Doc didn’t tell me to wait it out. He told me to call the orthopedic specialist he had recommended, and get an appointment. And I did.
Wednesday, a Physician’s Assistant saw me. Dear Husband had been rained out at work, so he packed me into the SUV and drove me to the doctor’s office. I was able to walk into the facility under my own power, using a cane, and taking my time. The specialist’s assistant checked out the knee, asked a lot of questions and tried to figure out what had caused the problem.
It appears that I may have a medial collateral ligament sprain. It’s the most common knee damage. Usually it happens when the outside of the knee is struck. I’m not sure what caused the damage, but it’s likely that I planted my foot and turned my knee wrong sometime the day my knee started hurting.
I’ve been given a leg immobilizer to wear. For the first few days I’ll even have to wear it when I sleep. I sat in the office this morning with my foot slightly elevated, the immobilizer holding everything in place, and flew through paperwork. Another day of this and I’ll be able to see the top of my desk!
My-Sister-The-Nurse came to us yesterday afternoon, and took Elegante Mother grocery shopping. She put everything away when they came home, and asked if there was anything else she could do to help. While they were shopping, DH and I saw the doc, and stopped at the bank, the post office and our favorite local Italian place. We picked up dinner, and treated everyone to a night off from K.P. When dinner was over, everyone pitched in to fill the dishwasher and put leftovers away, and my kitchen looked wonderful!
I’ll be in the immobilizer for three weeks, and then I have to visit the PA again. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that I have to wear it just a little longer, based on the responses of friends who have gone through similar knee problems.
Dear Husband has taken over part of dinner prep. Elegante Mother brings me refills on tea, and fixes lunch for me. My stepson watered the container garden Tuesday, but Mother Nature spared him the past two days thanks to morning rain. My oldest sis will return on Saturday to take EM and me to the salon. Two of my grandnephews will come on Monday to spread mulch for me. Their mother has offered to do the next round of grocery shopping. One of my nieces is coming to visit on Sunday, and will be available in case we have anything pop up that I can’t handle, and my youngest sis will come for several days in the middle of the three week wait. I am SO thankful that I have a large, loving family!
I won’t be driving for the next three weeks, so we’re missing exercise. I’m going to try to set up regular sessions at home for upper body exercise, so that I don’t loose all my muscle tone. I’ve actually enjoyed the past couple of days at my desk. I don’t know how happy my family is to be waiting on me, but I’m getting TONS of paperwork done. And, when I see the top of my desk, I’m leaving the office to work on quilts. I have two runs of fabric cut out, waiting for my attention, plus several baby quilts to finish, and I want to work on Dear Husband’s Sails and Whales quilt.
I guess there might be a silver lining, but I’m going to need to have every one of you keep me company to get through the next three weeks! *G*
Arrrgh!!!
It's just my state of mind!
I’m sorry for the pain and inconvenience; but, glad that you are in a position to take advantage of it. Your knee was just the “push” that you needed to get sedentary activities done! I’ve been sedentary, today; but, not by choice or due to anything drastic. I’ve had all sorts of software issues, today, and this is the first that I’ve succeeded in getting online in approximately 12 hours.
im with cop car on the pain and inconvenience but glad youve been able to find something positive from it.
perhaps it is time to let others help you buffy!
I’ve been wondering what you were up to, Cop Car. I think I might rather have a blown knee than have to coax a computer to work again. I know that you have the scientific and logical mind needed to approach the job. I’d just throw my hands in the air and call the Geek Squad! I’m glad to see you’ve been able to get on-line again. I have even more empathy now than when I read about you having knee problems while walking. It’s amazing how first-hand experience can affect your understanding! lol
Bod….do I come over as unwilling to accept help? I’d be very happy to direct a phalanx of people to do my chores! *G* Actually, I was good, and said “YES!” to everyone who offered. I know that this knee isn’t going to get better unless I give it the chance.
Good news….my DVD of Boston Legal arrived today, and I have books on tape (ruhroh…I better check the day they have to be returned….). The guys set up the quilt frame last night. I’m good to go!
Sorry, you’re a bit out of commission, Buffy, but obviously you are getting the very best of care. It is great that you have such wonderful friends and family that you can lean on as well as your cane. Still, nothing like independence, so I hope you recover very, very soon.
I’m going to have to work to behave, Roberta. I know I’ll try to do more than I should over the next three weeks, feeling guilty about others waiting on me, and getting antsy to get out. I really want this knee to heal, so I need to make up my mind to be GOOD!
THanks for stopping by
It’s a really good thing that the medics have been able to work out exactly what is wrong and what has to be done to resolve it. That’s half the battle towards recovery, that and the knowledge that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I can imagine how relieved you are that you are able to do Something while laid up, even if it is paper work. But at least you can get on with your quilting too.
It is so good that your family has all rallied round to helpas well.
It may sound a daft thing to say but at least you can both enjoy your time off your feet and achive things too.
Hoping you feel better soon.
It wasn’t “daft” at all, Adele. I understood exactly what you meant. It’s very possible that I could have spent the three weeks reading books and magazines and watching TV, but the total inactivity would have gotten to me. Despite my dependence on my family for help with my daily chores, I still feel that I am accomplishing things.
This morning DH walked down for the daily papers, filled the bird feeder, cleaned up after the cat, who had upchucked in the night, and closed a skylight in the bathroom, all things I would have had difficulty doing.
While he did all that, I boxed up a “Quilt Room in a Bag.” My oldest sis will take it out to the car and deliver it to the Box Shop for mailing. My youngest sister’s family is willing to deliver the box to Biloxi, Mississippi when they go to help those still in need from the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. So, you can see that I have extended family helping me, and I have the satisfaction of helping others. *S*
Ewwww…. an immobilizer for three weeks. Sounds rough.
Yeah, isn’t that the pits, -=e=-??
The worst of it is that the immobilizer doesn’t want to stay in place. I think I’m going to have to talk to the PA about it, because I don’t want to waste three weeks messing with this if it means I have to start all over again.
I’m lucky that being outdoors (other than to garden), is not high on my list of summer activities. Give me a cool, dark cave any time, and as long as I can quilt, I’m a happy camper.
This, too, shall pass. (And the sooner the better!)
3 weeks of immobilzing the knee, that means you can do email and desk-work, and too, yes, you can do the quilting too.
I’ve gotten through 4 weeks now of decreased mobility and being ‘waited on’… thank goodness my mobility is on an increase, I was finding it very tiresome to be so dependent (and too, I’m pretty sure the boys and hubby were getting tired of my dependence).
Yes, Des, I can do all that, and a bit more. I can actually walk in the house if I take it slow and keep my knee locked. I can get in place and lean against the kitchen counter and do some food prep. I can lean against the table and fold clothes, but sheets are hard to do. If I want to do laundry, I have to pick things up with an extender. I can carry small loads, so I try to do a couple of loads of laundry every day.
I’m very concerned about the help drying up (from those who live here with me), especially if this turns out to be more than three weeks. On the outside I look healthy, so it’s easy to forget there are still some areas where I will need help, and I’m sure you are facing some of that now.
I hope that by being a good patient, I can get back to the place where I have more control over my life.