Physical Therapy At Home
Tomorrow Allied Home Health is supposed to be sending someone here so I can begin physical therapy at home.
It took a bit longer for Medicare to approve physical therapy at my home.
I feel like I’ve taken a little step backward after the physical therapy session on Tuesday.
It is probably just part of healing, but it scared me a little because this surgery is really my last-ditch effort to heal my ankle.
I have not been able to put weight back on my right foot because of the pain in the inner area of my ankle. Whatever was part of the therapy on Tuesday may have just irritated it.
All I know is this: I was able to stand on both feet and walk about 8-10 steps, and now it’s hard to put weight on that foot at all.
I’m so cautious about doing something wrong that I’m afraid to push things even a little bit. I’ve been stretching and curling my toes.
But I’m going to wait until I see the therapist tomorrow to go any further.
Almost One Month Since Surgery:
Next Monday will be one month since surgery.
It’s concerning to me that I haven’t been able to get more physical therapy sessions thus far. Because the doctor said that getting physical therapy is critical.
Some of the stiffness in my foot would probably be better by now. But that’s just how it worked out in terms of being able to schedule appointments right now.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that being overly cautious isn’t hindering the healing. And I’m hoping that tomorrow I can get back on the road to being able to walk.
I’m glad to have someone come here instead of having to go out because I had a hard time getting the knee scooter over the bricks in the back.
Getting over the bricks from my patio to the pathway is difficult to get the knee scooter’s wheels over.
Going out the front to the resident parking lot isn’t much easier. Tree roots have raised sections of the sidewalks and that hinders rolling the knee scooter there too. Plus the parking lot surface is rough.
So having someone come here to provide physical therapy is really ideal for my situation.
What I’m Currently Reading:
I’m actually reading a book I read years ago. It’s called “Defending Jacob.” Of course, I basically know how the book ends.
I am reading it again because I recalled that the author’s writing was tight, cohesive, and imaginative. And that always interests me, since writing is a big part of my daily life.
The author, William Landay, has only written a handful of books. But I see that he’s publishing a new book in March of 2023. Maybe I’ll ask the library if they will order it.
His new book is called “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me.”
Book Summary:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob...
A mother vanished. A father was presumed guilty. There is no proof. There are no witnesses. For the children, there is only doubt.
One afternoon in November 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school to find the house eerily quiet. Her mother is missing. Nothing else is out of place. There is no sign of struggle. Her mom’s pocketbook remains in the front hall, in its usual spot.
So begins a mystery that will span a lifetime. What happened to Jane Larkin?
Investigators suspect Jane’s husband. A criminal defense attorney, surely Dan Larkin would be an expert in outfoxing the police.
But no evidence is found linking him to a crime, and the case fades from the public’s memory, a simmering, unresolved mystery. Jane’s three children—Alex, Jeff, and Miranda—are left to be raised by a man who may have murdered their mother.
Two decades later, the remains of Jane Larkin are found. The investigation is awakened. The children, now grown, are forced to choose sides. With their father or against him? Guilty or innocent? And what if they are wrong?
This novel is a tale about family, secrets, and vengeance. “All That Is Mine I Carry With Me” masterfully grapples with a primal question: When does loyalty reach its limit?
What The Title Of The Book Means In Latin:
The title of the book is actually a quote from Cicero. It means: My wisdom is my greatest wealth. Or “Omnia mea mecum porto.” Cicero ascribes the quote to Bias of Priene.
Bias of Priene, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, is said to make the statement during the flight from his hometown. The apparent meaning is that his possessions are those of character traits and wisdom (as opposed to material things).
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If the therapy set you back so far, and especially any extreme swelling, I would call your surgeon just to make sure you are ready for whatever the therapist was doing.
With the surgery I had on my second knee my pt went a bit too far with the stretching and then I could barely even use the walker the rest of that day and the next. It took two days for the extreme swelling to go down. I told my pt about the extree swelling I had, but by then it had gone down mostly, so the pt couldn’t see what I was talking about. She did the same stretches and exercises to the same extent, on her second visit and by the time three hours had passed my knee area was swollen so much that it split two of the places where my stitches had been. They got infected by the day I had my visit with the surgeon. He saw the infected open areas where the stitches were as I explained to the doctor how bad my leg had swollen after my therapy. The stitch areas split after the second pt session where the leg swelled even more. He said don’t allow the pt to do that much stretching anymore until these open sores are healed copletely. He said where the stitches had been the skin was still weaker than surrounding skin.The infection cleared up with two rounds of antibiotic.
Please call your surgeon and tell him how much you have regressed after therapy. Let him decide if the therapist should take it a little slower with you. You paid the surgeon plenty for the surgery, and will pay for future visits. I strongly encourage you to call, just to double check. It can’t hurt anything to just call him.
Very glad that you’ve been able to arrange at-home PT. Hope that you see some progress soon.
After 9 surgeries on various body parts, I know the value of simple stretches. You’ll get back to your old self soon enough if you continue those. Glad your PT is coming to you.
