Annual reminder…if you ride a motorcycle…be careful

[Wizard29]

Most definitely! I'm going to have a couple good ones! Lol

I was cleared by the doctor this morning to start walking again (even though last week I had enough and started walking early). Bone is healed and I just need to get the muscles squared away now. Getting there.

How's it going on your end?

 

[monkeyswrench]

@Wizard29 , a few posts back you mentioned the perspective you gain from being wracked up. I spent time with a walker, and a lot of time with a cane. It really does open your eyes. Many things we take for granted. Simple things, like opening the fridge, getting a drink, hell, using the bathroom. I had no broken bones, but my legs and one arm were not "listening" to my brain. It made me not only more aware of those with injuries and disabilities, but also of the elderly and those fighting neuropathy type battles.

 

[lbhsbz]

I was cleared by the doctor this morning to start walking again (even though last week I had enough and started walking early). Bone is healed and I just need to get the muscles squared away now. Getting there.

How's it going on your end?

Give it a minute...she's busy making me lunch lol

 

[Nordie]

@Wizard29 , a few posts back you mentioned the perspective you gain from being wracked up. I spent time with a walker, and a lot of time with a cane. It really does open your eyes. Many things we take for granted. Simple things, like opening the fridge, getting a drink, hell, using the bathroom. I had no broken bones, but my legs and one arm were not "listening" to my brain. It made me not only more aware of those with injuries and disabilities, but also of the elderly and those fighting neuropathy type battles.

I learned that lesson when I got stitches in my dominant hand, and after leaving the ER. You know trying to wipe with the other hand, I was like WTF this isn't gonna be fun for a couple of weeks.

 

[rivermobster]

I learned that lesson when I got stitches in my dominant hand, and after leaving the ER. You know trying to wipe with the other hand, I was like WTF this isn't gonna be fun for a couple of weeks.

I tried not to laugh, but, it didn't work.

 

[Wizard29]

@Wizard29 , a few posts back you mentioned the perspective you gain from being wracked up. I spent time with a walker, and a lot of time with a cane. It really does open your eyes. Many things we take for granted. Simple things, like opening the fridge, getting a drink, hell, using the bathroom. I had no broken bones, but my legs and one arm were not "listening" to my brain. It made me not only more aware of those with injuries and disabilities, but also of the elderly and those fighting neuropathy type battles.

Yes, during my experience, I have had a couple of times where I gave a command to my body and it wouldn't do what I told it to do. Very frustrating.

I was livid a little more than a week ago in the shower when I was unable to turn enough to wash my lower back. My back finally reached the point it wasn't going to tolerate all of my body weight on one side (because I had to keep weight off of my bad leg) any more and locked up. I was giving the command, but no results. Combine that with the back pain and I just had enough. That is part of the reason I started walking early. Had to balance myself out finally. All good now.

Anyway, it really does open your eyes to what people who have to live like that permanently are going through. I will get better, and I have. So many others never will. The way I see it, I only got a small taste of their world and it was horrible.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I learned that lesson when I got stitches in my dominant hand, and after leaving the ER. You know trying to wipe with the other hand, I was like WTF this isn't gonna be fun for a couple of weeks.

Sorry, had to laugh. When I lost my ring finger, my issue was learning how to tie my boots. That, and for months I was dropping nails on the roof deck...had a new hole in my hand.

 

[Wizard29]

I tried not to laugh, but, it didn't work.

Oof. In that situation you really have to be careful not to exceed the break strength of the TP...

 

[Nordie]

Oof. In that situation you really have to be careful not to exceed the break strength of the TP...

1 ply is definitely not acceptable, I heard that from a friend

 

[Misslbhsbz]

I was cleared by the doctor this morning to start walking again (even though last week I had enough and started walking early). Bone is healed and I just need to get the muscles squared away now. Getting there.

How's it going on your end?

CONGRATS on getting the all clear to walk!!! That's awesome!!! I have my 3rd Ortho appt tomorrow which is 8 weeks from when I had the 2 surgeries to screw my bones back together. I am really hoping and figuring that I will have partial weight bearing approved. I've been stuck literally on my butt for 9 weeks this Saturday and am itching to start standing again even if it is for short periods of time. The in home PT has been working with me to build strength in my legs so that I CAN stand and also bending my knees and breaking up the scar tissue that's there, which hurts like a bitch when it breaks apart(especially on my left knee with the fused together knee cap). As far as the actual bending I am up to 92 degrees on my right leg and 45 degrees on my left leg...slow progress, but still progress.

