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.