8/31/04 RK TTT & LR

[BuffettBarbie]

Melissa!

Congrats on your new job!  No more steel toes?  Does this mean you actually have to decide what shoes to wear to work every day?  Wow.  That is very cool.  The biggest decision I get to make is what sneakers to wear to physical training every morning....

Neither OS said anything to me about what shoes to wear.  (And those shoes you displayed are exceptionally cute- esp the pink ones!)  Next week, I have to go to my friend's NCO Academy graduation.  I own no flat shoes to wear with my semiformal military dress, and refuse to buy ugly flats.  Hence, I will be wearing HEELS for the first time in I can't even remember when!  I am so excited!  I'll let you know how it goes!  (Besides, heels DO work your quads!)

Take care and many hugs!

Chris  

[mainegal]

No heels, but I still had fun last night. My OS finally decided to prescribe some anti-inflammatories to have me take before I do anything to rough on the knee. I took one before the party and this morning my knee looked fine. I even danced my heart out - ok I am not sure how many people would call it dancing, more of a bopping, but hey when you have a post-op knee, you do what you can...

Lots of stupid comments from coworkers about being healed, etc.. but I intentionally wore a skirt and said "does this look healed to you." Considering my scar is still red and I have a visible lump where the osteotome is, they shut up. It may be mean but I am tired of the comments.

It has snowed here and pretty much melted as the day went by. I wish the weather would decide what it wants to do. I don't mind the snow, I just want to be prepared.

Hope you all had a fun weekend.

Melissa

[ohioag]

I thought I was the only one who was depressed about the shoe issue.  Love those shoes, especially the pink ones!  

I bought some amazing heels during the summer to wear this fall. I was so excited and wore one of the pairs one day to work when I was on my feet all day.  It was a couple of months pre-surgery, but I was in physical therapy.  My knees hurt so bad after wearing the shoes, my knee got all inflamed, and it set my therapy back 2 weeks - needless to say, I got a lecture from my therapist about the evils of heels.  I kept trying to explain to her that although I can dress casually most days at work, sometimes I need to put on a business suit and birkenstocks just don't cut it.  

About a week before my surgery, I went through my closet and gathered up all my summer shoes, heels, and boots and just packed them away so I wouldn't have to look at them everyday and get depressed.  I also decided I would not go in any shoe stores.  I did compensate though by buying a great pair of flats - funky, sneaker-style shoes with velcro criss-crosses across the top.  They're really very comfortable and I've had lots of compliments on my "stylish" shoes.

Happy knee day everyone!

Sabrina

[BuffettBarbie]

Melissa!

You go, party girl!  I am so glad to hear you were out there cutting some rug!  That rocks, no matter how you danced!  

I know what you mean about people and their stupid comments.  To top it off, people keep coming up to me at work to whine about their aches and pains.  Like I'm a doctor or something.  I don't talk about MY knee- I am too busy to even notice it.  It makes me want to start throwing things at them.  The constant gritting of my teeth is making my jaw sore....

Many hugs,

Chris  

[keeperkid24]

I've been reading this post without posting since my TTT on november 23rd, but I had to say something about the shoes. Before my surgery, I started a collection of different sneakers. I have a few pairs of various colors and styles to go with pretty much everything I wear. My mom won't let me out of the house in anything but sneakers when I'm on crutches, so they've been pretty well worn lately. They're much better for balance, too. I was out shopping with my sister today, and while I was standing in line taking out my wallet, a woman came over, asked, "Is this the line?" When I said yes, she plowed right into me, nearly knocked me over, and mumbled something in my direction as she walked away (definately not an I'm Sorry), so much for Christmas spirit!  If I was wearing anything with a heel, I would have fallen right to the floor since I was caught off guard.

[coyote]

Hello everyone and welcome keeper kid.

Shoes.

Since I have had knee problems my whole life, I have really hardly ever worn " pretty" shoes or heels. I am also 5'8" so there really hasn't been a need, but I do  think they look good.  I have spent most of the past year in birkenstocks for the stabilty and the comfort ( certainly not the looks- could there be an uglier shoe?)

Thank goodness you were wearing sneakers!!!   Since your recovery is only a couple weeks  I am amazed that you are standing up and out and about so soon. The worst thing that could happen to any of us is to fall and injure our bones before they are healed. My surgery was on 11/2 and I am still no WB until 11/22( I hope).

Here's a toast to stable knees ( and cute ) shoes in 2005!

Cheryl

[mainegal]

Since I started walking brace free 8/9 weeks ago, my knee locks periodically. It is kind of funny as I'll be walking, go to take a step and my right leg stays straight and doesn't move. Upper body is in motion, so I kind of jerk/stumble. Anyway, this does cause some minor hip and knee pain due to some twisting.  OS not concerned as it is just the kneecap getting used to it's new path and catching on something. Within five seconds the knee is bending again..

