Booktoots

PT & Knee Replacement

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Having just returned from another day of PT, I can safely say it seems to be coming together.  It has been 8 weeks since total knee replacement surgery, and I can honestly see and feel healing.  There is still much more to do, though.  It’s so great to have a new knee, it’s just thrilling to get it to the level of using it properly.  It’s a lot of work, but worth it.

And, as I was complaining to myself about the ‘torture’ of the stationary bike…I realized the person next to me, laying down, did not have any legs.  Yikes.  How can I possibly complain? Wow….the universe works in strange ways.

I am so grateful for everything I have right now, and yet I can still gripe up a storm.  Hmm..

New PT Exercise for the hamstring

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Yesterday, I was given a new PT exercise for my hamstring.  Since I wore a shoe lift for 30 years, my hamstring was not used.  So, it needs to be retrained. The exercise involves using a treadmill in the reverse mode.

I simply walk and flex my leg that way.  It’s really a cool exercise.  Only thing I don’t like about it is….I work up a sweat, feel my muscles working,  and see I have burned 13 calories.  That strikes me as being funny.

Recuperating from a total knee replacement is a lot of work, but very worth it.  I’ve lost 10 pounds, which is great. 🙂

Can’t wait to get my new knee working to its full extent so I can kick some serious butt. 🙂  It has been 8 weeks since my surgery.  I do PT every day. The stationery (spelling?) bike is the hardest part.  My recommendation: never take for granted the fact you can use your knee.

Kudos to Physical Therapy!

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Going through the recuperation process after undoing a total knee replacement is not easy.  It is a lot of work.  However, it is worth it.  When initially starting physical therapy, it is pure torture.  In fact, the physical therapist told me that the PT stands for  “pain and torture”.  Did it ever.  Then one day…

After being in tremendous pain, the physical therapist  simply stretched my leg and had me move slowly in another exercise.  Then, a muscle massage.  Suddenly, the pain diminished.  Lesson here?

Kudos to physical therapy!

Finding Inspiration

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Along with writing come the times when nothing seems to come to mind. In other words, ‘writer’s block’. If it’s not writer’s block, it is just plain lack of desire, hard time with words, etc. How does one overcome this state? Everyone deals with this temporary setback differently.

There is a great blog titled Zen Habits. Recently, it contained a blog post on just this subject. http://zenhabits.net/2008/03/31-ways-to-find-inspiration-for-your-writing. And, it’s great. It lists a variety of ways to find inspiration, some may work for you and some may not. One, in particular, works well for me. That is finding inspiration from nature. Here is my story:

While recently taking a walk with my new knee, I noticed the simple act of a flock of robins strutting around and just chirping happily. They were simply enjoying the scenery and provided me with thoughts of pleasure. My home state is Michigan – the state bird is the robin. Then I recalled seeing an entire backyard filled with robins while down in Florida. You could say it was a “carpet of robins”. 🙂 Very nice.

Anyways, when I returned from my walk, I was inspired to write again. The writing came easy, with the words flowing without any problem at all. It was quite nice. I kicked out two chapters of my upcoming book in one hour. Wish it would go that well all the time. 🙂

So, everyone needs to be inspired at some time or another. Find which way works best for you and go for it. Good luck!

Finding Humor – where?

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Hi everyone. Even though every event seems to have some measure of humor in it (at least I’d like to think so), sometimes it is just plain hard to figure out where it lies. How do you go about finding humor in situations? Laughter is the best medicine. So…

  • Talk to an impartial person.  By telling your situation to another person, you can receive another angle or spin on your idea/situation.
  • Write down just the facts. Be objective. Don’t let any emotions come into play. This will help lay the groundwork.
  • Come back later to the facts. By doing this, you may gain needed insight.
  • Take a break from seriousness. Read something funny, watch a comedy (sometimes just life), etc. This will will lighten your mental state.
  • If all else fails, set your project aside for a few days.  Forget about it. You will have a new perspective. Then, go back at it.
  • Listen to music. Music soothes the soul, mind, and body. Relaxing opens doorways.

    • This is all easy for me to say now.  I have been working on my book project and some of the events just do not have any humor in them.  For instance, what can possibly be funny (or humorous) about fracturing your neck? Hmm…Wait a minute…I’m remembering something. 🙂

    Here’s to finding humor wherever you can. Good luck!

    Find interesting? Kindly share…
    AUTHOR NOTE: Booktoots’ Healing helps total knee replacement patients find support throughout recuperation and beyond. Its mission is for patients to understand they are not alone in their ordeal with either a tkr or other physicality concerns. The site is owned and operated by Marie Buckner, a published author and tkr patient who has been living with various physicalities for over 30+ years. She enjoys sharing her experiences to help others going through the same thing.







    Physical Therapists and Total Knee Replacements

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    Hi my favorite readers! After being so frustrated with other aspects of my total knee replacement process, I feel it’s only right that I talk about a very positive aspect. That is physical therapists and total knee replacements.

