February 9th, 2011

Nights follow each other with the same amount of discomfort. This is not truly pain but heaviness and warmth that wake me up every hour or so. I try hard to avoid moving so I catch up some sleep and moreover allow my husband some deserved rest.
I have been such a good sleeper so far. Sleep actually has been my best friend to regain strength after my four deliveries and my life with four little kids and a busy hardworking husband. I have rarely been sick. And I know it’s because my nights were restful.
Now, I fight to find a comfortable position and I see the red digits of the clock trickling minutes as I shift my weight from left side to right side.
I drift on and off until 8:00 am and stand up. Amazingly comfort reaches me almost instantly as if being on my feet was the only thing my leg wants.
The swelling is mostly gone but I notice a yellow/green spot on the inside of my calf as if there was some bruising there. My left foot is okay but slightly swollen if I compare with my slender right foot. Same with my ankle. My left foot sometimes feels either cold or warm. It looks like a blood circulation issue. Is it a good idea to elevate the leg at night? I’ve done it for seven straight days and was looking forward to a normal position.
So many questions! That’s why I started to blog about my knee. I wish I had answers to the questions that bump into my head. Perhaps when everything is over, I will laugh at them. But maybe one day, someone will go through the same injury and find help through my own experience. Today that’s what I’d like. To talk with a woman or man who had ACL reconstruction and share my concerns. I would gladly listen to personal tips and encouragement.
Days go by and I check the calendar with fear. Will I be on my two feet and able to tie my shoes easily by June? Will I be able to walk to the top of my driveway? When will I be able to vacuum? When will I climb the stairs? When will I drive? Will I be able to walk on the beach this summer in Maine? Will I be able to join my family on a boat ride? Will I be able to rake the leaves on the hill and help to remodel the little blue house we purchased last summer in Maine?
And the question that keeps bugging me: when will I hike?