Twenty-Five Days

The right knee was stiff and swollen but not bad.  No pain to speak of.   BUT.  The left knee was stiff and swollen and painful.  I just hope the right knee is so painful I can't stand it the day I go in.

Skated 1:45 hr. south and 1 hr. north.  40 degrees made very slow conditions.

Even being laid up I can still knit, read, watch a movie, write, do ebay, email, order components for projects, dream and that's what I did.

Twenty-Six Days

Skated and 1 1/2 hours and not very far.  A half hour out I got slammed with the flu and it took me an hour to limp back.  Couldn't even blame it on my knee.  So.  I was immobilized for a whole different reason.  Good thing I had my convalescence corner all set up because once I got home I couldn't do anything but lay down and try not to move at all.  Probably lost another pound.  I'M NOT A HYPOCHONDRIAC!

Almost wish I had more knee pain since everyone that has gone through the surgery says that now they are pain-free.  I'm already pain-free sort of.

I have an interview for the Florida State MFA film program in 10 days.  I think I try to walk into the interview without crutches like a normal young applicant.  Don't think I want to mention the knee replacement since they'll equate it with 'old person'....I probably would.  We both know that once I get a new knee, I'll be as good as new but I doubt they would know that and I'm sure my age is already a strike against me.

Thirty-Three Days

Today was good.  Got 1 1/2 hours of double poling in.  Mostly stayed sitting the rest of the time.   Plus.  I looked and my baker cyst is gone.  What the?  Can't say I miss it.  Maybe that's why the pain has been at such a low level lately.
When I'm painless I space out for a second and think that I don't have to have it done.  Then I remember how immobile I am whether I'm painless or not.  I think I'm a little bummed when I'm sitting here pain-free because everyone I've talked to says the best thing about having a knee replaced is that now they are pain-free.  Shit.  What is going to be my 'best thing'?  I hope there will be some huge difference.
That's about it for today.

Forty Days #2

Plodded south along the river for an hour and a half after the swelling went down enough.  Still uncomfortable but worthwhile. 
Maybe yesterday was a bit much.
The explosion of the left knee today makes me think that if I just have the right knee done, I'll still be hobbling.  Should I have them both done?

Forty-One Days

Less than 6 weeks !  yay.   Six more weeks of my legs continuing to atrophy.

There used to me a muscle there on the outside.

So Saturday I got rescued by a snowmobile and today I skied 2:20...most of it, north of here in the hills.  I was never anywhere I could've gotten stranded.

No pain to speak of and just 1/2 of a meloxicam.  Who knows?  I have a theory.  My knee has been swollen so long and so hard that it seems like things are getting used to being stretched...therefore it's not as painful.

Got a hydrocodone refill (5/325s).  Think I'll try just taking one before bed if I need it....none during the day unless I have an explosion.  I seem to be able to ski with the meloxicam.  I dread going to bed.  Tossing and turning like I do makes the nights so long.

My rented Ford Focus got stuck at the end of the driveway  today with me in it.  I put all of the groceries in my backpack and crutched up the driveway, traded one crutch for a snow shovel, got some ashes and crutched/snowshoveled back to the car.  A few ashes and what seemed like enough shoveling did nothing.  I was sure I'd drive right out.  Finally the neighbors that were watching through their window 10 feet away came out to help and a half hour later I was driving out of the hole we'd dug.  (Thank you neighbors!)  

THEN my knee hurt.

Forty-Two Days

A more cheerful sitting situation there could not be.

I sit on that pink couch all day.  Ignore the wires and it's a pretty happy spot.

I do best if I can stay off my knee other than getting a little exercise.  As much as I hate sitting all day, I know I'm lucky to be in a situation where that is possible.

I have to say I have been pain free all day.  That's before, during and after a 2 hour ski along the river.
Plus 11 minutes of one legged upper body on the rowing machine.

Ice and 1/2 meloxicam.

I'm trying to get up enough courage to post a photo of my muscle-less thighs.  I caught site my right thigh the other day and thought it belonged to someone else.  Like to someone from Biafra.

