Five days to go, just five more until my arthroscopic left knee lateral release with chondrocyte biopsy. To say I have the pre-surgery jitters may be an understatement, sleep has been nonexistent this week. Every time I lay down for a nap, I think of more things I need to be doing like, putting the cougar print contact paper on my cane.I have set up my physical therapy for the next day after surgery, thank you Top Rehab. for accepting me back.I may just be their favorite patient, that they see three days a week.I really don't understand why one must go to physical therapy the next day, all they do is move your leg in impossible positions causing extreme pain and double doses of pain medicine.They measure, ask questions, like you can answer them being hungover from surgery, and the weirdest thing of all, they watch you walk on crutches, multiple times down a hallway. Maybe it's only me but pain medicines, surgery, and crutches is not a good time to be observing someones gait. Just saying.
My crutches are polished and awaiting their time of need, continuous passive motion(CPM) machine is on its way. The CPM is a French made machine that moves the knee without causing pain. It has a sheep skin like padding to hold your knee in place, that is very deceiving at first feel. Day one after having the microfractures and after my leg being locked completely straight in a brace all night, the feeling of unlocking it and the softness and movement of the cpm was near paradise. This went on for about 6 weeks for 8 hours a day, and after about the second week, that soft sheep skin like padding felt more like steel wool!
The back of my leg was callused up from the cpm and from the brace.Actually, for several months after the brace was removed, when I got out from a hot shower the outline of the brace could be seen all down my leg. Everybody has their battle scars mine just happen to be in the shape of a leg brace.
I am unsure of how long i'll be on crutches, hopefully not long.I'm very uncoordinated on them plus being incredibly out of shape doesn't help the endurance for the long walks into Wal-mart, when all the handicapped parking spots are taken.So, we drive around the parking lot for 20 minutes before admitting defeat, then park about 2 miles back with the big rigs. When you get inside all of the wheelchairs are gone, so I grab a motorized cart to get shampoo,not knowing, someone didn't charge the battery and it stops in front of the douche aisle. Help! my cart is stalled and my crutches are in the front of the store.After a couple of minutes of freaking out, I draw the attention of the 98 year old door greeter, who tells me to get up and he will show me how to drive this cart. Apparently, he can't figure out why i'm on the cart. Hello! Full length leg brace! So to prevent this from happening again, I found my own wheelchair at a yard sale, mind you I will use it as a prop for The Loo and Verne Show, when i'm finished. Now, just to find elevating wheelchair legs.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Calvary
Today is eight days pre-op and in preparation I began the search for my potty and shower chair. Yes, I am embarrassed to say that I have been into the blue hair section of Wal-mart and various drug stores. I haven't butt tested any of them yet, I would hate to get stuck on the toilet in my potty chair.I can see it now, the local calvary would be called, consisting of 5 fire trucks, 2 ambulances and at least 6 police cars, all with cell phone cameras with direct access to you tube. Now since I know most of these people, they would never do that, would they?!
I spent the rest of the day polishing my quad cane and that grabber thingy. I'm thinking I need to add a little bling to them, maybe cougar print? I have had no luck with elevating wheelchair legs, maybe someone out there has some.
I learned today that Top Rehab, will be losing my physical therapist, very sad I had looked forward to harassing her again. Angela Wherle, my p.t. has decided to move onto another career opportunity, so I wish her luck!!! Of course, I could just use her for home health, I'm sure that the rest of the crew cannot wait to see me again and have been in severe grief since last seeing me. Don't worry my fine therapist friends, I will be there soon. That is if they let me back, I'm still paying for the last round. What can I say being jobless sucks?
I have attempted to lose weight before this surgery, three pounds down thirty to go before my microfracture preweight. Kind of sounds like a fighter, getting prepared for a fight, in a way it is. Sure its a physical struggle, but its more of an emotional and mental battle. Just staying positive is key to a successful recovery.
I spent the rest of the day polishing my quad cane and that grabber thingy. I'm thinking I need to add a little bling to them, maybe cougar print? I have had no luck with elevating wheelchair legs, maybe someone out there has some.
I learned today that Top Rehab, will be losing my physical therapist, very sad I had looked forward to harassing her again. Angela Wherle, my p.t. has decided to move onto another career opportunity, so I wish her luck!!! Of course, I could just use her for home health, I'm sure that the rest of the crew cannot wait to see me again and have been in severe grief since last seeing me. Don't worry my fine therapist friends, I will be there soon. That is if they let me back, I'm still paying for the last round. What can I say being jobless sucks?
