6.22.2009

Jumping for Joy (Literally!) [~10 Wks Post-Op/ 3rd Follow-up]

This afternoon I spent about 1 hour waiting (and, oh yeah, got another set of identical x-rays taken...) for my 'ol pal, Dr. Jeff Shapiro. As I waited, I tried to think of intelligent questions I should be asking at 2+ months out, but since there's no squeaky wheel, nothing really came to mind. So, when he finally made his grand entrance and we exchanged our how-do-you-do's, he surprised me with this:

Dr. S: "Two down, two to go!"
Summer: [Obviously confused] "What?"
Dr. S: "Well, you're at two months, and only two more to go!"
Summer: [Still obviously confused] "Oh, um, for recovery? Or..?"
Dr. S: "Yeah!"
Summer: [Yep, still confused] "I thought it was more like 6 months... No?"
Dr. S: "Nope!"

Playing back this conversation now still makes me chuckle, because even though he clearly stated it was a 4 month recovery (total), I still don't really believe it. I mean, PT has been going well and all, and aside from some muscle I need to get back in my surgical quad, I'm feeling pretty confident so far. However, when I've had it in my head that all my fave activities are off-limits for 6 months, it's hard to change that placeholder in my head from mid-October to mid-August. Plus, a big fear of mine is coming back too early and not being back to 100%. But if I can't trust my doctor's word, who do I listen to??

The rest of the 5 minutes (if that!) with Dr. S was uneventful- Range of motion is "great", swelling is minimal, and I have no complaints of pain... "See you in a month!"

So- I am resisting the urge to be completely ecstatic and drunk with happiness about this 2 month shave off my 'return'. Why? Well... while I feel I'm a positive person, I want to remain realistic and, perhaps, a little on the 'safe' side. We'll see how things work out, but I guess I'll limit myself to just a sip of this delight cocktail for now!

In the event I'd like to celebrate by jumping up and down - well, now I have been advised by my physical therapist to go on ahead and do it! Today in PT, among other things (see my ACL calendar), I started jumping. It's really a strange experience to try a simple motion like that, which I've avoided for the last two months, but is so elementary. Like everything else, I started with a little hesitation, but once I realized my knee wasn't giving out on me and there wasn't even a pang of pain, I became a 3x30 rep jumping bean! PT also brought on more Bosu Ball fun too...!

So, between the good news from the Doc and trying new things in PT, today was a great day! Not to mention, by next week I'll only be at PT once a week (currently at 2/week)! Booyah!



3 comments:

  1. 4 Months?!? Dang, now I'm really jealous! I like your surgeon!

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  2. I know, right?! :)

    I feel like he's never said that time frame to me before now, otherwise I would have been thinking 4 months all along.... Either way, like I said, I plan to ease back into my active lifestyle to make sure it's a full recovery!!

    Are we having fun yet??

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  3. hmmmmm, does that mean you might be able to jump on over to milwaukee this weekend?!?! :) (for your sake, i hope not, for my sake, i hop so!)

    (i mean hope so, pun intended, ha haha)

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