Forty-Four then Forty-Three Days

Yesterday was a pretty pain free day.  No skiing.  8 minutes of one-leg upper-body-only rowing. March 12 is my surgery and after that I'm on my way to taking being pain free for granted. 

Then today.  If my knee felt this good every day until March 12, I'd be psyched.  I did 20 minutes of one-leg, upper-body-only rowing while watching Reno 9-1-1.  Other than that I was perched on the couch.  Took 1/2 meloxicam then went to Highland Lodge to ski with Vince.  For over an hour of uphill I was totally pain free and I might add that it really couldn't have been more breathtaking.  Then the downhill started.  Against my will I snow-plowed as best I could coming off Barr Hill.  I could feel the knee swelling.   Maybe from being on it that long or maybe from the pressure of the snowplow, I'm not sure, but I wasn't nearly as mobile as I was when we started.  Very slowly, side-stepping down a slight decline with more pain then I'd like to admit, I tried not to bend my knee (easy, because it was too swollen to bend) or grimace.  I pretended I was still in my element so Vince wouldn't stress but he was on to me.  Conversationally as not to arouse panic,  I asked how far it was back to the lodge.  His body language indicated that it wasn't right around the corner and got me thinking that we may have a situation here.  There was a house in the distance.  I couldn't see if the driveway was plowed and didn't know how would I get from the trail to their door if it was...but it was something.  On the ski trail, I was trying to figure out a way to appear as though I was moving a lot faster than I actually was, while in reality I was moving more slowly than anyone had ever moved (you can't even imagine).  Still wearing my no-big-deal demeanor, all I could do was keep moving and hope for the best.   It was hard to ignore Vince's sighs and pretend to not hear the under-his-breath, for my 'benefit' comments that were just loud enough for me to know he was saying something and the exact wording wasn't important. 
Wait. Is that a snowmobile?  Thirty seconds later, rounding the corner pulling a track-setter was the Highland Lodge snowmobile (or an angel) with just enough room for me to fit between a lopper and a shovel.  I hadn't been worried a bit.

I can't say I wasn't worried about a knee explosion, and being out of pain meds once I got settled but, it didn't happen.  Once home, I iced and took the other half of the meloxicam.  It's good.

My plan was...if there was an explosion...to tell Vin I wanted to pick up a few things in Morrisville then sneak off to the emergency room somehow.  Luckily I didn't have to think it through all the way because driving would have been impossible.

Forty-Seven Days

Did 35 minutes of upper body rowing while watching some 'Reno 911'.  Skied 1:35 in 35 degrees after a night of rain.  Took 1/2 of a vike before I went out but not even sure I had to.  The knee is still very swollen, firm and ugly.  Because the general knee swelling and huge baker cyst,  it is impossible to straighten my leg. I have to walk slowly and with a limp.  Nice.

It was very damp last night and this morning but I had very little pain.  Even though my knee is firm (it USED TO jiggle when I tapped it but now it doesn't really move), it seems to be less swollen.  I did ice and took a half of meloxicam today.


Somedays I feel like something as specific as a knee replacement couldn't possibly fix all of the wacky knee things I have going on (firmness, baker cyst, limping) and today was one of those days.

Forty-Eight Days

Did my pain management and skied 1:20 south along the river.  Heaven.  Do I sound like a broken record?  I was actually hoping to get to the point where I sounded like a broken record....i.e. find a routine that worked.  So now I know how I can get away with a little ski, I rented a car so I'm not stranded here on the couch while Vince is in school 9 hours a day and my couch nest is right where I want it...filled with good books, a writing pad and knitting.  Life is good.

I still have pain but it is tolerable.  A week ago I didn't know how I would make it to March 12.
The knee is still very swollen.  I googled 'swollen knee + coagulated blood' and got a couple articles.  One where the guy died and the other where they amputated the leg.   Then I notice the articles were from 1880.

