Thursday, May 31, 2007

At physical therapy yesterday I got the OK to not wear the brace around the house. I had a different physical therapist yesterday and understandably, since it was the first time she had worked with me, she was relectant to tell me I didn't have to wear it at all. So, I'm still wearing it when I'm out, but not at night. I'm good with that.

I found out what classes I'm teaching next year. Looks like 3 sections of college prep biology, AP, and 2 sections environmental science. It looks like its going to be a pretty good schedule. Today, everything got turned in and I'm officially free for the summer.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

My knee has been feeling much better. I go to physical therapy Wed and Fri this week. I'm hoping I'll be able to get rid of the brace by the end of the week. Physical therapy seems to be going well. My range of motion has increased over the weekend. Driving is a lot better now that I don't have to the seat back further than I usually have it. Hopefully I'll have good news about not having to wear the brace soon!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

I got to 115 degrees at physical therapy today. I got about 105 on my own, then Mr. Sallada made the rest happen. I was able to get on the bike, which was nice because it felt like the first actual exercise in about 3 weeks. I was also given a theraband to use at home. I still had some bend in my knee when I lift it, so I'm still in the brace. Hopefully I'm going to get out of wearing it at night--Mr. Sallada is going to check with Dr. Kenter to make sure it's OK.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Rees and Luke (my cousins: age 10 and 8) both won their forms divisions at their tournament yesterday, but lost their sparing matches. They said they had a good time. Sparing is one of those things most people have to build up experience before they get it.

I've used my time this weekend pretty well...I've done my physical therapy stuff periodically throughout the day. I'm able to tell that things are getting better. On the frustrating side, I was standing and looked down at both my legs and it was very apparent just how much strength I've lost in my right leg. Compared to my left thigh, it seems like my right has no muscle tone. It's amazing how quickly muscle will atrophy if they're not being used. I look forward to when I have some more range of motion and can start building strength back up.

Also, Steve and I are planning our summer vacation. At one time the thought was to go to mountains for hiking, but with the knee thing that seems like a bad idea. New idea is Rhode Island...whale watching, boat rental, eating lobster at least once a day. Can't go wrong with that. Plus we found a good price on the flight and car rental and Steve's Hilton points from traveling for work cover most of the hotel.

We plan to count all our change that is lying around...we figure it'll pay for a pretty nice dinner for our anniversary. Plus, it'll get all the change off of our surfaces. We have a couple change cups where it theoretically ends up, but some of it seems to not find its way into those.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

leg lift

I was able to lift my leg a couple days ago! Very exciting, quite painful. It's been getting better though. Walking is getting better too. I've ditched the crutches. Now I walk a bit like a pirate (peg-leg) since I have to have the brace locked when I'm walking. Swelling is going down in my knee, but new bruises are appearing throughout my leg.

My two cousins are going to their first taekwondo tournament today. I'm glad the experience at my last tournament didn't scare them off.

Only two more weeks of school! Really just one, then finals. We finished the dissections for Bio last week. So next week is reviewing for the final and getting everything turned in and all the other end of the year type stuff.

The senior prank this year was to block off the teacher parking lot with their cars (this was my senior classes prank...I told my AP class about it one day, they told some other people, and they decided to go with it). They let me park in the teacher lot, though, because I was hurt and they didn't want to make me walk all the way from the student lot...very nice of them.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

I've been back at work since yesterday. It hasn't been too bad. I haven't been able to ice as much and I've been standing more, so it hurts a bit over the course of the day, but nothing too bad. The front of my knee is numb, which feels odd, but its expected. The area that is numb should eventually get smaller, but as I understand it there will always be a little numbness (due to the whole nerve cells not growing thing). I'm also getting some interesting bruising as the swelling displaces itself throughout my leg. I have a bruise on my thigh that looks pretty nasty and one on my calf that doesn't look great, but isn't as bad. We had track awards night tonight, so I did quite a bit of standing. I'll be spending some time icing while watching Lost tonight. And tomorrow I have to grade the freshman practice OGTs. Not much fun, but at least I'll get to sit and ice some during the day.

Monday, May 14, 2007

The doctor said my knee was looking good. The stitches were taken out and the x-rays were good. Then I went to physical therapy which was somewhat painful, but at the same time it felt good to be doing something even though I really couldn't do all that much. It's incredibly frustrating to not be able to pick my own leg up because my quads are cooperating. But, I'll be doing physical therapy throughout the day every day so that should start to improve.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Tomorrow I go back to the doctor to get my knee checked out. Right now, I can get my knee bent to about 80 degrees. Assuming I can drive, I'll go to work after my appointments. I'm going to start having problems coming up with sub friendly lesson plans if I can't go in. Bio has to finish a couple dissections...not something I'm willing to leave with a sub, nor would a sub want to be left with it.

