Feels like 0 degrees

I missed both buses to and from PT today, so I walked the 14 1/2 blocks each way. With the wind chill it was 0 degrees F. Neither of my knees were happy. Actually, my right knee is really starting to get irritated and cranky.

More balance board catch and another new exercise of lying on my back while squeezing a giant yoga ball between my ankles and bending and straitening my knees. I can only guess what it looks like while you are actually doing it.

My left (surgery) knee is sore and hot and doesn't want to bend while I am sitting at the computer - probably time to put some ice on it and I may even take a pill (haven't had to take any pain meds for two weeks.) Actually, a nice nap sounds really good (one of the pluses of working at home).

Lots of exercises to do this weekend, while facing the knowledge that Wednesday will probably be my last PT session unless my insurance stops being quite so miserly. Did I mention a nap?!

Balance Board Catch and High Heels

Just trying to stay on the balance board wasn't enough for Matt. Today I had to stand on the balance ball and throw and catch a ball. Multitasking at it's PT best.

We also got into a discussion about high heels. I wasn't even thinking about blogging it, until Matt said he had to think about what he was saying for fear it would end up here.

I have never been one of those "Sex & the City" type women who live in their stilettos. I love my heels, but I usually carried them in a bag and wore them for short periods at specific events. Matt agrees with my old Podiatrist that they are really not good for me as they force the knee to bend - helping to give your legs that look that women love their high heels for, but wreaking havoc on joints. For a woman who has now had three knee surgeries in the last quarter century, that's probably not a good thing.

I agree in theory, but . . . they're pretty and they help me feel pretty when I wear them. So, I may scale back my collection and look at more wedges and stacked heels over stilettos, but don't hold your breath that I'll give them all up.

Matt also helped me think about some of the questions I need to focus on for my Dr. W appointment. I've said before I was told my knees were fragile after my last surgeries. I spent years in fear and babying them (perhaps not as much as I should have). What does this new surgery really mean for my activities? I'm not saying I want to go ski black diamonds, but having a better understanding of my real limitations would be nice. Things to think about before Tuesday.

Tired and Pushing

I walked too much this weekend, making my knees a bit sore and tight (though I was able to bend to 118 degrees cold in PT yesterday). I followed that up by being on my feet too much last night and today baking.

PT was about balance and stretching. Working on the rocking balance board was the first time I felt the burning stretch in my left calf and thigh. The surgery definitely tightened up some muscles I hadn't really felt until now. I want to be back to "normal"! I want the swelling to go away, I want more nerves to come back. I want to be able to stand up from a chair without having to use my hands. I want to not have to think before I walk up or down stairs. I want to stop being worried that I don't have the strength to take assignments. I want to be able to wear something other then flats.

Time to stop whining. I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, and despite periodically needing to fight with them - health insurance. I am better off then a lot of people.

A Tight 120

My knee bent to 120 degrees today. It was not easy and we had to warm it up first, but I did it. I am even managing to sit with my knees at about 95 - 100 degrees right now as I am currently in between my icing sessions.

On the plus side no planks today, though I have figured out how to set up the yoga mat and do them at home. Just keep repeating "this is a good thing, this is a good thing" - that's what gets me through my wall slides.

It is becoming obvious to me that I really need to start walking again. I have become very slow. It was almost easier when I was hobbling with a knee that wouldn't bend. Right now I'm just tired. This weekend will be a mix of home PT exercises, walking (until the predicted rain) and cleaning and organizing the house (I'm seeing laundry in my future). For now, back to the ice.

More Planks

Two days in a row of PT - I'm a bit sore. I stupidly admitted I had no where at home to practice Planks, so I got to do more during my session. Matt even tried to have me do them one legged - didn't work. I was able to bend on the table to 115 degrees, only 7 degrees less then my "good knee".

Focus is shifting a bit to getting the muscles around my knee strong, so I can walk. I am having shin splint type pains when I walk up hill. I am still a bit slower then I used to be. Time to start walking. If the weather is good I may have to take the camera out this weekend.

Matt is Mean ... but he's doing it for my own good

Matt is not maliciously mean, it's just that PT with him is hard! Today he had me doing Plank push-ups - making me an absolute liar in even thinking my core was strong. I was very sorry I didn't take a pain pill before I went to PT.

I don't know what all I did Friday, but both my knees were incredibly sore on Saturday, and even today I am alternating icing them (the Game Ready went back this weekend).

Matt also wanted to extend my PT to twice a week for the next 3 weeks, as opposed to three times a week for the next 2 weeks. (My insurance has set a use by date of February 4th). The insurance coordinator at my PT center said no, but when I got home and called my insurance they said it would be possible if the PT center submits a letter (Either my insurance has a bunch of Johanna's in their call center or I got the same woman from last week). In the meantime, I am keeping my three a week schedule until I have a better answer.

It's the nonsense like this that gets to me. If my insurance has agreed to pay for ten sessions, what the heck does it matter if I use them twice a week or three times a week. Especially, if my therapist is saying that he wants to spread them out so I am good and ready for my next photo trip. I was told, in passing today, that my insurance originally denied any more sessions, something I probably should have been told. I guess the letter from Dr. Williams helped change their minds.

Perhaps members of the legislature should have to price out and pay for their own health insurance and then they would get their butts in gear and finalize a decent health care plan! (Of course, a large percentage of them would simply go on Medicare.)

Stuck In the Middle at 115 degrees

I reached 115 degrees today, I might have gotten a tad further (my goal for the day was 118) but the table was in my way. Yesterday I was able to climb and descend a flight of stairs using both knees. I still have more muscle strengthening, but I am definitely starting to feel there is light at the end of the tunnel. And in 5 months I can get the screws removed.

The only annoyance is the continued problem with swelling. I finished my anti-inflammatory prescription Monday and I today my left ankle and calf is noticeably more swollen then my right. Now that I can finally start trying heels again I don't want swollen ankles! I have already decided that I should wear (or at least bring and put on when I get there) a pair of my highest stilettos to my next Dr. Williams appointment.

As for the CPM confusion, I spoke to Johanna (sp?) at my insurance yesterday and discovered being a bit graphic can be helpful. She reiterated what the medical supply company said, that the approval letter had been sent by mistake. My insurance only covers CPM machines for total knee replacements and manipulations. This is where I got a bit graphic and said that I had a dead persons body part attached to my knee and felt that should make me eligible for the CPM. I made her a bit squeamish with the dead person reference and she slipped from the official line and agreed with me. She did tell me that because the surgical supply company is in the insurance provider network they are not allowed to bill me, even though my insurance is still denying the claim and that it is up to the supply company to argue the denial. I see this dragging on for a while with me getting pulled around a bit.