Another setback

Last Friday while at the casino, we picked up fortune cookies with our lunch.  Mine said: Opportunity awaits you next Monday.

Well, I don't know what that means but Monday is almost over and the only opportunity I've experienced is an injury to my knee.  I am not happy.

I had insomnia last night and when I finally fell asleep, I had nightmares.  I was tired all day long and had gone to bed at 6 pm. (7 p.m. really but since we had to set the clocks back, it said 6 p.m.)  At 10 I gave it up and turned on the light to read.  Finished a book by J.A. Jance. Good read too. It didn't end at all like I thought it was going to.

I got up this morning, took a shower and doctored my knee with a fresh bandage.  I've still got an inch long wound that refuses to close and bleeds.  Doctor said it didn't look infected and will just take a while but I still asked her to do a culture on it 'cause it looked icky.  Haven't received a call saying it was infected but sometimes they're slow to get back so I'll wait another day.

Went to my first physical therapy session at 8:30.  I was a little nervous because I had tried using my exercise bike this weekend and wasn't at all successful getting my knee to do a rotation without a lot of pain.  She put me on one machine (which was easy) and then we did some leg exercises while I laid on this bench.  Next she had me do steps up and down on this stairmaster thingie or whatever you call it. It was only two steps up and it wasn't a bit hard at all.

I decided to try doing the steps without holding on to the handrail.  What a mistake that was!  Instant severe pain shooting through my knee.  I was stunned!  She asked me if I was okay and I said no.  I limped my way back to the room where we had done the leg exercises and she put ice on the knee.  I did what I usually do these days....I started to cry.  What a damn weenie baby I've become.  I think she was a little alarmed but I assured her this was just my new thing and I seemed to cry over everything.

Anyhow, I made my way to the car and moaned as I climbed in.  Got home and put on my jammies, took two pain pills (that I've been trying not to take at all) and settled into my recliner with an ice pack.  I can walk okay but I have pulled the walker out again for comfort and I can sit okay.  My only problem is when I try to do any movement or exercise with the knee.   I can hardly believe how much it hurts. It doesn't look hurt, however.  Doesn't appear swollen or red but my inch long wound continues to bleed and I'm sick of looking at it!

I plan to lay low tomorrow and continue icing and resting the knee.  Don't know what else I can do at this point.  Hopefully, it will heal quickly. I assume it's a sprain or strain but I still can't understand how it happened by just me stepping up on a step without using a handrail.  How bizarre!  I guess I'm just going to have to slow things down a bit and remember to take no chances.  Story of my life sometimes.  I'm supposed to go back in for my second therapy session on Wednesday.  I'll go but I have my doubts how much I'll get accomplished.  Am I discouraged?  Yeah, you bet!

Sue is coming by tomorrow so I'll have ride with me 'cause I have two errands to run and she can save me some steps.  Tomorrow will be six weeks since my surgery and I think I'm allowed to take off the compression stockings I've had to wear.  They do give a lot of support, though, so maybe I'll keep wearing them until my knee doesn't feel so fragile.

I've got five books to mail off tomorrow so that will make it worth my while to get out in the car.  I had plans to start cleaning the back bedroom out too but that can wait.  Like everything else on my list.