I spent a good night although not perfect. Amazingly not because of pain; I was in no pain at all but because I forgot how boring and tiring it is to sleep on your back. It reminded me of the months that followed the ACL reconstruction and how I had to keep a pillow under my leg for comfort. I had to do it last night to ease the blood circulation in my legs.
The good news is the absence of pain in the knee. The other good news is that, although I keep it close in case I need support, I have been walking without the support of a crutch. I removed the long white stockings before noon today and it feels good to have my legs bare in my pair of shorts. I will remove the thick padding around my leg tomorrow afternoon and be able to shower fully as long as I keep water proof bandages on the several openings (I have not seen them so I don't know how many I have and if the surgeon was able to reenter my knee through the same openings). The healing had been so smooth after the ACL reconstruction that I only have one visible scar from the major opening where they put the stitches. I hope the new incisions are small and will fade before next summer. I'm so vain!
I have seven different exercises to perform, all to strengthen the ham string, the quad and of course increase the flexibility of my knee, my weakest point. The instructions are to do them 2 to 3 times a day, 10 to 15 sets of each. I did my exercises early morning since it was back to school today and I wanted to have breakfast with my kids before they left. I did a second round mid morning and a third early afternoon. I keep the last for tonight. I also do ankle pumps several times a day but my blood circulation is fine. Much better than back in January.
I don't feel pain in my knee or leg, only a bit of a stretch if I stand up too quickly to get the phone, which for a mysterious reason kept ringing today.
Other than that I am feeling pretty good. I am in good spirits and accomplished a lot today besides my leg work. I submitted two writing pieces to editors willing to see new things.
I am revising my most recent novel and plan to submit later this fall. I am waiting for a magazine editor who agreed to see one of my stories. I am waiting for the illustrations for my picture book now in the hands of an editor. I would like to submit again to NPR this coming season and I have started a new piece for them.
I try to keep my plate full and it is not too hard when you run a family and write.
My accident has proven me that set backs have advantages. It has been a lousy year for hiking but a productive writing year.
Now is the time for my knee to show off and I will happily trade writing for a long day in the outdoors.
My hiking friend can't wait for me to join her on a new adventure. It will be a tamed one to start with, I'm afraid, but it is only August and Yosemite is in its glory all year long.
Patience is again key but I want to push myself more this time since pain doesn't seem an issue now.
Hooray!
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