My first knee replacement surgery was on June 23rd, 2015. As you know, I had a lot of complications after that surgery. Eight weeks after surgery, I still had terrible range of motion and I went in for another procedure called a Manipulation under Aneshesia. Basically, they knocked me out and moved my leg around to try to break up scar tissue. That didn't work. As time went on, it just got worse. It was very difficult and painful to walk. I went back to my surgeon and we eventually decided it would be best to do another surgery to remove the scar tissue. {Apparently, my super power is making scar tissue. I would much rather prefer to have a high metabolism but we get what we're dealt, right??}
Anyway, just 8 months later [January 19, 2016] I had what is called Revision Surgery. The surgeon took out ALL of the existing hardware out of my knee (I don't even want to think about that.... if you've never had it, it's a pretty barbaric surgery). He removed an enormous amount of scar tissue that was wrapped around my ligaments, he removed my PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament), it's the ligament that runs behind your knee).... so now, I no longer have an ACL or a PCL.
Luckily, this surgery went much better!! I am able to bend my knee farther than 90 degrees (I wasn't able to do that before) unfortunately, I still can't straighten it out completely. My Physical Therapist said that it could take months, even years.... but there is a possibility it won't ever be 100% straight.
That is one of things that would have been nice to know going into the first surgery!
The healing process has gone pretty smooth.... (sorry, some of it looks kinda gross!)
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| Right after surgery |
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| with the CPM machine (it helps to bend your knee for you) |
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| I know, it's gross.... that's a lot of staples! |
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| I hate this thing... I really do. It's my splint to help me straighten my leg. |
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| It's looking pretty good so far... |
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| xray of my "Robo Knee" |
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| Finally. This is what she looks like! |
Unfortunately, because of all of this.... I was out of the gym for nearly a year. I also gained back a crap ton of weight. It really sucks because I had worked SO hard to get it off too. I should have eaten better but I didn't. It is what it is.... but it's still frustrating.
My pain isn't so bad these days (at least nothing that good ole Tylenol every day can't fix). I still walk with a bit of a limp from time to time and I can only walk for so long... I hope that gets better some day!
My body has been through a lot!
I am exactly 15 weeks post-op this week and I am glad to report that I went back to the gym last week. I just did cardio and I only went 2 days but it was a start. I have been once this week and I'm going back tomorrow. Next week, I just might increase it to 3 days :)
I have a very long road ahead of me. I have a long road of recovery (from the surgery/trauma usually takes a year or so and I have had 2 surgeries this year) and I am right back to square one with my diet/fitness. What I have learned is that you HAVE to be in the right mindset and you have to WANT it. I do. I'm ready to do what I need to do. I'm in no rush. I'm not doing this for anyone but myself!
I have no deadlines. I will just set small goals for myself and everything will be just fine.
Oh yeah..... Happy Birthday to my Blog. She's 3 years old today ! :)
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