It's a new week

Yesterday was a good day. I finally figured out the best way to stay comfortable while using the CPM so I was able to use it for 7 hours. I felt good enough to tackle the stairs last night and slept in my bed for the first time since Tuesday night....subsequently getting a good night's sleep.

The bruising is still quite amazing in its scope and color palette but the swelling seems to be subsiding. I should be hearing from the doctor's office concerning physical therapy today.

Better day so far

I decided to try using the CPM in a prone position and that has helped immensely. I have been able to spend 4 hours in it today and that is really helping the stiffness in the knee.

The bruising has really become more noticeable. The entire inside of my leg, from ankle up past my knee, is bruised in lovely shades of blacks, blues, and yellows.

Tough day

Saturday was not a very good day. I don't know if I overdid it on Friday with the shower and trying to be up and around more or what but I was very uncomfortable all day. I only did 5 hours in the CPM and need to try and do more today.

I can put a little more weight on my leg than. I will call tomorrow and find out when my PT starts, that should be a lot of fun?!?!?

It was a good football Saturday: my son's school University of South Carolina beat Clemson, Tennessee made it 25 straight over Kentucky, and the SEC took care of business against the ACC.

Today will be a better day.

Rough night

I am not sure why but last night was about as bad as Wednesday night. I noticed this morning that the swelling is moving up the side of my leg and it is very sensitive. I can put a little more weight on it today and am actually looking forward to the CPM. I am going to shoot for a 3 hour session this morning once I start.

The dreaded CPM

This harmless looking little device mocks me daily. 6 - 8 hours a day at 2 hour increments.....

Okay, here are some pictures

Day 3: took off the original bandages to change them out. What a surprise....

Tiring day...

Well, I have made it through 4 hours of the CPM today and my attitude about it is changing. It actually seems to really work the soreness and stiffness out of the knee. The hamstring is not as sore as it was yesterday so that is a good thing.

We took the bandages off this afternoon so I could take a shower and the swelling and bruising was about what I expected. Again, will try to get pictures loaded soon. The shower, on the other hand, while was refreshing was very tiring.

I still haven't heard from the doctor's office concerning starting physical therapy. I guess I'll use the CPM 6-8 hours a day until Monday and call if I haven't heard from them. Of course, that is going to be fun as well.....

CPM actually helped

Okay, the medieval torture device redeemed itself this morning. The 2 hour session actually was quite beneficial. The stiffness, while still there, was gently worked out over the course of the session. I am taking a break for lunch and will go for another session. I didn't; however, get the full additional 5 degrees of flex that I was supposed to add. I was only able to add 3 degrees so hopefully I can get the extra 2 degrees in the next session.

I took a peak underneath the bandages....wow. Even with the ice machine pumping cold water around my knee for nearly 2 days the swelling is UGLY... We are going to change the bandages later today so I should get some good pictures.

Stay tuned...

Day 2

Yesterday wasn't too bad. I struggled with the CPM and as the day progressed I started having a little more discomfort. We had a great family night talking about Christmas and then watching a movie together...well I dozed in and out and they watched a movie.

Everyone has told me that the 2nd full day after the surgery will be the biggest challenge...that would be today. I can already feel the incisions more so than yesterday. I am not looking forward to the CPM as I feel tightness behind my knee cap and my hamstring is very tight. I am about to start the CPM so I come back in a couple of hours and report on how that went.

It's confirmed....that device is medieval

Okay, I didn't make it two hours on the CPM. I was not ready for the pain in my hamstring once it started moving. I think I got 90 minutes before I had to stop. Which was also the 90 minutes on the back end of the meds cycle. So, the next time I strap into the CPM I will know what to expect.

The CPM....or ancient torture device

Ok, the CPM is on and running. I am quite certain this device can be found in any dungeon from the medieval age. I have to let this thing run for 2 hours at a time....for a total of 8 hours a day.

Stay tuned...

Team Radio Shack roster announced

Okay, one more non surgery related post. I am a huge fan of cycling and ride a bit myself. I just saw that Team Radio Shack finally announced their roster: check it out here:
http://www.teamradioshack.us/

Based on what I seen online cycling will be a core component of my rehab so this is somewhat related....

Post Op Day 1

Well, I made it through the night with many problems other than: sleeping on the couch, in the bend of a wrap around couch, with that part of the couch separating from the rest (confirmed this morning when I had to pull myself out of the canyon created), and feeling like I was in the hospital having to wake up every 3 hours for meds. Oh well, day 1 is over. Okay, this post will not necessarily be about the surgery and recovery, it is Thanksgiving.

With today being Thanksgiving, I have a lot to be very Thankful for now more than ever. First and foremost my wonderful wife; Lisa, who by the way promoted to a full Director within The Pampered Chef. She now has quite a thriving home based business and I am both thankful and very proud of her. Second, my two sons Josh and Ian. I am thankful that God gave me two wonderful boys that I grow more proud of daily. Of course, I am thankful for my Dad and that he found happiness after my Mom passed away after fighting cancer. I am thankful for my Sister, Annette and Brother, Kendall. I am also thankful for my in-laws. They are a blessing in my life. But most of all I am thankful that we live in the Greatest Nation on the face of the Earth.