I have also been wheeling around the kitchen since I needed to start cooking again or I would completley lose my mind. So when LBHSBZ posted saying I was making lunch I actually was lol. I've made a few things now and have even figured out how to load and empty the dishwasher bc I hate feeling like I can't do anything to help. I also have realized that once I am partial weight bearing and moving around without the wheelchair I will be needing more help than I do now since I won't have a lap to chop and dice or carry stuff on, or hands to hold stuff with.

This has really been a humbling experience and I have a new found respect for those that are in a chair permanently. And to all of you that can walk, stand, take a shower, go to the bathroom, get into bed, or even just lift your leg(s) up without having to actually put thought into it....ENJOY and don't take it for granted! Lord knows I never will again!

But I am still staying positive and trying to be as independant as possible to help with my own sanity.

Keep smiling everyone and I will give an update after my appt tomorrow...hopefully with a picture of me standing for the first time in almost 9 weeks!

 

[Dettom]

Those are life changing injuries. Horrible. Hope she recovers quickly.

 

[Wizard29]

CONGRATS on getting the all clear to walk!!! That's awesome!!! I have my 3rd Ortho appt tomorrow which is 8 weeks from when I had the 2 surgeries to screw my bones back together. I am really hoping and figuring that I will have partial weight bearing approved. I've been stuck literally on my butt for 9 weeks this Saturday and am itching to start standing again even if it is for short periods of time. The in home PT has been working with me to build strength in my legs so that I CAN stand and also bending my knees and breaking up the scar tissue that's there, which hurts like a bitch when it breaks apart(especially on my left knee with the fused together knee cap). As far as the actual bending I am up to 92 degrees on my right leg and 45 degrees on my left leg...slow progress, but still progress.

I have also been wheeling around the kitchen since I needed to start cooking again or I would completley lose my mind. So when LBHSBZ posted saying I was making lunch I actually was lol. I've made a few things now and have even figured out how to load and empty the dishwasher bc I hate feeling like I can't do anything to help. I also have realized that once I am partial weight bearing and moving around without the wheelchair I will be needing more help than I do now since I won't have a lap to chop and dice or carry stuff on, or hands to hold stuff with.

This has really been a humbling experience and I have a new found respect for those that are in a chair permanently. And to all of you that can walk, stand, take a shower, go to the bathroom, get into bed, or even just lift your leg(s) up without having to actually put thought into it....ENJOY and don't take it for granted! Lord knows I never will again!

But I am still staying positive and trying to be as independant as possible to help with my own sanity.

Keep smiling everyone and I will give an update after my appt tomorrow...hopefully with a picture of me standing for the first time in almost 9 weeks!

Sounds like you are getting there too. 8 weeks post-op and 92/45 degrees? Is that on track for your type of injury? I was at full range 3-4 weeks after surgery, but of course mine was a different deal and only one leg. PT has got to be a bitch with not even one good leg to work with.

Keep them bending, but yeah, breaking the scar tissue is miserable. When I was breaking mine down it felt like someone was putting a cigarette out on my kneecap. But one day it got really intense and then stopped suddenly. Never came back. Hopefully yours does the same.

Looking forward to the update tomorrow and hoping for good news!

 

[Misslbhsbz]

Sounds like you are getting there too. 8 weeks post-op and 92/45 degrees? Is that on track for your type of injury? I was at full range 3-4 weeks after surgery, but of course mine was a different deal and only one leg. PT has got to be a bitch with not even one good leg to work with.

Keep them bending, but yeah, breaking the scar tissue is miserable. When I was breaking mine down it felt like someone was putting a cigarette out on my kneecap. But one day it got really intense and then stopped suddenly. Never came back. Hopefully yours does the same.

Looking forward to the update tomorrow and hoping for good news!

Personally, I would like to be further than the 92 degrees on my right but I for the life of me can't get it to bend past that yet...there's still quite a bit of swelling that I think is holding me back but I'll get there. Could also be that the only way I can really bend it is by basically running my chair slowly over my leg with my foot on the gound or bend it with my foot on the couch and my ankle only allows for so much movement? I'll figure it out hopefully at my next PT or even at the Dr tomorrow. As for the 45 degrees I wasn't able to bend my left leg at all for 6 weeks after the surgery, because of the shattered knee cap, so it's pretty stiff and has LOTS of scar tissue to break through. There's also only so much PT can do with both since I've been toe touch with weight bearing as tolerated, basically enough weight to scoot myself from bed to chair to whatever else I need(toilet, couch, car, etc) on my right leg and just got the go ahead 2 weeks ago to really start bending my left. I have been using my left a little more to help me scoot to where I need to get to build muscle but I am really hoping that I can get permission tomorrow to go hard with the bends. Won't lie I have been scared to bend my left too much because I REALLY don't want to snap the knee cap and have to start over.

