THREE months!! Can you believe it!??

Well....Xena has been a "part of me" for three months now! WOW!!! and we are doing really really well! All of those things that new knee owners have told me, have basically been true.

The real pain is at the beginning of the process--and that is why we have great pain pills! But I was off of the heavy duty ones by week 5-I wanted to have the independence to drive my car! The first six to eight weeks are exciting because of all the immediate fast progress that we make...especially if we are willing to push the limits and to be diligent about our PT. At that point...well, then comes the patience factor. We don't see big leaps and bounds in our progession starting at about 2 months.

There is now a different type of pain--more of a stiffness and muscle type soreness that comes along...icing is important! Sleeping is really difficult--just can't seem to get a good position at night. And the frustration of not being able to do what you expect to be able to do! I want to be able to do long walks or hike or bike and work in my garden...but, even though I am athletic enough to do those things, it would set back the healing process. Kind of like re-spraining a sprained ankle....its just not a good thing. Slooowwwwww.....it will all come in time.

Everyone takes their first "fall"...luckily mine was on grass, but I went down hard on both knees. Quite a scare! but nothing big happened...other than another setback! Just takes a bit longer to get back to where I was. Bruised knee and ego!

PT: The swimming pool therapy is just the best--I do it twice a week along with my "land" physical therapy. Surprising how "heavy" my body feels after an hour of pool workout. I enjoy streeeetttcccching my knee and leg....I am still struggling with making my leg straight, but it will come in time. The bend? We can push it hard--and it hurts! to bend it alot--just a small bit more each day. My biggest issue is that I do NOT want to limp...it is surprising how we subconsciously "baby" the injured knee. I have to concentrate really hard and focus on walking normally.

I am encouraged overall and I would have my knee replaced again in a heartbeat! The pain I have is very different than prior to the surgery--not that wrenching pain of bone on bone before the surgery--Now it is various tweaks, pulls, zings...that are just part of the healing process. My body is still not so sure it is happy to have Xena in there! Not doubt this was a MAJOR surgery! They say it takes 6 months to a year for you to really not have these minor pains and swelling....but I can deal with them!

I just wish I could be more patient and not be so frustrated that my full athletic life isn't back yet! Sigh. Breathe! Breathe! I can be stoic about the aches and pains but I want to be movin' Julie again soon--and I will be, I am sure! *-)