I had a good PT session today. At this point, my only difficulty would be stairs. I walk up and down a flight of stairs at least once a day. After years of stepping and pegging, I have to remind myself to walk alternating feet. Going upstairs is okay. Not great, but I can do it. Coming downstairs is a bit more of a struggle. I have to hold on to the railing and force myself to do it. So. I brought that up at the session today, and as Boud suggested, I asked about leg weights.
"Sure," Paul said. "We can add weights," and so he did, just two pounds. We did quite a stair workout today, and by the time that I left, I felt that I had worked.
The PT said, "Did you move any couches this week?"
I said, "Good lord, no! You took such a fit about it the last time, I figured that I wouldn't. But did you ever see those people all harnessed up and pulling semi trucks...I was tempted..."
He laughed. "Well, at least that truck has wheels on it."
I said, "You just are not getting it. The couch was on sale AND it matched. You didn't expect me to walk away from that, did ya?"
I got some grocery shopping done, bought cat food, and came back home. I kept myself busy and on my feet. This evening we had a grandson's ball game, and then I asked to be dropped off a mile from home and got an evening walk in. I'll have 7500 steps in before bedtime. Not a huge number, but every day, that number increases. Very satisfying.
We've had some pretty fierce weather around us. Tornado touchdowns west of us and north east of us. Flooding in Cuba New York caused it to be declared a state of emergency. (You may not realize that Cuba New York is where Laura Ingalls Wilder's pa was raised.) We got nothing but heavy rain and thunderstorms. It is still coolish here and I am hopeful that at some point, we will get a summer. On a positive note, I haven't had to water the gardens.
Something to remember:
You're the poster girl for knee surgery recovery.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's good to know that I have some good purpose!!!!
DeleteSo glad to hear how well you continue to be! You are a super knee healer!!
ReplyDeleteIt really is amazing. To be able to walk without knee and back pain is such a gift.
DeleteHi. How is it going?
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your conversation about the couch and the semi-truck great sense of humor! Also, 7,500 steps in a day is impressive progress.
The update on the weather was interesting too I didn’t know that about Cuba, NY! Glad you stayed safe from the storms. Hoping summer shows up soon for you, and the garden keeps thriving with all that rain!
The cool and the rain seem to be working their garden magic. I, myself, am not nearly so thrilled with this weather.
DeleteIs Cuba's cheese store still there?? Saw the flooding pictures...terrible
ReplyDeleteIt is still there, and we like to go sometimes.
Deletewe always stopped driving home to the Finger Lakes from Missouri
DeleteI was stationed in Watertown for several years.
DeleteI'm really glad you tried the weights. They're great for building strength in muscles to take stress off the joints. You're doing so well.
ReplyDeleteSo much wisdom out there. I am lucky to have so many 'go-to's'. It was worked so wonderfully for me.
DeleteWhen I first injured my foot, going downstairs was harder than going up.
ReplyDeleteThe mechanics of both are completely different! I never noticed until now. Hope you are doing well!
DeleteYes! You are the super new knee woman! :)
ReplyDeleteI need to get myself a cape!
DeleteBe careful and hold the railing going up and down the stairs. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI am very careful. That is one thing that I am extremely cautious about - the possibility of falling and damaging that knee. I'm very careful about foot placement when walking. I purposefully have been sticking to non-challenging terrain AND you can bet your bippy that I use stair railings!
DeleteYou have a great PT!
ReplyDeleteIt's a team of people, and they seem quite helpful. One good bit of information that I got out of this was that usually people find that stairs get easier about 8 weeks out. I didn't have a time line, really.
DeleteImpressive progress. You really are Wonderwoman!
ReplyDeleteNot so much wonderwoman as just very happy to have something back that I thought was gone forever.
DeleteThe leg weights are interesting. I find more of a need to push myself up when getting up off a chair. Building some leg muscle might help.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid there is only one thing about the US being reported here at the moment, and it isn't flooding rain.
Sounds to me like you need to increase your core strength.
DeleteI've taught myself to hold the stair rails at all times now. One moment of inattention and ...
ReplyDeleteYeah. Remember when we use to run up and down stairs and never give it a second thought?
DeleteYour final piece is so true. Everyone's an expert after the event.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me sad is that people try to shut you down for 'calling it what it is' because they are not ready to do so.
DeleteFunny how even two pound ankle weights can make such a difference in effort needed.
ReplyDeleteIt does. I'm kind of balking at buying a weight for at home. I keep thinking that I'll probably be wanting to increase the weight shortly. I am not sure what weights to buy.
DeleteTry canned tomatoes??
Delete*scratches head* but how do I attach them to my ankles?
DeleteHope your weather calms down. We might get rain this weekend so I will bring my umbrella to the No Kings protest!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work, Debby!
...and make sure we use waterproof material for our signs!
DeleteI wonder why Cuba, New York is named Cuba? And did the town leaders consider changing the name during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
ReplyDeleteI always meant to look that up. 'Cuba' is a Roman word for the protector of children
DeleteI put the ankle weights on my ankles, lay on my belly on my bed and lifted my ankles to as close to my bum as I could , when recovering from my knee replacements. I was told this would strengthen around my knees. Gigi
ReplyDeleteThat is a good exercise. I just need to settle on ankle weights.
DeleteYou are doing great. Stairs are still not fun for me,, but the more I go up and down them the easier it is...until the next time, when my knee is stiff again! By 6 months, you are not even going to remember you had that knee replaced, Debby!
ReplyDeleteI sure hope not, Susanna. Did you get my reply to your email?
DeleteWhen I broke my leg (in 1978 I believe) the physio recommended using leg weights - only such fancy things weren't readily available, so my mum put some books in a bag for me to use. Not quite the same! Nodding to the quote.
ReplyDeleteThat actually is not a horrible idea. I have hand weights.
DeleteIt's a terrible idea if they are put in a plastic bag and the handles cut into your limb or if the bag swings too low. We tried many different permutations.
Delete