P.T.August 7, 8 Sessions 4 & 5

   Due to scheduling constraints, I had 3 early morning sessions in a row this week.  No problem except waking up on time.  I missed Monday's: it was cold and dark and I didn't wake up until 8:00 a.m.   I got to spend more time in the machine room, which I prefer to the step-up exercises et al. 
    Sandie is very encouraging.  She calls my progress extraordinary.  It seems I need to pay for those encouraging words.  She wanted to check my progress against last year's but could not access Medical Records. She said some new hire accidently purged a number of files, and thinks that must be what happened to mine. 
    Personally, I think I'm performing  some of the exercises better than last year, because my left, unoperated, knee was not as flexible or strong as my right TKR is now.   But I think I'm quite a bit behind in range of motion. Lying flat, my knee is at 0 degrees, which is ideal, but when bending, the angle of flexion hovers a few degrees above 100, and that's with assistance.  When I was trying to confirm my rehab schedule before I left St. Peter's, the bozo in charge said I probably wouldn't need out-patient P.T. because I was already at 94 degrees, but he was in no position to tell me what to do.  Sandie says the optimum is 120, but I seem to remember being at 124, at least, last year. 
     Last year, I didn't have an appointment with the surgeon until 5 months after surgery, but this time the P.A. set an appointment with him for next week, week 5, probably because of the sciatic/ ITB issue.  That seems to have mostly resolved, except for some numbness in my heel and foot, which is still a little swollen.
   I originally had a script for 12 visits, but the  therapist at Samaritan says I should get a new one from the doctor.  That's if he wants me to continue with therapy.  She is writing in her notes to him that she recommends more work on my flexion.  So it's wait and see.  I hope I get to see their new facility.  Everyone seems a little nervous about the move.  The therapists at Samaritan will join forces with the therapy staff from Seton Health already at the Massry Pavilion.