Massry Pavilion, Week 1, 8/29/2014

Finished my first week at the new location, courtesy of Dr. C's new script.  No more relaxing heat wraps, mostly work on machines, which is fine with me, except that the therapist keeps increasing the resistance and adding additional weights, which is more tiring.  I could do without the agility exercises, was never one for being agile.  The new location seems to be fine, plenty of parking spaces, more room inside, and has not been crowded, though first 3 sessions there were at 7:30 and 8:00 a.m.  Next week, I'm scheduled for 9:00 and 9:30 a.m., so maybe there will be more people at those times.  I look forward to it, except for the "stretching" part, which is really uncomfortable, and if I allow myself to say it, very painful.  Have to wait and see what happens.

Massry Pavilion

   Today was my first visit to the Massry Pavilion.  My appointment was at 7:30 A.M., so there was a fair amount of work-related traffic, especially apparent when making a left turn off Hoosick Street into the facility.  Next time, I think I'll go through the Frear Park Circle and so take a right turn off Hoosick.  I'm used to seeing a black pickup parked on the Circle and a man tending the flowers there.  I feel bad about driving there because I know the Lansingburgh  murder victim worked there as a landscaper, and I think the picture posted looks like him. 
   Because of the change, I was discharged from the facility at Samaritan, and registered as a new patient at the Massry Pavilion, having to fill out the requisite paperwork.  Security now is tighter, with employees tucked away in their bulletproof enclosures, and paperwork shuttled out to you.  The door to the therapy area is kept closed, and presumably secured.  I mentioned this change to Sandie and she said they never used to even think about security, but already this year they have had 2 "silver alerts." 
    Otherwise, things are pretty much the same.  The exercise bike is the same one I used at Samaritan, recognizable by a chip in the dashboard area.  I used the leg press today for the first time; no problem with any of the routines or exercises except the "zone of discomfort" that accompanies manual flexing, or rather stretching, of the knee.  My right knee was at 124 at this stage, where now the best I've achieved in the left is 115.  It seems like a wider discrepancy to me now, but maybe the right knee has improved.  The "experts" say 90 degrees is enough, all you need for rising from a chair, climbing stairs, or getting in or out of a car, but I would prefer that they match.

New Word

   I know that a number of new words have recently been added to the dictionary.  Most of them I've heard, but would doubt that are in the language  to stay.   I learned a new word today---intensivist---as in "St. Peter's has hired two new "intensivists."     Once you understand what a  hospitalist is, you're on your way to comprehending what an intensivist is. 

Working Out

  I've never worked out, am in horrible condition.  But, with all the P.T. which is focused only on the lower extremities,  I do believe I could leg-wrestle Arnold Schwartznegger and win.  My hamstrings are formidable.

Farewell to P.T. at Samaritan

    Today is the last day before the move.  I'd originally had an appointment for 8:30 a.m., but Sandie, the therapist, had a meeting so we'd  rescheduled.  I thought it was for 11:30 and I'd carefully noted it on my calendar, but I checked the time this morning before leaving and the time looked more like 10:30, blurry because I'd written the change over the old date. So I arrived at 11:00, knowing I was either 30 minutes early or late.  Turned out I was early; time was 11:30;  therapist was free, so we started and ended earlier than usual.  All for the good.  Seems strange, all the equipment, machines and "toys" are color coded with tape as to where they should go, to different locations of St. Peter's Health Partners.  There is some concern that there is too little space at the Massry Pavilion and not enough of some pieces of equipment, like exercise bicycles, for example.  Everybody seems to be experiencing what my mother used to call "the new school feeling."  When/if I  resume my therapy in 2 weeks, everything should be settled.  Or not...

TKR Week 5

  Went to P.T. this morning at 8:00 a.m.  Felt a little creaky, maybe because of the rainy weather, if that's indeed a factor.  Some new exercises aimed at different muscles--not too bad, though repetition makes them surprisingly tiring, especially if leg weights are added. For many of the step exercises, I have the strength, but am lacking in balance.  Thanks owed to the hand rails.  Range of motion still at 115 degrees, with "assistance."  Tomorrow is the last day for the therapy at Samaritan.  On Monday they will be relocated to Massry Pavilion. To make sure we patients can find our way, we were given a tote bag, red, emblazoned with "St. Peter's Health Care Partners."  I will add it to my collection of totes, which over the last 15 years has grown to about 30.  Most have Migrant emblem.  I don't carry the totes but they are useful for storage, file-wise.  St. Peter's also included a nice ball-point pen. 
   After the P.T., I drove to the Troy Ophthalmologist's office because I couldn't find my eyeglasses after last Friday's visit.  Their telephone service was out earlier in the week, so I dropped in, and sure enough, my glasses were there.  The tech always takes them to verify the diopter strength, and so we lose track.
     I drove up Hoosick Street through the city to the Ortho office on Empire Drive in East Greenbush for  a 5-week checkup with the surgeon.  All went well; he is very personable, as am I when it suits the need.  He showed me the X-rays taken at my 2-week visit.  Amazing when you think of it.  There are  those 3 artificial components clear as day inside my knee, and I have no awareness of them.  The before picture shows a bowed-out leg, (or maybe it's bowed-in).  At any rate it was crooked and now is straight.  Dr. C. said he took out all the bad stuff, and now there's no more arthritis. He said the kneecap had to be mostly removed, and fitted on the inside with a plastic "button,"  leaving only a thin original layer.  I said it was great that such procedures exist, because of the inevitability of further damage.  He said it never gets better, left alone.  He measured my range of motion at 100, and asked what the therapist got.  I said 115, but that she was much tougher, and inflicted much more pain to get that number.   He said that was good, because it shows it's possible to achieve. I mentioned that there was still some numbness in the heel and back of my foot and asked if it was usual.  He said it was not usual but probably the result of a nerve that was stretched and will most likely go away, as it does seem to be doing.  He wrote a new script for another 3-4 weeks. I'll miss the first week because we'll most likely be in Cape Cod.  When we return, the P.T. will be at the new site. And I see the Ortho Doc in 3 months----just before I shop for the Thanksgiving turkey.

Boneyard

    I had P.T. #6 today.  My ROM was 115 degrees.  The therapist told me Medicare is strict about requirements, and that if I miss a week, I can't add it on at the end.  I'll see Dr. C. on Wed., and he is to review the note the therapist faxed to him as to future sessions. Sandie thinks I should be fine. 
    When I got home, Dave was gone to his P.T. Ryan, the handyman, arrived to install a railing on the front step---for him, not me.  (I hate it even though I haven't seen it yet.)  He's been drilling for 2 solid hours now.  Dave just asked to borrow my reading glasses so he can adjust his hearing aid.  His glasses are out of adjustment, and he has "to bring them in."   Where I don't know since he bought them online.  He was unable to adjust his hearing aid, so he wants to make appointment "to bring them in."  That would be to the VA.  I think he bent the wire when he couldn't see. 
    So if we have 5 senses, it seems they're all impaired except for maybe the sense of taste.  But that bitter taste is growing every day.
  P.S.  1 may not like the idea of  the front railing, but it does look pretty good.  It looks like pressure-treated wood, probably could be painted.