I am also hoping that I have the same experience as you with the scar tissue! I am all for going through the pain if it means I will be able to move. That is kind of what happened to my right leg...I couldn't get it past 76 degrees then over night I was able to get to 92, no clue what changed other than a guess that some of the muscle healed and the swelling went down and it loosened up?

One day at a time and hopefully the real work starts tomorrow

 

[lbhsbz]

When’s dinner?

 

[King295]

So when LBHSBZ posted saying I was making lunch I actually was lol.

When’s dinner?

Legend.

 

[4Waters]

I learned that lesson when I got stitches in my dominant hand, and after leaving the ER. You know trying to wipe with the other hand, I was like WTF this isn't gonna be fun for a couple of weeks.

Try having your dominate hand in a cast for 6 weeks, I got a lot of ass the first few days but after that I was a pro

 

[Nordie]

Try having your dominate hand in a cast for 6 weeks, I got a lot of ass the first few days but after that I was a pro

Settle down poopy cast

 

[monkeyswrench]

When’s dinner?

Just for that, she'll door dash some 25$ burritos

@Misslbhsbz , 92 and 45 is f'n huge! Board straight to bent is a good thing, heading to and past 90 is great. Stuff takes time to heal, both from the breaks and the "fixes". It'll start slow, and then a bit quicker...soon enough you'll be able to stand on one leg and kick MrLbhsbz right in the ass

 

[lbhsbz]

Try having your dominate hand in a cast for 6 weeks, I got a lot of ass the first few days but after that I was a pro

Some of my greatest breakthroughs in life involve toilet paper

 

[Misslbhsbz]

Newest update!
I GET TO START STANDING!!!!
I'm now weight bearing as tolerated while standing. The initial goal is to just get up and stand for a couple minutes then once I'm confidant with standing and it's easy again then start taking steps. The longer goal is to be out of the wheelchair within the month or at least using a walker to walk into my next appt on the 17th of Oct. instead of getting pushed in.

 

[rivermobster]

Seems like you are healing quickly.

Nice work!!!

 

[Wizard29]

Newest update!
I GET TO START STANDING!!!!
I'm now weight bearing as tolerated while standing. The initial goal is to just get up and stand for a couple minutes then once I'm confidant with standing and it's easy again then start taking steps. The longer goal is to be out of the wheelchair within the month or at least using a walker to walk into my next appt on the 17th of Oct. instead of getting pushed in.

Nice! That will keep you from losing any more muscle and get you started on building it all back up. I wish I could have been weight bearing that soon after surgery. Don't throw the wheelchair away just yet though. Walkers really suck if you are going a long distance. I got sweaty more than once using one to get to where I was headed....ha.

 

[Misslbhsbz]

Nice! That will keep you from losing any more muscle and get you started on building it all back up. I wish I could have been weight bearing that soon after surgery. Don't throw the wheelchair away just yet though. Walkers really suck if you are going a long distance. I got sweaty more than once using one to get to where I was headed....ha.

That's the plan! Just can't rush it too much so I set myself back. And it's been 8 weeks since my surgeries so I'm feeling ready for sure! It's still going to be awhile before I'm taking steps though so the wheelchair will be around for a bit since I know I'll wear myself out trying to walk around too much lol

 

[Misslbhsbz]

Today's update...
My PT came at one and helped me stand up with a walker and then I WALKED!!!! Never thought walking 20 feet would be so exciting and exhausting lol but I DID IT!!! Only took 5 or 6 steps the first try then a little further the second then the length of the living room the 3rd and 4th time. I'm sore now and know I'll be even more so later but it's totally worth it!!!

 

[DILLIGAF]

Hey everyone! Thought I'd chime in on this since I'm the one laid up and don't have much else to do at 7:30 in the morning right now lol. Ignore the typos please I'm on my phone and don't feel like proof reading. As LBHSBZ said I fucked up, I was stupid and decided to take a quick ride up the street on an e dirt bike without gear and it was really fun....until it wasn't. You all know what came of that. I'm now currently in a rehab facility in Tustin, CA so lots closer to home which is great. Been here since Saturday and have 3 hours divided between OT and PT 5 days a week(6 if I can talk them into it). I'm keeping my spirits high and staying positive and smiling as much as I can through all this bc being angry and yelling and being a bitch isn't going to help anyone or anything. It's been proven that being happy helps with healing and honestly lbhsbz can vouche that I'm that annoying person who finds the silver lining in EVERY situation lol. I'm officially off all narcotics including the oxycodone I was taking here and now on RX ibuprofen, gabapentin, and a muscle relaxer for pain. The oxy wasn't giving me enough relief and I was just staying at a 7 or so on the pain scale but with the ibuprofen I'm at a 3 or so. I'm currently on 20lbs weight bearing on my right leg and my left leg needs to stay straight for another 6ish weeks to finish healing the fused together knee cap. Realistically were looking at at a minimum 4 months before I'm walking and at least 6ish I'm somewhat normal. As Pat mentioned as well my goal is to be at our son's first day of high school I've told that to everyone here and they say that a great goal so we'll see where it leads. But thanks to my high pain tolerance and will to bust my ass(figuratively since I'm already broken) in PT to at least get my right leg strong enough to help wheel me around I'm hoping I can make it.
Pat has been an awesome support through all this and I now it's hard for him bc he can't fix it but he's doing what he can and I love him for it!
With all that said I'm going to eat my blueberry waffles and Bacon that just showed up and gear myself up for some awesome PT pain and keep on being positive through it all. Always remember being negative won't help anyone! Keep on smiling everybody!!!

