18th Update – The Fifth Month

22nd week after Knee ACI

Yesterday was the fifth month since my knee ACI operation. I’ve made steady but significant progress. You can tell that when I sometimes ‘lost’ my walking stick, leaving it somewhere and absentmindedly walked away without it. I only realized something is missing when I lost my balance or needed support. At the weekly physiotherapy session, I’ve increased all my exercise loadings to level 7 at most gym machines, such as on leg press & ankle flexing, leg curl and magnetic cycle. I’ve also been using the rowing machine, which moves both the legs and arms, increasing from 200 strokes initially, to 330 strokes in 10 minutes, recently. The physio said that I might be able to go for light jogging on the treadmill from the ninth month onward, if I continued to progress at this rate. This is good news, meaning that the implanted cultured cells are transforming well into new cartilage. From now on, I will probably update this blog fortnightly instead of weekly, unless there is significant change to my progress, or I feel like expressing my thoughts on other matters.

I saw my eye doctor last week and he said my eye is almost fully recovered. He advised me to use up the remaining eye drops and would see me again in 3 months’ time. I’ve also resumed tending my backyard garden, something that I couldn’t do for the past six months, since my first arthroscopy operation in April. As I still couldn’t squad or climb, I only do some light gardening work. Many of the plants had wilted away, including 2 of my favourite papaya trees, owing to the lack of attention and care. Fortunately, one younger one still survives, and my mango tree is still fruiting well.

My mother’s spinal problem has also improved – she can now walked short distances without pain, provided she put on the abdominal brace. She would be able to go home from hospital this coming weekend, if she continues the good progress of recovery.

17th Update – Back to the Norm

The 21st Week after Knee ACI

My leg is getting stronger and I can walk short distances without the walking aid. However, stairs and uneven ground still pose a challenge – I still need the walking stick for balance and support, and to prevent the knee from buckling. I still go to NUH Rehab Centre weekly for my physiotherapy session. As my eye is recovering well, I have gone back to the norm in my physiotherapy routine and started to step up my exercise intensity and duration. For instance, I’ve raised the cycling machine resistance to level 7 out of a max of 9, and where time permit, cycled twice a day, at my workplace and at home. The knee flexion has also improved to about 140°, but I can still feel some stiffness in the knee.

My mother’s condition has also improved and she can sit up unassisted in bed, although she still feels the pain in the back. The nurse would wheel her to physiotherapy sessions everyday at the hospital. She would probably have to stay at the hospital for another week or so. We celebrated her 80th birthday yesterday at the hospital with a birthday cake. My brother set off the fire alarm when he lighted up the candles. Fortunately, he also bought a big cake for the staff and nurses, so they weren’t that upset. I’ve been ‘running’ around to visit her everyday at St Lukes Hospital, going for my physiotherapy session weekly at NUH and also to see my eye doctor at the Eye Institute at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. All these moving around should be good for the leg, as long as I take my time and avoid overloading the knee.

16th Update – Taking the Train

20th week after Knee ACI

Have been using and handling the walking stick fairly well. As I had to attend a workshop in town during the past two days, I decided to take the MRT train, but was unsure how I would cope travelling in a crowded train. However, it turned out well. Made 4 trips over the two days and on every occasion someone would give up their seat for me. This really reaffirmed my faith in the kindness of Singaporean. One on them was seating with his young son – he asked his son to sit on his lap and signaled me to take the vacated seat.

My eye is also recovering well and the redness in the eye has subsided. I’m still required to instill the eye drops, but I need to do this only 4 times a day now, as instructed by the eye doctor.

My mother is still in hospital. Doctor said her conditions have improved, although she still felt sharp pains on her spine whenever she shifted her position in bed. As there would not be further treatment other than complete rest in bed, we were asked to transfer her to a community hospital, so that she can continue her daily physiotherapy session and cared for by nurses. She is now recuperating in St Luke Hospital in Bukit Batok.

15th Update – A Walking Stick

19th week after Knee ACI. Resumed Physiotherapy

I resumed my physiotherapy session at NUH as my right eye has healed quite well after the eye operation. However, I only tried some light muscle strengthening exercises, with reduced load. I felt some stiffness in the knee after the 2 weeks break from physiotherapy. In the meantime, I’ve totally weaned off crutches and bought a walking stick for $19. It has adjustable height on the bronze anodized aluminium stick, with cushioned grip and a wrist strap, a thoughtful design.

I returned to work this week and even attended a 1-day workshop in a hotel. Moving around was manageable with the walking stick. But try taking a buffet lunch with a walking aid – it was awkward and not fun. I eventually had to limp around for food without it. The eye vision is very bright and clear after the lens replacement, but I still have difficulty reading as I’m using temporary glasses meant for distance, especially for safe driving.

I’ve been visiting hospitals quite often during the last couple of months and now even more so, as my mother was hospitalised since Monday for severe back pain. She suffers from osteoporosis and has past histories of fractures in the spine. Hope she recovers soon.

14th Update – Taking a Break

2nd Oct 07, Tue. The 18th week. 4 months after Knee ACI

It’s now 4 months after the knee ACI operation - not much update for this week as I’m taking a break from all physiotherapy exercises, after the eye operation. I’m also keeping away from computers, read less and watched TV in moderation with sunglasses, but I’m listening more to radio and music.

I fitted a temporary lens on the right side of my specs at a neighbourhood spectacles shop for $20 and went for my 2nd post-op eye checkup last Friday. The doctor was quite happy with the results of the eye tests. He said the operated eye looked good and the redness in the eye has also gone down significantly. I would have to instill 2 types of eye drops, anti-microbial and antibiotic, every 3 hourly and sleep with a plastic cartella eye shield for 4 weeks.