Stay tuned....today should be filled with lots of reasons to post: the dreaded CPM machine that seemed to stare at me all night, trying to put a little weight on this leg (and I do mean a little), and who knows what else.

Okay, I'm coherent now....

Wow, what a whirlwind of a morning. We got to the surgical center at 6:02 a.m. and I was whisked away to start prepping for the surgery. There were three people that were either asking me questions, asking about my history with anesthesiology, or arguing with Lisa about the insurance agreeing to pay for my CPM device. Of course, Lisa won that debate. Then while Lisa took the crutches and CPM out to the car I changed into my surgical jammies and Dr. Suprock came by and marked up my leg with a smiley face, pictures coming soon, then I was moved to the prep area. Luckily, Lisa came back just before the drugs to knock me out took effect so I could say by and Love You!

The anesthesiologist came in and told me about the nerve block they were going to give me, which was a good thing until it started wearing off, and the type of drugs they would be using to keep my asleep.....I faded to black before he finished talking. I woke up in more pain that I have ever experienced in my life....even from kidney stones. It got to the point that I was given a 2nd nerve block and some other good pain relievers that let me get a little sleep. I want to Thank Suzanne, my post op nurse, because she was awesome. She stayed diligent until I could tell her that the pain was starting to subside. Oh; that nerve block, when it finally started wearing off this afternoon I thought I was going to go crazy. We all know that feeling when a body part falls asleep and when the blood starts circulating.....imagine that without being able to move your leg because of a range of motion knee brace locked in place. No one told me to expect that .

The CPM device is mocking me sitting over across the room. I am not supposed to use it until tomorrow. My oldest son told me it looked like something from the movie SAW. However, I am sure that I will be more than glad to actually move my leg tomorrow, even if only a few degrees continuously. We'll see.

I'll try to get the pictures downloaded before tomorrow. Stay tuned...

It's time....

Okay, I must admit that it has been a long time since I got up this early but I'm up and ready to take on the day. Leaving in a few minutes to head to the outpatient surgical center to begin this journey.

All systems go.....

Okay, after 3 separate phone calls to confirm the date/time of the surgery, confirm the equipment that I would be getting after the surgery (Continuous Passive Motion, DonJoy TROM knee brace, cool machine), and to confirm my copay amount all systems are go. Wednesday morning at 6:45 a.m. I will be having my ACL reconstructed.

Stay tuned.....

2 days and counting

Well, I am on the downward slide to surgery this Wednesday. I know one thing I will be very thankful for on Thursday, having a repaired knee. Of course, I am always thankful for my wonderful wife and two awesome sons.

I have to call the office tomorrow and answer a few questions and get the time for my procedure. I've set this up to be able to post from both email and from text messages so I will be giving updates up to the point they take my phone away.....

Stay tuned...

Getting anxious...

One week out now....and I am getting a bit anxious about this whole surgery. Maybe I should stop searching the internet for information about the surgery, recovery and rehab. While I am relieved to finally have answers and am going to get it fixed I still am a bit anxious.

I got the packet from my doctor today with all of the do's and don't prior to surgery. I would list them all but I could be typing all night....needless to say I plan on following that list. My only conern is that there is no eating/drinking after midnight the night prior; however, his "blocked schedule" time on the paperwork is between 11am and 9pm. No caffeine, no sugar, no food!!!! They will have to knock me out just to fight the grumpiness of being hungry with a caffeine headache. I know, wah, wah, wah....

Stay tuned.

So much information...

Wow, the amount of information online about ACL reconstruction surgery and recovery is amazing. Everything from this simple animated site: http://www.sportsknee.com/aclhamstring.htm to this detailed video: http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafYXUt.html makes you marvel at the awesome advances in our medical system.

While I am glad to finally have the right diagnoses and the reconstruction scheduled I am also very anxious about having it done, especially right as the holiday season starts. With the ACL fused to the PCL, I am really concerned about separating and removing the ACL. My wonderful wife keeps telling me the doctor knows what he is doing, and obviously so, but I can't help but wonder if once he starts the surgery there will not be more to repair than just the ACL.

Stay tuned....

My ACL story

December 23rd, 1990: While not a glamorous story, I tore my ACL when I fell off of the back of a deuce and a half command post vehicle several miles north of Hafir al-Batin in Saudi Arabia while serving in Operation Desert Shield. I knew it was torn but the Army didn't: the pop in my knee, the swelling, the instability and the constant pain underneath my knee cap. I stayed in country through March of 1991 and was sent back to Germany. At that time, the diagnosis from the Army was still just muscle sprains and I was given two weeks medical leave. In 1992 when I left active duty my exit physical noted "laxity" in my left knee but still no acknowledgement of a potential ACL tear.

Now, 19 years later after multiple incidents of my knee giving out, giving up most sports (although I never was that good at sports) and finally having a MRI done after my knee collapsed while going up some stairs my doctor informed me that my ACL was completely torn and had "fused" itself to my PCL. He firmly believes that based on the description of my original injury that I have had a torn ACL since 1990. I am scheduled for surgery 11/25/09. I am relieved to finally find a doctor, a former Air Force doctor, took the time to order a MRI and find the problem.

I will use this blog to chronicle how a 43 year old makes it through ACL reconstruction and recovery.