Love the mentality! Keep up the good work.

 

[bonesfab]

Today's update...
My PT came at one and helped me stand up with a walker and then I WALKED!!!! Never thought walking 20 feet would be so exciting and exhausting lol but I DID IT!!! Only took 5 or 6 steps the gist try then a little further then the length of the living room. I'm sore now and know I'll be even more so later but it's totally worth it!!!

So you can walk to the kitchen now to make @lbhsbz his dinner?? I joke.

 

[Misslbhsbz]

So you can walk to the kitchen now to make @lbhsbz his dinner?? I joke.

There really needs to be an eyeroll emoji on here in the "like" section... I've needed it more than once lol and I'm still not up that much but I have made a few dinners and other meals but that's more for my sanity than his stomach

 

[Misslbhsbz]

So to keep going with the making food... tonight I pushed myself and stood in the kitchen long enough to do the chopping, dicing, and cooking of risotto!! It hurt like crazy and I almost have up but I made a REAL dinner! It's the small stuff right now. I've also gone up and down some steps and got into my 4Runner and haven't been in the wheelchair since Wednesday afternoon.
And @Wizard29 here's pictures of mine want to share yours? The business card is for size reference. Is it weird that I like the long one? Lol

 

[Wizard29]

So to keep going with the making food... tonight I pushed myself and stood in the kitchen long enough to do the chopping, dicing, and cooking of risotto!! It hurt like crazy and I almost have up but I made a REAL dinner! It's the small stuff right now. I've also gone up and down some steps and got into my 4Runner and haven't been in the wheelchair since Wednesday afternoon.
And @Wizard29 here's pictures of mine want to share yours? The business card is for size reference. Is it weird that I like the long one? Lol View attachment 1433868 View attachment 1433869

That's great you were able to stand for that long. Is the blood rush still happening for you? Mine has stopped. Keep pushing it as much as you can tolerate, but not too much. I've started walking mostly unassisted by a cane or anything, but am getting a pain on the inside (right side) of my knee. I asked the PT person about it the other day and she said where it hurts is where an abductor muscle connects to my knee and it's likely I have been a little too active, causing a bit of a strain. She advised I take it easy for a couple of days and let it heal, which I did. So be careful about something like that.

I should probably take my own advice though...this evening I got brave enough to get back on my electric mountain bike and take a ride. Only did the streets, but it was about 4.5 miles with some pretty good hills. Knee is a little sore, but not a "damaged" sore. Hasn't really swollen up or anything either, which was surprising. So far, so good.

Your scars are way more gnarly than mine. Fortunately my break (shatter) was just isolated to the knee area. My legs are also a tad more hairy than yours, so my scars are harder to see, but here's a couple of shots:

There are a couple of smaller scars that don't show up all that well too. They were where some of the bolts got inserted. Surgeon didn't want to make a long incision to cover where those went in. Better to do small ones where they were needed.

Interesting and somewhat disturbing story...On the second shot you can see one smaller scar further up my leg where my shorts end. There is a matching one down on my ankle. Two weeks after the surgery, the doctor took off my temporary plaster brace and I noticed the incision on my ankle. I said, "What the hell is that for?" He explained that in order for him to put all the bone pieces back together on the top of my tibia, he had to put a temporary pin that stuck out of the skin down in my ankle and another one up on my femur. Then he connected a spreader bar to the two pins, which spread my knee joint apart so he could get in there and work. I said it was probably a good thing I wasn't awake for that. He said that if I was, I wouldn't have been for long because I would have passed out from the pain. I can't imagine.

Good to see you are recovering well! Keep pushing. Once you are up and start walking around, things seem to come back pretty fast.

