Thursday, October 11, 2012
Progress
Today marks my 3rd week post op from knee surgery! I feel like I am a completely different person from just 3 weeks ago after my surgery. I was hopeful but did not know what I had in store with this recovery nor how long it would take. I have seen my therapist for two weeks now and she is optimistic that I will only have a 4-6 week recovery. The doctor had initially told me that it is going to depend on my muscles and that I am not in control.. other than to do what I am told:) Which I have... and just this week I ditched the brace except at night when I sleep and ditched the crutch. Hopefully the Dr. will be okay with that next week when I have my follow up!! Now, I do not walk fast..but it is getting better. I compare it to having braces. It has a strange feeling to it...like it is not my own knee. I guess it will either get better or I will get used to it like braces. After I have been sitting for awhile it gets real stiff too and then I have to loosen it back up. I see major improvement though since my procedure. This is a marathon rehab and not a sprint..I have to remember that! Yesterday I went walking with Aubrey though and the whole time I was thinking praise the Lord that I can do this! Now, I got lapped a few times by an older man but hey...I was moving! I could not have done that last week or even at the beg of this week. I just wanted to sing bless the Lord oh my soul!!! I was beaming with joy that I could walk and enjoy the outdoors. My therapist said I would not hurt it doing so, so I thought a slow pace couldn't hurt! It just made me realize what we take for granted before something happens to us. I forever will be changed by this experience and will hopefully cherish each moment. Things I am not doing yet...kneeling or getting down on the floor. Little difficult with a 7 month old but we are making it! My husband has been gracious to do all of the baths:) I think I will be able to eventually, but it is going to take time. I am happy to see the progress I have made though and look forward to each therapy session!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Lateral Release: debriefing
Well I guess you can say I have always known that this was coming--knee surgery. Ultimately, I was trying to put it off as long as possible but the time has come where I had to do something about my bad knees now. I have always had a problem where I would feel my knee cap twist out to the side of my knee...gross I know! It's happened since I can remember off and on. Usually on wet surfaces or uneven surfaces. I would usually fall to the ground in complete despair and pain....no one really knew what happened other than they see me crying and I shake if off and I am back up in 30 seconds. I have learned to manage it though and would just always be careful. I took therapy in the summer of 2011 to strengthen the muscles that help hold knee cap in the groove...it helped some but never fully took away the problem which is bad alignment that I was born with:) I always think of Lady Gaga's song..." I was born this way". I did get confident though with the help of my therapist to start working out and running some with the use of KTape! Best stuff ever:) It got a lot of publicity from the olympics this year. It provided the support I needed to carry out activities but once again....would never "fix" the problem of my constant subluxations/dislocations. What finally made me realize that I had to try something else or it will never get better is when I was carrying my daughter (who is 6 months) and something bumped my knee and it subluxed and brought me and her to the ground. Luckily...she was in her carrier at the time so she was safe..but I was in tears for my pain and thanking God that she was okay. I knew that I could not let this go on any longer...she is only going to get more mobile and I need to be able to get around without fear of my knee going out. I saw a orthopedic dr (same one that gave me therapy that summer of 2011). He said...it was time for surgery. He said they would do a lateral release and it would fix my problem and that is it...simple. Well I knew it couldn't be that simple. Knee surgery and simple do not go together!! I decided to get a second opinion when I found out they only do two surgeries a year like this particular one in Longview. (this is apparently a rare condition that I have). I went to the Carrell Clinic who was recommended to me by a friend. They operate on a lot of athletes such as Dallas Cowboys and SMU athletes in the area. I felt more confident in that they have done a few more of these procedures called a lateral release. He was positive that this is the procedure that I needed however..he also knew that it doesn't always just fix the problem. He was aware of other issues that could arise and I have to be open and willing for him to do more (as in open surgery) vs with the scope.
What is a lateral release?
The most common of these proximal realignment procedures is the 'lateral release' (also called 'lateral retinacular release').
Lateral release done for the right indications and done in the correct way may offer patients a significant improvement in their symptoms.
But done the wrong way or, more importantly, for the wrong reasons - and the procedure can be the beginning of a nightmare scenario for the patient, the physiotherapist and the surgeon.
Lateral Release
A lateral release is a surgical procedure where tight structures to the outer side of the kneecap (patella), when they are causing the patella to tilt abnormally, are cut to allow the kneecap to assume a better position. The cut is an inch or more from top to bottom.
The procedure can be done in different ways - from inside the knee as part of an arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) or from the outside via a small cut (incision).
What is cut is the 'lateral retinaculum', a fibrous support on the outer side of the kneecap, but some other structures may also be cut at the surgeon's discretion if the release needs to be more extensive.
