Well it's been three weeks since I've been dealing with these dreaded crutches and life has been interesting. I've officially hit my half way mark, which means I have three more weeks to go (and believe me I'm counting down). Although, I realized the other day that I'll probably be using the crutches for more then three weeks. After the six week mark I'll be able to start putting weight on my knee again, but I know it will still take me some time before I build those muscles up again to put my full weight on that leg.
Things have been very interesting the last several weeks. While I feel very useless for the most part and I've put a damper on the last few weeks for Jim and I, I've come across some really wonderful people. Above all I think I'm more sympathetic to people with disabilities since this experience has made me open my eyes to a different side of the world. I've run into many people willing to help me out (strangers included) and yet I've also run into people that have flat out ignored the click-clack of my crutches.
Last week I went to our local bagel shop to find a complete stranger more then willing to help me get my drink, open the door, and walk me to my car. Ironically, I later saw the same gentleman at Dr. Lubowitz's office filling out new patient paperwork. Jim has also been a huge help to me and he's certainly risen to the occasion to pick up the extra slack here at the house. I pretty much can't do anything here at home, so between him and Jimmy they're getting my daily and weekly chores done.
As I type this though, I must say, I've also run into a few people that can't seem to notice that it's difficult for me to open a door and consequently the door has slammed in my face. I also had one woman practically knock me over on my way to class. Which brings me to another point....parking has been a continuous struggle for me. At the credit union we have one available parking spot extremely close to the front door, that's not handicapped. I try very hard to get that spot everyday. For the most part I've done pretty well getting that spot, however, every time I leave the credit union the spot is gone when I return. To make matters worse, it's the same employee taking that spot each time....
Anyway, I just wanted to send everyone a quick update on me. I hope to make another post soon so that I can update everyone on Tundra.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Another Tundra Tease and Other News
FYI, the spell checker in blogger seems to have kicked the bucket so I appologize...my spelling is horrible.
I think I'll go ahead and start by showing off a few more pictures of Tundra. I recieved these on Monday and he's getting so big and soooo cute! In case I didn't mention it, he comes home on March 10th!
Moving on to other news. I think most of you are unaware, but I had knee surgery last Wednesday. I know this sounds odd, but I made it my New Year's resolution to get my knee fixed. Here's a quick history on my knee...
Jim thought it would be a great idea to hike the Grand Canyon for our honeymoon. Not exactly my idea for a honeymoon but a marriage is about compremising and this was something he really wanted to do. I actually thought I would do really well on this hike and my concern was actaully for Jim. Boy was I wrong! Jim had no problems with this hike...I on the other hand was a wreck. Basically, my knee has never fully healed since that hike and its slowly gotten worse and worse. Not to mention, I also think sliding in softball was a factor to my knee problems.
My knee had gotten so bad that I was unable to walk up or down stairs, I had a hard time walking up any incline, and knew in this condition I wouldn't be able to play softball this year and golf was up in the air. I also still have a few pounds to lose since Jim and I did our IVF stuff, so exercising was difficult. So I figured now would be a great time to get it fixed....I had enough!
I have five months before softball begins for the season so I began to search doctors and go through testing. I had an x-ray done that proved that the bones were fine. After the x-ray I was referred to Dr. Lubowitz from Taos (whom is world renowed and the physican for the U.S. Ski Team and was once the physican for the Phillies) who thought there might be meniscus tear...so he ordered an MRI. The MRI came back inconclusive and it didn't appear there was any sort of tear.
After some discussion with Dr. Lubowitz we decided to have the knee scoped out in the hopes that the scopping job would clear the persistent pain. I was told I would be on crutches for 2-3 days max and back to normal activity after a month. So, I go into surgery and when I wake up a few hours later I was told that they found severe cartilage damage. I was also told that they drilled my knee to create bleeding and somehow this generates new cartilage. I'm not 100% sure what they did (I was heavily drugged at this point) but it was something along those lines. What I do remember them saying is I'm not allowed to put any weight on that knee for six weeks...which means crutches for six long weeks. Needless to say, I wasn't entirely thrilled. Although I am glad that it should start to get better soon. There's also a possibility that I might need future treatment.
