So, it's going to happen. UCSF. Manipulation. What's that, you ask? Patient (that's me) is put under (probably with a spinal block plus drugs that make you forget and permanently happy). Surgeon takes leg and bends it. He leans his weight onto it. CRACK. Yeah. That's the scar tissue breaking. Then the manipulation is followed by two more days of intensive physical therapy. Will he cut? No. No plans for any cutting. Will this hurt? Yeah. Like hell. As if we knew what hell felt like. It'll hurt. What are the risks? Very, very minsicule risk of something breaking but since the rest of me is in good shape, almost no risk that way. The main risk is that it won't work, or that it will work at first and the scar tissue grows back. So jeez, why do it? I'm at a regular 90 degrees flexion -- maybe 100 to 110 when pushing it. But I can actually FEEL where my knee stops because of scarring. Well, I can't say for sure that it's because of scarring. But I can tell you that something is in the way. Also, there is a high likelihood that it will both hasten my recovery AND give me more flexion overall. So when I'm done, maybe i'll have something like 140. Never thought I'd be fighting for a few degrees. But this is my life now.
Oh and one of the benefits of surgery -- they give you a spinal block for a few days. So I may have something like three pain free days. YAY! I know. Going to the hospital is extreme. I'm not doing it just for the block. But being pain free will be GREAT.
In other news, I just got back from my new bodyworker/accupuncture guy. I will say I really notice the difference. He's doing some massage and I can tell after he's done with me that I can bend more. Who knows? Maybe by Monday I won't need the manipulation at all.
My sister (bless her heart) is coming in to take care of me and to be my bitch. (or maybe it'll be that I'll be hers. . . well, you know what I mean) She'll be the one yelling at the nurses and doctors for meds and all sorts of things. My folks might be back from their trip in time to also be there. I now know to NEVER enter the hospital alone, without an advocate. My co-worker told me all about that and he's absolutely right. Squeeky wheels work. Bitching? Yeah, that's how it's done. Trust me. This is the sister who just had breast reconstruction post mastectomy. So it's a little weird. Breast cancer is a lot more serious than knee stuff. But she's ok and as long as she doesn't lift, she should be ok. It'll be nice to see her.
So if you've been wondering when to call, I'd say now.
Visitors? Yes, I'd love visitors now and in the hospital. I wont' be quite as out of it as I was before -- and I'll be working on bending and stuff. But yes, call first and let me know if you're up for a visit.
--Janet
PS Yes, having a tantrum and crying my eyes out yesterday helped. I never know when the tears are going to come. Sometimes I feel like it's just physical exhaustion. So Beth and others who have been on my recieving end, thanks for being there and not hanging up. It's a mix of feeling sorry for myself and just like I said, a chemical sort of thing.
Photo credit: here
