A bit of Medical Science

After my op, I was given an A4 page of images of the inside of my knee.  I think the consultant explained them to me but I couldn't really remember what they showed.  When I saw Mr Baloch again on Wednesday I asked him to explain again, so now I know!

20 Days Post-Op (10th September)

Hello brain! Today I went for a day at work.  It was really nice to see people, catch up and engage the brain.  During the meeting, the crutches even came in useful.

Is that a gun, a pointer or a crutch!?

After going to Magistrate Introductory training last night, and work today (so not doing my exercises as much as I should!) I can really notice the difference.  I can get my hand under my knee so need to work on getting it fully flat again.  Its also feeling a little bit more swollen than yesterday - lots of rest and ice tomorrow is on the menu.

19 Days Post-Op (9th September)

Today is a case of the good, the bad and the ugly.  Went to see the consultant for a check up and he is happy with how everything is progressing (the good). He wasn't concerned with the locking sensation I've been experiencing.  Apparently is my knee cap not sliding correctly and my muscles starting to work again.  It should get better as I start to use my muscles more.

The bad - I'm still not allowed back to work full time for the full 6 weeks - another 3 1/2 weeks with daytime TV :( He did say I could start light, part time duties after 2 weeks, but only being allowed at work for a few hours will be difficult when I cant drive.

Finally, the ugly...I still have to wear the compression stockings until next Friday; 4 weeks in total!

18 Days Post-Op (8th September)

3rd physio session today

Knee bend at 110 degrees
New exercises to do - 4 way straight leg raise, mini squats and calf raises.
Physio is really pleased with my walking and has said I can ditch the crutches when at home :)

My calves are aching quite a lot today. I think it's just down to the fact I've been spending less time with my feet up on the sofa and more time walking around!

I Could Open a Florists!

Just a small selection of the 'get well' flowers I've received.  A big thank you to Andrew, Lu, Andrew, Liv, James, Matt, Alys, Lin and Dave

The Crutches and the Salon

Thanks Chapters Hair for taking care of me!

After a few weeks in mainly joggers and lounge-wear I was starting to feel a bit scruffy.

I made a swift decision on Friday whilst feeling particularly grumpy that a refreshed hair do would be just what I needed.  So today I went, a little apprehensive about how comfortable I'd be sitting and getting my hair washed.  After explaining this to the stylist, she was very understanding and took great care when adjusting the chair to ensure my knee was ok.  I'm now sporting freshly cut hair and feeling much better :)

The First 2 Weeks

So, this is going to be a long first post.  I only decided 2 1/2 weeks after the op to start writing about my progress.  I have a lot of catching up to do!

Here are the first 2 1/2 weeks, in reverse order...

17 days post-op (7th September)

Today was the day I had planned to be back at work, allowing myself just 2 weeks off.  Being signed off for 6 weeks after the op soon changed that.  Let's hope the consultant revises his estimate when I see him in 2 days time.

My scabs are starting to disappear so I've started to apply the Bio Oil to make the scars disappear as quickly as I can.

The sun was shining today so time to get into the garden and continue this blog.  Having lots of things to carry outside I managed to take a few steps with no crutches...lets hope this was not a bad thing to do but rather a sign of progress.  Still experiencing the sensation that my knee is locking up, but hopefully the consultant can shed a bit more light on this.  I can only explain it to be like holding a syringe with your finger covering the end so the plunger wont move, then as your finger is removed from the end, the pressure releases and the syringe can be pushed.  Hopefully that makes sense to others!

16 days post-op (6th Spetember)

After a frustrating weekend, and feeling quite grumpy for the last few days I woke up feeling refreshed and determined to leave the house.  The knee was feeling good and I had enough energy and enthusiasm to decide I wanted to go out.  

The day out only consisted of a trip to John Lewis to purchase pillows (after lots of recuperating in bed, I noticed our current ones were getting a bit flat!) and a house-warming present for Liv.  It was only a trip to 1 shop, but I was pleased with how far I'd managed to walk without feeling tired.  

Next stop, The Orange Tree for lunch.  We were helpfully seated at the table furthest away from the door.  Oh well.  I even managed to navigate the spillage on the floor safely.  Tasty lunch, definitely what I needed.

To top off the day, Laura brought me an impossible looking Quality Street jigsaw to keep my brain going.  I have lots of good friends.

14 days post-op (4th September)

Today my aunty brought my Nan to visit.  Was lovely to see her but not ideal when she needs more help than I do to get around.

Feeling quite frustrated today as Mum, my wonderful helper is off on holiday.  Not sure how I'm going to manage next week, but I'm sure I will, once I escape the grumpy mood!

12 days post-op (2nd September)

The long scar is at the bottom of my knee if you wondered
which end was which!

Today my stitches were finally removed!  I can get rid of the jigsaw of dressings over my knee and finally find out if they really are stopping me from bending it further.  

The lovely nurse gives me a bit of a telling off for cutting the feet off the bottom of my compression stockings.  At least I'm still wearing them on my legs when I venture out in public, nicely hidden under my jeans!

I'm pleasantly surprised at how well the incisions have healed and how neat the scars look.  

