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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Made it through 10 Weeks!

I never imagined even a month ago that I would be as ambulatory as I am. The cane hasn't been touched since we got back from Florida and the knee is pretty good. Unfortunately, the other knee feels like hell and now I know why people often seem to have a second knee done so soon after the first. If I didn't have a job to go to (and I'm grateful that I do!), I would schedule the second knee as soon as possible, even though it would mean no biking for another couple of months. As it is, the earliest I can plan surgery on the left knee will be the fall of 2011.

Last weekend, I was a lector at 5 PM Saturday Mass and I had no trouble processing down the aisle to the sanctuary, though I did ask the other lector to carry the Book of the Gospels. Last thing I need is to trip on the altar steps in front of a churchload of worshipers. I don't mind being the center of attention, but not under those circumstances. No point in pressing my luck, so I did not kneel at all. I'm quite sure now that I'll be OK reading the Passion on Good Friday, and walking toward the altar in the candlelight at the Easter Vigil.

I've been walking over my lunch hour most days, and I think I'll try a junket to Highland Village (a mile or so) sometime this weekend. I can make Wild Birds Unlimited my destination and load up on my favorite birdware and rations. I've been very busy at work every day and I have to admit that I'm tired by the time I get home, though refreshed by mid-evening. My fear of being unable to wrap my mind around work tasks with reasonable intelligence did not materialize, and my stamina is reasonably good.

My one concession to my occasionally hobbled state was the use of a disability parking space downtown St. Paul on Thursday afternoon. I had lunch with my friend Mary Jo, and then headed to a meeting at the Department of Commerce. I drove downtown -- rare for me -- because I thought I might be dragging in the late afternoon, after walking plenty during the day. The decision was correct: I was happy to ride up the hill for the last hour at my desk.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

9 Weeks

I sailed through the 2-month mark last Sunday, a beautiful spring day filled with sunlight. I cleaned the kitchen and washed the floor, and while I was tired and stiff afterward, I felt fine and went about the rest of my day enjoying the sparkling weather.

My cane has been in the back seat of my car since I returned to work last Thursday. After an easy two days last week, I was happy to be managing the work gig with reasonable success. People were watching me for fatigue and/or a limp, but for the most part, I looked just fine. Yesterday I was so confident that I walked all the way from the Centennial Building to 4th and St. Peter, to see the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Google reports that the distance is 0.8 mile, a 16-minute walk. I didn't time myself, but the round trip didn't take me more than 55 minutes, and I watched the parade for about 20 minutes, so I was fairly happy with my little adventure.

However, the junket may have been too ambitious. Both my knees were sore by the time I got home, and I did not have a good night. This morning, I was stiff and grumpy, weary from lack of restful sleep. By noon I was feeling  quite a bit better and couldn't resist going out for a walk. This time, I simply walked around the park in front of the Centennial Building, past the Department of Transportation on John Ireland Blvd, passing the Capitol and back to my office on Cedar. That walk isn't more than a mile, and there were no ill effects. In fact, I felt fine this afternoon.

I'm especially happy that I don't think about the knee all the time anymore. I can sit at a meeting and concentrate on the subject matter, rather that endure the pain as my mind wanders off topic. The other knee -- I just can't refer to it as my "good knee" -- is often more painful than the right one celebrating 9 weeks today. I walk up and down stairs with little effort and can bend it with ease.

I feel pretty good tonight and am looking forward to an active weekend. I return to lectoring at Nativity for 5 PM Mass on Saturday and don't expect any problems, although I kneeling, even on a padded surface, is certainly out of the question.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

8 Weeks

Made it through an entire day at work. Most of the morning was spent in meetings, during which I had to sit for a very long time. Sometimes in the past, I felt as though I would not make it through a couple of hours, because of the discomfort, pain and stiffness.

Today I felt fine, with only a little stiffness by mid afternoon. I didn't worry about falling on my head when I stood up, and there was no limp. Unbelievable! I always had to concentrate on NOT limping.

I bent my knees way beyond 100 degrees under my chair. I felt mentally tired at the end of the day but was not dead beat. I think it was a successful re-entry.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Back to Work Tomorrow!

Finally! Going back to work on Thursday -- new job as agency technical readiness coordinator for the state's new accounting and procurement system (SWIFT). I'm looking forward to the routine and the new responsibilities, but I'm a little anxious about energy levels and mental stamina. I actually think I've made great strides, literally and figuratively, over the last two weeks so I should be fine.

The best development is improved sleeping: if I can get a good night's rest I think I can hit the ground limping only a little in the morning. Tomorrow is the 8-week anniversary of the surgery so I'll write in more detail when I've made it through the day.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Cocoa Beach Report Card

The day before we left for Cocoa Beach, I said that my goals for the ten days were better stamina and the ability to walk for longer distances: http://hennesseytkr.blogspot.com/2010/02/six-weeks-gig-is-getting-old.html. I think the goals have been achieved.

