ago, except it's both sides of my body instead of just the left. Even after surgery, I still have extreme knee pain and general aching in my left knee. Now my right knee is starting to feel the same pain. Both of my hips are aching like crazy. I am even 20 pounds lighter than I was 1 year ago, because I thought that was a major part of the problem. I finally found a form of exercise that I love doing, but it is only increasing the rate that my joints deteriorate. One week from today I am going to see a different doctor to see if he can figure me out before anyone else cuts me open. However, even if he can figure me out, it will be at least 4 months, but most likely 6 months, until I can have any sort of surgery done. That's all the bummer stuff. On the good side, my job is going very well right now. I feel like I am being effective teaching my students this year. My school made AYP, even in the Special Education subgroup, and I am working hard to keep it that way. I'm also starting my masters in January in the area of Educational Supervision and Leadership. It's all through Ball State online and I will be able to apply for a Principal's license when I am finished. I'm excited about school and hopefully I will have a good update in a week with some answers from Dr. Maiers.

10 weeks

I know, it's been awhile since I posted anything. My personal life has been a hot mess the last month and things are finally back the way they should be. I've been cleared for all activity short of running (but I don't like to run anyways). I've made a few trips to the gym so far, but pain and plans have been keeping me from going as much as I would like. I had only 4 physical therapy appointments since I had my ROM when I began. The PT just gave me lots of home exercises to do. My scar is still ugly and purple. I'm ready for it to blend in a little bit. At my last appointment I got a prescription for a 24 hour anti-inflammatory because my hip was hurting bad with my knee. I still get a lot of pains shooting from my hip down my entire leg. It's not very encouraging for my surgery future. I go back to the doctor in a month and hopefully will be discussing my continued pain and what we should do next.

Almost 6 Weeks

Six weeks ago I didn't know that I would be where I am right now. I am walking--a lot of times without a noticeable limp. I have stopped taking hydrocodone, but it's hard to manage my pain with just extra strength tylenol. It could just be because I'm up moving so much, probably more than I should be. Monday is probably going to be my last day of physical therapy (I've only gone 3 times) and I go back to see Dr. Scheid on Thursday morning. I want to find out while I'm there when I can start working out heavy duty again and if I should be worried about all the extra pain I'm having in my hip now. I thought at first it was just from starting to walk again and limping funny, but the pain keeps getting worse and actually kept me awake last night. It's like a dull ache starting in the front of my hip and radiating around the side and back. I didn't have a labral tear when I had an MRI in December, but I'm worried I tore something through all this surgery recovery for my knee. I hope that's not the case because I am ready to be free of pain. Hopefully I will only have good news this Thursday.

Walking!

I started physical therapy today. I went down to one crutch last week and have been walking around my house with the brace on and no crutch for the last few days. According to my therapist I already have full range of motion and I was able to stand one legged on my op leg for 30 seconds at a time. I am so happy about my progress after only 4 weeks.

One crutch! (sometimes)

After being able to do some walking (!) around my house this weekend with my husband for support, I decided to do one crutch at work on Monday. It went really well, but I moved SOOO much slower than with two crutches. I did it again Tuesday, but started having some sharp shooting pains in my knee, so I went back to 2 crutches in the afternoon. But even with 2 crutches, I still put weight on my leg. Today I had a meeting off-site so I used 2 crutches all day. It makes it so much easier to get around.

My ankle has completely stopped swelling up. I am really excited about that accomplishment. It still feels a little stiff though when I rotate it around.

I went to the gym on Monday and rode the recumbent bike for about 20 minutes. I didn't have any problems with pain, it just felt weird having my scar rub up against my pant leg so much.

I have my first formal physical therapy appointment scheduled for Monday, 4 weeks post-op. I'm pretty excited because I can already bend my leg back really far and the straight leg raises are easy. I also am able to flex my quad muscle on the op leg and it does it quickly. So hopefully I won't be in physical therapy for very long.

Adventures in Crutching

Monday will be 3 weeks post op and I am exhausted. I went back to work Monday and have been so busy since then. I was freaked out on Saturday about going back to work and then it got worse because I fell pushing a laundry basket with my crutches. It wasn't a complete fall, but my crutch came out from under me and I put all my weight on my bad leg. I started crying instantly and spent the rest of the day resting on the couch with my leg elevated and iced. Monday I discovered that my ankle was going to be the biggest problem with going back to work. It keeps swelling up the size of a grapefruit. I also slipped Monday night cooking dinner and put all my weight on my bad leg again. So my sister finished dinner and I didn't bother making lunches for us that night. I've stepped down to a lower dose of Norco and I only take it only 6-7 hours. Most of my pain is when I exercise- bending my knee and straight leg raises. I'm starting to feel more normal except for the crutch part of things. I've been carrying things around in a backpack at school and I have to sit all the time. I should be starting PT in about a week, I just need to get around to scheduling it.

Day 10- Doctor Day!

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.