Knee Update #7
Hello. It has been almost a week since my knee surgery and in the last day or so I have just been starting to feel like myself. Well, my knee still feels pretty messed up--it has eight staples in it holding four holes and one incision shut. I am off narcotic pain drugs during the daytime now and I am staying awake most of the daylight hours. Since the morning after the surgery until April 15ish I am supposed to have my leg in the pictured CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) machine. It moves up an down making my knee go from lying flat (zero degrees) to whatever number of degrees I punch in on the controller.
Right now I am in the very spot of the picture, except looking a little more with it, I think. My leg is now bending up to fifty six degrees which is a nice improvement since the day after surgery when I started at thirty degrees, I think. In three weeks I am supposed to work up to 120 degrees, which is pretty close to as far as a knee should bend, but not quite.
I have had to walk around with crutches and wear a brace that doesn't let me bend my knee at all and will have to for another week. I can't drive and won't be able to for another week, either. I have not worked at all for a week now and it is odd. I have been extremely busy since last August and all of a sudden nothing is expected of me, no one is expecting me to be anywhere (except for the doctors appointment I have later this afternoon). It is all quite odd. I kinda thought I would love time to do whatever I wanted. But when the time to do whatever I want is limited to my couch, bed, bathroom and occasionally the kitchen to grab something ready-made, it is actually a little lonely and depressing.
My mom was here for the few days before, during and after my surgery. It was good to spend time with her and see her--especially because I won't get another chance to just hang out with her before Neal and I get married. She sat on the hospital bed next to me when I was waiting to go in for the operation reading to me from Where the Red Fern Grows. She cleaned my kitchen very thoroughly and cooked for me and read to me a few other times. When again will this happen? Maybe never, I sadly thought.
I feel badly because a couple times my mom bumped and pulled my left foot accidently (which was very startling and hurt) and I howled and even exclaimed "I'll do it myself!" when she was trying to straighten my blankets. That made her cry. Then I felt bad to have reacted so strongly--I think I was generally out of sorts while on the heavy pain drugs. I also feel bad because my mom wanted to see some sights while she was here. I don't think she's been to the Southwest much at all--she had even gotten a Albuquerque Travel Guide. I was in no shape after my surgery and didn't feel like there was time for any sightseeing before my surgery. Maybe her expectation to do that when she came for my surgery was unrealistic but I still feel bad because I know she was disappointed.
I was very grateful to have my mom here, though. The first morning waking up to an empty apartment after my mom left was really depressing and lonely, actually. That was yesterday. Today has been better, but a bit lonely, I can't lie. In a few minutes a lady from my church is coming to pick me up and take me to my first post-op appointment. I don't know her very well at all. It is strange and humbling to have to depend on the help of practical strangers. I had better get ready. More later, I promise. (Maybe you've heard enough. Heh.)