Physical Therapy - The Dos and Don'ts

Hello again, friends and readers!  It's been a while since I have posted, and there is a good reason for that.  Knee replacement surgery.  I knew it was time.  That blasted knee has haunted every trip we have taken for the last 2 years.  The slightest misstep made it swell.

Even though I am a dedicated believer in exercise, there were times when I had to cut back.  When the knee swelled, there were certain pants that were pushed to the back of the closet.  No skinny jeans, that's for sure.  Not sure why, but standing was worse than walking, so it I was in a situation where I was expected to stand still, I would pace back and forth rather than stay in place.

After hearing the options for anesthesia, we chose something called a "knee block."  This choice includes a spinal and a sedative so one falls asleep for the hour long surgery.  I woke up feeling wonderful and drinking coffee in the recovery room.  The surgery went exactly as the surgeon expected, and I was up walking with a physical therapist early that evening.  Twice more the next morning before they released me to go home.

Sam was such a wonderful guy, taking good care of me.  Did all the cooking and cleanup.  Picked out an excellent BBC series to pass the time.  Brought me ice for the swelling.  Drove me to post op visits and lots of physical therapy appointments.  He also took me out for lunches whenever he thought I might be tired of being homebound.  I felt spoiled just a little bit.

Maybe I even started acting a little spoiled too.  Most times I pretty much know if a spanking is imminent.  I can read Sam's face and know if I have stepped in some doody.  His brow furrows, and he gets kind of quiet.  Then the ax falls.  But I've had fair warning.  Every once in a while, though, a spanking comes right out of the blue.  As far as I know I have been the perfect wife.  

                                          Then.....Bam!

Sam had driven me to PT that morning and waited with his Kindle in the lobby to bring me home.  Usually, following the exercise, my therapist would ice down the knee, top and bottom, for 15 minutes.  This time I promised I would apply the ice when I got home.  That was my intention as I hung up my coat and set my purse on the table. 

"You'll need to wait on that ice a little longer," Sam said.  "I think I'm gonna to take care of a little more physical therapy you need today," and reached for my hand.

"But I didn't do any....."

"Oh, but you have," he corrected and by that time we were to our bedroom.

Well, Sam was in charge of therapy now.  He pulled down the black knit pants I was wearing.  Then he arranged me over his knee on the edge of the bed and made sure my bad knee was safe and comfortable.


Apparently I had been telling him what to do and how to drive all morning.  Since I couldn't really remember my bossiness, Sam was good enough to repeat all my indiscretions.  I had to admit, there were quite a few once he had listed them for me.

There was no paddle, but his hand was very busy.  Between protests I kept thinking of my morning PT session.  All the repetitions that Sandy was putting me through.  Thirty repetitions here and 30 more there.

"Now stand on one foot and stick out your bottom a bit so your knee doesn't extend past your toes," she said.  I should have seen the foreboding there for sure!

"Okay, now for some resistance.  Let's do 5 minutes to start.  I know it's hard; just grin and bear it," she directed.  Oh, that's easy for you to say.  Just try it from my position.

Sam was putting me through my paces, and there was one big muscle that was getting mighty sore.  He finally slowed down and then did some rubbing.  His voice changed too.

"I know you don't like being less active or curbing your normal schedule.  That's the breaks, Ells."

 He helped me up and looked into my eyes.

"I will help you every step of this recuperation, but let's keep things happy and remember who's boss."

                                          Point taken, Sam.

When I finally pulled the ColPac out of the freezer, I had a moment of indecision.  There were now two places on my body that were inflamed and needed cooling down.  Knee or .....?  Mmm...?  

                                               What to do ?