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!
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