23 – 29 Jun, Sat – Fri. D23 to D31 - Maintaining hygiene & exercises
I’ve told my story over 12 episodes & 3 annexes. I’ve also added some 50 references & links to web pages & websites for further reading, in Annexes A & B. That should be it. From now on, I’ll post updates on my rehab progress and sharing of my thoughts. Time flies, I’ve already gone past the 4th week, since my operation on 30 May 07.
A hard day’s work?
Someone asked how I’ve been spending my time each day – must be very boring with not much things I could do. Others loaned me lots of DVD movies to watch. My kids suggested reading books, as we have many good books at home. Reflecting on what I’ve been doing each day, I’m actually quite ‘busy’. The trice daily CPM sessions normally take up almost 4 hrs; exercises, ambulating with crutches & getting some doses of daily sunshine - almost 2 hrs; grooming, airing & dressing of the knee twice a day – 2 hrs; reading the newspaper, watching TV & the News – 2 hrs; accessing both my home & office emails & reading up on the Internet – another 2 hrs. That’s already 12 hrs - the rest of the waking hrs is for meals and other daily routines.
I’ve told my story over 12 episodes & 3 annexes. I’ve also added some 50 references & links to web pages & websites for further reading, in Annexes A & B. That should be it. From now on, I’ll post updates on my rehab progress and sharing of my thoughts. Time flies, I’ve already gone past the 4th week, since my operation on 30 May 07.
A hard day’s work?
Someone asked how I’ve been spending my time each day – must be very boring with not much things I could do. Others loaned me lots of DVD movies to watch. My kids suggested reading books, as we have many good books at home. Reflecting on what I’ve been doing each day, I’m actually quite ‘busy’. The trice daily CPM sessions normally take up almost 4 hrs; exercises, ambulating with crutches & getting some doses of daily sunshine - almost 2 hrs; grooming, airing & dressing of the knee twice a day – 2 hrs; reading the newspaper, watching TV & the News – 2 hrs; accessing both my home & office emails & reading up on the Internet – another 2 hrs. That’s already 12 hrs - the rest of the waking hrs is for meals and other daily routines.
My compact bedside 'Workstation' with leg-rest
and laptop PC connected to home wireless LAN
Grooming the knee
One of the tips someone advised me was to ensure good hygiene of the knee, as day & night wearing of the knee brace may give rise to irritating rashes, especially when you cannot wash the knee yet. I spent an hour each time, twice daily, ‘grooming’ the knee, airing it and putting on new dressing. Fortunately, I’m well prepared for this, giving tender loving care to my leg. I used disinfectant spray, antiseptic
spray, alcohol swap, post-op dressings, anti-microbial, hypoallergenic wet wipes with Chamomile & Aloe Vera, and absorbent gauze dressing to cover the knee before strapping up the brace. I have another spare but elaborate leg brace, which I borrowed from somewhere, that I can put on temporarily, so that I can dismantle and wash my usual Ranger brace at regular intervals. Hope all these measures will keep the rashes away.
One of the tips someone advised me was to ensure good hygiene of the knee, as day & night wearing of the knee brace may give rise to irritating rashes, especially when you cannot wash the knee yet. I spent an hour each time, twice daily, ‘grooming’ the knee, airing it and putting on new dressing. Fortunately, I’m well prepared for this, giving tender loving care to my leg. I used disinfectant spray, antiseptic
spray, alcohol swap, post-op dressings, anti-microbial, hypoallergenic wet wipes with Chamomile & Aloe Vera, and absorbent gauze dressing to cover the knee before strapping up the brace. I have another spare but elaborate leg brace, which I borrowed from somewhere, that I can put on temporarily, so that I can dismantle and wash my usual Ranger brace at regular intervals. Hope all these measures will keep the rashes away.
Daily Exercises
In addition to the various isometric exercises, of which I have progressed to the full raising of the right leg unaided, I’m also doing crunches and sit-ups. I’m progressing from 55, to 85 and now 105 sit-ups this morning. Now, why the numbers always end up with 5 extras? Read on. Normally, crunch & sit-up should be done with both legs in bent position, but in my case, only the left leg can bend. I’m doing it cautiously, not wanting to strain my right knee. When I was serving national service in the combat engineers, some 33 years ago, my commanders used to make us do 3 better (actually 3 extras, especially for punishment) – one extra for the Country, one for our family and one for yourself. Over the years, I’ve added another 2 more, one more for my friends and one more for the community. I think this is a very positive mindset to have, always willing to go the extra miles and knowing that you can always put in more than 100% efforts in many things that you do, with great passion and love.
I had a bad dream
Last night I dreamt that I was, as usual, keeping myself busy doing chores around the house when I suddenly realised that I was limping around without my crutches. I woke up in horror! I cannot imagine what could have happened to the implanted cells in the sutured periosteum pouch. It could've been squeezed out because I’d put full load on the knee. What a frightening thought! I’m thus determined not to let this happen. I’ve read from the Internet forums that some of the not so successful cases were probably due to falls and aggravation of the injuries on the knee during the recovery phase. While I can speed up the strengthening of the leg muscles by exercising harder, I cannot biologically hurry the remodeling, quick setting and hardening of the new cartilage cells.
No comments:
Post a Comment