Week 6: Chasing Pain

If there is one thing that I have figured out over these past few weeks is that rehab is not pain-free. It is work, work, work, everyday for just a little improvement. Sometimes I wish that I didn't have to sleep so that I wouldn't stiffen up overnight. Joints like motion and if you don't have full motion it is going to keep hurting until you do.

I'm not saying that I'm not getting better. This week, I've noticed a lot less pain. I've only really been taking Tylenol before I work out. I don't know if it does a lot for pain but I'm afraid to work my knee without it.

I'm in a tough spot with my knee right now because I didn't have full range in it before I had surgery. I can get my heel to within about 8 inches of my butt (with help) before the serious pain kicks in. Last night, Aaron helped me to get it to within 4 inches. We tried for 2 inches but that was a bit too much for me. It's better than last week but we really have to keep working it because I'm running out of time and it will only get harder.

My real problem though is with my knee extension. I'm lacking a fair amount so this past week I got stuck in "the chair" again. Dale wanted to stick me in it for 20. I wanted 10, so we settled on 15 instead. Friday, I spent 18 minutes in it. The last 2-3 minutes are always the worst. As soon as the timer goes off I am lashing at the straps and kicking at the hooks that keep the device hooked to the ground to get them undone. Forget waiting for any help. One of the other interns told me that at the other clinic he was at, the longest they ever stuck someone in it was 10 minutes. I can bet on another 8 trials with this thing but it seems to be working. Saturday morning I walked the best that I have since before my injury. Even though it is uncomfortable, I much prefer it to bending my knee.

So I'm resolving to push myself harder over these next few weeks to both increase my strength and my range back in my knee. The further it gets, the less pain I've been having even though it hurts like hell when I'm working it. This was the first week that I've noticed a strong increase in strength in my legs. I can now easily leg press 40 lbs with my one leg. Range-wise, Dale got my knee bent to within 2 inches of my butt on Thursday (the closest it has been) and extension I am expecting to improve with continued use of the chair. So good improvement. I am hoping to have full range within the next two weeks.