Rehab Begins

So arthroscope has been and gone and a week passed, a return trip to the Surgeon for a further update to his scrounging around inside the knee.
Unfortuanetly the news wasn't as great as we had hoped pre-op and the first thought Meniscus tear was not present. Got some great happy snaps from inside the knee though and can at least tick off the list of things to do before I die - arthroscope done!

So where to now, Physiotherapy time. I may be a freak but my previous experience with Physio's from terrible ankles from Basketball and Indoor Soccer are nothing but good. Sure it's painful when they seem to be pushing and prodding in ways that the affected body part is telling you shouldn't be happening, but the relief and feeling afterwards is always one of reward, the road to recovery. Of course a few hours later and that quickly disappears and it's back to the injury pain.

So Physio we go and the knee/leg get's one hell of a workout, aggressive approach is thrown around a lot in the first session and whilst it all sounds great to getting back to normal as quickly as possible it is by no means an easy feat.

The improvement is good but it's going to be a long hard road ahead. Bring on plenty of leg lifts, curls, exercise bike and pool walking.

In between all this will be some relaxation time in the month of sport with the ongoing off-track drama of Formula 1, the AFL finals in full flight, the NRL finals just starting to heat up and the new NBL season less than two weeks away one can only wonder who needs to walk anyway, TV is the place to be.

The Healing Begins

An exciting day at the Epworth Hospital for the arthroscope on my right knee - finally!
Was alot of waiting around for each step of the stage and the same twenty questions getting asked over and over again, do you smoke are you a heavy drinker do you suffer from any allergic reactions are you diabetic etc etc. The ongoing barrage of the same questions over and over again was almost like I must look like I fall into one of the stereotypical categories, or is it just uncommon these days for someone not to be a smoker, heavy drinker or have an allergic reaction to something in some way shape or form, sorry to disappoint ;)

The staff were extremely friendly and seemed to enjoy doing their job, although a little strange having a 40 year old male nurse shaving my leg and enjoying it...

After all the pre-op stuff took place, robe'ing up, getting right knee shaved, texta markings it was time to settle in for the wait, seems I was last on the list for the day so kicked back relaxed in my sexy get-up and watched the ever exciting daytime tv. Do people seriously watch shows like Ellen, The View and Bold & the Beautiful?! Utter Crap! Managed to read the Herald Sun & The Age word for word, even studying every ad in the papers oh the joy.

Finally at 3pm get taken in and setup on a pre-warmed bed - god damn these things are comfy! And another 30 minute wait watching some more crappy TV until finally the doc comes in (Doctor Bruce R.T. Love - cool name that) and lets me know he's only a few minutes from being ready. Had a brief chat to the nurse and doctors assistant and they both commented on how particular Doctor Love is which is good news for me but makes their job always more difficult (sorry ladies, but I'm more interested in the Doc being particular about my knee than making your jobs easier).

Wheeled into the theatre and it has one of the best views you could get of the city (see picture to the right, from inside recovery not theatre but similar views just not floor to ceiling windows), overlooking to the left the MCG and straight ahead the city skyscrapers, this whole side of the theatre was three floor to ceiling windows just a complete glass wall, really hope they don't take in the sights whilst operating!




Within thirty seconds of getting wheeled into the theatre it was lights out time and awoke in recovery with an equally stunning view. After a few moment of hot and cold flushes some water and a bit more of the good stuff (mm morphine) it was time to settle in for a bit more a snooze (See pic to the left in recovery, great blur effect there too). Not entirely sure but think I was in recovery for about an hour and a half before waking up properly and downing a can of lemonade and two sandwiches whilst enjoying the sunset and the view of peak hour moving around in front of me.



Not before long Deb was there to pick me up and take me back home. It was a long and painful night with a deep throb in the leg all night and very little sleep but all is well and the recovery is in full swing. A visit to the Doc next Tuesday and one would imagine some more exercises than just straight leg lifts and we'll be back to normal in no time.