Underlying problems

Two underlying problems my Mother faces, which have imperiled her recovery/rehab. First, she’s awfully frail. Not only does she have bad knees and a bad back, weak thighs, and arthritis, but also she also doesn’t have unlimited energy or healing power. The surgery took a lot out of her and – without her knee – it took her a long time to get out of bed. While she was woozy and focusing on trying to get to the bedside commode and get out of bed, she was not able to focus on bending and straightening her knee. Not that she’s focusing more on that, it’s almost too late, as the reconstructive tissue has formed.

The other intertwining problem is that Mom still works. In principle, sitting at a computer doesn’t bother her. But getting across the street from the parking garage to her office building does bother her. More importantly, just sitting still for hours and busy at work keeps Mom from exercising and even from frequent little bouts of greater activity. Mom tried going to a women’s gym and getting a personal trainer (see “DayStar/Carol’s corner”). It was hard for Mom to leave work to do this, but – inexplicably- the trainer fired Mom as a client after a few weeks. Mom says she’s heard of some knee replacement patients doing physical therapy boot camp for the two weeks BEFORE surgery, and Mom was attempting a weak version of this when she went to the gym. Still, spending most of her time at work, at home, or at church doesn’t leave Mom much time to exercise (especially if she’s going to get reading time and sleeping time in) and – perhaps just as importantly – doesn’t motivate Mom to exercise. (Not too long ago Mom went to tai’chi classes on Thomasville Road and to exercise classes at work and walked at work, but her knees – and other conditions – have been much too painful for her to continue at least the work routine in the last couple of years.)

That’s one thing that surprised me a little: I couldn’t figure out why Mom didn’t ask the personal trainer why she was firing Mom (she just said that Mom had accomplished some things and maybe Mom should take a break?). But, for someone who is so driven at work and such a driven parent, it was interesting to see that Mom – perhaps facing a big challenge for her aging body – has not always seemed that motivated, that driven in rehab. Sure, she’s been dizzy, tired, and sometimes in great pain – but she also opines that the therapists seemed to care more about whether she makes 0 degrees and 120 degrees than she does. Mom’s never been a big athlete, and may not be competitive this way. But I have said I’d hate for Mom to go through all of this with the surgery – and endanger her own general health – without emerging with her knee working much better. As it is, it may be stronger, but less agile. She may not be able to stand for a long time and get up from a chair using just her legs if she doesn’t get close to 0 and 120 degrees. (It’s possible that Mom’s just being realistic and she’s done as well as could be expected, given her strength and general health. Still, I wish I knew what I knew now and could have been there for her physical therapy sessions with Meaghan over that four-day weekend in the hospital, when she fell critically behind with replaced knee range of motion.)

We'll see what happens and what becomes of the putative second knee replacement. Hopefully Mom will emerge from inpatient therapy (and also subsequent outpatient therapy - logo for the outpatient facility above and to the right) not only with a stronger and somewhat more agile knee but stronger and more agile in general and with her general health fully recovered from the surgery, with help from therapists and other staff, Penny, Jacob, and perhaps Stephanie and Barbara and other friends and family. Then, maybe, with some help from me again, she can do it all over again.

P.S. So far, on Friday, Mom is somewhat dizzy again, but made it to physical therapy (but not to occupational therapy and has not yet eaten much).