I have attempted to lose weight before this surgery, three pounds down thirty to go before my microfracture preweight. Kind of sounds like a fighter, getting prepared for a fight, in a way it is. Sure its a physical struggle, but its more of an emotional and mental battle. Just staying positive is key to a successful recovery.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wet T-Shirts
Saturday night was incredible,my sister Hope and me went to see Sylvia Browne, at the Acuff Theatre in Nashville. It stormed all day with with the chance of tornadoes and I was afraid we would be unable to go.I watched the Weather Channel all day trying to plan around the storms and while doing so Yazoo City, Mississippi got hit and devastated by a tornado. Prayers go out to the people of the town.
Just as I was leaving to pick up Hope, the rain started pouring down, flooding streets, causing me to increase my grip on the steering wheel,fifteen minutes later the rain had stopped. We made it to the theatre without incident, circled the parking lot for ten minutes and just as we stepped from the car the rain came flooding back.
I gave Hope my tiny World Wildlife umbrella and I pulled up the hood on my jacket, as we hobbled in the direction that we thought the theatre was in.We had to park about what seemed to be two miles from our destination. With my bum leg and Hope being 7 months pregnant, you can see we were in a predicament.
Ten more minutes of hobbling, resting, and near drowning, we found Acuff Theatre. We were greeted by blue hairs as water leaked from my shoes and off our clothes. The umbrella broken by the wind, was laid to rest in the trash can. Hurriedly, we walked in just as Sylvia Browne was walking on stage. The lecture was fantastic, no, we were not chosen to ask her a question but wearing wet clothes, we didn't feel like moving anyway.Over two hours later we went out on the journey back to the car, I knew if we could make it there dry clothes awaited us. Dodging buses and maniacal people, the car was found, opening the trunk and digging past the quad cane and that grabber thingy, I found 2 dry shirts. Now were are we going to change? Well with darkness on our side, right here in the car. Ditching the wet shirts, I thought about ditching the pants too but was afraid of going to jail for indecent exposure and being billed as the parking lot strippers on you tube.
We made it home safely and with a renewed spirit, easing the stress of the upcoming surgery.
Just as I was leaving to pick up Hope, the rain started pouring down, flooding streets, causing me to increase my grip on the steering wheel,fifteen minutes later the rain had stopped. We made it to the theatre without incident, circled the parking lot for ten minutes and just as we stepped from the car the rain came flooding back.
I gave Hope my tiny World Wildlife umbrella and I pulled up the hood on my jacket, as we hobbled in the direction that we thought the theatre was in.We had to park about what seemed to be two miles from our destination. With my bum leg and Hope being 7 months pregnant, you can see we were in a predicament.
Ten more minutes of hobbling, resting, and near drowning, we found Acuff Theatre. We were greeted by blue hairs as water leaked from my shoes and off our clothes. The umbrella broken by the wind, was laid to rest in the trash can. Hurriedly, we walked in just as Sylvia Browne was walking on stage. The lecture was fantastic, no, we were not chosen to ask her a question but wearing wet clothes, we didn't feel like moving anyway.Over two hours later we went out on the journey back to the car, I knew if we could make it there dry clothes awaited us. Dodging buses and maniacal people, the car was found, opening the trunk and digging past the quad cane and that grabber thingy, I found 2 dry shirts. Now were are we going to change? Well with darkness on our side, right here in the car. Ditching the wet shirts, I thought about ditching the pants too but was afraid of going to jail for indecent exposure and being billed as the parking lot strippers on you tube.
We made it home safely and with a renewed spirit, easing the stress of the upcoming surgery.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Storms
Storms are ripping across the southern states today, spawning tornadoes, thunderstorms, and flooding. Hopefully, no major incidents will happen in Tennessee. Tonight Sylvia Browne is at the Acuff Theater, this will be the second time I have seen her lecture, that is if the storms hold off. She is a world renowned psychic,spiritual teacher, & author. I am in desperate need of a spiritual evening as well as spending time with my sister, who will be attending with me.We may have to take boat oars with us to get back home.I can handle the water better than a twister.
The knee hurts with the changing of the weather, rain, snow, colder temps. It even hurts down my shin to my ankle, no swelling just aches. Enough complaining, if anyone out there has a wheelchair with elevating leg rests, let me know. There is only 12 days before my lateral release surgery, that means 10 of those days will be spent in major spring clean mode. Its not like you can use the toothbrush method of cleaning when you have a bum leg, or can you? I do have one of those blue hair grabber things, hmmm, gives me an idea.