 

[monkeyswrench]

So to keep going with the making food... tonight I pushed myself and stood in the kitchen long enough to do the chopping, dicing, and cooking of risotto!! It hurt like crazy and I almost have up but I made a REAL dinner! It's the small stuff right now. I've also gone up and down some steps and got into my 4Runner and haven't been in the wheelchair since Wednesday afternoon.
And @Wizard29 here's pictures of mine want to share yours? The business card is for size reference. Is it weird that I like the long one? Lol View attachment 1433868 View attachment 1433869

Kaiser advertisement?

I will say, normally "chicks dig scars" isn't quite meant this way! Glad you're able to move around a bit and bear some weight. Fair warning though, if you over do it one day, the next kinda hurts. My neurologist told me this: Your body will let you know if it can do it or not.

Your body wants to do it and so does your mind...keep it going!

 

[Misslbhsbz]

That's great you were able to stand for that long. Is the blood rush still happening for you? Mine has stopped. Keep pushing it as much as you can tolerate, but not too much. I've started walking mostly unassisted by a cane or anything, but am getting a pain on the inside (right side) of my knee. I asked the PT person about it the other day and she said where it hurts is where an abductor muscle connects to my knee and it's likely I have been a little too active, causing a bit of a strain. She advised I take it easy for a couple of days and let it heal, which I did. So be careful about something like that.

I should probably take my own advice though...this evening I got brave enough to get back on my electric mountain bike and take a ride. Only did the streets, but it was about 4.5 miles with some pretty good hills. Knee is a little sore, but not a "damaged" sore. Hasn't really swollen up or anything either, which was surprising. So far, so good.

Your scars are way more gnarly than mine. Fortunately my break (shatter) was just isolated to the knee area. My legs are also a tad more hairy than yours, so my scars are harder to see, but here's a couple of shots:

View attachment 1433875 View attachment 1433876

There are a couple of smaller scars that don't show up all that well too. They were where some of the bolts got inserted. Surgeon didn't want to make a long incision to cover where those went in. Better to do small ones where they were needed.

Interesting and somewhat disturbing story...On the second shot you can see one smaller scar further up my leg where my shorts end. There is a matching one down on my ankle. Two weeks after the surgery, the doctor took off my temporary plaster brace and I noticed the incision on my ankle. I said, "What the hell is that for?" He explained that in order for him to put all the bone pieces back together on the top of my tibia, he had to put a temporary pin that stuck out of the skin down in my ankle and another one up on my femur. Then he connected a spreader bar to the two pins, which spread my knee joint apart so he could get in there and work. I said it was probably a good thing I wasn't awake for that. He said that if I was, I wouldn't have been for long because I would have passed out from the pain. I can't imagine.

Good to see you are recovering well! Keep pushing. Once you are up and start walking around, things seem to come back pretty fast.

So much to touch on in this post! I definitely pushed myself with standing for that long and am sore today but not as bad as I was Thursday. Thursday SUCKED!!! Pain was comparable to when this first happened and I spent the day on the couch except for when I had to go to the bathroom lol. I do still get the blood rush, feels like my feet are waking up from being asleep, some pins and needles tingling but it's passing more quickly now. Good on you for listening to your body about reading for a couple days AND for getting back on the bike! That's a huge part of recovery too and even if the soreness in sure it felt great to be back on it!

For the part of the Doc having to spread your joint apart... my knees hurt just thinking about that! I had external stabilizers on both legs so like you I have a couple other small scars on each shin and 2 on my upper left thigh(right thigh was part of the long scar) but that was to hold the floppy bones in place before the 2 surgeries to fix my legs.(the meme style picture lbhsbz is what I had for 4 and 6 days) I'm glad you were asleep for what the doc did that sounds like it would hurt me than the injury! And if you think about it it's crazy what they can do now with surgeries!

So far other than Thursday I've had just the sore muscle pain and not the UH OH I may have just f'd something up pain. And even Thurs wasn't that it was little electric zap feelings shooting up and down my legs bc my nerves are waking up. And my calves feel like I've done 100+ calf raises but it's all part of the healing process right? But my least favorite is the zap feelings... not fun at all!!! Did you get those at all?

Going out to dinner tonight with the family so we'll see how that goes. First time navigating a public space that isn't a hospital without my wheelchair lol

Happy healing to you!!!

 

[Misslbhsbz]

Kaiser advertisement?

I will say, normally "chicks dig scars" isn't quite meant this way! Glad you're able to move around a bit and bear some weight. Fair warning though, if you over do it one day, the next kinda hurts. My neurologist told me this: Your body will let you know if it can do it or not.

Your body wants to do it and so does your mind...keep it going!

Yeah my family is weird and scars are cool in our book and this is the first time I've had some to compare to the others lol and I don't know why I like the long one so much but it fits have a cool feel to it, especially since the above it has feeling but below it doesn't(but the bottom feeling is coming back slowly).

