Just a quick update today. Hopefully more detailed post to follow.
The latest shoulder surgery seems to have gone very well. Range of motion recovery is 3 months ahead of schedule, according to the orthopedic surgeon. There is soreness during and after physical therapy, but the pain is gone. The scars are also healing very nicely. I am hopeful that this will have been the last surgery on this arm. (The fourth time is the charm?)
Meanwhile, my knees have been getting worse. (I know I haven’t talked about them on the blog before.) Due to the drama with the arm, I had been not paying much attention to the fact that I was becoming less able to take short walks and climb up stairs. But a friend came to visit recently, and my knees were hurting so much on a short walk we took that we had to seriously reduce our pace. And this time, the effects lasted for at least a week. Oh, and the stairs – I was hobbling up the stairs at home for at least a week, and some days I would just stay on one floor of the house to avoid the stairs.
Fortunately, I had a (very difficult to get) appointment with the VA not long after that. My provider ordered x-rays and physical therapy for my knees, after diagnosing me with pes anserine bursitis upon physical exam. And by physical exam, I mean she poked and prodded and twisted my knees until I was excitedly saying “Yes, it hurts when you push right there!” and “My leg doesn’t *go* that direction!”
The x-rays have been read, and the report confirms arthritis in both knees as well. I already had a diagnosis of osteoarthritis from my VA intake exam, but had not been offered any treatment previously. But my knees have deteriorated since then, and I welcome the chance to treat these aching knees.
More to follow soon, I hope, about ways to deal with arthritic knees. Two steps forward, one step back.
Yay on the shoulder rehab!
I feel your knee pain. Here’s hoping the PT helps you stabilize the joints and build up the muscles… and that the VA doesn’t hassle you on the C&P exam for the updated diagnosis.
Thanks, Doug. My VA PCP did encourage me to apply and appeal for several of my conditions, but told me not to waste my time with trying to get a higher percentage for my knees – said it basically doesn’t happen until you need a knee replacement.
Hope *your* knees withstood all the rehabbing of your rental property!