Wow...almost three months have now passed by. There have been lots of ups and plenty of downs. The biggest change is that I am finally off the crutches. My fun, out of the house, conversational piece is now out of my hands. Honestly, I feel like a new person and yet, I look like a baby colt trying to walk for the first time.
Walking feels great because I like having the freedom to get things on my own and the freedom to pick up my kids and walk around the house. Those are the few things I have found I really took for granted. Overall, the pain is doing ok. When I am on my feet for an extended period of time the pain increases. As long I have time to rest and sit down things stay pretty manageable. Sunday was Easter and as a result I was on my feet a long time...that meant by the evening time I actually had to take a Vicodin to help me recover and sleep. I hadn't had to do that for weeks.
Physical Therapy is slowly coming along. I have reached full range of motion on the stationary bike with the seat fully lowered. That means that I can now slowly begin to increase a no resistance spin for 30 min every other day. That feels good to finally get to this point. I am really looking forward to my doctor visit at the end of the month to see what he has to say about my chances and timing to ride outside again.
At this point I am getting really comfortable with the unloader brace. It really helps manage the pain and gives me great support when getting around. In the evenings I walk around the house without it and that isn't necessarily a pretty thing.
I am also getting to do 45 degree wall sits. I hate wall sits...I have always hated wall sits...but I guess it is one thing that is good to help develop the muscles around my knee. 45 degrees is better than 90...but I still hate doing them.
Overall, the knee feels good and I look forward to my next doctor appointment.
Showing posts with label Osteotomy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Osteotomy. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Doctor Visit #2- 6 weeks
I received some good news today visiting the Doc. But let me add a little drama to the blog before we get to that part of the appointment.
The last couple of days have been great. All I can say is, "NO CPM!"The feeling of adding 6-8 hours of time back into your day is wonderful. I feel like I have so much time to get things done that I couldn't do or was pushed by time to get done. I have been able to do more work from home, talk with the kids more, and even read more (actually I have read 1000 pages in the last three days). I had some catching up to do.
Moving forward...today has been the day I have been anticipating for the last two weeks: Follow-up #2. Before we left for my appointment I was a little nervous. I was afraid that the doctor would be disappointed in my ROM, or the swelling around my knee, or something else that I never thought of doing. With some small butterflies in my stomach we loaded the kids and me into the van like usual; me scooting back on my butt while Melissa slowly holds my leg until I get into place. We first headed over to my in-laws to drop of the kids with their grandmother and then we were off to see the "Wizard."
Fairly quickly after arriving to the doctor's office we were escorted back to our holding tank. While crutching to the back of the office I noticed the office staff all looking at me...to which I responded in my best Mr. T impression..."What you lookin' at fool?" No, not really but I thought about it. Anyways, as I was saying...I was crutching to my holding tank when all of a sudden I got a few comments about how cool my crutches were. I must say they are pretty cool and it is even more impressive to receive such high praise in an orthopedic doctor's office. Incase you missed it...here is a quick reminder of how cool my crutches really are:
.JPG)
The last couple of days have been great. All I can say is, "NO CPM!"The feeling of adding 6-8 hours of time back into your day is wonderful. I feel like I have so much time to get things done that I couldn't do or was pushed by time to get done. I have been able to do more work from home, talk with the kids more, and even read more (actually I have read 1000 pages in the last three days). I had some catching up to do.
Moving forward...today has been the day I have been anticipating for the last two weeks: Follow-up #2. Before we left for my appointment I was a little nervous. I was afraid that the doctor would be disappointed in my ROM, or the swelling around my knee, or something else that I never thought of doing. With some small butterflies in my stomach we loaded the kids and me into the van like usual; me scooting back on my butt while Melissa slowly holds my leg until I get into place. We first headed over to my in-laws to drop of the kids with their grandmother and then we were off to see the "Wizard."