So, here I am...pretty crippled at the moment trying to go about my daily activities on crutches. The crutches suck! My arms, hands, and wrists, are so sore and it hasn't been a complete week yet. I have no idea how I'm going to manage for six weeks. Oh yeah, Jim and I are going to Ruidoso this weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day and March 6th Jim and I leave to go to Calgary...all of which I get to do on crutches...yuck!
This past weekend was a sad, sad weekend. I'm here crippled and poor Jim had a bad case of broncitis, so neither one of us was much use to the other. Oh, and Jim was kind enough to help me cook dinner Sunday night but he sliced his thumb really bad cutting potatos for me. Poor guy, I know he was trying to be nice and he wanted to help me. He took himself to urgent care on Monday morning to have it looked at (his second trip in less then a week).
So that's about it for us. I'm here at the house unable to really do anything but watch television and get caught up on homework. Jim is feeling better now...although his thumb still hurts. He's also doing a wonderful job of helping me out.
I think I'll go ahead and start by showing off a few more pictures of Tundra. I recieved these on Monday and he's getting so big and soooo cute! In case I didn't mention it, he comes home on March 10th!
Moving on to other news. I think most of you are unaware, but I had knee surgery last Wednesday. I know this sounds odd, but I made it my New Year's resolution to get my knee fixed. Here's a quick history on my knee...Jim thought it would be a great idea to hike the Grand Canyon for our honeymoon. Not exactly my idea for a honeymoon but a marriage is about compremising and this was something he really wanted to do. I actually thought I would do really well on this hike and my concern was actaully for Jim. Boy was I wrong! Jim had no problems with this hike...I on the other hand was a wreck. Basically, my knee has never fully healed since that hike and its slowly gotten worse and worse. Not to mention, I also think sliding in softball was a factor to my knee problems.
My knee had gotten so bad that I was unable to walk up or down stairs, I had a hard time walking up any incline, and knew in this condition I wouldn't be able to play softball this year and golf was up in the air. I also still have a few pounds to lose since Jim and I did our IVF stuff, so exercising was difficult. So I figured now would be a great time to get it fixed....I had enough!
I have five months before softball begins for the season so I began to search doctors and go through testing. I had an x-ray done that proved that the bones were fine. After the x-ray I was referred to Dr. Lubowitz from Taos (whom is world renowed and the physican for the U.S. Ski Team and was once the physican for the Phillies) who thought there might be meniscus tear...so he ordered an MRI. The MRI came back inconclusive and it didn't appear there was any sort of tear.
After some discussion with Dr. Lubowitz we decided to have the knee scoped out in the hopes that the scopping job would clear the persistent pain. I was told I would be on crutches for 2-3 days max and back to normal activity after a month. So, I go into surgery and when I wake up a few hours later I was told that they found severe cartilage damage. I was also told that they drilled my knee to create bleeding and somehow this generates new cartilage. I'm not 100% sure what they did (I was heavily drugged at this point) but it was something along those lines. What I do remember them saying is I'm not allowed to put any weight on that knee for six weeks...which means crutches for six long weeks. Needless to say, I wasn't entirely thrilled. Although I am glad that it should start to get better soon. There's also a possibility that I might need future treatment.
So, here I am...pretty crippled at the moment trying to go about my daily activities on crutches. The crutches suck! My arms, hands, and wrists, are so sore and it hasn't been a complete week yet. I have no idea how I'm going to manage for six weeks. Oh yeah, Jim and I are going to Ruidoso this weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day and March 6th Jim and I leave to go to Calgary...all of which I get to do on crutches...yuck!
This past weekend was a sad, sad weekend. I'm here crippled and poor Jim had a bad case of broncitis, so neither one of us was much use to the other. Oh, and Jim was kind enough to help me cook dinner Sunday night but he sliced his thumb really bad cutting potatos for me. Poor guy, I know he was trying to be nice and he wanted to help me. He took himself to urgent care on Monday morning to have it looked at (his second trip in less then a week).
So that's about it for us. I'm here at the house unable to really do anything but watch television and get caught up on homework. Jim is feeling better now...although his thumb still hurts. He's also doing a wonderful job of helping me out.
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