MCJUDE'S KNEE

We had a nice vacation.  Knee was very well behaved getting out of the car.  I guess the seats have the right amount of support.  Those of our PT cruiser were wonderful, but hard to really tell because knee wasn't as bad then.

 

First night we had a choice of a first floor room with no view or a second floor room with a magnificant view of the Mackinaw Bridge.  My husband opted for the view.  The first time up the stairs I was convinced he had made a big mistake.  I hadn't climbed stairs much since the injections (once early).  However, I had better luck the next time down, back up and down again.  (Downs are usually the worst for me.)  We had had to reserve a second floor room for the rest of the stay (motels without elevators) but thought we could change. We couldn't.  Six nights of up and down stairs (two or three times a day).  By the end it was second nature.  I was very pleased.

 

Get up and moving time from bed is not akin to normal.  Still waiting on hard chairs where I do spend a lot of time.

 

 

I am going on vacation tomorrow.  Twelve hours each way riding in the car.  A month ago I wouldn't have though my knee was up to it, but now I am ready to go.  Just for kicks I decided not to take pain medication this week.  Today is the second day without it.  Knee pain is minimal.   I find it much better when I go about doing little chores, but still have problems rising especially from hard chair.  Still makes me wonder if I have two problems.

Last night I went to a concert.  No big deal, we parked right next door in a private lot, so I didn't even have to walk far.  We sat on hard folding chairs and I got up with some difficulty (but not as much as before) - more of a problem because nothing to hold onto when I got up.  BUT, it was a Saturday night event.  After the normal Saturday day which involves a lot of shopping, I have been know to cancel a lot of planned events because I was too tired to go.  Just being there, out of the house, is a great step forward.

 

NOW for a weird note about this blog.  When I created it I did not send out invitations.  However, I had a request from Rick_NE2000 to be my friend.  I know who that is.  I learned this week that he had died May 5th.  This request came over a month after he died.  I know it is probably sitting somewhere in cyberspace, but it is reassuring that he "still wants to be my friend".  His site contained a lot of pictures of what looks like a wonderful time in his life. 

Last Thursday I over did it a bit walking a lot more than I have previously.  Today I am taking it a little easier which is difficult because my knee really does not hurt much.  I find myself getting up and walking, something I have not been able to do for probably two years.  Maybe not as well as I did in my old house, but it is definitely coming.  I just hope it continues to get better like they say on the website.

I went for my last shot today.  Was walking much better.  Last night had no morning stiffness and last time I got up from my computer chair I was able to walk immediately.  Interesting to see what happens this week.  I am expecting a slight setback tomorrow -- so won't be so much of a shock.

 

I was extremely active yesterday having 30 people to my home for a meeting and lunch (which I cooked myself).  I am very pleased with my progress.