My Rocky Relationship with a Stationary Bike...

Everyone has told me that the most important part of rehab before and after surgery is the stationary bike. Since I am temporarily not going to physical therapy anymore-- thanks again to BCBS, I have commenced to exercising at home. Thanks to a friend, I now have a stationary bike to enjoy in the comfort of my living room... while watching horrible TV.

Up until the last few days, I had been doing 10 minutes on the bike at a steady pace. I decided that I was in control of my own outcome, so I am pushing it up as much as I can. A few days ago I switched to 15 minutes, then 20, and last night... 25! It may not seem like a lot, but it sure feels like a lot.

At 10 minutes, I am feeling good, waiting for Giuliana and Bill, Dance Moms, or Big Rich Texas to come back on (please note: horrible TV), and this is typically how I am looking. Please not that on the old pain chart my face is a "0" and on the new updated pain chart, a "1ish":

Now let's fast forward to 20 minutes. As Dane Cook would say-- Here comes an entirely different Oprah (insert:chrissy)... not so fun.... not so carefree.

Back to the pain chart! This face would be like a level 6 on the old chart and a level 3 on the new chart-- thus again showing that the pain chart is stupid. How was I actually feeling? Not so great... but then Kyle says is it a work through the pain hurt or a I need to stop hurt? It's a work through the pain hurt. Take THAT useless chart.

"At this very moment, God’s working behind the scenes in your life, arranging things in your favor. Stay in faith!" -Joel Osteen

Making Everything Better...

Click here to make everything OK.

Pain Scale = Useless.

What is the point of the pain scale? I literally pull a number out of a unicorn's butt when asked what my pain scale is.

The last time I was questioned about my pain-- I tried to argue the cause. Ok, every time I am asked, I argue the cause. I think it's stupid. The doctor/nurse/PT will then always point to this gem on the wall:

Oh ok, that explains it! Really? How does this chart help me in any way decipher how bad my pain is? Well it hurts a little bit, but maybe a whole lot, maybe even more... what? The pain descriptions don't even go in order. Why is a whole lot more than even more? Which brings me to a better chart that they should think about switching over to:

I mean, I definitely know when I was able to walk it off, and when I decided that crying was for sissies. This is a much easier way to chart my pain. In which case am I judging on the photo or the word description. because facewise, I would say I look like a 3. That being said, 3 doesn't seem so bad, so why I am having surgery?

Well I am having surgery because that expensive piece of machinary known as an MRI (shout out to BCBS for being stupid and not paying for it) told me my ACL is torn.

In closing, I think that if the MRI is showing a torn ACL, and I am having surgery either way... what is the purpose of the pain chart? It makes no difference one way or another in how they are handling my situation. All it does is make me a difficult patient.

Dun Dun Dun! Congrats you are having surgery!

So after tearing my ACL on March 2, getting Xrays and MRIs, meeting with the surgeon to confirm I tore my ACL, and doing 4 weeks of physical therapy... it was made official. ACL Reconstruction surgery on June 12th! The reason I am waiting a little longer than normal is because I am a part time dance teacher... and our annual recital is on June 10th. What's a couple more weeks, right?

There are 3 types of ACL reconstruction surgery- Hamstring Graft, Patellar Graft, and Cadaver Graft. My surgeon has decided to opt for the hamstring graft. Basically all this means is that he is using a part of my hamstring tendon to harvest into a new ACL for me. 

I will be having my surgery done at the hospital, where I may or may not be spending the night. I have never had any broken bones or stitches in my 29 years on this earth, minus wisdom teeth extraction. I am surprised it took me this long, since I am relatively clumsy and prone to weird things happening to me. Anyways, I am mentally prepared for most of what I have been told will happen.

I have read a billion blogs, looked at a billion pictures, and watched a few surgery videos on youtube.... yes I know... horrible idea. But I am a control freak and I need to know exactly what is happening at all times, so I couldn't help it. I will say, the blogs have helped out a lot. My favorite, favorite go to blog is this one Andrew's Blog - this kid is awesome. He makes me laugh while giving me a strong dose of reality. So he has inspired me to start my own blog-- for my own sanity above anything else. I will keep track of my recovery, so that if I ever get frustrated I can look back and see how far I have come. I will post pictures, quotes, and anything that happens throughout my year of recovery. 

"Life is 10% what happens to you & 90% how you handle it"

-Charles Swindoll