The knee hurts with the changing of the weather, rain, snow, colder temps. It even hurts down my shin to my ankle, no swelling just aches. Enough complaining, if anyone out there has a wheelchair with elevating leg rests, let me know. There is only 12 days before my lateral release surgery, that means 10 of those days will be spent in major spring clean mode. Its not like you can use the toothbrush method of cleaning when you have a bum leg, or can you? I do have one of those blue hair grabber things, hmmm, gives me an idea.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Eclipse
Today was the world premiere of the Twilight Saga's Eclipse trailer. I waited patiently for the Oprah show to come on so that I could watch, even though I have a DVR. The movie comes out in theaters June 30th, 2010. I don't have the second knee surgery scheduled yet, as it depends on how quick the chondrocytes grow in the lab, but i'm assuming around the first of June. Now back to Eclipse, since it comes out at the end of June and from what i'm hearing I will probably still be in the house, I have it all planned out. For now my sister and her husband have a full size truck with a nice bedliner in it. I say for now because he likes to get a new ride about every 3 months or so, anyway, there is a cool place minutes from my home, called the Montana Drive-In. The plan is to lay up in the bed of their truck and watch the movie, unless of course it's raining, I would prefer not to drown. Now I know what your thinking, don't they have handicapped seating in a standard theater? Maybe so but the drive- in costs 6 dollars a person and since having microfracture surgery cost me my job or so i'm told, money is tight. Actually, money is gone, which is why the ads are on my sight, if anyone is reading this, would you be so kind to click on one or two, it helps pay the bills or i'm hoping it will. A girl mustn't be deprived of seeing Edward Cullen (aka, Robert Pattinson) on the big screen.
Back to the knee, since my exam yesterday it has hurt constantly, well it hurts constantly anyway but to a greater degree. I managed to ride my stationary bike for 15 minutes before it became too unbearable, no resistance of course. I am still doing the workouts from my microfracture P.T .to increase leg strength in both legs before surgery. It's very important to try to get shape, at least to a minor extent because your muscles will atrophy and for the slight chance that Robert Pattinson may be in pt rehab with me.
Back to the knee, since my exam yesterday it has hurt constantly, well it hurts constantly anyway but to a greater degree. I managed to ride my stationary bike for 15 minutes before it became too unbearable, no resistance of course. I am still doing the workouts from my microfracture P.T .to increase leg strength in both legs before surgery. It's very important to try to get shape, at least to a minor extent because your muscles will atrophy and for the slight chance that Robert Pattinson may be in pt rehab with me.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Pre-Op distress
Today was my pre-op appointment with Dr. Looney. First, I met with Debbie for the history and physical (H&P), now Debbie, is a very sweet lady, taking care to explain what is expected the day of the procedure.She listened to my heart and breath sounds and we even joked about my being a healthy fat girl except for the knee.She was sweet, that is, until she sent me for the EKG. Alright, i'm thinking no harm in that, my bra is clean, stick a few electrodes on me, sit still for 30 seconds, remove sticky things, then finish the appointment. Then I heard remove your shirt and bra and put this gown on backwards. WHAT THE HECK?!!!!
So I did as I was told, wound the gown tightly around me, as if it were a fine egyptian cotton robe and laid back on the table. The nurse, with a desire that hasn't been directed towards me in quite some time, ripped open my gown exposing my..my...self for the world to see. I'm glad Verne wasn't there filming one of Loo and Verne's Adventures or my sagging boobs and stretchmarks would be all over you tube by now and the psychiatrists would be overrun with clients.Anyway, Nurse Rip-emoff, did have the courtesy to cover up my belly button.Thanks alot for that but it was too little too late.For those who don't know me, I am a healthcare professional, a Paramedic to be exact, and although this is not a blog for giving healthcare advice, I have performed many EKG's without exposing a person's everything.
Now that's over with, I move on to the next phase sitting in the waiting room, playing on the BlackBerry. Nurse: Ms. Loo, come with me to get X-rays. We are glad you wore shorts because we need to check your alignment. Great, more exposure, nurse excuse me could you let me put that there?
Finally, it's time to see Dr Looney, after a knee exam, we discuss the upcoming surgery. Which happens to be on Cinco De Mayo, do you think I can get a margarita IV? The first surgery is arthroscopic Lateral release which is basically cutting the retinaculum that is too tight around the patella (kneecap).It will result in excessive swelling per Dr. Looney, even more than the microfracture. In that case my leg may bust, just kidding but it's going to be rough.
