New BREG ACL Brace

This is the newest edition to my physical activity gym bag. I picked up my BREG Fusion XT a few weeks back. I tested it out last Saturday when I went on my first post 6 month surgery inline skate for about a mile. It felt so good to be back on the bayou trail. I wish I was running it though. In due time, in due time. I think this brace will be much better than the one I was wearing when I tore my ACL last summer (right?!?!?!? that's what I'm saying). Hopefully I won't have any more knee surgeries. If I do, I'm gonna have to get a tattoo on my left calf that shows the chalkboard tick marks, you know the one.

All you researchers out there hurry up with cartilage replacement! I wanna get back on with normal life for a 30 year old.

Next week is my 6 month post op check up

I have very minimal scars and no cancer in the knee so life is good.
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Rehab, elliptical style

I've got 4 more minutes on the elliptical. Next to a lady that has griped for the first 6 about her ailments. Heaven help me!
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5th week post-op

Knee's looking pretty good, is feeling pretty good, and rehab is still going well.
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I missed posting week 2 and the staple removal

This pic was taken last saturday at the 2 week mark. I thought I'd uploaded the pic but looking back through my blog I missed doing it.
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3 weeks after surgery...

The swelling is almost gone. The incisions have closed. The stitches are all gone. I'm walking around much better these days, I only occasionally limp from discomfort. Today I think I was able to bend to 145 degrees. OUCH! But awesome. I picked up some leg weights that are graduated. I have good intentions to get the hips built up. I've been very disciplined to do my exercises each day as well as R.I.C.E. Ice makes the knee feel best but is second to the stationary bicycle. The bike builds up the flexibility and muscles. Let's hope I get to start building the hamstring soon cause my popeye versus olive oil legs are not too appealing.
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I'm telling ya, I should have taken that scooter I found

This is my newest rear view freshener! It hangs there when I can't find downstairs parking at work. OR if I'm trying to tick off JarJar, I slap that placard up and take her spot!
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I keep saying I should get one of these

And there it sits lonely on the side of the road just waiting for me!
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I think my cat is jealous of Hello Kitty

This morning, like all mornings, I awoke to my sweetheart cat on my head and began our morning ritual pet session. She purrs like mad.

This morning was really amusing. See I've been keeping Hello Kitty band-aids over the small incisions and ugly plain large band-aids over the zipper like staples. As my cat Joon was doing her standard stroll up and down the side of me rooting, purring, and flipping over she unexpectedly bit one of the Hello Kitty band-aids. It's hard to laugh, wince, and pull a cat off your knee all at the same time. The irony was priceless. I'm switching to camo band-aids today! HA!

Here's an updated shot of both my knees. I realize I don't have sexy knees and there's not much I can do about it. The swelling has really gone down in the left knee. The bruising around the incisions is very minimal. My PT routine is definitely helping retrain my quad muscle. I'm hoping they'll give me some more exercises to do when at home during PT at the clinic today.
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What the good knee looks like

Decided I'd take a pic of what the good knee looks like next to the reconstructed knee to set a marker for improvement over the next few weeks.
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Frankenstein Knee, not for the squeamish

I'm uploading a picture of the frankenstein staples in my knee accompanied by the hello kitty band aids :-) sorry the pic is graphic but it's pretty amazing what your body can go through. I was able to take a full shower today and get off a lot of the ick on my knee. The warm shower felt nice on my knee. I've been icing it and elevating it a lot to keep down the swelling so it's been pretty cold since the surgery. Warm for a bit felt good. I think I'm progressing along really well. I sat on the edge of the bed and relaxed and was able to bend my knee pretty well. Straightening it was a bit uncomfortable but I did it. Enough blogging for now. Gotta finish my lunch, take some vicodin, and head to therapy.
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Drive Home 1 Hour Post Knee Surgery

This is my lovely leg on the way home from the hospital. It's got gauze then ace bandaged followed by the immobility brace. The red tube is actually a clear tube draining my knee. I know, gross, right? I agree. That tube will come out late Saturday. I can pull it out myself...but I'm too sissy to do it so nurse Jessica is going to do it. I might toss the few cookies in my tummy.



I had a nerve block just before this surgery and I have to say that has made the surgery bearable so far. The bits of pain I've had are nothing in comparison to what is really there. I'm sure once it fully wears off, the bone pain is gonna be hard to deal with.

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