Take someone who is used to workouts six to seven days a week and make them non weight bearing for 6-8 weeks. Hello! Welcome to week three in the life of the osteochondral allograft patient. Emphasis on patient.
Three and a half weeks out from surgery and the biggest challenge has been getting my knee bent into my chest due to inflammation. What could I do to get this inflammation to reduce? My neighbor is a nurse, so she says "Ask the Doc if you can take Alleve" Well, it turns out that is out of the question because Alleve (Naproxen) is, are you ready for this one: a bone growth inhibitor. Not what you want when you've had a bone graft.
I got to thinking. Inflammation is the bodies natural response to injury. Why would I want to take an anti inflammatory? Then I got to thinking again, as I so often do, about the donor whose living bone and cartilage are so merrily growing in my knee. How could I sit here feeling sorry for myself, when this person died and here I am, lucky enough to have their living tissue? I have no idea who the person is, or even the sex of the donor. But in my imagination (aren't we making our lives up as we go along anyway)? I imagine the donor to be a twenty something, male, dark curly haired, athletic individual. Hey, it never hurts to have a little testosterone on your side.
I made a pact with this person. Okay, my friend, you and I are a team. I'm not going to let you down. From now on, we're going to work together.
I went down to the park, stood overlooking the ocean, put my foot up on a rail and slowly pushed, pushed, pushed past the point of pain. Breathe, push. Breathe, push. Voila'! Amazingly, for the first time since the surgery, I could feel the tightness slowly unfurling, like a garden hose that had been kinked up for too long. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Me and my Donor. We've got a real good thing.....
God bless organ donation. I am on the list and have encouraged so many of my mates to do it to. It is really the most selfless thing that one can do.
ReplyDeleteKeep going - heal with the mind, the heart and higher power and walk with the earth and as part of it. Good on ya SAM
Looking good girl. You will be out and around before you know it.
ReplyDeleteYay! :)
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of things for inflamation...perhaps look up Quercitin? I use it for generalized body inflamation and histamine reaction, which is basically what inflamation is...a reaction. I wonder if this might help? It is a supplement and afaik it does not interact with anything....but see what *you* think.
You are just about half way there...you can do it!!!