Knee News!

I can’t believe it’s been a month since I’ve had knee surgery. Time really flies, doesn’t it? (Whether you’re having fun or not, ha!)

(Photo styling resources are all from Katrina at Pugly Pixel — thanks so much Katrina!)

Since so many of you have asked, I thought I’d share a little about how it’s been going:

  • Everything is healing great! Although, it seems like it’s taking forever, ha! J calls me the impatient patient. :)
  • When I went for my  3 week checkup, the doc shared the x-rays with me. It’s amazing what he did: he used a saw and a chisel to cut my a piece of my lower leg bone. Then, leaving all of the ligaments and such attached to the bone at one end and the kneecap at the other end, he picked it up and moved it an inch — yah, a whole inch! — to fix the alignment. Then he screwed the chunk of bone in place. Wa!
  • I started PT on Wednesday and I’m not going to lie and say it was easy — it was super hard! (I hate to admit it, but I cried when I did my PT homework.)
  • I still have to wear a big brace — goes from just above my ankle to mid thigh and it has metal beams that go up the sides. It’s really heavy! Can’t wait to lose this thing, especially when I sleep. I’ve been having nightmares where I feel like I’m caught in a bear trap!
  • I have to keep the brace locked when I walk, which makes for a very odd gait! But I get to unhinge it while sitting. The next step will be to unhinge it while walking — can’t wait.
  • I don’t have to use the crutches anymore, unless I feel like I need to. Yay!
  • And! I was a little rebellious and carefully walked around the bed sans brace. Twice. Knee didn’t hurt! Awesome.
  • The best thing? Even though it’s still healing, it hurts less than before the surgery! Yes!

Thanks so much to everyone who has stopped by to visit, sent cards, emailed, and called — it really does mean more than I can say! Don’t know if I could do this without you. I have the cards placed where I can see them when I’m doing my PT homework, along with a prairie print. I concentrate on them when when the pain gets too bad, and think about how much this will be worth it when it’s all healed. Thanks again!

And, it’s finally getting to where I can take photos and craft again! (Can’t tell you how hard it’s been not to take photos!)

Happy hugs,

28 Replies to “Knee News!”

  1. Oh, LIsa, this makes me wince just looking at it! I know how hard PT can be, and I only had a frozen shoulder (I cried, too). Keep on working hard, and it will be but a memory very soon…….sending BIG hugs!

  2. Oh girl I sympathize with you. I have been laid up all day because of my knee. I am avoiding a knee replacement, which I don’t think I can ignore much longer, and hearing of your pain just makes it that much harder.

    You are tough. You will win. Keep pushing and do exactly what your Dr. says (no more little jaunts without that brace! ;) ) I’m thinking of you and sending quick healing vibes.

    HUGS!!!!!!

    PS: so happy you posted. I was going to tweet to see if anyone heard from you and I saw your tweet

  3. So glad to get the news Lisa. Its tough but keep working as per the Doctor and as Lin says, it soon will become a memory and you will feel fine. You sure are brave…keep thinking positive.
    Thinking of you.

  4. Thanks for the update, Lisa! Aren’t our bodies (and the docs) amazing! PT is hard, but so important, so chin up! Glad your pain has been reduced. You will be dancing on tables in no time, girlfriend! Take care – all my best wishes.

  5. Hey, Lisa- glad you’re doing well! I had commented earlier that I had knee surgery Aug. 3 and am also a very “impatient patient.” It’s so hard when you want so badly to get back to your pre-surgery life and do all those things you love. It seems sometimes like all I do is PT and then rest and ice my knee, but it is getting better slowly…and I know what you mean about those stolen moments of glee without your brace!!! I did get mine unlocked a bit this last week and it’s SO much easier to walk now. I’m hoping you’ll keep getting better day by day- isn’t it amazing what our doctors can do?!? Glad to hear you’re crafting again, too :)

  6. Glad you are starting to feel better. I hurt my shoulder this winter and after PT I still have occasional freezing up issues but it is so much better. Hang in there- we are pulling for your healing!

  7. Ouch! Hope you are feeling all better soon :)

  8. I am SO HAPPY for you Lisa!!! Not only was the surgery successful, you’re healing well :D Just think, it won’t be long before you can craft your days away, and you can even take photos, as long as you sit down to take them :D

  9. so happy to hear that your knee is healing well, Lisa! thanks for sharing all the information to us and hope it keeps going in the right direction. it’s so hard to image how an active girl like you get through the month. at least now you can craft! =) sending you hugs!

  10. So happy to hear that you are healing well and have less pain than you did before the surgery.
    I had 4 months of PT following back surgery so I understand so well how hard it truly is. Sending
    healing thoughts your way, Lisa!

  11. Howdy from Arlington! So glad to read you’re on the mend. It’s amazing (in a painful way!) how they fixed your knee. That painful PT will pay off, no doubt—hang in there. (And I reckon you could use your x-rays to make some wicked-cool Halloween cards.) :)

  12. Eeek! That loooks so painful. I can only imagine how much pain you’ve been in, Lisa. In any case, I’m happy to hear that you’re well into recovery. I bet you’ll be running by next year!

  13. OH….Lisa I had no idea you had replacement this time…Poor Girl….OUCH!!! Hope your healing well I know this is a long process and very painful!! Sending you BIG Huge Hugs…..Kelly

  14. Goodness Lisa, sounds so scary! Chin up sweetheart, you’re doing great, Jo x

  15. barbara lassiter says:

    Thinking of you and hoping the improvement speeds up with the PT. Blessings!

  16. glad to hear you’re off the crutches! don’t try to over do it!! you don’t want to be back at square one, do you? take care!

  17. Lisa, it’s amazing looking at the x-rays and seeing what your surgeon has done. I can only imagine how painful PT must be but it will have you properly back up and about again. Best wishes to you and I hope as Maureen says you’ll be dancing on the tables again very soon – don’t forget to share those photos!!

  18. {{{{{{{{Lisa}}}}}}}} I’m so glad to hear it’s going well! You are a trooper! Hang in there, and keep doing that PT! It makes a world of difference down the road! I’ve been thinking of you!

  19. It’s great to hear that your doing fine!

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