First therapy session

I get to therapy and find out that the instructions I was given with the CPM to only focus on the "flex" was wrong. I should have been working on the extension just as much as the flex. Of course, had I not been rushed in/out of the surgical center without post operative instructions I would have known that.....but I am responsible because I didn't call back in and clarify.

So, the first session was a bit more unpleasant than I expected it to be since I had not been extending my leg at all for nye on 13 days. It starts as I get up to "crutch" my way back to the torture area....my therapist stops me and says, "put that heel down and put some weight on that leg". It gets better...after a brief interview I get up on the table and the torture begins.

First: basic leg extension trying to get back to flattening my leg out. Like any good Catholic school nun he takes his little plastic measuring device and places it between the back of my leg and the table...and proceeds to let me know just how much room there is by "swatting" the back of my leg. The goal, he says, is to not have any space so he can't swing his little plastic measuring device.

Second: he places an triangle of foam under my knee and has me extend my leg as flat as I can while keeping my knee on the foam....boy did that get my attention. 3 sets of 10 of those and I was ready to call it a day....but no... Next he takes an exercise band, which I am told is the lightest resistance and that he usually only uses this on little old ladies, and hooks it over my foot and hands me the knot. This time I have to keep my knee on the foam but push the foam and extend my foot...3 sets of 15 of these babies. As if that weren't enough he then takes the knot and begins pulling my foot away from my body and I have to pull it back in....all with my knee on the foam extended..... If I weren't hurting so much I would have kicked him with my good leg.

After this insidious little session, I get up and get "runway modeling" instructions with one crutch....yes down to one crutch...as long as I fully extend my left leg, let my heel hit the ground first, and keep my head up while walking. After several "runway" walks he takes me to an available recumbent stationary bike. 10 minutes of the bike at no resistance felt like climbing up Grey Road in Davidson on my Trek for the first time....

Finally, he shows me two stretches to do and gives me a homework assignment complete with take home work sheets that have to be turned in at the next visit (which is Thursday). I have to do everything but the bike at home at least 3 times a day and my wonderful wife can't wait to help....!!

Thus ends the first PT session. In case anyone is interested and would like to Google the exercises here are the "technical" names of each one:
Dorsiflexion: Resisted 3 sets of 15 @ 3 times per day
Plantar Flexion Resisted: 3 sets of 15 @ 3 times per day
Terminal Knee Extension (Supine): 3 sets of 15 @ 3 times per day
Knee Extension (Sitting) 3 sets of 15 @ 3 times per day
Sitting Hamstring Stretch: 3 sets of 5 (held for 30 seconds) @ 3 times per day with a note to do these as much as possible
Gastroc Stretch: 3 sets of 5 (held for 30 seconds) @ 3 times per day