Great progress today - my straight leg lifts seems almost effortless and I can hold my leg raised for 5 - 10 seconds.  The sharp pain under my knee when doing this has also virtually vanished.

11 days post-op (1st September)

Physio session number 2.  

Knee bend at 95 degrees :)

Able to walk around the house with only 1 crutch

Almost able to lift my leg - it still takes a lot of brain power willing my muscles to work!

Have started to experience a bit of a locking sensation in my knee, which does release itself.  I think this is just a sign of everything settling down.  Charlotte the physio didn't seem too concerned.

10 days post-op (31st August)

Today is Bank Holiday, and as ever its pouring with rain!

Today I ventured out for my first public outing - lunch with James, Anna and the kids.  Apparently they've had a toolbox talk on being careful with my 'poorly knee'.  Do I look like I've enjoyed doing some colouring-in?  Thomas the Tank Engine, by Kim aged 31!

Finding a suitable outfit for my compression stockings and swollen knee is quite a challenge when my wardrobe staple is skinny jeans, but I managed.  I felt almost 'normal' when I left the house today.

7 days post-op (28th August)

Check out these bruises!  Honestly, they don't hurt.

Today I didn't take any paracetamol at breakfast time and wondered how long I could go with no pain relief...turns out I managed it all the way to bed time.  No more painkillers for me :)

The dumbbells I ordered yesterday have arrived today - I'm hoping I can manage to keep my body slightly toned from the waist up until I can get back in the gym.

6 days post-op (27th August)

Woke up today feeling a marked difference.  It feels a lot less swollen and a bit more flexible.  Moving around the house is getting easier as I'm less nervous about damaging the delicate ligament graft.  

Liv and James are visiting and I've managed to cook a risotto and peach crumble pudding courtesy of Mum made sure we didn't go hungry.  Was lovely to catch up on the work escapades of the TOM team and thanks for bringing gin and chocolate.  Top marks!

5 days post-op (26th August)

Hmm...is that my knee!?

Today I had to change my dressings.  I carefully peeled them off, not sure what to expect.  All is looking well so I reapply another clean set of dressings.  My attempt doesn't look as neat as the nurse's!

4 days post-op (25th August)

First physio session today.

Knee bend - 65 degrees
Doing well with knee extension
Only able to raise my leg with the physio supporting my foot - will keep working on that one!  It's really strange to not be able to lift my leg without any support.

Today I've stopped taking the hard-core painkillers, just leaving paracetamol to do the job, which seems to be enough.  Bye bye nauseous feelings.

2 days post-op (23rd August)

At the moment my back aches more that my knee!  Sleeping flat on my back is not the most comfortable.  Hopefully in a few days I can make it carefully onto my side.  I'm really hoping I don't need to go to the toilet in the night.  Dark + sleepy + crutches = !!???

I can't seem to get comfortable sitting, standing or lying down.  I've got an ice pack on my knee and a heat pack on my back trying to make things more bearable.  

Andrew is adapting to life in charge of the house and doing well so far!  Thanks Andrew :) and Mum brings my favourite veggie cottage pie and peach crumble to keep me going when I can't cook.

The day after

---> This leg!

Today is painful!  I'm keeping the pain in check with some dihydrocodeine and oramorph.  Yuk!  They both make me feel dizzy and nauseous but I'm religiously taking them every 4 hours.

I don't really have any appetite but Mum and Dad come for dinner and I manage to down some Chinese take-away, managing to sit carefully at the dinner table with instructions to my Dad opposite to "keep still".

The day of the op

An early start - I had to be at the hospital for 7:15 am.  As soon as I knew the op was booked, I also booked my hand holder - my Dad.  I knew I'd end up being very nervous and a bit of a pain waiting for the op, so somebody strong and brave needed to come with me.  I was very pleased when the anaesthetist agreed to let Dad come and hold my hand.  Some things you never grow up from!

On arrival a very friendly and kind older gentleman showed us to my room.  I was very pleasantly surprised - it felt more like a hotel than a hospital.  A room service menu, WiFi, en suite, TV and carpet all helped to make you feel like you weren't somewhere for sick people.

I was first on the surgery list for the day, which meant I had to wait no time at all and at 9 am it was my turn.  Walking to the anaesthetic room holding Dad's hand tightly, I felt pretty frightened.  As soon as I lay down, about 5 people busied themselves sticking things on my and in my hand.  Still holding Dad's hand tightly, I try to stay calm and before I know it, it's 11:30 and I'm in recovery.  My first thought "oh no, I've been 2 1/2 hours!".

Still feeling very drowsy, I'm aware that something hurts a lot but can't really comprehend the pain.  The recovery nurse soon pumps some morphine into my cannula which makes my head tingle.  Half an hour later, I'm comfortable enough to be taken back to my room where Dad and Andrew are waiting.

The pain is now non-existent as I've been given a nerve block to numb my whole leg.  I didn't manage to eat any lunch, the nauseous feeling was too much!   I was fairly comfortable during the day, although I didn't dare to move much.  I did manage to make it to the toilet on my own, once the nurses had unhooked me from my drip and the machine gently massaging my legs and feet to keep the circulation going.

All in all, once it was done I felt much braver and more positive!