Wow - Ben ze Kneezeez

My 33rd Birthday came and went without too much trauma, we went to Matlock for the day (well a couple of hours), and SWMBO cooked tea, she does the meanest fry-ups known to man. I'm sure she is destined to work in a greasy spoon cafe one day.

To round off this week, I had my manipulation yesterday and to be honest, I was more nervous about this than anything else I have been through with my knee. I guess this was because this basically HAS TO WORK...

I was advised to be at the hospital for 7.00am as my manipulation was scheduled for 7.45am.

I got there dead on 7.00, and was led straight to my room, gowned up etc. The anaesthetist came to see me to ask about my choice of anaesthetic (Spinal or General) - I chose to be asleep, although I thought the noise of the cracking may be very therapeutic, it would probably make
me pass out.

The surgeon then came to see me to explain the procedure. I was in theatre by 8.00am and awake by 9.00am.

Result.
The surgeon came back to advise the manipulation was a success and they managed to break all of the scar tissue, they broke scarring in both flexion (bending) and extension (straightening), there was a hell of lot or scarring therefore a lot of cracking - I am kind of gutted I didn't get to hear it, but glad too. My heel managed to touch my arse which means a bend of 140 degrees as opposed to 90 before.

I was then put on a CPM machine and had physio, although I was told I would be able to come home , I decided it would be best alround if I stayed in, as NO-ONE, especially SWMBO would be able to move my knee as much as the physio could. I stayed on the CPM machine overnight, the strange thing was, although I couldn't feel my leg due to anaesthics and the nerve block in my leg, I could still feel the pain in my knee and it hurt like hell.

I had a fantastic breakfast this morning followed by more physio and came home at 11.00am.

I now have a lot of exercises to do over the weekend before another visit to the physio on Monday, but already feel a lot better and can bend my knee more than I have been able to do for almost 5 months, therefore the start of my recovery and no more limping,

I can't wait to get this thing over and done with. to say it's dragged on a bit is an understatement

Links
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Knee Update

I thought everything was going fine, my physio was helping improve my flexion (bending) up to 120 degrees and my extension (straightening) was at 0.

Today was my consultant appointment and have shown a different story. He says my flexion is 95 and my extension is only 0.
This has crushed me...

2 days before I go on holiday and I haven't been doing as well as I thought, it seems the Range of Movement (ROM) is based on the amount you can actually move of you own free well rather than being "forced" by someone.

I have been advised told I will need even more physio (I am currently having 2-3 days a week) and if things don't improve within the next 4 weeks, then I have to seriously consider MUA Manipulation under anesthesia before my knee stays like it is... Permanently.
Most people requiring this kind of procedure do so as they have had a total knee replacement (TKR), I can't seem to find anyone that needs a MUA for a "Normal" problem such as mine.

Found a great site about a woman who had MUA, in particular, this post. She couldn't bend her knee past 90 degrees (110 at a push) it seemed to work for her. At least it's given me some hope, if only as a last resort.

I will definately be doing as much as I can over the next 4 weeks, even if 2 of them are while sunning it in Tenerife, who knows, maybe the sun will help too. (I know the large measures of JD & Coke certainly will)

Physiotherapy Todays show is brought to you by the number 95 and the letters R, O and M, (the acronym has changed from CRP to ROM (Range of Movement))

a ROM refers to the amount a knee (or other joint) can bend, when I came out of hospital my ROM was less than 35 degrees, a week later I managed 50, then 70 on Friday, after speaking to the surgeon I though I could just blag it and if I couldn't increase it, then opt for the manipulation - basically take the easy way out.

That was Friday, I got home and as one does, googled knee manipulation, this I'm both glad I did and wish I hadn't.

This varied between causing more even more excruating pain and problems to rupturing the Cruciate Ligament

I decided to knuckle down (pardon the pun), and do more exercises and work harder doing a few hours physio each day, which has definately paid off.

Todays physio session measured my ROM at 95.

I passed the magic 90 degrees...

I have been able to start in the hospital gym (leg pressing 70lb, "nutcracker", spot jogging etc,
my next goal is 100 so I can start using the bikes.
40 degrees more than that and we're even...

Day 12 - Three (and Six) That's the magic number
Yes it is.....Its the magic number

.... Magic for me today anyway, as it's todays CRP result

It's kinda strange that I have started worrying about going home, will I be OK when I get back, will SWMBO be able to cope, will I catch or give anything to anyone,

and even stranger is that I'm going to miss the place I have called home for the past 2 weeks, It's where I've eaten, worked, slept, watched TV, learned to stand & walk, been operated on (5 times) for 13 days and I'm going to miss it.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get out of here, but the staff have been absolutely fantastic to me, I didn't really meet any other patients, but am guessing from the work they do here (knee & hip replacements) that they really aren't in my age range.

Thanks to all at the Nuffield Hospital in Derby, but I'll be going home tomorrow, and hopefully will never see you again (in the capacity of requiring treatment that is).

Now I get to go home and be treated by the people I work with for the next 2 weeks - (don't ask !!!).

Now then, bring me my daughter, my X-Box, My Sky remote control, My broadband, and a Dominos Menu - (Need to wait for my car keys as I still can't drive)... I have some catching up to do.