Just over 5 weeks post-HTO at time of writing and two main themes driving this week:
Brace on or off?
Keeping the groundhog at bay
The first is pretty straightforward in that it's just about inconsistencies in post-op protocol: From 4 weeks in brace and protected weight bearing (PWB) immediately post-op; to 2 weeks of both according to discharge notes; then 4 weeks brace, 6 weeks PWB according to surgery notes; and now 6 weeks of each if you read my most-recent consultant appointment letter. I get we're being cautious and trying to encourage scar tissue/protect against hyper-extension/look after concerns re bone quality but some consistency would be nice 😂
Last week should have been brace off on Monday but, given the post-consultant-ap letter ambiguity, I'm going with wearing the brace less around the house (controlled environment) but sticking it on at night (I twist the HTO/ACL leg quite a lot when sleeping) and when venturing out of the house. I guess I could ask again but, well, who knows what answer I'd get fourth time 🙉
As for keeping the groundhog at bay, this is potentially the bigger issue.
Long-term blog followers will know that one of the issues I had after my revision ACL reconstruction and poor initial physio was that, just as I was getting going again, I ended up with floating articular cartilage in the good knee, which locked the joint and ended up putting a pause on RevACLr rehab for three months until I could have it removed.
Well, while the HTO leg seems to be gradually recovering, I've started having problems with the 'good knee' again. It's more painful than the HTO knee, I can feel it catching when I'm crutching around, especially when turning, and there's a lovely tell-tale clunk when I straighten it from a bent position 🙇🏻♀️
As I'm still PWB, there's not much I can do to relieve the pressure at the moment so I'm just trying to rest and ice as much as possible and being really careful when turning on the crutches.
Physio appointment is a week today so I'll ask her to have a look when I'm in. Hopefully I'm just being over anxious but I really can't face yet another Groundhog Day.
Send positive vibes, please!!!
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