The whole point of that is a) I wish my coworkers would see it so they'd stop saying "Oh you're all healed" and b) my friends panic over the silliest things post-op. Every time I explain it is not a big deal, they decide my surgeon is lying to me so I don't sue him. Come on, the knee cap has been re-aligned. It is going to take more than a few weeks or months to be all better. It was one way for 25 years, you got to give it at least a year to get somewhat back to normal.

I do have to admit, one of my coworkers saw my knee lock today. She said it was the strangest thing she'd ever seen and also kinda funny.

Have a nice last weekend before the crazy time begins...

Melissa

[mainegal]

Hi! I know I have been MIA for a while but with work and school, life is fun.

I was discharged from PT last friday and like Chris allowed to run around the track two times. My right leg stayed pretty straight and I kept snapping it, but hey, it was a nice light jog. I have since been to the gym twice and do my stretches at home. I miss the people at PT.

If it wasn't for the frequent weather changes, I doubt my leg would be as sore as it is. In the past week, it has snowed 3-4 times, rained twice, hit 50 degrees causing pure fog, and now is headed back into the bitter cold. My knee has felt like crap the entire time. I have also had more bouts of instability but I think it is due to me trusting the knee more and putting more weight and pressure on it.

I see my OS on Monday though I can't imagine it being that exciting of a visit.

I have tried to at least read all your post. I am glad to see all my fellow TTT-ers are also recovering well and dealing with winter as best we can.  I suggest we all band together and form our own weather team. With our barometric knees calibrated, I bet we can predict the weather more accurately than the weathermen/women....

Melissa

[Knee_Queen]

Hey everyone!

The whole shoe issue is a real bummer- I have sooo many shoes but can only wear three of four pairs really- I'm thinking of donating the rest of them to a local charity sale raising money for the Tsunami- that way I'll never have to look at those lonely little things again!!!!

The weather here in my part of the UK hasn't been too bad, luckily I don't the bad weather too bad for the knee, mine seems more sensitive to heat! My physio is going along slowly- I have a sealed PT letter on my sideboard addressed to my OS (I'm seeing him next week) and I am really tempted to have a read but I shouldn't!!!! I'm sure it also says my VMO are crappy and worse probably but I've done my best!!! Think i'll be comming out with another surgery referral but I won't worry about that til next week!

I know what you mean about trying to lead a non-knee focused life- I've been trying to do that for the last few weeks and work has definately helped keep me busy. It gets sooo annoying when people keep asking about the knee all the time, its as if they can't think up any other conservation piece for me!!!! I want to learn to drive so much I hope my OS gives me the go ahead with that one next week!!!

Any new year resolutions?!!!!

Heidi

[BuffettBarbie]

Melissa!

I am so glad to see you are doing grrreat!  But why is running soooo slow?  I feel "special" when I run!  The only thing that actually hurts when I run is the scar area.  (Yeah, I'm "supposed" to massage that scar, but it feels disgusting when I do it, so I don't!)  I'm going to a running clinic in a few weeks, so it should help.  (A sad day when a runner has to go to a clinic to relearn...)  I have good news, though- my graft is 100% healed!  The knee is doing awesome, other than predicting weather changes!  No clicking, no locking!  My coworkers kindly point out my scar every day- "It's so UGLY!"  Funny, I don't even notice it!  I reply with, "Yeah, but I have a good knee and I'm STILL a hottie!"  That shuts them up.  Glad to see you're doing good!  

Take care and millions of hugs!

Chris  

[stretch]

Happy New Year everyone! I'm really enjoying hearing about your recoveries! I can't believe anyone could jog 4 months after this surgery! Way to go! Were you running before?

I have been really bad so far this year. I was supposed to join a gym to get my knee stronger, and not only have I not done that, I haven't been doing my exerceises since the end of November when my therapy ended. Granted, I was travelling and really busy during most of that time, but I could have managed it at least once a day...or something at least once a day. I just felt a little weird doing some of my exercises in front of my family and my husband's family. And I wouldn't have had optimum TV viewing angles if I did it during all of my TV shows. Shame on me, I know!

Here's another excuse -
At my job, the teachers like me have to do 3-6 duties DAILY. For example - standing out in the cold in the morning and afternoon for 20 minutes, walking the hallways for 40 minutes to make sure kids have passes, and walking around the cafeteria for 35 minutes with the earsplitting noise handing out napkins and forks to the little darlings if they forgot to get it in the lunch line. This takes up between 75-150 minutes of my day when I could be using this valuable time to get the planning for 34 classes and 900 kids done. No exaggeration! As you can imagine I don't have to do these duties while my leg is still weak. Therefore, I want to make them think my leg is weak as long as I can. But I also have a conscience.  I don't want to lie about it or fake it. So, keeping my leg weak actually helps me out. After all, it gets me around fine enough, and stairs are the only thing that are still a problem. Oh, and I get to wear sneakers to work! Ahh..comfort. (I miss being able to dress up in shoes when I go out, though...so I do anyway. I pay for it the next day!)