Forty-Nine Days (and some Fifty)

I hope it's not bad luck to miss the post with 50 days to go.  I'm down with the pain management.  Pre-ski vike and 1/2 meloxicam.  Skied 2 hours today and 2:15 yesterday.  Both days started out south along the river.  Yesterday I climbed up out of the valley toward Greensboro which felt fine but coming down, which is generally pretty close to the most fun thing ever possible, was sort of scary.   I've never been aware of my knee in a snowplow and this time it was all I could think about.  The doc says I can't do anything to make the knee worse but what I'm worried about is short-term....having it explode and getting stranded.
You're wondering why I take, what sound like, chances.  I want to be fit for the surgery and I love being out so it's worth the little bit of risk I am taking. 
My knee is swollen as usual. Instead of being mailable, liquidy and loose, it's a bit spongy and sort of hard.  NOT liquidy.  I'm going to do a little research of my own because it's different than it used to be.  The PA and doc aren't concerned. 

Fifty-One Days

Took a 1/2 vicoden** and 1/2 meloxicam an hour before I went out for a ski*.  I headed north from the house which meant there would be a few steep-ish downhills on the way back home.   I'd been avoiding this route due to fairly shitty conditions but the new snow last night should make it more-than-likely doable.  Half way around the loop I was not totally surprised when I felt my knee swelling so I headed home which was the same distance either way. :)  I was out 1:50.  It was delicious.  Sunny, 15 degrees and new snow.  Yum.
I iced when I got home and was very comfortable.  Comfortable enough to do 20 minutes of upper body on the rowing machine and go out again flat along the river for 1:10... with no more medication.  Now, showered and reclined on the couch, I am pretty much pain free.  High pressure*** again but I think the meloxicam may be working for me.
I've 'always' been passionate about getting some exercise everyday and having the surgery coming up, in the spirit of a quicker recovery, I'm even more determined to get out everyday.
*when I mention skiing, it is always Nordic skiing.
**all the books say that after surgery, for PT, the patient should take a pain killer in order to get the most out of the PT session.  Seemed like that same protocol should work for skiing and I want to go into the surgery being as fit as possible.
***I like to think weather has an effect on my arthritis even though I know it probably doesn't.

Fifty-Two Days

I think I'm getting the hang of the pain management.  Took a half of vicoden and half of meloxicam after I skied 1:20 so I could sit without moaning.  I really think the meloxicam works.  Is it possible that I have come across an anti-inflammatory that works for me?  And then there was high atmospheric pressure today too...that never seems to hurt.

All in all...pretty darn comfortable today.   The pain is thankfully at a level I could tolerate until March 12.  I'm thinking I may do a slightly more ambitious ski tomorrow. 

For the record....this is my personal knee journal and probably wouldn't be interesting to anyone with good knees.  In fact there is a good chance it wouldn't be interesting to anyone but me....IF it's even interesting to me.  In my defense, I would love to read someone else's pre and post-op knee journal as I'm waiting for surgery just to compare notes.

Fifty-Three Days

Setting more slow records, I was out for an hour and a half today.  The trail south along the river hadn't been groomed and had frozen after last night's rain but it was surprisingly good albeit a bit fast for someone that can't really react to the terrain under her feet.

The right knee...I think I'll call it Frankie because it makes me walk like Frankenstein, was very painful (7 1/2?) before I went out so I took 1/2 Meloxicam, waited an hour and then left.  It was like a miracle.  I had very little pain even though Frankie was very stiff and swollen.  My skiing wasn't pretty, I know that without being able to see myself, but I was thrilled to be out with almost no pain.  Now I'm back in and I'm still OK.

This morning I did 16 minutes of upper body on the rowing machine at a pulse rate of around 100...nope, I don't kill myself.  I stopped rowing because Frankie ache was escalating.

Then. Icing 3 times and heat once.  I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't do heat.  The knee (I don't think I could get used to calling it Frankie) started hurting after the heat...not right after so I'm not sure it's connected.  I'll try it again and pay closer attention.

Being able to ski pain free for an hour or so up until the big day would make me so happy.

