The doctor did say that I didn't end to wear the brace in the shower, but I still had to sit in a chair while showering. He also said I can remove the steri strips that are covering my incisions
He looked at me knee and said everything looks great, and asked me if I could do a straight leg raise. Now, I can do a straight leg raise with my brace on, but without...not going to happen. I couldn't do it and felt a little defeated. He told me that this is normal for someone that is almost a month post op and that I shouldn't worry. Also, I told him that I was weaning myself off the pain medicine. He told me that was not a good idea because I was about to start physical therapy. He's right. So I'm back on the pain medicine cycle. Not as much as the first week post op, but I'm back to taking them. Slowly, I am starting to realize that this is going to be a long process. The reason I had the surgery is because I wanted to walk without pain or my knee dislocating and messing up my foot and ankle; and lead a normal life.
I still have to wear my brace at night because my quad is starting to wake up and twitch and I need to be protected. However, I have learned that if you put a pillow between your knee, you can sleep on your side sort of comfortably. Sort of. I should have mentioned I have 3 cats who like to sleep next to me. So when going to sleep, I have to make sure my knee is protected, I am comfortable, and there isn't a cat around. Yet, I still end up on my back. And wake up a couple of times during the night to reposition my leg. Now, when I first had surgery, I was waking up every 4 hours on the dot to take pain medicine and go back to sleep.
Found a physical therapy place and start physical therapy on September 2 ( this coming Tuesday). Also, they will be picking up my cold therapy unit on the 3rd. I'm sad to see that thing go. It's been a lifesaver, but I am fully stocked up in frozen peas.
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