As for the weight bearing my PT wants me to work on getting full weight on both legs, especially my left since that's the weakest one. Kaiser also wants me on outpatient now but didn't have an appt for that until the 15th of Oct but thankfully my neighbor is a PT and got me into one of her facilities on the 4th bc I really don't want to go 3 weeks without any PT. I also learned Wednesday to not overdue it bc Thursday SUCKED but I'm doing OK today after all the standing and walking yesterday so I'm going to do some more today to hopefully loosen up some. But I'm definitely listening to my body more now bc I really don't want to set myself back with all the progress I've made.

I'm just really glad I can get up and move...9 weeks sitting out lying down as no fun at all!

 

[Wizard29]

So much to touch on in this post! I definitely pushed myself with standing for that long and am sore today but not as bad as I was Thursday. Thursday SUCKED!!! Pain was comparable to when this first happened and I spent the day on the couch except for when I had to go to the bathroom lol. I do still get the blood rush, feels like my feet are waking up from being asleep, some pins and needles tingling but it's passing more quickly now. Good on you for listening to your body about reading for a couple days AND for getting back on the bike! That's a huge part of recovery too and even if the soreness in sure it felt great to be back on it!

For the part of the Doc having to spread your joint apart... my knees hurt just thinking about that! I had external stabilizers on both legs so like you I have a couple other small scars on each shin and 2 on my upper left thigh(right thigh was part of the long scar) but that was to hold the floppy bones in place before the 2 surgeries to fix my legs.(the meme style picture lbhsbz is what I had for 4 and 6 days) I'm glad you were asleep for what the doc did that sounds like it would hurt me than the injury! And if you think about it it's crazy what they can do now with surgeries!

So far other than Thursday I've had just the sore muscle pain and not the UH OH I may have just f'd something up pain. And even Thurs wasn't that it was little electric zap feelings shooting up and down my legs bc my nerves are waking up. And my calves feel like I've done 100+ calf raises but it's all part of the healing process right? But my least favorite is the zap feelings... not fun at all!!! Did you get those at all?

Going out to dinner tonight with the family so we'll see how that goes. First time navigating a public space that isn't a hospital without my wheelchair lol

Happy healing to you!!!

I haven't had too much in the way of "zap" pain. Just strange pains that come and go. Some of them are really uncomfortable, but some of them are more of that "feel good" type of pain. Don't know how else to describe that. Not many have really lasted more than 30 seconds at a time and if an uncomfortable one does, I can adjust my position and it will typically go away. The exception to that is the pain I'm getting in my knee. It's gotten better over the last couple of days, but it was pretty bad. I'm not sure if it is the skin around the incision getting used to flexing and dealing with the swelling or if it is an actual muscle or tendon. I can put lotion on it and it feels better, but that may just be a mental thing.

Here's a tip that I learned/am learning: Exercise your feet. I am amazed at how much strength I lost in my left foot during this whole deal. I still have a limp and have to work at going up and down stairs because my left foot doesn't support my weight when I rock forward onto the ball of my foot and my toes. When you walk, for a quick moment you use the ball of your foot to support your weight while the other foot comes down. When on stairs (especially coming down) it's kind of the same thing. Mine will come back eventually, but it would have been better if I never lost it.

So, to the extent you can, make sure to exercise your feet. One exercise I recommend (and the PT folks gave me) is to stand up straight and use the balls of your feet to lift you up, lifting your heels off the ground. They call it a, "Standing Heel Raise", but I guess you could call them calf raises? You can do them together initially, but should eventually be able to lift one foot off the ground and still lift yourself up using the ball of the opposite foot. Ideally, you'd be able to do that with both feet individually. I hope that all makes sense.

Give it a shot when you feel comfortable, but definitely don't hurt anything in the process. I'm curious to see if you are experiencing the same thing.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Yeah my family is weird and scars are cool in our book and this is the first time I've had some to compare to the others lol and I don't know why I like the long one so much but it fits have a cool feel to it, especially since the above it has feeling but below it doesn't(but the bottom feeling is coming back slowly).

As for the weight bearing my PT wants me to work on getting full weight on both legs, especially my left since that's the weakest one. Kaiser also wants me on outpatient now but didn't have an appt for that until the 15th of Oct but thankfully my neighbor is a PT and got me into one of her facilities on the 4th bc I really don't want to go 3 weeks without any PT. I also learned Wednesday to not overdue it bc Thursday SUCKED but I'm doing OK today after all the standing and walking yesterday so I'm going to do some more today to hopefully loosen up some. But I'm definitely listening to my body more now bc I really don't want to set myself back with all the progress I've made.

I'm just really glad I can get up and move...9 weeks sitting out lying down as no fun at all!