In the meantime, have you read The Candid Life of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel? It is so good! An introduction to the Indian heritage and customs, a mystery, a budding romance…try it! Here’s the review:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60222885-the-candid-life-of-meena-dave
I am glad that you’re to get the Physical Therapy at home – and do agree that after your initial home assessment and if that loss of function plus pain continue, that it is time to call your doctor. I sure am thinking about you and sending all best wishes for the pain to stop and the progress to begin. Team Brenda!
Mary
Brenda, I’m sorry you are still in so such pain. No one expects it to be gone instantly, but a month out, you’d think it would be improving. When is your next follow up appointment with your doctor? You should make sure he knows you’re still in pain, and the difficulty you’re having in getting timely PT. I imagine he’s busy, and probably doesn’t realize his PT orders haven’t been followed. You need to let him know. Maybe here can light a fire under someone to get you the help you need, when you need it! No news is good news, as they say, so he might be thinking everything is going great for you, unless you tell him otherwise. Call him. In the mean time, once you learn what the therapist shows you, you can probably do the exercises by yourself, even long after you are through with the therapy. At least you have good books and shows to keep you busy and take your mind off your ankle pain. And you have all of us. I’d say friendship is a good medicine. I hope you start to feel better soon!
Friendship is the BEST medicine!
I would ask the physical therapist what exercises I can do by myself at home to help strengthen my ankle. And ask your doctor what you can safely take in over the counter meds to help counteract the pain, because it’s going to hurt.
Yeah, I know it’s going to hurt. I just don’t want to damage anything that’s been done.
Hopefully the home care therapist will have some answers for you and get you on a more regular schedule. I’m sorry you’re still in pain, you must be so frustrated. I read Defending Jacob, too. Now I can’t remember it at all! Uh- oh…middle age is not kind! Feel good!
I’m glad I’m reading it again, because I had forgotten parts of it.
Perhaps you should contact the doctor who performed your surgery & ordered the PT, and let him know about the pain you’re experiencing and how you cannot place any weight on the foot after the initial PT appt. If you could initially walk 8-10 steps Tuesday after PT, and now you cannot put any weight on that foot at all, something’s amiss. Some discomfort following PT is par for the course, but not to the degree you’ve described. The surgeon & physical therapist should be functioning as a team so you’ll have the best outcome possible, and everyone needs to be informed if something goes amiss.
I suspect tomorrow’s in-home appointment will be an initial evaluation/examination much like your appointment Tuesday (with Brady).
I’m sorry you’re having pain/discomfort and feel you’re experiencing a setback. Try elevating your foot to help in relieving the pain & discomfort (along with the ice & Tylenol).
Wishing you peace, patience, less pain/discomfort, rest, and an excellent experience with in-home PT.
Stay safe & well.
I do keep it raised on a special leg cushion I ordered before surgery.
I’m glad someone will be coming to u for your PT!
It’s way too hot too go outside anyway and the humidity is unreal!
It’s hot enough where I live too and the humidity last time I cked was 66%! Yikes!
My modem stopped working the night b4 so I did without internet for the night. Thank God there was one appt free for the next day or I would of had too wait…
My phone wasn’t even working right either! Lol That’s my luck! Good thing I have plenty of things to keep me busy! Lol
My home phone doesn’t work when my internet is out. Thank goodness for the backup cell phone.
I so hope your home health people will be as helpful as ours were for my Hubby this year…the only medicals who truly helped us, were them!! Don’t hesitate to tell them exactly how things were and are…and say no, if something hurts too much. Your situation is quite unique. The doctor sat on the paperwork till almost the end of his time with the home health, so that he only saw occupational health twice. Tho he should have seen one the whole 2 months or so they came. Wishing you the best in all this…hang in there and don’t give up!!
I won’t give up. I’m probably extra careful because I’ve had this injury so long.
A therapist coming to your home is ideal. All the health care facilities are suffering from staff shortages so that may be why you’re experiencing some challenges with appointments, etc.
Interesting reading, Brenda.
Enjoy your day.
It seems that after Covid it’s hard to get appointments, hard to buy things, etc.
Yes. Everywhere.
The prices of all goods, food. S
supplies, continues to increase.
Has anyone noticed we are all paying more $$$ for less product?
Very upsetting.
We are fortunate to be working. Otherwise living life would be more challenging.
Hoping tomorrow goes well for you Brenda.
That the pain will subside, eventually work it’s way out.
Dealing with arthritis for years, and I’ve had many surgeries in life, cannot imagine how discomforting it would be on a foot or ankle.
We will be waiting to hear about the PT results.
Books you described sound interesting. I’d like to give them both a read.
I do understand your concern with the physical therapy but usually when you start to move it bothers you a bit. Share your concerns with your therapist at your next session. Glad therapy will come to you. Sending positive vibes for a quick and complete recovery! Stay cool!
It’s just that I can’t get the pain to go away with ice or Tylenol. So will ask whoever comes tomorrow.
Brenda, my husband and I started watching Dark Winds last night…from a book by Tony Hillerman…about the Navajo Tribal Police. It is being shown on AMC on cable, but we are watching it on Prime. We like it so far…beautiful scenery from the Navajo lands in western New Mexico and eastern Arizona.
Thanks! I’ll check this one out once I finish Longmire.