The AP test is tomorrow. I made cookies today for them to have after the test. And when I say I made, I mean that Steve did. My leg started hurting after I was standing for a while, so he finished them. They are tasty though, and that's what's important.

Friday, May 11, 2007

I 've only taken Advil today, so that's good. I went to school yesterday and today to help the AP kids study. That went well. I've been increasing the movement exercises. I think I'm able to move my knee more than I could. I can tighten my quads, but if I sit with my leg out in front of me I can't life it up. I took off the initial dressings and then put more gauze over the incision and band-aids over the arthroscopic holes. Considering, I didn't think my knee looked that bad. Swollen, a little bruised, but I think it could be a lot worse.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

I just took off my brace and did my range of motion excersize for the first time. I sit in a chair and then move my foot back and forth, sliding it on the ground. I think I got my leg bent to about 35 degrees. I'll probably keep doing it every four hours or so (time it so it's about one hour after I take pain medication). Steve is being very helpful with everything. He goes back to work tomorrow, though, so I need to make sure I can get out of bed on my own (without help lifting my leg) by tonight.

Monday I go to get it checked out with Dr. Kenter, then I get the physical therapy check with Steve Sallada. So far, so good.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Big Day

Well, today was the day. We got to the hospital at 6:00, did some paper work and waited some. I knew I had to do a urine test before I went into surgery, so the waiting was a bit unpleasant, as I had to go to the bathroom the whole time. Fortunately I didn't have to wait long. I had to take everything off and change into a fashionable combination of hospital gown, hospital socks, and a little hat thing. I'm sure I looked great.

Steve came in and hung out while I waited for the anesthesiologist. I got asked a bunch of questions and then the anesthesiologist gave me the "joy juice". That kicked in pretty quickly as they took me to the operating room. Then I remember being told to breath deeply into a mask. Then I remember waking up and a nurse telling me I was done. Apparently the doctor talked to me about how the procedure went, but I don't remember any of it. He also spoke with Steve. I'll be going back on Monday to get checked out. The goal is for me to be able to bend 90 degrees by then. I'll start working on movement tomorrow.

They gave me percacet for the pain and said I could also take some Advil if I needed any more help. We got home at 11:30, I had a snack and took the painkillers. I've pretty much been alternating between watching TV and taking naps. I'm not in too much pain as long as I'm not moving too much. Getting in and out of bed is very painful, but walking with the crutches actually isn't too bad. I'm anticipating the pain being worse tomorrow morning, but I'm hoping it starts to improve after that. I called Lora to see how the track team was doing. The 4x8 came in 2nd, which is about what we were expecting. A couple of them also ran their fasted legs of the season, so that's good. I don't know how anyone else did because Lora went home with her parents after the 4x8. Hopefully she intends to spend the rest of the evening studying for the AP exam.

I have a great piece of equipment velcroed to my leg that continually pumps cold water. All we have to do is keep the cooler filled with ice and water. Much more convenient than changing out ice bags. I haven't taken anything off to look at my actual knee yet. I'm not really in a hurry to do so, since I'm anticipating that it looks pretty nasty. The doctor showed me the pictures of my surgery when he spoke with me, but I don't remember that. Steve saw them, but I'll have to wait until Monday. I'll have to see if I can keep a couple. Pictures of the inside of a knee are always cool to have around a biology classroom.

Tomorrow I start working on recovery. I'll be letting you know how it goes.

Monday, May 7, 2007

Countdown

Surgery is tomorrow. I have to be at the hospital at 6:00a.m. I'm actually glad to be getting it over with...I don't like waiting around for this kind of stuff. Hopefully I'll be coherent enough by tomorrow afternoon to call in to check on the track team. They should be all set for the meet tomorrow. I talked to Steve Sallada (one of the other black belts and a physical therapist) Saturday. I'm going to try to schedule my rehab with him, since he's familiar with all the TKD techniques, requirements, etc.

Wish me luck!

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Tuesday I had my pre-admission testing for the hospital...no actual tests involved, just some questions and a general checkup (bp, pulse) by a nurse. They made sure I knew all the directions for the day of surgery...no eating after midnight. Today I got a call from the people who are providing the brace I'm using after the surgery. The guy said he would bring it to me on Monday. I thought it was a little weird that he was going to drop it off at the house, but it's convenient for me, so I'm good with it.

I still have to line up subs for my TKD classes for next week. I think everything at school is set, though. We had a track meet tonight (and yesterday night) and we actually were able to run all four of the relays for the first time since the beginning of the season. That makes it a little easier to set the events for the meet on Tuesday. Anat & Phys is taking a test on Tuesday, so my sub will watch them while Mr. Walker works with AP.

I still hope to make it up to school on Thursday and Friday to help them get ready for the AP exam.

My knee has been feeling really good lately. It's kind of weird to think that that will change next week.