Jordan’s medial meniscus/scar tissue/patella

[redtoblack]

I’m now a week and a half post op and doing well.  I’m still on crutches, but only for five more days.  I will be glad to be rid of them.  I finally got to see the video of my surgery (medial meniscus tear removed) and he had to remove a fairly large chunk of my meniscus.  He also removed three bands of plica that were causing problems.

I guess my concern right now is that in the pictures and on the video you can see a good sized impact area on the bone.  I have yet to talk to my OS about that, he said we would discuss the surgery in detail at my appointment on the 14th, but I hope that is something that heals or at least won’t give me any problems down the road.

All in all the surgery went well.  Pain was tolerable and I didn’t have any problems with the general anesthesia. I’m already back at work and driving without any trouble.  It’s nice to be on the road to recovery.

[Nettan]

Jordan, sounds good so far...keep up the good work and you will soon be normal you again.

HUGS NETTAN 

[redtoblack]

I been back at work since Saturday and have been doing very well as far as pain goes.  My only problem now is my foot and ankle are swelling.  I am trying to keep my leg elevated and using ice when I can.  I really can’t afford to miss any more work.  I already have to miss half the day on Thursday for my post op appointment. 

I am going to go out for a bit tonight.  I’m heading over to a friends house where a bunch of my friends are all going to meet and hang out with me.  It will be nice to see everyone at once.

[redtoblack]

I just got back from my post op appointment and it went really well.  It feels great to have the bandages off and the stitches out.  My OS is very happy with the results.  I have a few weeks of PT then I can slowly start getting back to doing martial arts. 

As of now I am still walking with the crutches, but I should be rid of them very soon.  I am having more pain now than I was, but I am assuming that’s from the bandages being off and blood is actually flowing around in there.  Plus I am putting more weight on it.

It's very exciting to be getting better.

[Nettan]

Jordan..it's really nice to hear about your progress and that your OS is pleased with you so far.
Keep up the good work girl..you are soon of crutches.

HUGS NETTAN 

[Kai]

My OS kept me on crutches for 4 weeks.  As soon as he said I could chuck 'em I went back into the dojang.  It was a long road back but sooooooo worth it.  You will make it kiddo -  you're a champ!

[redtoblack]

I just spent the entire weekend crutch free!!!!  I still walk slow and with a limp, but I’m walking.  I am sooooooo extremely luck to be doing well.  It makes me sad to think of all the awesome people here who are in such pain everyday.  I would fix you all if I could.

I have been doing my PT exercises three times a day, just as instructed, and I went for a short walk yesterday with my dog.  My knee was a tiny bit sore after, but it was a good sore.  Plus, it’s great having my dog back.  She keeps sniffing my knee and following me around every place I go.



BTW, thanks to all of you!!  I couldn't do this without ya.

[Nettan]

Lovely to hear the news about your knee Jordan.
Hope all continue go well for you.

HUGS NETTAN 

[plantgeek58]

Hey Jordan,
Glad to hear that you're doing so well post-op. So nice to hear good news for a change.
I didn't know you were a karateka. What style do you do? And what level are you? I did Uechiryu before all this knee crap happened. I had to quit just before I made green belt. So frustrating. My son and younger daughter also go. Josh is a brown belt who should be taking his black belt test this summer, and Sammy just started. She just got her first yellow stripe and is very proud of herself. I'm hoping to get back to it someday, but I don't know if that's going to be possible. I may have to find a style that doesn't involve so much pressure on the knees. The Sanchin stance in Uechiryu puts too much torque on my menisci and could cause more tears. Hope you continue to heal quickly so you can get back to your dojo soon.
Terre

[redtoblack]

Terre- I am a red belt in Taekwondo.  Not a knee friendly style:)  That’s great your kids are doing well.  I just love teaching kids.  Especially the really young ones.  They get very excited about all the new techniques.

Nettan-Thanks for all the support.  It really means a lot.



As for the knee—I am 3 weeks post op now and still doing great.  I am working my rump off doing PT and I’m now able to go up and down stairs stepping with each foot.  I’m still having trouble bending my knee, but each day it gets a tiny bit better. I guess the only thing that’s bothering me now is the little end of stitch still poking out of a few spots.  Some of them have fallen out/off, so I assume the others will as well.  My goal over the weekend is to add five reps to each of the PT exercises.  I figure I will try to add one each day ‘till Monday.

[redtoblack]

Well…it’s been four weeks now since my surgery.  I think my knee is on track.  All the stitches and scabs are gone.  Other than the small scars, my knee looks pretty normal.  I still have some swelling, but not a large amount.  I also have these lump things under my skin where the scars are. 

As far as movement goes, I can, for the most part, straighten my leg all the way.  I am able to go up and down stairs without much trouble.  The only problem that I have is that my knee won’t bend very far.  Not even to the 90 degree point.  It just sort of stops as if there are rubber bands in there getting ready to snap if I bend it any farther.  I am hoping that this will go away once all the swelling is gone.

I guess the most exciting thing right now is I’ve been able to take my dog for walks.  Granted they aren’t very long, usually no more than 30 to 45 minutes, but she loves it.  It’s great to be out and about again.

That’s about it for now.  I am still working on at home PT and trying to make both legs as strong as possible.

[Nettan]

Good to hear Jordan. I wish I was there too..on my way back after surgery.
Must feel very good. Keep up that good work.

HUGS NETTAN 

[redtoblack]

Everything had been going really well…until last night.  I was taking my dog for a walk and didn’t pick my foot up high enough to step over a curb.  I ended up on the ground, luckily dog still in hand, with my knee in some serious pain.  I don’t think I hurt anything in there since all the OS did was cut stuff out, but the trip made my knee bend much further than it wanted to.  It felt as if things were ripped apart in there.  My knee is still very sore and stiff today.  I can’t straighten it all the way, which I could before, and I can’t bend it as far as I could.  It probably just because it’s a little swollen but it just freaks me out.

[plantgeek58]

Ouch, Jordan!
Sorry to hear about your accident. It's so hard when you have to watch out for every little thing. You think you're being so careful and then suddenly something unexpected happens and you end up on your butt feeling like a total clutz. Well, you're not alone. We've all done it. You probably didn't do anything major, but you may have stretched the tendons and ligaments a little. Just take it easy for a few days and ice, ice, ice! Hopefully it will resolve itself.
Terre

[hntndaylight]

My PT reminds me regularly about his fall. He and I went to highschool together (back in the early 80's). He had ACl repair and menisicus cleanup, open knee, cast for 12 weeks, no PT. ROM stuck in the 90's for weeks, then he fell and stretched it, kind of like yours. Whatever broke loose, that was his ticket to getting it all back. He says thats actually pretty common, takes about 3 days to get over, and then things normally mend on right like they are supposed to.

So he reminds me of that as I sit here just hitting 80 degress 8.5 weeks post op.....

Good luck.

David