30 Jun – 4 Jul 07, Sat – Wed, D32 – D36. The 5th week.
Yesterday was the 5th week since my operation. My knee was progressing well, though a bit slow. Last weekend, with the help of a friend, I was able to travel and attend a classmate’s son wedding dinner in a hotel, bringing along my tripod footrest. Getting out of the house and meeting some old friends really uplifted my spirit after having been cooped up at home for so long. Many of them were not aware of my recent operation and said they would definitely read this blog. After enquiring about each other’s well being, it dawned on me that my ’ordeal’ seemed pale in comparison to what two of them have gone through. One suffered from compressed nerves in the spine and was painfully bedridden for one whole month in hospital, injected with painkilling morphine until he got high and doctor has to change drug to prevent him from getting an addiction. He has since recovered. Another was in and out of hospital last year and had already undergone 6 operations on his fluid-swollen leg owing to chronic diabetes. Despite all his problems, his PhD study (and thesis) is almost completed – we really admire his persevering efforts and spirit. He has lost a lot of weight but is still cheerful and independent, moving around steadily with the aid of a walking stick.
I’m getting stronger each day, could raise my leg without pain. Continued with my daily exercises conscientiously. I’ve been doing numerous leg raising exercises and have also progressed from 155, 205 and now 305 sit-ups, this morning. Went for my second physiotherapy session in NUH yesterday afternoon. The physio measured the angle of my bent knee without the brace, for range of motion improvement – but it still read only 30°, meaning it hasn’t improved much yet. Continued with the use of EMS - electronic (electrical) muscle stimulator treatment on my thigh. The EMS sent weak electrical pulses via 4 gel electrode pads causing muscular contractions. Together with my own tightening of the quadriceps, it would exercise the thigh muscles. I was also able to flex the ankle tensioned with elastic band 100 times, did 50 sideway leg raising and 25 backward leg raising in prone position. Physio observed that my thigh quadriceps muscles still looked ‘wasted’ – atrophied from disuse. He wanted me to go to the Ortho Gym weekly to rebuild the muscles. I read that such muscle atrophy is similar to that experienced by astronauts after their prolonged stints in space at zero gravity conditions.
Yesterday was the 5th week since my operation. My knee was progressing well, though a bit slow. Last weekend, with the help of a friend, I was able to travel and attend a classmate’s son wedding dinner in a hotel, bringing along my tripod footrest. Getting out of the house and meeting some old friends really uplifted my spirit after having been cooped up at home for so long. Many of them were not aware of my recent operation and said they would definitely read this blog. After enquiring about each other’s well being, it dawned on me that my ’ordeal’ seemed pale in comparison to what two of them have gone through. One suffered from compressed nerves in the spine and was painfully bedridden for one whole month in hospital, injected with painkilling morphine until he got high and doctor has to change drug to prevent him from getting an addiction. He has since recovered. Another was in and out of hospital last year and had already undergone 6 operations on his fluid-swollen leg owing to chronic diabetes. Despite all his problems, his PhD study (and thesis) is almost completed – we really admire his persevering efforts and spirit. He has lost a lot of weight but is still cheerful and independent, moving around steadily with the aid of a walking stick.
I’m getting stronger each day, could raise my leg without pain. Continued with my daily exercises conscientiously. I’ve been doing numerous leg raising exercises and have also progressed from 155, 205 and now 305 sit-ups, this morning. Went for my second physiotherapy session in NUH yesterday afternoon. The physio measured the angle of my bent knee without the brace, for range of motion improvement – but it still read only 30°, meaning it hasn’t improved much yet. Continued with the use of EMS - electronic (electrical) muscle stimulator treatment on my thigh. The EMS sent weak electrical pulses via 4 gel electrode pads causing muscular contractions. Together with my own tightening of the quadriceps, it would exercise the thigh muscles. I was also able to flex the ankle tensioned with elastic band 100 times, did 50 sideway leg raising and 25 backward leg raising in prone position. Physio observed that my thigh quadriceps muscles still looked ‘wasted’ – atrophied from disuse. He wanted me to go to the Ortho Gym weekly to rebuild the muscles. I read that such muscle atrophy is similar to that experienced by astronauts after their prolonged stints in space at zero gravity conditions.
Gel Electrodes Pads of the EMS
Found the following articles useful:
References:
KNEEGuru – Principles of Knee Rehab
http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/html/gym/principles/objectives.html
UpToDate, USA - Physical therapy for knee problems
http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=bone_joi/7872
Centre for Sports and Shoulder and Elbow Surgery – Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation
http://www.sportsshoulderelbow.com.sg/faq_5.php
Alexandra Hospital, Singapore - Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
http://www.alexhosp.com.sg/disease_info_details.asp?id=227
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