I did it! I earned my way onto the stationary bike!

I spent the weekend reminding myself that I really, really, really do like physical therapy. Well, let me rephrase that….I hate when she’s “mean” to me – like her not so nice, but necessary, massages L - but by the time I leave there, I am actually walking almost normal and feel stellar. All loose, no pain, no limp! But then, within about an hour or so, I get stiff and tight all over again. I remind myself that it’s not as bad as before I head to physical therapy, and that each time afterwards, the stiffness isn’t as bad as the day before. I did all of my exercises this past weekend with more ice and elevation, and even more bitching and moaning about my compression sock. I keep hoping that she’ll tell me this week I can take it off…please?!?!

Monday was my second physical therapy appointment. Brandi thought it would be beneficial if Ben came with me so that she could show him some stuff to do with me at home. He said he believed me when I told him how bad it hurt sometimes, but until he actually saw tears in my eyes, I don’t think it really set in for him. So we started on Monday with more massage – both hamstring and IT band. When I got uncomfortable, she tells me to go to my happy place. Here's what I imagine (Maui!):

She had Ben do some of the massages on me, and I just loved how they laughed when he realized that with such a small amount of pressure, he could get me to squirm. In all honesty, we laugh a lot there, thank goodness! Brandi then showed Ben how to help me stretch my quad and at the same time work on my flexion. I am convinced it is the best stretch in the world…so far! I did all of the same exercises I did on my first visit, plus a couple of new ones. One is with a thera-band around a table leg, standing up, band behind my knee, contracting my quad, straightening my leg, the release a little bit, do again. Feels good, but man, do I get tired! Weird that doing so little can drain me. I also did some heel slides on the wall, and my flexion was much better than last Friday. I measured at about 84 degrees (bent) Friday, but today, after exercises, I measured at 104 degrees!! Since I’m past 90 degrees now…here comes the really good part --- they let me try the bike! Kate (another therapist there) put the seat way up high and I got on, really expecting to just rock back and forth without going all the way around. However, surprise, surprise…all the massage and exercises really do work! I got all the way around on my first try. I was so happy! I did about 20 rotations in all (sounds silly to say I only did 20, but what a milestone for me!!) Riding the bike was like a gift before my surgery; I would feel so good after riding it. So now that I can do that from this point on, I only see good things for PT in the weeks to come.

Between physical therapy sessions, I’ve been really diligent about doing my home exercises. I thought I would dread them; of course they would be boring and painful. But in all honesty, I feel so good after doing them, I couldn’t ask for a better incentive. I just wish I could do everything at home that I do in PT since I feel so good after leaving there. I get close to that feeling at home, but it’s not quite the same. Still, I will stick with it knowing that what I do now directly impacts my recovery down the road. And I still am super excited about being able to get on a bike now. Our friends, Tom and Colleen, had a bike trainer they let me borrow before surgery, but Colleen is having some issues with her knee now and she’s in PT as well and having to use the bike daily. I was sad when Tom came over to get the trainer last night, but excited to go pick up the used one I found on Craig’s List. When Colleen said she would need it back, I hopped online to see what they were selling for. New trainers cost anywhere from $80-$200. Considering my health insurance sucks and we’ll be paying $3,000-4,000 for my surgery and physical therapy, I couldn’t stand thinking about dropping that much on a bike trainer. So I checked Craig’s List and found a lady selling one for $25! I checked it out online and used ones of this same model were going for $125 on eBay! I totally scored getting the one I did. Now I just have to wait for Ben to get home Saturday to set it up – I’m mechanically clueless. Or, maybe I can ask Tom to come over and do it?? He was so nice last night when he came to get the trainer. He asked me if there was anything around the house I needed help with since Ben was out of town. He’s had three ACL surgeries himself, so he knows it can be rough, but seriously, what a gentleman! Colleen – he’s a keeper! Kari was there last night to help me with walking Tanner and Tom even asked her if she needed anything (I’m sure Ben’s told him that he often gets “conned” into helping with stuff for her too…), and she was like, “Well, actually, I could use a neck massage.” Tom was speechless….and I said, “Oh seriously! It’s not like Ben would do that for you if he was here, so you can’t ask Tom to do it!” We all laughed, and then Tom immediately headed for the door! Just kidding, it was all in good fun.

So, back to PT today for my third appointment. Maybe this time I won’t get tears in my eyes!