    Physical Therapists don’t let you slide. They make you set workout/exercise goals. They want you to use your muscles. And, they have mucho insight into simple exercises to ease pain.

    Another benefit of having a physical therapist is the fact they like the body to heal itself and operate as it’s meant to. The ones I have dealt with have been thrilled to see my progress. I like that. 🙂

    My total knee replacement recuperation had a recommended 4 week, 3/week physical therapy session time span. I exercise every hour on the hour, and my recuperation has gone remarkably well.

    So, my in-home physical therapy took one week. Now, I am being referred to an outpatient center. I’ll just keep exercising, walking, and believe I won’t need it.

    Of all the medical care providers I have dealt with, physical therapists get my vote. I like their all-natural, down to earth approach.

    Find this tkr blog post about physical therapists and total knee replacements interesting? Kindly share…Thanks!

    Medical Profession's Arrogance

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    There is one thing that I am certain about. I know how to tell when my body is imbalanced. If I hear one more doctor tell me that I’m not nauseated or having breathing difficulties because of the prescriptions they give me – I’m going to smack them silly. Their arrogance is totally appalling. How dare they.

    Throughout my total knee replacement process, I have been prescribed a multitude of pain meds. I, generally, am healthy. I do not take any prescriptions for anything. All pain meds during this time period have given me difficulty. They are the only change to my body’s physiology.

    The arrogance of Western medicine’s doctors is so infuriating, annoying and totally frustrating. How dare they talk down to me as if I’m a total idiot. “Have you read the PDR?” (yes, I have). “Nausea and light headedness are listed for each medication,” I have been told. So….?…..Or…

    “Getting nauseated or having a hard time breathing are SO RARELY caused by pain meds…..it must be something else.” I actually heard. I could have smacked his arrogant face. How dare he.

    Upon telling my surgeon that Coumadin caused me to be light-headed and nauseated…..”It can’t be from the Coumadin. I haven’t seen that in all my 30 years of prescribing it.” So……I don’t care what everyone else does. I know how I feel.
    This happened during my pre-op visit….Upon telling my surgeon that I have nerve damage causing extreme pain, he actually argued with me. “I’ve never heard of anyone having nerve damage needing a total knee replacement. There’s just something wrong with that.” I know the pain and tingling I was going through. So, what did I hear after the surgery?…..

    “You have extensive nerve damage all along the inner and outer portion of your leg.” Gee, thanks doc. Thanks for arguing with me in the first place. I needed to waste my energy like that.

    Getting pain meds is another issue. Why do patients have to beg for them? “Rate your pain from 0-10”. It always depends.

    Enough of my ramblings for now. It’s all tied into my book writing project about my car accident leaving me in a body cast for two years. I’m going to bed. I’m pooped.

    Writing Tips #2

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    Always be on the look out for successful people’s techniques. By following tried and trued methods of success, you can position yourself positively.

    Staying motivated while writing can be difficult and boring. Try these methods to find some spark. Good luck!

    Happy Valentine's Day!

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    Even though it’s not pleasing to see all the ads and commercialism centered around this day, Valentine’s Day still evokes many positive feelings in me.  I believe in romance, love flowers of any kind (yes, I consider dandelions a flower), and just love that shade of red flourishing on this day.  Plus, the chocolates and stuffed animals.  🙂

    It’s especially cool to see couples gazing into each other’s eyes.  Just brings a smile to my face.  I have images of elderly people walking hand-in-hand and hope I get there.  True love never dies.

    Perhaps this stems from elementary school when our class would share cards with everyone else.  It was exciting to open cards from that cute little boy. :)  It also was fun to give cards. Valentine’s Day was a day filled with food, fun, and sharing.
    Hope springs eternal.  Perhaps someday …..poof!….there he is. My special Valentine.

    Back At It

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    Well, after undergoing a total knee replacement, I’m back at it – working on my blog with my laptop. There will be plenty of time to write for the next few weeks. 🙂 

    My surgery was done at Virginia Mason in Seattle and I highly recommend them. I found them to be efficient, excellent communicators, and genuinely concerned about my well being. Plus, they are noted to be in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for excellence in total knee replacement surgery. I can see why.

    My back at it means that in addition to writing on my book project, I have been keeping a medical log/journal of activities leading up to my knee surgery.

    Logs are a great way to get things in writing, stay on track, and also notice changes (if any). Everything in my log is factual – with dates, times, and methods involved.  Plus, journals can easily be turned into books. Hmm..

    Til we meet again….

    Find interesting? Kindly share…

    AUTHOR NOTE: Booktoots’ Healing helps total knee replacement patients find support throughout recuperation and beyond. Its mission is for patients to understand they are not alone in their ordeal with either a tkr or other physicality concerns.

    This site is owned and operated by Marie Buckner, a published author and tkr patient who has been living with various physicalities for over 30+ years. She enjoys sharing her experiences to help others going through the same thing.







    Hello world!

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    Greetings everyone! We all have a story to tell. So, I figured I would start a blog to journalize my book writing experience.  In addition to helping myself keep on track, my blog is intended to help other future book writers.

    Enjoy!!