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ACL Surgery Recovery - Days 5-6
June 3rd, 2003 - Went to the doctor this morning to have my post op appointment. The doctor and the clinic staff were impressed by the small scars that I had. All of the scars are smaller than a regular bandaid. The doctor was telling everyone about what a good job he had done. Hearing that really made me feel a lot better. The doctor also says that I can be off of my crutches as soon as I feel comfortable to walk (but I still have to wear the huge immobilizer brace). This is exciting news. Also, the doc gave me new excercises to do when I am at work or have a spare moment at home. He says that the range of motion is what I should be concerned with in the first week as opposed to muscle strength. I need to work hard to reduce swelling so that my leg can move!
I tried some of the exercises he suggested, and they quite painful. Pretty much the excercises he wants me to do will help my knee in bending all the way forward and back. Since my leg is swollen, I have to push them past the point that they will naturally bend with my hands or my other leg, and man is it painful. Once I have built up my leg muscles again to the point where I wont hurt myself, the doctor says main part of my recovery will be over. That will probably happen in a few months from now. My doc also wants me to do some cycling and some running on the eliptical machine.
Work is pretty calm now, so it is good to have a lighter work load while I have to crutch around the office. It's actually kind of fun to crutch around the halls. I'm getting pretty fast and slightly reckless :)
just a little advice: If you ever have surgery where the recovery will make you only half as physically useful as you used to be, it is so important to have people that care about you around you. Not only can they help you with your daily tasks, but that emotional support means more than you can know. Thanks so much to those who have helped me for being so caring, unselfish and for helping me to forget about my pains.
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