ELEMENTary my dear

One of the very few times that Terry and I are both glad we have short legs.

Writing this journal has helped me to become more interested and curious as to what happened, and what is going on with me. Terry sent over some photos of her Element after it got towed to the storage yard.

The police took 91 photos at the scene, those are on their way, and I'll see about getting a few up here.

About this Blog

This blog is my place to come and talk about my recovery from the auto accident on May 20, 2006. It's intended to be my place to look over my milestones (when I need motivation and encouragement); as well as to rant, rave, educate or whatever else suits my fancy at the time I'm writing.

I started a paper journal while I was still in the hospital. Since both hands were in casts, this consisted solely of noting key milestone dates. Now, I'm going back to those dates and writing more about what was happening, and how I felt.

I can back date entries on this blog, so as I get around to electronically journalizing those first several months, I'll date them for the actual entry. In the mean time, I'm not going to wait around until I'm all caught up before I start journaling.

Just the act of starting this journal, and writing the first few entries has been mentally therapeutic. One, I feel a bit better mentally about some of the things that have been weighing on me; but more interesting, I'm starting to remember a few bits and pieces here and there. I really don't like having this huge blank spot in my memory; so if writing in detail about that time helps my memory, then I'm all for it!

If you happen to be someone who stops by and reads this journal, all of the skipping around is likely to be confusing. Sorry, but that's how it is right now. After the first several months are caught up, I'm sure it will be much better.

Third Surgery

Just about 4 1/2 months since the reconstruction ORIF surgery (to start putting my leg back together), Dr Cole decided it was time to take out some of my hardware. The good news is this means the bone is healing well; the bad news means; well, more surgery.

Dr Cole took out the plate that ran from my knee up the side of my femur, a bunch of screws in my knee, the screw in my ankle, and worked on breaking up the scar tissue in my knee. My knee is a real mess, and Dr Cole has done and continues to do amazing things putting it back together. This surgery was all arthroscopic, so the recovery will be much faster.

The day following surgery, I was able to bend my knee 105 degrees by myself. This is wonderful. Now, the next several weeks are going to be; ah, should we say horribly excruiciating while I work on bending my knee.

The PT got me up and moving in my walker the next morning, then later that afternoon came in with some crutches. We made our way down to a stair case, and I practiced going up and down stairs. Once I was confident on the stairs, I was ready to head home.

I've got the CPM (constant passive motion) machine at home. It's set up in the guest bed, that's where I sleep now. I try to spend at least 6 - 7 hours nightly in the CPM, then get out of it for a few hours of real sleep. The machine bends my knee up and down all night. Nasty thing to try and sleep with!