Well, the long scar is more of a "pinstripe", we'll done. The other has the more Van Gogh style

 

[Misslbhsbz]

I haven't had too much in the way of "zap" pain. Just strange pains that come and go. Some of them are really uncomfortable, but some of them are more of that "feel good" type of pain. Don't know how else to describe that. Not many have really lasted more than 30 seconds at a time and if an uncomfortable one does, I can adjust my position and it will typically go away. The exception to that is the pain I'm getting in my knee. It's gotten better over the last couple of days, but it was pretty bad. I'm not sure if it is the skin around the incision getting used to flexing and dealing with the swelling or if it is an actual muscle or tendon. I can put lotion on it and it feels better, but that may just be a mental thing.

Here's a tip that I learned/am learning: Exercise your feet. I am amazed at how much strength I lost in my left foot during this whole deal. I still have a limp and have to work at going up and down stairs because my left foot doesn't support my weight when I rock forward onto the ball of my foot and my toes. When you walk, for a quick moment you use the ball of your foot to support your weight while the other foot comes down. When on stairs (especially coming down) it's kind of the same thing. Mine will come back eventually, but it would have been better if I never lost it.

So, to the extent you can, make sure to exercise your feet. One exercise I recommend (and the PT folks gave me) is to stand up straight and use the balls of your feet to lift you up, lifting your heels off the ground. They call it a, "Standing Heel Raise", but I guess you could call them calf raises? You can do them together initially, but should eventually be able to lift one foot off the ground and still lift yourself up using the ball of the opposite foot. Ideally, you'd be able to do that with both feet individually. I hope that all makes sense.

Give it a shot when you feel comfortable, but definitely don't hurt anything in the process. I'm curious to see if you are experiencing the same thing.

The zapping pain is weird... it make my whole leg twitch sometimes, PT and Ortho PA said it's the nerves waking up so I'll take it as a good but annoying pain. I definitely understand the difference you mentioned with the "feel good"pain and uncomfortable pain. I had that when I went from 76° to the 90° pretty much over night with my right knee then I hit sone more scar tissue on the inside of my right knee that I'm trying to break through (just another scar that wasn't in the pictures I posted... there's a BUNCH of little ones). The breaking of the scar tissue is by far the worst pain I've felt for the healing process. I remember you mentioning it and said that it went REALLY bad then was pretty much done... did you break through it on your own or was a PT wrenching on it for you?

For the heel raises those are the fans things as the calf raises. My left foot definitely feels weaker than my right but also has had very little use compared to my right foot. Yesterday by time I was done with dinner the left foot looked bruised and was definitely swollen. Today I walked to the grass in our backyard and went up and down the ramp lbhsbz built and my left ankle swelled so now I'm inside with 3 pillows under my left leg and 2 under my right letting then rest and reading RDP lol. But the calf raises is one of the exercises that my PT told me so I'm hoping that'll help with my foot swelling after walking around. I'm definitely not to the point of one foot yet though I'm still working on being able to bear all my weight on one leg, but I'll get there!

 

[Misslbhsbz]

Well, the long scar is more of a "pinstripe", we'll done. The other has the more Van Gogh style

I like the pinstripe thought... it goes with the gray(or mature blonde)racing stripes in my hair lol and the other when it had staples in have me the feel of a stick figure dragon or horse lol now I'll go with the Van Gogh or impressionist style and let people see what they want

 

[monkeyswrench]

I like the pinstripe thought... it goes with the gray(or mature blonde)racing stripes in my hair lol and the other when it had staples in have me the feel of a stick figure dragon or horse lol now I'll go with the Van Gogh or impressionist style and let people see what they want

I have a couple that look like centipedes...turns out that's what happens when you rip the staples out

 

[Misslbhsbz]

I have a couple that look like centipedes...turns out that's what happens when you rip the staples out

Ooohhhh that sounds painful!!! I guess with me being in the hospital and then rehab that kept me from ripping them out... but I could imagine the colorful words that flew when that happened. And how did you rip them out? They're in there pretty good! Lol

 

[monkeyswrench]

Ooohhhh that sounds painful!!! I guess with me being in the hospital and then rehab that kept me from ripping them out... but I could imagine the colorful words that flew when that happened. And how did you rip them out? They're in there pretty good! Lol

Well, I wasn't always the best about following instructions

 

[Misslbhsbz]

Well, I wasn't always the best about following instructions

That seems to be a common trend for us on this site lol

 

[Wizard29]

The zapping pain is weird... it make my whole leg twitch sometimes, PT and Ortho PA said it's the nerves waking up so I'll take it as a good but annoying pain. I definitely understand the difference you mentioned with the "feel good"pain and uncomfortable pain. I had that when I went from 76° to the 90° pretty much over night with my right knee then I hit sone more scar tissue on the inside of my right knee that I'm trying to break through (just another scar that wasn't in the pictures I posted... there's a BUNCH of little ones). The breaking of the scar tissue is by far the worst pain I've felt for the healing process. I remember you mentioning it and said that it went REALLY bad then was pretty much done... did you break through it on your own or was a PT wrenching on it for you?

