As I've already mentioned, I tore my ACL playing basketball with some of my students. Our co-ed 3-on-3 intramural team has been undefeated for 3 years and I'm thankful to say they just brought home another championship on Sunday. :) I tore it 2 weeks before the surgery and I learned to manage it well by the time I was ready to repair it. I did my Physical Therapy exercises twice a day and was feeling really strong. The swelling was in good shape and I could see the outline of my knee again! I just happened to be rehabing the same day as the Timberwolves post-season physicals so throughout my day, I saw pretty much the whole time. It was the first time I realized I had something in common with Rubio.
Days 1-2
My surgery was first thing in the morning and as you can see, it was a beautiful sunrise in Northfield as we were heading up to the cities. I was really lucky to have had Dr. Boyd as my surgeon - he is the Vikings team surgeon and he did a fantastic job. I couldn't have been any more comfortable to be in his hands. My mom and Hadley came to visit Mike while he was waiting for me and then they escorted me out of the hospital. I don't respond very well to anesthesia so I was very groggy but I do remember them being there. It was fun to see the pictures of Mike and Hadley playing around in the post-op area. Of course Hadley brought her doll and stroller.
Because of the anesthesia, I slept for 24 hours straight. Mike was a champ and changed my ice every 20 minutes as instructed. He also woke me up to force me to take my medications but I really don't remember much of that first day. Day 2 was better as the fog lifted. I was really nauseous as I began to move around and sit up more. I also had PT that day so I needed to get up and moving for that. Mike packed me up and got me into the car to head up to see my Physical Therapist, Craig. He rocks. He knew I wasn't feeling myself but he made me push through it and he even got me putting weight on it. By the end of our session - 28 hours after my surgery - I walked gingerly out of TRIA. That was the end of my relationship with the crutches. I pretty much never had to use them. Day 2 also meant it was time to change the dressing on my knee. It was then that I saw the staples for the first time. I had no idea I would have staples - I guess I assumed I'd have stitches. Oh well. As you might be able to see in the photos, I have 2 longer incisions with 8 staples each and 3 tiny slits with just 1 staple. My pain was being managed really well so I'd say the worst part of the first 2 days were the nausea from the anesthesia and the realization of the staples. Because of course once I saw them, I felt them much more than I initially had. :)
Days 3-4
Mike deserves something amazing for how he has taken care of me. I can't even think of anything worthy of it. He forced food in me because I am not much of a post-surgery eater. He stayed home from work to keep me company. He changed my ice what felt like a million times. He kept us moving forward. Thank you, honey. I couldn't have done it without you. I also got some beautiful tulips (my favorite flower) from my mama. Love you mama, you're the best.
I got visitors!!! It was the best night ever. My in-laws came to visit - Deb, Jim, Marcus, Grandma & Grandpa made my day by coming to see how things were going. I was feeling great so they rescued me and removed me from home - something I felt I hadn't done in forever even though it was really only a matter of hours. We went to Culvers for dinner. It was great. Mike continued to bring me breakfast in bed, changed my ice and forced the medication down. By this time, I had switched to Tylenol - 2 days of Vicodin was enough. I hate that stuff. I also got Haddie pictures to keep me going! At this point, the worst things were the swelling - as you can see, I lost my knee cap somewhere under all that swelling - and the stitches. They have been getting tight and they are very uncomfortable. But again, thank goodness for Mikey - he took me on a Caribou fieldtrip and that makes everything better.
Days 5-6
My rehab has been going so well! I am getting stronger every day and I've been keeping up with Adrian as much as possible for inspiration. He has been handling his rehab so well and he gave some great advice to take one day at at time. Mike has been watching his rehab very regularly and awhile ago, he'd come home from work and tell me about Adrian's exercises or progress that day and what he did, I didn't really appreciate it as much as I do today because I didn't understand how excruciating it is. Now I know. And I think he is superhuman. Ben Leber also wished me well on Day 5 so I was feeling pretty great about my progress!! The swelling is still out of control big. I've been doing my exercises and I even rode on the stationery bike for 5 minutes! That was huge. My range of motion is difficult because of the swelling and how tight it is because of that. It's like trying to bend a jammed finger, it just doesn't work. My incisions are healing up pretty well, too.
Yesterday - Day 6 - was the worst day of this entire experience, even including the injury itself. The pain was beyond excruciating. It was hard to even lift my leg by myself. Weird, because I've been walking on my own the whole time. Part of it was my fault because I stopped taking the Tylenol. I was feeling so great and thought I didn't need it as often. I got too ahead of myself. I still have a major injury and it is going to be painful until it heals, no matter how strong I am. So, needless to say, I'm back on the Tylenol regularly and today has already been better! I'm keeping it elevated and icing as much as possible. And after a day like yesterday, Adrian's advice really comes into play. He said the first 2 weeks are the worst so I'm counting on being halfway done with the worst of it. :) I am also counting down the hours until I get my staples out. 46 hours exactly. Bring it on Dr. Boyd.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT, THE AMAZING CARDS, VISITS, PHONE CALLS, MESSAGES, ETC. Even though this has been humiliating at times, I feel so blessed and I know I am going to be stronger because of it. Thank you!!
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