When I learned that I would need surgery for certain, I read everything I could online about this procedure. Big mistake!! I read so many bad reviews....with a few good. I read so many things about how this surgery made their knee worse. That was the last thing I wanted...I almost thought about canceling my surgery and living with a painful, unstable knee forever. My husband reminded me that only people with bad outcomes post this kind of stuff...so maybe he is right! I hope that by doing this blog I can encourage someone and hopefully have a better outcome than what I had read before surgery. I finally called my surgeons P.A. in tears basically asking her a bunch of what if questions....I know she had to be tired of me..but I wanted to know everything I could. She basically put it into the terms I needed to hear in order to go through with this..she said it wasn't going to get any better if I don't do something about it. It is a quality of life issue..do I want to live the rest of my life afraid that my knee will pop out of place or do something to try to make it better..so I decided to take the plunge.
I have learned a lot about my faith through this surgery. I have had to rely on others and God to get me through since I have such a young child at home. I am NOT in control. Through my neediness though I have seen what is really important in life. It has made me more thankful and has built up my trust in God. I had to take this step of faith...and know that He will bring me through this! There are going to be days of extreme weakness but I can't live in fear..I have to have faith! I love the song by Kutless..What Faith Can Do. It says..impossible is not a word..its just a reason for someone not to try. I decided that I had to try..:)
I am one week out from surgery and seem to be doing well. I can not walk without one crutch only because I have to wear an immobilizer when I'm up so I use it for balance...because I have to walk with a peg leg walk. I have started some therapy exercises at home. Ouch! I am working on bending my knee..that is my weakness. I can get it to about 90 degrees (sometimes) and it is sooo stiff. Know that with time it will get better. I already feel stronger than one week ago. I will continue therapy at Good Shepherd and travel to Dallas for follow up appointments. Lets hope that by my next appt I will get to lose the brace and walk without it...That is my goal! I do see myself at least biking again but DO NOT care if I ever run again! It's not that important to me..as long as I am healthy and have a stronger knee!
What is a lateral release?
The most common of these proximal realignment procedures is the 'lateral release' (also called 'lateral retinacular release').
Lateral release done for the right indications and done in the correct way may offer patients a significant improvement in their symptoms.
But done the wrong way or, more importantly, for the wrong reasons - and the procedure can be the beginning of a nightmare scenario for the patient, the physiotherapist and the surgeon.
Lateral Release
A lateral release is a surgical procedure where tight structures to the outer side of the kneecap (patella), when they are causing the patella to tilt abnormally, are cut to allow the kneecap to assume a better position. The cut is an inch or more from top to bottom.
The procedure can be done in different ways - from inside the knee as part of an arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) or from the outside via a small cut (incision).
What is cut is the 'lateral retinaculum', a fibrous support on the outer side of the kneecap, but some other structures may also be cut at the surgeon's discretion if the release needs to be more extensive.
When I learned that I would need surgery for certain, I read everything I could online about this procedure. Big mistake!! I read so many bad reviews....with a few good. I read so many things about how this surgery made their knee worse. That was the last thing I wanted...I almost thought about canceling my surgery and living with a painful, unstable knee forever. My husband reminded me that only people with bad outcomes post this kind of stuff...so maybe he is right! I hope that by doing this blog I can encourage someone and hopefully have a better outcome than what I had read before surgery. I finally called my surgeons P.A. in tears basically asking her a bunch of what if questions....I know she had to be tired of me..but I wanted to know everything I could. She basically put it into the terms I needed to hear in order to go through with this..she said it wasn't going to get any better if I don't do something about it. It is a quality of life issue..do I want to live the rest of my life afraid that my knee will pop out of place or do something to try to make it better..so I decided to take the plunge.
I have learned a lot about my faith through this surgery. I have had to rely on others and God to get me through since I have such a young child at home. I am NOT in control. Through my neediness though I have seen what is really important in life. It has made me more thankful and has built up my trust in God. I had to take this step of faith...and know that He will bring me through this! There are going to be days of extreme weakness but I can't live in fear..I have to have faith! I love the song by Kutless..What Faith Can Do. It says..impossible is not a word..its just a reason for someone not to try. I decided that I had to try..:)
I am one week out from surgery and seem to be doing well. I can not walk without one crutch only because I have to wear an immobilizer when I'm up so I use it for balance...because I have to walk with a peg leg walk. I have started some therapy exercises at home. Ouch! I am working on bending my knee..that is my weakness. I can get it to about 90 degrees (sometimes) and it is sooo stiff. Know that with time it will get better. I already feel stronger than one week ago. I will continue therapy at Good Shepherd and travel to Dallas for follow up appointments. Lets hope that by my next appt I will get to lose the brace and walk without it...That is my goal! I do see myself at least biking again but DO NOT care if I ever run again! It's not that important to me..as long as I am healthy and have a stronger knee!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)