Post-Op Day 4

Did I just pee myself last night? I've been reading about the bladder numbness that can occur with anesthesia and I woke up and my foot and leg were wet. Turns out it was water condensation on the water tubes that are attached to my new ice machine. The tubs are exposed for a number inches and the humid air condenses on the cold tube. This ice machine is the Ferrari of ice machines. It cools the water itself without the need to add ice and it is always cold at 43 degrees.

I've decided that I must be pregnant. I wake up every morning with severe morning sickness. I'm so nauseated it's debilitating. I believe it's the anti-bacterial pills combined with the powerful pain meds. I got about 4-5 hours of sleep yesterday. I just couldn't sleep with so much pain. I decided to take my knee off the CPM and try sleeping normal with a huge pillow between my legs while still keeping the ice machine going. I slept pretty well once I got situated and I'll do it again tonight. Pain and sleep just don't mix well. If I dope up on Big V to help me sleep, I end up getting an upset stomach. Dr. Kim said that the nausea was usually from being dehydrated. I've been drinking fluids like crazy and I have to "go" all the time now so I'm not sure my nausea stems from dehydration.

I got to 60 degrees of knee bending last night. I'm currently up to 70 degrees of motion right now. Not too bad considering just yesterday morning I was at 40-45 degrees. Dr. Kim instilled some confidence that  I needed to push myself. I'm going in to remove the staples and stitches on Monday. I can't wait because the main incision with the multiple staples is right on the tibia and it always hurts.

Another major milestone is that I can indeed walk on my knee without crutches. Contrary to my mindset as late as yesterday morning, I can walk on the knee. The almost comical thing about walking on the new knee is that it feels like I'm using an artificial limb. I have NO control over the knee and there's little stability. The reason for this sensation is that the knee has "broadcasted" out to the connecting tissue that "I'm HURT. Don't use me and stay on the down low for a while until I can heal". My muscles and nerves are not working correctly and thus instability. As you can see to the left, I can do a leg lift without passing out. It's still painful and the staples aren't helping at all. I can do several leg lifts without assistance. I can feel the hamstring in the front of my tibia straining and struggling with each lift. The only way to get the hamstring back is to use it.

I was almost laughing last night as I walked/shuffled around the house at how much my life has changed since Feb 27th. Almost one month ago I was in the best shape of my life, surfing every day and skiing the best I've skied in years. I told my dad that while skiing in Utah at Deer Valley just weeks before the accident that I haven't skied so well for a long time. My endurance was really strong and I was pulling "heli's" all over. I felt so good. On my birthday,  Feb 24th I went for the SoCal special and skied Mountain High in the morning and then surfed Grandview in the afternoon - just 3 days before the accident. 

Now I'm stoked if I can hobble around sporting a massive 6 inch strut. I've become Bill Murray in "What about Bob". Baby steps to the bathroom. Baby steps to the kitchen. Baby steps up the stairs. Baby steps back to Camp Chad on the couch. Don't take for granted what you have right this second. By grateful for it might be gone in an instant.