Fairly quickly after arriving to the doctor's office we were escorted back to our holding tank. While crutching to the back of the office I noticed the office staff all looking at me...to which I responded in my best Mr. T impression..."What you lookin' at fool?" No, not really but I thought about it. Anyways, as I was saying...I was crutching to my holding tank when all of a sudden I got a few comments about how cool my crutches were. I must say they are pretty cool and it is even more impressive to receive such high praise in an orthopedic doctor's office. Incase you missed it...here is a quick reminder of how cool my crutches really are:
.JPG)
Impressed aren't you???
After sitting in my holding tank just a few minutes Dr. Tarlow made his way into the room. The moment I have been waiting for was finally here. He asked me to remove my gargantuan brace so he could have a quick look. He then proceeded to check my knee cap, feel around the osteotomy, look at my scar, and lastly pick up my leg to check stiffness and ROM. To my amazement he told me everything look great and that he was impressed at how well I was doing...the swelling looked great and my ROM was awesome. One more test...it was time to get an ex-ray to see if the Osteotomy had fully healed. Good news...the bone had healed about 95% The only part left was a small section at the base of the Osteotomy where the bone hadn't filled in. Dr. Tarlow said that this was normal and that he was very pleased with my healing.
What does all that mean? Here is basically what I was told...I no longer have to wear the immobilizer! YEAH! However, I was measured today for an unloader brace and will have to go pick it up next week when it arrives. Secondly, I can bend my leg and drive again. It was nice driving home from the doctor today. The days of sitting in the back of the van facing the side windows are gone. Furthermore, I can start following the PT protocol that is laid out for me in the Carticel book. Doc told me I don't need to pay for PT unless I really want to...I have done a good enough job so far on my own that he trusts me to do what needs to be done. I still have 5.5 week left of using my crutches but it feels nice to have made some major progress in the recovery process. I still have lots to do and a lot of time in rehab...but progress is being made.
Glad things went well today.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
It is called Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation +++, Just Sayin
I have been home for a couple of days and here are a few thoughts that have been running through my mind. Remember, I am still doped up on pain meds, so please excuse any typing errors or random babbling that takes place.
1. The Walker is totally the way to go! Using a walker to get from the bed to the bathroom has proven tons easier than using crutches. Who would have thought?!
2. Because ACI is such a new surgery in America...nobody knows what it is...including the nurses. I can't tell you how many times I had to answer questions and fill the nurses in with the details of how this knee surgery is different. Furthermore, we have begun to receive random suggestions, from people who don't even know us, about what they did to get through their total knee replacement. Just so that it is clear....this procedure I had is totally different than a TKR. Here is the best way for me to describe what just took place this week.
- First thing they did, was saw through my shin bone and move it an "inch" or so, to the outside of my leg. Once placed in a new position it was screwed into its new location. This will help change the future weight distribution.
- Secondly, they prepared and implanted my own stem cells of cartilage, that were previously biopsied, into the four locations I had damaged. (The damage was serious and not a result of osteoarthritis)
- My knee cap was taken out, flipped, and put back in.
- The basic summary...I have a broken shin bone with screws, highly sensitive patch work on the interior if my knee, a loose knee cap, and a huge scar.
Because of the sensitivity of my leg and the work that was done, I am forced to take everything very slowly when it comes to rehab goals. Furthermore, my knee is an extreme case even within this category and as a result, my time has been even further extended. In simple terms...I am left to my own small category of knee procedures.
3. Stretchy socks make all the difference. My leg continued to swell for five days following the surgery. All of that swelling has to go somewhere and much of it has traveled to my foot. As a result, the normal socks I would wear when my feet are cold...don't even fit over my toes. So...we have had to find "special socks" that fit the part. One suggestion, the socks they give you for surgery at the hospital work great. They grow with you! Consider asking for another pair before you leave the hospital.
4. 23.5 hours lying down is no fun at all. Right now the only time I get up out of our lazy boy or my bed is to get to the bathroom. There were days when I was in college that would have sounded fun. Now that I am living it...not much fun. Therefore, make sure you have a comfy mattress. We are actually going to replace ours this week because it is beginning to be problematic.
5. I have been able to take a couple of showers at this point, and it is EXHAUSTING. Keeping all of my balance on one leg without being able to bend my bad leg is not only tricky, it takes all of my strength, even with my wife's help.
