Contractorarsenal's HTO (2nd August 2011) Post -Op Diary

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

15th November (Day 115)

I've been gradually building up the time and distance of my walks.
I've found that my leg is irritated for the rest of the day and needs icing but the next day it generally feels fine.

The majority of the exercises so far, have been working on strengthening the stabilising muscles such as the gluts.
There is still muscle wasteage around the knee. I not sure whether some of these muscles will develop when I'm allowed to work on turning and twisting.
The latest set of exercises are aimed at putting more weight through the knee whilst slightly bent and the idea is that I will bend more as and when I feel comfortable to do so.

I've walked over 3 miles now and on Friday, ended up walking for 2 1/4 hours without any real break.
The leg held up very well until I trod on a small tree root, slid, and all my weight went with it.
I iced the leg as soon as I got home and thought I had got away with it but I've been told I've strained a few tendons.
This was a timely wake up call not to overdo it!!

Nobody tells you that you have to learn to walk again!
I have to concentrate on not limping, walking correctly with my heel down first and to allow the foot to point out in the direction its been set to.
Trying to straighten the foot only causes problems with your ankle or your instep.

Still feeling very positive about the outcome even though sometimes, it feels like I have a huge clonk of metal in my leg and then on other days, I don't hardly feel a thing.

Bye for now

Mike

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

25th November (Day 125)

Leg is feeling quite strong after consolidating this week by doing my exercises and only one long walk (3 miles).
During that walk I had to walk quite fast as my mate and I were late for the match.
Didn't realise how much that took out of me until we walked back to the car after the game.
Not only was my leg very tired but I was really surprised by my lack of stamina.

I require a rotator cuff operation on my right shoulder but asked for that to be postponed until I had the HTO and I was off crutches.
I've been told that I'm being operated on next Thursday (1st December) and that I will be in a sling for six weeks and no heavy lifting for 6 months.
Hopefully, the recovery will coincide with my return to full time practical work in May.

My wife has the patience of a saint and luckily, I've got a good business partner too!!

No more physio rehab sessions until mid December when school breaks up for the Xmas break. I not allowed to drive and Gill will be in school until the 16th.
I hope the weather stays mild so that I can at least get out for a few long walks.

Mike

[WonkeyDonkey]

Hi Mike

Good luck with your operation tomorrow.

Catch up with you soon, probably doing physio.

Pat

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

9th December (Day 139)

I'm a lucky chap!!
The MRI scan said I needed a rotator cuff repair but I ened up having a sub-acromial decompression shoulder Arthroscopy. Instead of my arm being in a sling for 6 weeks, I'm out of a sling and driving in 7 days!!

Anyway, back to my HTO.
After a two week break from physio, I went along today.
They are very pleased with my progress and want me to continue with strengthening exercises.
I'm now walking 2 - 31/2 miles everyday.
Last night I 'braved up' and went along to my first ever pilates class. Really enjoyed it and it gave my legs a good work out along with the rest of me.

it's amazing how we all respond differently to a similar operation. Whilst in physio, I got talking to a guy in his 40's who had a HTO operation 5 weeks ago through the NHS (Mr Perry - Frimley Park Hospital).
He was only using one crutch and was walking very well. He told me he didn't have much post op pain but was still on pain killers because he fell over a hurt his back.
His scar was about 2 inches longer than mine so maybe he had a larger plate fitted which might give more stability quicker???
I was told that HTO's are not so successful on people who smoke. I know its early days but this chap smoked and was doing just fine (not that I'm condoning smoking!!).

Good luck to Kevin, who has got to make a decision similar to me - HTO or PKR?

Mike

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

16th December (Day 146)

I'm now attending the physio twice a week.
Tuesdays for my shoulder class and Fridays for my leg.

My leg continues to feel better but the improvement is slowing down.
I think initially, you make great strides but now I think I've got to the hard part where you think you've done all the hard work and start to take the foot off the pedal.
I've realised its important to carry on with these exercises regardless of how my leg feels. It will maintain all round strength and hopefully, give me some protection against other aches and pains.

I've got alot of walking to do tomorrow.We are picking up our son from University and I thought 'hey, why go all that way to pick up Andy, fill the boot with his stuff and turn round and drive back', so I've got us tickets to watch Leicester Tigers v Clermont (Gill's a big rugby union fan, so got myself a few brownie points in the bank  ).
Add in a walk around the City centre and I'm going to clock up 3 or 4 miles minimum!!

Really looking forward to Xmas but jealous of friends who are booking their skiing trips for February.

Mike

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

3rd January (Day 164)

We celebrated Christmas in Suffolk and went out for a festive walk before dinner.
The going was slippery and tough as the ground was clay based and stuck to your boots.
Despite it feeling like I was wearing an additional pair of boots I managed to walk 5 miles and could have carried on.
This is the furthest I walked to date so it was a great xmas present.

We travelled back on Boxing Day, to my sister who lives in Dorking. When getting prepared for another walk (approx 3 miles), their dog (a Doberman) ran into my leg.
Initially, it was painful but it settled down very quickly and allowed me to go on the walk.

New year's eve was celebrated with friends and I managed a bit of dancing with Gill.
New year's Day and no bad reaction to the dancing so I thought I would venture down to the golf driving range and hit a bucket of 25 balls.
As there was no reaction the following day, I played my local 9 hole course.

I think the twisting motion of the golf swing has agitated my leg especially around the plate.
I don't think there's any damage and I'm hoping that it will help to strengthen the leg.
I'm going to take it easy for the next few days and let it settle down and maybe pay the driving range another visit towards the end of the week.

I'm still doing my exercises and feel very positive about my progress.
 