BTW.  Last night was full of tosses and turns.  My left knee is pain free today.  Who knows?

Fifty-Four Days

I carefully stepped out of bed and just stood for a minute until I was sure I wouldn't have a knee explosion.  Good to go.
Downstairs, I was on my leg (with crutches) as little as possible.  A minimal amount of personal grooming, tea and just enough oatmeal for me to feel safe taking a multi-vitamin.  Oh, and I washed a couple of windows so when someone asked me what I did today I wouldn't have to say I JUST sat on the couch.
About 8:30 I went to my pink perch (couch).
It was about 10 AM and I usually don't feel like I've wasted the day until around 2 so I was feeling pretty good.  What the hell?  Now my left knee was swelling.  Of course my right knee was swollen...just go ahead and assume that is the case unless I tell you differently.  The pain wasn't horrible (a 6 or 7?)...'ambulance' hadn't even entered my mind....but I was having a really hard time moving.  Rain was in the forecast (always my first thought).  I had to get some fresh air.  Vince says even though we don't get a signal here, 911 would still work.  Slap me, but I put some special blue on my skis and headed out along the river with the phone.  I managed to propel myself to King Farm Road and back in 1:10.  A record for slow.  I stopped and sat a minute on a rock at the side of the trail.  The trip back was a little easier.  The day was mild, windless and overcast.  Very therapeutic.
When I got to within 50 feet of the house the pain started talking to me....still not a 10 but similar enough to the pain on it's way to a 10.  Without even taking my boots off I was breaking a vicodin in half until I remembered not 'staying ahead of the pain' nightmares and took the whole thing.  It's scary being here by myself not knowing what causes the spontaneous explosions.
Anyway.  No ill consequences with the ski.
Did 20 minutes of upper body only on the rowing machine.  I'll bet the left knee was reacting to the last few days of the one-legged indoor exercising.  None of that today...couldn't if I wanted to anyway.

Fifty-Five Days

Another day in a row that I was able to get up without excessive pain.  I was leery but for no reason.  I had an abysmally unproductive couch day except for finishing the xmas card.   I was here alone....Vin's first day of school.  Very strange.  Did 15 minutes each of one legged bike trainer and rowing machine.  Skied to the hill above town and back (1:10).  Took a pill when I got back because the knee felt tight and I was worried there might be another explosion fiasco. 

Doesn't even look like a body part

The egg is almost gone except for a little bruising.

Guy from the ortho clinic called to give me an appointment time with the rheumatologist at Fletcher Alan for tomorrow.  Vin has school and we have one car so that didn't work.  Rescheduled for April.  Doesn't sound like an emergency and I think it would be sort of a wild goose-chase anyway.  I'll go in April and do a little research in the meantime.  The reason for the alarm is that the ANA level is elevated to 160.
I have to come up with a name for the right knee.  That will be my project for tomorrow.
And that's about it.

Fifty-Six Days

For a minute there I forgot what I was counting.
So far....a good day.  Got up, albeit a bit nervous, and my knee was OK.  I was careful around the house.  Mostly sat while painting a cabinet.  Iced a couple times.  Couched some.  Skied 1:10 along the river to the hill before Craftsbury Village.  Good tracks pretty much.  Did 30 minutes of one-legged rowing.  Icing now and still OK.  Skiing pain seems to hoover in the 7 to 8 range but is tolerable and stops when I stop.

Baker cyst with compression sleeve indentations.

Most of the pain seems to be radiating from the baker cyst.

Fifty -Seven Days

The knee was tight when I woke up making me worried I'd have a knee explosion so I stayed in bed and read for a half hour as a transition from in bed to out of bed.  Don't know if that was the reason (probably not) my knee was pretty OK all day.   Iced a couple times.  Couch surfed except for 30 minutes of one-legged bike trainer and 30 minutes of one-legged rowing machine.  Skied for an hour along the river with no tracks.  3 degrees, no wind, sunny.  New sparkling snow. Yum.  I don't know if it was a good idea to be out (doh) but it was so beautiful I couldn't help myself.  It's really not clear what causes the 'episodes'.
I want to be as fit as possible going into surgery so recovery is faster....that's what they say.  I am relatively so unfit now.  Any exercise I try to do right now is just going through the motions but I'm guessing it's better than nothing?

