Getting Back to Normal

 

Yes, I’m just going to come out and say it.  I walked. It was unbelievable and amazing, and I did it completely on accident as I absentmindedly got ready for work.

Ok, where I am?  What’s going on.  I can’t focus.  I JUST WALKED!  Calm down, Erin.  Let the adrenaline subside.  Ok, It’s Tuesday morning, and I’m 5 days post-op.  I planned out my morning the evening before.  Get up at 6:15 a.m., do my PT, let the dogs out, do a session on the RomTech, feed the dogs and cat, wash my hair, second session on the RomTech, change clothes, and leave for work. 

I was crutching it around the house pretty successfully even though feeding two dogs was a bit of challenge on two crutches, but I managed.  Everything was going well, and I was getting ready for work.  I grabbed some items that I wanted to throw on when I changed my mind about my tops.   Without even thinking about grabbing my crutch, my body gimped into my closet on its own accord.  There I stood with no idea what shirt I wanted to change into because I was suddenly aware of the fact that I actually walked.  I walked!  It’s not like I forced myself or talked myself into doing it.  My legs just decided it was done with the crutches and could now carry my big, ginger ass without any need of assistance.  It was amazing and everything I remembered it to be.  It felt like…FREEDOM!  And independence!

Clothes on, two functioning legs, I was on my way to work.  I did grab my crutches because I’m not a complete moron.  Just because I could walk, didn’t mean I needed to walk.  The last thing I wanted to do would be to trip, land unsteady somehow, and further hurt myself.  Still, it was so exhilarating to think that I could now actually walk – especially considering what I went through getting into the bathtub just two days earlier. 

Pillow to prop my leg up, blanket to keep me warm while icing my knee. 

I prepared for my return to work in the weeks prior to my surgery.  I bought a footstool for under my desk and I bought an orthotic pillow to prop my leg up with.  My work was allowing me to park in the guest spots at right outside the front door and my cubicle buddy helped me bring my pillow and some other things into work.

While I missed my ottoman, my dogs, and my murder docs, it was nice to get back to my normal routine.  Sure, I wasn’t 100% and wouldn’t be 100% for quite some time still, but time waits for no man.  I was at least able to drive myself and crutch it into my office now.  I was even able to walk – even if I was walking slowly and with a prominent limp.  It was a start and a strong win considering 5 days ago, I was unconscious on an operating table with my knee sliced open, part of my hamstring being used as a make-shift ACL, and some meniscus repair being done as well. 

I had my ice packs with me and after heating up my breakfast, I sat down with ice on my leg for two hours.  After those two hours, I did my quad sets and leg lifts, then continued working until lunch.  At lunch, I went home and saw my hubs and pups and got my 3^rd session on the RomTech done.  I went back after lunch and iced my knee for another two hours.  Like earlier in the day, I did my PT exercises once my ice pack was back in the freezer after two more hours of icing.

Ready to dig into some spreadsheets

As far as my brain and concentration went, it of course took me a minute to figure out where I left off on Wednesday the week prior.  I really should’ve left myself notes, so I definitely dropped the ball there.  But I figured out what I needed to get done and I got through my tax reconciliations like a boss. 

Getting home at 5 p.m., Chris had dinner prepped for me and after my 4^th session on the RomTech, I was more than happy to indulge in his culinary goodness. 

I want to close with saying know your body and your own limitations.  I’m a person that likes a schedule, that needs a little bit of activity to recover.  Unless I’m throwing up, I’m the type of person who will still go for a run, or the very least take a brisk one-hour walk when I’m sick.  I love working up a sweat and getting the drainage out of system from my own internal heat while exercising.  Consequently, with injuries, I’ve always subscribed to rest and relaxation, but movement, even limited in scope, to keep blood flowing and start working out any kinks and tightness that can develop.

I do know this is by far the worst injury I’ve ever had, and I can guarantee you all that I’m being careful and listening to my body.  In the meantime, though, I’m putting in the work to get back to running flipping!