November 14, 2007

PT: Day Three

Here’s the good news:

Almost three weeks post ACL tear, I have better extension and flexion in my knee than people do four months post-ACL reconstruction surgery (straight from my PT’s mouth).
I started riding the bike today. It was for five minutes only and in that time I made between 40-50 rotations total, but I rode the bike today with only slight infrequent twinges of pain (minus my first try when the seat was too high and I thought I was going to pass out from the pain).
My PT said that my knee looks really good and that I’m able to do things very well for being less than three weeks post-injury.
I met my permanent PT today and I like him a lot. He seems to really get that it’s important for me to get back to normal as fast as I can.

Here’s the bad news:

I have to stay on the crutches until I can walk without limping. I can’t currently walk without limping, and can’t imagine that I’ll be able to anytime soon. I can’t straighten my leg and put any pressure on it so that’s that. At least my crutches are cool.
The pain I’m having in the back of my knee is likely due to the hyperextension, and those aches and pains are going to take 6-8 weeks to repair. Oh goody.
Every single person (doctor, two PT’s, radiologist) has a completely different theory on my knee pain and where it’s coming from. All I know is that it hurts and it needs to stop.
PT is taking up a big chunk of my life right now. I am there three times a week for about an hour and a half each time. I imagine this time is only going to increase as they continue to add new exercises, more sets, and longer times on the bike. Then I have to repeat the exercises twice more at home each day. Whatever it takes though, I’ll do.

I’m sending those little Mario worker dudes on double shifts from now on.

***Some of you may have noticed my new tip jar on the sidebar. It’s there on the off chance that Bill Gates comes to check out my site, is highly entertained and wants to give me like, I don’t know, a million dollar tip or something. A girl can dream right? 😉

***Do you have kids? Have you given birth? Has your wife? How about sending me your birth stories for my other site? Please people. I only had two kids and both of their stories are up already. I need more! Please help!