Sixty Days

I'm not sure I can wait sixty days.

I woke up with half of a vicodon next to the bed and, as planned, I was going to stay ahead of the pain today.  I took the pill and got up.  As it turned out, half of a vicodon was too small of a quantity and too late because within minutes my pain was unbearable AGAIN.  Vin was working in the living room where his concern was surfacing in anger.  I was able to sneak upstairs where I figured I could be out of his way while I waited for the pain meds to kick in.  They weren't kicking in and soon the pain was off the charts.  I didn't know what to do.   The pain was indescribable and there was no way I could make it downstairs and then to the car to get to the ER.  It was 9:30 and I couldn't wait until my 2:30 knee draining appointment with Leah.  I had to have it drained in the ER.  Vince called 911.  An ambulance came.  The lights were flashing as they loaded me onto a chair thing that got me down the stairs.  The meds were starting to kick in and, although barely, the trip to the ER was tolerable.  Yada yada.  I ended up waiting for Leah at 2:30.  She attempted to drain the knee as usual but the blood/fluid was so viscous she was only able to extract 28 ccs.  She pulled on the syringe for about 5 minutes.  Guy helped by 'milking' the fluid toward the needle.  At one point we all jumped because something 'let go' and Guy said a large amount of the fluid shot out.  Usually in a minute and with no apparent effort she is able to extract 75 to 100 ccs.  She band-aided the needle hole.  I didn't experience the relief I normally do.  When I got home the compression sleeve was soaked with blood and the 'wound' was still bleeding.  Surrounding the 'wound' was a bruised swelling the size of an egg.  Leah has drained my knee at least 20 times and nothing like this had ever happened.  I called the office.  Lisa answered and I explained this unusual (for me) series of events.  She said Leah was with a patient but she would have her call me.  A half hour later Lisa called back telling me to 'take two aspirin and call me in the morning' (except 'don't call me in the morning').  I asked Lisa several questions, none of which she was able to answer except when I asked her what her position there was and she told me she was a scheduler.

Anyway, the knee is still embellished with a bruised egg that is bleeding.  What's going on?

My big worry is....since draining offers no relief....what do I do if (and I know it will) the knee does that pain thing again.  I feel like the only thing I can do is be medicated ALL THE TIME.

Sixty-One Days

I think I toss and turn because of the knee pain and then the pain get worse.  So a double whammy.  How else can I explain this?  I was completely awake this morning and could feel my knee hard with swelling.  I knew when I got up it would probably really swell and be unbearable like yesterday.   Everything I read about pain is to stay ahead of it but my pain meds were downstairs and I was upstairs.  I inhaled and ran...or let's say moved as fast as I could which wasn't very fast...straight to the meds in the pantry with a really full bladder.  Too late (for the meds I got lucky with the bladder).  Within minutes the pain was a 9.5 but the timing was better than yesterday.  I think I may have gotten a little jump on it.  Tonight I'll have the meds near the bed and take them before I get up if need be.  I'll get it figured out.

Even hating needles as much as I do, I couldn't wait to get to the doc to get my knee drained today.  When I got there they told me my appointment was tomorrow.  :( For a change, I wasn't the one that made the error, it was the desk person, but evenso, the knee drainer was out and I was out...of luck.

Sixty-Two Days

Awoke to a 10 pain again.  Swollen like a rock.  Sleeping had been uncomfortable but I had no idea it would swell like it did.  Was a bit better late morning.  Double poled 45 min.  Made PA appointment for tomorrow afternoon to drain it so I can be more mobile.  Figure it would be a good chance to talk about the baker cyst fiasco as well.  Read some of the knee-replacement binder from the clinic.  I hate it.  They keep saying things like "it works 95% of the time" like it's good odds.  Doesn't sound good to me if 5 out of 100 patients still suffer.