Geek Habitat

With so many entries in my “Knee Journal” now, it’s getting difficult for those who are contemplating surgery, or in the midst of their own post-op experiences, to pick their way through the Archives and find the information they seek. With that in mind, this entry serves as an inital Table of Contents to relevant entries posted thus far.

How did I tear injure my knee (complete ACL tear, medial and lateral meniscus tears)?

- First: Don’t fall or jump off ladders! (November 2004)
- Second: Stairs and laundry can be hazardous to one’s health! (January 13, 2005)

Diagnostic procedures to determine the extent of my injuries:

MRI and x-rays: MRI report.

Now What?

Initial Consult with my OS, and setting a date for surgery.

Preparing for surgery:

Building my “post-op nest” where I’d spend the first 12 days post-op.

My nerves build up as surgery date approaches…

4 days out, and I can’t sleep!

Connecting with others who have/are/will be going through the same thing:

I read a lot of ACL journals and related websites. There’s strength in numbers!

How Much Might this All Cost?

My early (1 month post-op) summary of charges submitted to my health insurance carrier.

** The Day of the Surgery **

My experiences at the hospital before and after my surgery.

My First Day Back at Home, 1 Day Post-Op:

Establishing a routine and adjusting to my temporary handicap.

Adjusting to My New Routine, 2 Days Post-Op:

Rest, Ice, Elevate & Compress (R.I.C.E.), medicate, and exercise

3 Days Post-Op:

My First Formal PT Session.

4 & 5 Days Post-Op:

Dealing with bruising and numbness.

Worried about numbness in my lower leg, 5 Days Post-Op

Numbness is normal. 6 months or so to regain sensation!

Getting a little itchy, 6 Days Post-Op:

6 days post-op

Celebrating the small successes, 7 Days Post-Op:

End of my first week post-op!

Taking one day at a time, 8 & 9 Days Post-Op:

Motivation & philosophy and enjoying the outdoors!

First OS Checkup, 10 Days Post-Op:

Cleared for Full Weight Bearing!

Walking without crutches, 11 Days Post-Op

Shuffling around the house before I get fitted for my hinged brace

Graduated to a Hinged Brace, 12 Days Post-Op:

My Breg X2K Women’s hinged brace

Ramping up my exercise levels, 13 Days Post-Op:

First real walk outside, and first shopping excursion post-op

Milestones for the second week, 14 Days Post-Op:

130 degrees flexion; full weight-bearing; walking and driving again!

Adjusting to more activity, 16 Days Post-Op:

Walking the stairs without my hinged brace (technically, a no-no still!)

Beginning my third week of PT, 17 Days Post-Op:

Working up a sweat

Still adjusting to my new schedule, 19 Days Post-Op

PT, self-guided exercises, post-PT tiredness…

My first movie at a theatre again, 21 Days Post-Op:

3 weeks post-op!

My first post-op “tweak” of the knee, 22 Days Post-Op:

Slipped off the running board of our truck

First Flight, 23 Days Post-Op

My first post-op flight with Justin in a rental Cessna Skyhawk

Confusion over Type of Graft I Received, 24 Days Post-Op

Hamstring graft, rather than a patellar tendon graft?

Whirlwind of Firsts in PT, 26 Days Post-Op

New exercises keep things interesting!

1 Month Anniversary, 28 Days Post-Op!

I’ve come a long way, baby!

Time Management Challenges as a Rehabbing Small Business Owner, 29 Days Post-Op

Where does all the time and energy go?

The Power of Positive Thinking, 30 Days Post-Op

Maintaining one’s “mental” fitness is just as important as all that PT!

Feeling Really Good! Showing Off My New Knee, 31 Days Post-Op

PT progression, plus incorporating indoor rowing machine and longer walks on my own.

Surgical Scars as Badges of Honor, Day 32 Post-Op

Scars? No big deal. I’ve had worse!

Early Celebration, 5 Weeks (34 Days Post-Op)!

Celebrating all the progress I’ve made in 5 short weeks!

PT Continues to Get More Challenging, 35 Days Post-Op

Information on my modified PT regimen

6 Hours Gardening + 2.2 Mile Walk, 36 Days Post-Op

It’s that old, “You never know what you can do until you try,” adage at work!

New PT Exercise + 3 Mile Walk, 38 Days Post-Op

Healthy soreness from lots of knee-intensive activity!

Unsung Benefit of PT: Getting in Shape Overall, 40 Days Post-Op

Enjoying the all-over toning and strengthening that 3x/week PT provides!

Neck & Low Back Pain Curtail Activities for a Short Time, 41-44 Days Post-Op:

I woke up with Neck and low back pain and had to cancel PT on Day 42 and take it easy on Day 43 due to continued pain.

Back on Track, 45 Days Post-Op

Walking 2.6 miles, attended PT and feeling great!

Teaching My Body to Move in Ways it Apparently Never Has Before, 47 Days Post-Op

My PTs and I discovery I am inherently a “Motor Moron” due to my difficulty executing a simple new PT exercise — lateral slides.

Still Working on those Motor Skills and Coordination, 48 Days Post-Op

Updated PT regimen and musings on my next OS checkup in a couple weeks.

Trucking Along, 51 Days Post-Op

Trying to make up for slacking off on my self-guided exercises over the Easter weekend.

More Knee Guide entries:
version 2.0 — Days #51 to #62 post-op

Hope this helps!