1. The Walker is totally the way to go! Using a walker to get from the bed to the bathroom has proven tons easier than using crutches. Who would have thought?!
2. Because ACI is such a new surgery in America...nobody knows what it is...including the nurses. I can't tell you how many times I had to answer questions and fill the nurses in with the details of how this knee surgery is different. Furthermore, we have begun to receive random suggestions, from people who don't even know us, about what they did to get through their total knee replacement. Just so that it is clear....this procedure I had is totally different than a TKR. Here is the best way for me to describe what just took place this week.
- First thing they did, was saw through my shin bone and move it an "inch" or so, to the outside of my leg. Once placed in a new position it was screwed into its new location. This will help change the future weight distribution.
- Secondly, they prepared and implanted my own stem cells of cartilage, that were previously biopsied, into the four locations I had damaged. (The damage was serious and not a result of osteoarthritis)
- My knee cap was taken out, flipped, and put back in.
- The basic summary...I have a broken shin bone with screws, highly sensitive patch work on the interior if my knee, a loose knee cap, and a huge scar.
Because of the sensitivity of my leg and the work that was done, I am forced to take everything very slowly when it comes to rehab goals. Furthermore, my knee is an extreme case even within this category and as a result, my time has been even further extended. In simple terms...I am left to my own small category of knee procedures.
3. Stretchy socks make all the difference. My leg continued to swell for five days following the surgery. All of that swelling has to go somewhere and much of it has traveled to my foot. As a result, the normal socks I would wear when my feet are cold...don't even fit over my toes. So...we have had to find "special socks" that fit the part. One suggestion, the socks they give you for surgery at the hospital work great. They grow with you! Consider asking for another pair before you leave the hospital.
4. 23.5 hours lying down is no fun at all. Right now the only time I get up out of our lazy boy or my bed is to get to the bathroom. There were days when I was in college that would have sounded fun. Now that I am living it...not much fun. Therefore, make sure you have a comfy mattress. We are actually going to replace ours this week because it is beginning to be problematic.
5. I have been able to take a couple of showers at this point, and it is EXHAUSTING. Keeping all of my balance on one leg without being able to bend my bad leg is not only tricky, it takes all of my strength, even with my wife's help.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Osteotomy
One part of the procedure recently discussed was to perform an osteotomy along with the ACI procedure. Now I do know that there are many different types of osteotomies and I am not exactly sure what type of osteotomy I will undergo.
What is an osteotomy? Basically, an osteotomy is a surgical procedure where the bone is cut to allow a reshaping or a realignment of the bones around a joint. The good news is that my knee alignement is good. However, the reason to perform this procedure is to change the weight distribution in my knee joint.
I am hoping that we are looking at a Fulkerson osteotomy and nothing more invasive. The Fulkerson is done to reduce the load on the patella. The downside of a Fulkerson is that I would no longer be able to kneel. I guess I will have to learn how to pray standing up.
Here is a x-ray of what a Fulkerson Osteotomy looks like.
Looks like fun doesn't??? Just one more thing to look forward to in January. As I know more I will update you on what I find out and what procedure they decide to perform. In all, I am not too worried about all of it. I know it is going to hurt but that kind of comes with the territory!
What is an osteotomy? Basically, an osteotomy is a surgical procedure where the bone is cut to allow a reshaping or a realignment of the bones around a joint. The good news is that my knee alignement is good. However, the reason to perform this procedure is to change the weight distribution in my knee joint.
I am hoping that we are looking at a Fulkerson osteotomy and nothing more invasive. The Fulkerson is done to reduce the load on the patella. The downside of a Fulkerson is that I would no longer be able to kneel. I guess I will have to learn how to pray standing up.
Here is a x-ray of what a Fulkerson Osteotomy looks like.
Looks like fun doesn't??? Just one more thing to look forward to in January. As I know more I will update you on what I find out and what procedure they decide to perform. In all, I am not too worried about all of it. I know it is going to hurt but that kind of comes with the territory!
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