Encouraging News

The verdict is in--I'm done with the TKR recovery phase. I went to my follow-up doctor visit with my surgeon and, at 7 weeks post-surgery, he declared me to be completely beyond all the required mileposts. My x-rays showed that everything "inside" was perfect, my scar is well on the way to being inconsequential, and he was VERY positive about my knee. I could, of course, straighten it out perfectly, and he said my Range of Motion was 122 degrees which is well past what is considered fully functional (110 is fully functional). Not to be too boastful, but he said that my recovery was remarkable both in the short time it has taken and in scope. He was VERY complimentary of my progress and said that all surgery involved a team--the nurses, the doctors, the physical therapists, and the patient. Without my work at exercising, he said that what the rest of the team had done would not have been nearly as effective. So, whew! I feel like I just passed a big final exam and that I've received an A for my effort. It's a wonderful feeling to be sort of at the end of this process, although I realize that I have to keep up my efforts in order not to lose what I've gained.

We did discuss my right (the un-operated) knee, and his advice was to put off the surgery on that knee as long as possible (at least 3 or 4 years). When I asked about coming in for my next check up, he said that he usually had patients come back at 3 months but that I was doing so well that I really didn't need to come back; however, he said if I wanted to get a cortisone shot in my right knee right before Christmas that I should make an appointment for that and he'd give me a shot so that I'd be able to enjoy a busy and active vacation without any problems with my right knee.

Next week, in order to keep up my good work, I plan to go sign up for the open gym program at the physical therapy facility. Although it won't be quite the same as physical therapy, my hope is that it will be motivating and that I'll keep working on increasing my strength and flexibility. But just for tonight, woo hoo! I feel like celebrating! Actually, Stan and I did celebrate by stopping off for a yummy Mexican dinner on the way home. So hooray for now, but next Monday, I'll get back to the exercise bike and the leg press machine and the hamstring stretching machine and.....everything!