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

8th January (Day 169)

My leg settled down a couple of days after playing golf.

Attended my knee rehab class last Friday and the physio said I was doing very well.

I mentioned the leg aching for a few days after golf and she told me to play 4 or 5 holes next time, wait and see how the leg reacts and reduce or increase according to the reaction.

I played 5 holes yesterday and woke up today with a feeling in my leg that it had had a good work out but otherwise, feeling good.
We went out for a good walk (1 3/4 hours) and the leg feels okay.

My target is to be playing 18 holes by 9th March which is the date of the golf day that I've organised for the football club.

My next meeting with my OS is 26th January and I'm hoping that he is happy with my progress.

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi all,

17th January (Day 178)

I've managed to walk 6 miles without a stop and the leg is feeling good.

I'm up to playing 11 holes on my course and after a day, the leg had settled down and I was out walking again.

I attended my knee rehab class last Friday and after carrying out a number of exercises, was informed that I was being discharged as they were very pleased with my progress.
I have the sos option for 3 months where by I can call in or phone the physio and if need be, start attending the rehab class again but fingers crossed I won't need to.

We've just booked a walking?? holiday in Madeira for a week.
This will really test my leg but i'm going to pace myself and hopefully, this will be the first of alot of walking breaks.

Whilst my leg is settling back to some sort of 'normality' I still can't get used to the plate. It feels like someone is gripping your upper shin whilst your walking!
I will speak to my OS on the 26th but I'm reluctant to have the plate removed at any time in the future unless I have too. The thought of yet another operation makes me feel quite depressed.

[guam]

i also had an hto.  i was just gonna ask how long do people normally remove their plate afterwards.  i've met a few people that said they just leave it in there.  is there a danger in leaving it in there for good?  i figure if it's in there, it's extra security for the side they shifted the weight to

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi Guam,

Good to hear from you. I've been keeping up with your recovery on your diary.

I spoke to my OS about the plate pre-op. He told me it can come out when the time is right. Very cryptic but he then went on to say that everyone has a diffrent recovery period and some people decide to keep it in permanently. Normally, the plate can be removed after a year.

I'm seeing my OS on the 26th and the plate will definitely be part of the discussion.

I've recently been to The Houses of Parliament, London, UK and went through the airport style security without the plate setting off the alarm, so that is a reief when it comes to travelling.

I will let you know the outcome of my appointment.

Great that your doing so well.

Mike

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

31st January (Day 192)

It's been a very positive 10 days for me.
Gill has booked a walking hopliday for us in Madeira and, although I will have to make sure I pace myself, I'm really looking forward to it. There's a heated outdoors swimming pool at the hotel, so a chance to rest every other day.

I saw my OS last Wednesday. Initially, I was seen by the registrar who was very pleased and a bit surprised at how active I was.
She told me I was doing extremely well.
My OS asked for a X-Ray and that showed that the open wedge was filling in nicely with bone.
I was surprised that it hadn't filled in already (Mr Impatient) and was informed that it will take around a year to do so.
He too was very pleased with my progress.
I asked him about any do's and don't's and he told me to carry on doing what Iam and not to run at the moment.

I told him about the discomfort and pins and needles to part of the leg and was informed that there is three scenarios to his.
1. The pins and needles wear off and you get feeling back in the muscle within a few months (not me then!!).
2. Sensation will gradually improve over a longer period of time (let's hope so!!).
3. Your stuck with this for life!!

He also mentioned that the removing the plate will probably help and said that this could be done in 2 to 3 year's time!!

On Saturday I played 18 holes of golf. On Sunday I watched Arsenal and yesterday I was looking at work on a nature reserve for two hours which entailed alot of walking over uneven ground.
The leg is quite sore and I had to ice it after golf but it is settling down today.

I can't believe how quick time has flown by.
It will be 6 months on the 2nd February since I had the operation and whilst it has been hard at times, I'm so pleased to be at this stage of my recovery so quickly.

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi All,

7th February (Day 199)

I've recently started pilates classes and have found them very helpful.
My leg really feels that its been worked and in a different way to walking or any of  the other exercises I had been given by my physio.
I'm hoping that pilates will tone muscles around my knees and improve my core strength.

Life is gradually returning to normality.
On saturday I went clay pigeon shooting. Initially, I was wary that the recoil might have an affect on my knee or my recent shoulder operation but, all was okay.
My 50 mile return journey was made that more interesting with up to 6 inches of snow on the M40.

Gill and I are off on our walking holiday in Madeira on Friday so, I will post something on my return to let you know how it went.

To all those knees out there - keep healing!!

Mike

[Contractorarsenal]

Hi all,

19th February (Day 211)

Managed to get back from my holiday in one piece!!
I have to take my hat off to Guam. I only took two flights: London to Lisbon and Lisbon to Madeira, and my leg was shouting at me.
The main problems were the lack of leg room and getting in and out of my seat which meant alot of twisting of the knees.

Whilst in Madeira I managed to walk 24 miles over three days with the odd bit of sightseeing and rest in between.
Even on some of days I managed to walk 3 or 4 miles each day.
I got back on Friday evening and yesterday played 18 holes of golf. It's amazing how quickly the body adjusts. Three weeks ago, I virtually crawled round the last 6 holes and slept like a baby that night. This time I flew round and as a bonus I've started to get back to my old game.

Back to work tomorrow which will mean alot of walking over uneven ground.
I'm not ready to start the practical side of the job yet however, as we are so busy, I'm going to have to get my hands dirty soon.

I'm going to end my diary now but will post an update in August once I've been to see my OS.
I hope you have found my diary helpful and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Wishing all of you a speedy recovery

Mike