I Did It!

When I promised last week that I would go to the physical therapy facility on Monday to sign up for the open gym program, someone should have mentioned to me, ever so kindly, that Monday was a holiday. As if it weren't bad enough that I forgot this, I actually got in my car and drove to the facility yesterday only, of course, to find it closed. Well, we can't all keep up with current events, can we?

Today, however, I did make good on my promise, and after a long day at school, I left in the pouring rain to drive once again to the physical therapy facility. This time, happily, it was open, so in I went and plopped down my $50 for a one-month open gym membership. I was so tired, and we have back-to-school night tonight, and it was raining, and I was hungry. All I wanted to do was to go home for an hour before I had to get in my car to return to my elementary school for two more hours. BUT I DIDN'T! Hooray for me! I trudged on in, hopped on the exercise bike and rode a very energetic three miles. I know it's not all that much, but it made my knee work hard for 15 minutes. I did several squats (lovely word, isn't it?) and 50 leg presses. By then, it was almost 5:00 and I had to be back at school by 6:00, so I left (in the pouring rain), but I felt so much better!

One thing I can tell you for sure, and that is the fact that you have to keep exercising your knee. Even though last week was the first week of school and I was incredibly busy, it wasn't exercise. Mostly my knee just felt strained and swollen at the end of every day last week. After exercising for just 30 minutes today, my whole leg felt better, and I felt a sense of accomplishment. After going through this whole process, I do not intend to slip backwards! So onward, upward, forward, and whatever! I will be there tomorrow after school, and then I'll go to teach my adult night class. It's going to be hard to keep going to the gym, but I will do it--most days!

Almost the End

As promised, or threatened (depending on your point of view), this blog is coming to an end. When I sign up for and attend the open gym next week, I'll probably describe that experience, but really, what else is there to say? I've weathered the storm and, I hope, come out stronger on the other side of it. Despite all my gushing about my doctor visit yesterday, I don't want to leave the impression that this was in any way an easy or trivial experience. It's the most pain I've ever endured in my life, and it's kept me at first immobile and then lethargic for longer than anything else I've ever been through. Maybe there will come a day in the future when my right knee also needs to be replaced, but knowing what I know now, I certainly hope I can avoid it. If, however, it should be necessary, at least I'll have a highly personal and idiosyncratic account of the whole event from walking into the hospital to walking out of my final doctor visit.

So that's it. If you're interested, come back next week to see what the deal is with the open gym program, but otherwise, I bid you farewell, and it is my sincere hope for you (and me) that there is no TKR surgery in your future (or mine), but if there is, put your chin up, soldier on, and get through it. If I can do it, so can you!