So I did as I was told, wound the gown tightly around me, as if it were a fine egyptian cotton robe and laid back on the table. The nurse, with a desire that hasn't been directed towards me in quite some time, ripped open my gown exposing my..my...self for the world to see. I'm glad Verne wasn't there filming one of Loo and Verne's Adventures or my sagging boobs and stretchmarks would be all over you tube by now and the psychiatrists would be overrun with clients.Anyway, Nurse Rip-emoff, did have the courtesy to cover up my belly button.Thanks alot for that but it was too little too late.For those who don't know me, I am a healthcare professional, a Paramedic to be exact, and although this is not a blog for giving healthcare advice, I have performed many EKG's without exposing a person's everything.
Now that's over with, I move on to the next phase sitting in the waiting room, playing on the BlackBerry. Nurse: Ms. Loo, come with me to get X-rays. We are glad you wore shorts because we need to check your alignment. Great, more exposure, nurse excuse me could you let me put that there?
Finally, it's time to see Dr Looney, after a knee exam, we discuss the upcoming surgery. Which happens to be on Cinco De Mayo, do you think I can get a margarita IV? The first surgery is arthroscopic Lateral release which is basically cutting the retinaculum that is too tight around the patella (kneecap).It will result in excessive swelling per Dr. Looney, even more than the microfracture. In that case my leg may bust, just kidding but it's going to be rough.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The beginning
This change began in September 2009, it was time for my arthroscopic meniscus repair or so I thought. After multiple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI's), X-rays, nothing showed to be wrong with my knee. But with physical exams and everyday activities the pain was excruciating, so my Doctor and I along with second opinions concluded that I had a meniscus tear that was not seen by the MRI. Alright, simple enough procedure, couple weeks of recovery, then back to work. Boy, was I wrong.
The day of surgery
Wake up 5am, shower, no food or drink.
Upon arrival at the surgery center a wonderful nurse came in and explained the who's and the what's, then started my IV access. 20 gauge Right hand. Now I am ready for my Versed. After more pleasantries and numerous times being asked "Left knee, correct?" Dr. Looney came in and autographed my leg. Yes, my Doctor's name is Looney, some say very appropriate for me, but I digress.
In rushed the anesthesia team, one quick push of Versed and it was lights out for ole, Loo, here. I was so glad they didn't ask me to count backwards, math never was my thing.
I awoke a couple hours later with a major headache and knee pain. Hmm, Dr. Looney never mentioned this brace that extends from my thigh to my ankle.Nevermind, the brace,where is my bra? I cannot stand up without it! A few groggy moments later and I was back to reality, well as much as one can be full of morphine, and requested my clothes. My idea of fashion is not a hospital gown. I quickly dressed and was given my crutches to move into the nice recliner.I'm not for sure, but I think they were in a hurry to get rid of me.
The brace was finally explained to me, no meniscus tear, actually a very healthy one, but I had a chondral defect which resulted in a chondroplasty of the medial femoral condyle. The microfractures had a 4-6 month recovery. Great, glad I have physical therapy set up for the next day. After a few more minutes in recovery, I requested a sandwich and to go home, let's just say I didn't get the sandwich.
The day of surgery
Wake up 5am, shower, no food or drink.
Upon arrival at the surgery center a wonderful nurse came in and explained the who's and the what's, then started my IV access. 20 gauge Right hand. Now I am ready for my Versed. After more pleasantries and numerous times being asked "Left knee, correct?" Dr. Looney came in and autographed my leg. Yes, my Doctor's name is Looney, some say very appropriate for me, but I digress.
In rushed the anesthesia team, one quick push of Versed and it was lights out for ole, Loo, here. I was so glad they didn't ask me to count backwards, math never was my thing.
I awoke a couple hours later with a major headache and knee pain. Hmm, Dr. Looney never mentioned this brace that extends from my thigh to my ankle.Nevermind, the brace,where is my bra? I cannot stand up without it! A few groggy moments later and I was back to reality, well as much as one can be full of morphine, and requested my clothes. My idea of fashion is not a hospital gown. I quickly dressed and was given my crutches to move into the nice recliner.I'm not for sure, but I think they were in a hurry to get rid of me.
The brace was finally explained to me, no meniscus tear, actually a very healthy one, but I had a chondral defect which resulted in a chondroplasty of the medial femoral condyle. The microfractures had a 4-6 month recovery. Great, glad I have physical therapy set up for the next day. After a few more minutes in recovery, I requested a sandwich and to go home, let's just say I didn't get the sandwich.
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