For the heel raises those are the fans things as the calf raises. My left foot definitely feels weaker than my right but also has had very little use compared to my right foot. Yesterday by time I was done with dinner the left foot looked bruised and was definitely swollen. Today I walked to the grass in our backyard and went up and down the ramp lbhsbz built and my left ankle swelled so now I'm inside with 3 pillows under my left leg and 2 under my right letting then rest and reading RDP lol. But the calf raises is one of the exercises that my PT told me so I'm hoping that'll help with my foot swelling after walking around. I'm definitely not to the point of one foot yet though I'm still working on being able to bear all my weight on one leg, but I'll get there!

The scar tissue was kind of a weird one for me. I would just bend my knee until I felt the burning pain and back off a little. Then next time try to bend it a little further and tolerate a little more pain. Just kept working it until it suddenly went away. One time it got pretty bad and then just never came back. I assume that was the final strand or whatever and there wasn't any more after. It's for sure different for everybody, but that was my experience. I've done most of this on my own. The PT sessions haven't really done anything for me except provide different exercises for me to do at home.

What I have learned through all of this is stay as active as possible and tolerate the pain, but know your pain types so you can tell if you are damaging something. Very important to find that balance.

 

[Misslbhsbz]

The scar tissue was kind of a weird one for me. I would just bend my knee until I felt the burning pain and back off a little. Then next time try to bend it a little further and tolerate a little more pain. Just kept working it until it suddenly went away. One time it got pretty bad and then just never came back. I assume that was the final strand or whatever and there wasn't any more after. It's for sure different for everybody, but that was my experience. I've done most of this on my own. The PT sessions haven't really done anything for me except provide different exercises for me to do at home.

What I have learned through all of this is stay as active as possible and tolerate the pain, but know your pain types so you can tell if you are damaging something. Very important to find that balance.

That's what I've been trying to do... hurts like a bitch but I know I've got to get rid of it, my joints WANT to move the scarring just won't let them. But I did just sit down and apparently my right leg wasn't out as far as it usually is and it made a nice popping feel which almost made me cry bc it hurt so bad but now I'm pretty sure I just gained a few more degrees lol fawk this scar tissue! And the stuff right on top of the left is the real bitch! But I'll keep chugging along thanks for the input

 

[Singleton]

This thread proves women have a much higher pain tolerance than men!

My wife wants to kill me when I get a man cold. Could not imagine either of these injuries

 

[Wizard29]

That's what I've been trying to do... hurts like a bitch but I know I've got to get rid of it, my joints WANT to move the scarring just won't let them. But I did just sit down and apparently my right leg wasn't out as far as it usually is and it made a nice popping feel which almost made me cry bc it hurt so bad but now I'm pretty sure I just gained a few more degrees lol fawk this scar tissue! And the stuff right on top of the left is the real bitch! But I'll keep chugging along thanks for the input

Interesting you mention your leg popping. What I was going to mention in my last post (but I didn't want to write an entire book) is that with range of motion issues, I learned sometimes the little "accidents" can be helpful. Sitting down with your leg not as extended as far as usual, a slight slip on a slippery floor, trying to move like you used to but having your brain temporarily forget you are injured...things like that can actually help you move a little further than you may have otherwise. Sometimes it hurts, but those incidents can be good as long as it's not too severe. Alternatively, you have to consciously force that motion, but because some people know it's going to hurt, they never do.

So I guess my point is don't be afraid of the little "oopses". Of course when being active be careful, but don't walk on eggshells either.

 

[SPFRONTMAN]

View attachment 1409417 View attachment 1409418 View attachment 1409419 View attachment 1409420 View attachment 1409421 A few pics to help make my point…

HOLLY SQUAKA MOLLY, ON AN EBIKE? How fast was she going?

 

[Wizard29]

That's what I've been trying to do... hurts like a bitch but I know I've got to get rid of it, my joints WANT to move the scarring just won't let them. But I did just sit down and apparently my right leg wasn't out as far as it usually is and it made a nice popping feel which almost made me cry bc it hurt so bad but now I'm pretty sure I just gained a few more degrees lol fawk this scar tissue! And the stuff right on top of the left is the real bitch! But I'll keep chugging along thanks for the input

Check your PMs. I sent you one about an ice water circulator I don't need any more and maybe you could use.