And my third excuse:
My OS completely confused me when I visited him last time. He doesn't seem to like the rehab center I went to and didn't have faith in my therapist. I did, but now that I'm not there and my OS didn't have confidence in him I'm a little shaky on what to do. So, even though I want to join a gym, the only thing I know to do is ride a bike. I don't want to join a gym and just ride a bike. I could ask for help once I'm there, but if the trainer isn't good I could get reinured. I don't want to join a gym to get reinjured, either. Now I'm just plain old confused about what to do.

(I won't add the fourth excuse about how wimpy I am when it comes to pain...and I still feel a good amount of pain when I do the excercises. Top of my knee cap - OUCH!)

So, here I sit, completely unmotivated to do anything. This is not boding well for the New Year! Hearing about you guys jogging already makes me feel pretty lazy. Probably because I am....I think.

Glad to hear you all are doing well.

Jen

[mainegal]

Chris,
   When you figure out how to run again, let me know. I felt like such a dork at the gym today on the treadmill. I look so silly trying to run, I nearly wet my own pants. I had to remind myself how I had to reteach myself how to walk.

Jen,
   I was a distance runner for years but had to give it up because my knee was to unstable. I hate treadmill running but it is icy as heck outside and I don't have access to a track. I have a gym membership as part of my leases so I go three days a week to lift, jog a little and do the stair master.  Then I also do all kinds of home exercises each day. I have every intention to find myself on top a mountain by August 31st (my one year anniversary).

A friend suggested we go ice skating the other day. I laughed and kindly reminded her I am only five months out of knee surgery. She grinned and said she forgot because I don't whine alot and am off running around being as crazy as I can. Yeah, an excuse to whine more.

I am happily back in my heels as well. Most my boots which aren't stilletos but still a good 2 inches. I wear them all night and love it. No major pain either. I can't wait for spring and stilleto weather.

Thanks for being there for me the past few months. My friends and family have done their best but it is hard for them to understand this all. My sister-in-law was just diagnosed with patellar-femoral syndrome and she turned to me for advice. I gave her all the suggestions I had and recommended this site.

Time for bed. I have spent all day doing homework and still have more to do tomorrow. If you are curious about some of my most recent adventures in Detroit check out http://mkilbride.blogspot.com - It is my blog where I post pics and comments on life in Detroit....

Melissa

[mainegal]

Gee, besides some normal instability, my experience has been a cake walk compared to the stories I read on this board.

My OS has been awesome - he is open, honest and considerate of my needs. He is also very encouraging and helps me set realistic goals which has made this so much easier. Plus he is an amazing seamstress so I have a beautiful scar that is fading fast and furious...


It is sad to hear all the horror stories and bad OS out there. I am glad I found mine and trusted my instincts not the trust the first one they sent me to.

Heres to happier knee days...
Melissa

[stretch]

Melissa-

It's great that you had a good experience. I think mine has been really good, too. My OS has worked with professional teams as well, including the Philadelphia Flyers and Phillies, but he's probably a little more used to relating with pro athletes than a non athletic female adult. His wife also gave birth two days after my surgery so for a good three months he was tired as heck. The last time I saw him was the most comfortable (and awake) with me since before the surgery. I can't blame him for having other things on ihs mind...and I was a little intimidated by his resume. I suppose I could have made him spell it out, but I didn't want to seem completely lacking in "work-out" knowledge.  The good part is that I am getting around really well, no limp (unless I'm at school), and my scar is healing as well as yours. In fact, I'm blown away at how good it looks...I can barely see it.  Anyway, I have to place a little blame for my situation on myself. I guess I need someone to hold my hand through my recovery the way my therapist did, and that's not going to happen.

Thanks for posting a pic. It's good to see how other knees are healing out there!!

Jen

[mainegal]

Hello all.

     Life has been crazy. Trying to manage 3 grad classes and 45hr work week is insane. Thank goodness I am going to the gym at least three days a week. Since leaving PT, my knee has improved leaps and bounds, mainly because I am pushing myself and mixing up my routine. I even run a little - the jarring hurts after half a mile, so I stuck there for a few more days, then I'll push up to 3/4 mile. The goal is to be back to 3-4 miles by middle of March. Then in April, I start training for summer soccer, including relearning my skills.

   Oh and on top of all this, I met a great guy a few weeks back. Turns out he is a soccer player (played div 3 college and in the french pro league). He has had two knee surgeries (both arthroscopic), so he is very considerate of my knee. Somedays I think he is taking better care of it than me. I wasn't planning on dating this semester due to my heavy course load, but he is so worth it. I am happily smitten.

   Have a great knee day. Hope your recoveries are going well.

Melissa

PS. And Chris, I wear heels every day now. Yipee.