I'm not exhausted at 2 PM anymore, and even in the early evening I can walk with little difficulty. The bonus was better sleep than at home -- last night I had none of the muscle relaxant, Mirapex, and I felt just fine this morning. Hoping that that I'll be just as well when we arrive home on Monday.

Looking forward to going back to work on Thursday! I think I'll be fine.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Better Mobility and Balance

The last few days have been very active, with a lot of walking (with and without a cane) and swimming. I am still thrown off balance a little when someone shoves me or if my foot catches on an uneven surface, like the deck. I am still tired in the evening (i.e., after about 7 PM), so we tend to have dinner early or, on the night of the rocket launch, not at all.

The knee was a little sore last night, after a day of walking and a lot of time on my feet. Today I was tired out after going through most of the War Museum at Titusville. I finally sat down and didn't go any further, while Bpb visited the last hangar. Now, an hour or so after leaving the museum, I'm feeling fine again.

I think I'm walking without a limp, as long as I concentrate on my stride.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

7 Weeks

I think I'm doing well at 7 weeks.

The swimming seems to be very good for knee flexion. My flutter kick -- very slight earlier in the week -- is now  quite strong. I swam for an hour yesterday and about 90 minutes today, and I didn't have any trouble getting out of the pool. I had a vision of myself falling on my face walking up the stairs, but I look and feel strong. That's not to say that I don't have a moment of anxiety when I'm ready to get out of the pool.

Some people look at me a little strangely when I saunter -- as much as I can saunter -- into the pool area. Yesterday, a man who had been watching me brought me a chair when he saw that I was going to get one outside in the bar area. I'm learning to accept such courtesies, with whatever grace I can muster. Today, I could see that one lady was trying to figure out what my problem was, so I went out of my way to tell her. I know how it drives me crazy when I have a puzzle like that to solve.

I wish I could measure the number of degrees I can bend now. It must be close to my 120 goal. I can lie on my side and pull my lower leg fairly close to my body. The best new development is that the knee is not very painful at night so I can sleep for a couple of hours at a time. I think the lack of good sleep was at least partly responsible for my inability to concentrate on any task for longer than a few minutes. I was a little afraid, at some level, that I had suffered some cognitive losses due to MS. I'm happy to report that cognition seems OK! Whew. Dodged the bullet once again.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

A Day Trip to Daytona

We spend several hours at Daytona's famous Bike Week today. Although I walked a lot and spent a lot of time in the car, I feel pretty good this evening. The weather is windy and cold, so I didn't get my swim today. I was very tempted this evening, but I am afraid of tripping in the dark on the uneven deck of the hotel, so I decided not to risk it.

I realized one of the reasons the knee was catching so much the first few days we were here. Overuse is one reason, but the other is that getting in and out of the car strained the inside of the knee. I am used to pulling myself into Bob's Yukon, with little or no strain on either knee. The Impala requires a big step into the car, strain on the less than good left knee, and then a swing of the right leg. In the beginning, I could lift the right leg without straining the knee itself, and I think I irritated that "bad" area on the inside.

I'm not exhausted by 9 PM anymore, and I even made it to about 10:30 last night. Going to bed later seems to improve my chances for a better night's sleep, as does this very comfortable bed. One of the projects when we get home is a new mattress for our bed: the one we have is too firm for comfort. It was a mistake when we bought it however many years ago (7 or 8) and I think a new mattress will add to our general wellbeing.

I walked several hundred feet outside without the cane today. It felt fantastic!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Pool Exercises

We spent most of this very pleasant afternoon by the pool. There was a very active family of three boys playing in the water when we arrived, and I felt a sudden surge of panic as I contemplated getting down the stairs into the water. I was also a little self conscious: the cane and my long scar seemed so conspicuous. I'm not sure that I've ever seen anyone leave a cane poolside while swimming.

Fortunately, common sense prevailed and I was soon in the pool. I forced myself to tread water and to do some knee bends during two sessions in the water, and I felt quite strong by late afternoon when we headed over to the beach.

I ditched the cane and headed over to the water, still in my beach cover-up. I was tempted to take it off, but I feared the admonitions of my vigilant keeper, because walking toward the water in a swimsuit would have been a step away from a swim in the ocean. The waves are not very high, and I'm pretty sure that I would be fine in the surf. The water is a little cold, and only the bravest of little boys are swimming. I can hardly stand it.

I walked at least half a mile today. Nothing for my old self, but significant for the new me. I went without a cane on the beach, and I felt my balance improving with every step. I wonder if I'm not getting a little too cocky?