So, the next phase...

[ritaxis]

As of yesterday (day 32) my operated leg appears to be my good leg. Walking around last night, it was my right leg (the unoperated one) that was fatigued. And today at my first outpatient therapy it was my right knee that hurt during the stationary bike.

What this means:

1. Recovery from surgery for the left leg is entering the advanced stage.
2.I don't have to worry about having a good leg in recovery for the second surgery.
3. However, maybe I can't get serious about riding my bike around town until a comparable stage after the second surgery.

Another sign of advanced recovery: the passive flexion angle is 118 degrees. Therapeutic success is 120 degrees active.Passive means the therapist pushes your leg a little. I mean a little, in this case: I could almost have done that on my own. I've heard of therapists pushing harder, but that's not how we roll here.Normal, by the way, is between 120 and 140, depending on your anatomy.

On the other hand, I was late to therapy today because I fell in the bathtub and had to take some time to assess and see if I was okay. I was. I'm not sure what happened. I think that I was aiming to sit down on the chair I put in the tub (for, ironically, safety's sake) and I angled wrong and flipped it. I also think that the reason I angled wrong is that my right leg buckled. But I'm not sure. I do know I'm going to get a nonslip bath mat thing before I get in that tub again.

K slept through it. He's on night shifts these weeks so he's like a dead thing in the morning. Earlier on I wouldn't take a bath unless he was awake but I figured I was beyond that now. Well, I guess I'm ratcheting that back for a while too.

Friday I see the surgeon again. The one thing on my agenda will be: how soon can I get the right leg done?

Comments

[pameladean]

So glad you're all right. I wonder what things would look like if vital places like bathrooms were designed for disability, temporary or otherwise.

P.

[ocotillo-dawn.livejournal.com]

Just passing through after ages. My mother and aunt have been through this process (both knees, one after the other). I'm glad to hear it is going well so far, though clearly, it is no easier for you than it was for either of them. My best.

And be careful. Ouch.