The Absent Uncle: So, it has been a week ...

Time flies by, not the minutes or hours sometimes, but always the weeks and this week is a special blur of time passing by.

The week has been spent learning how to deal with a replacement knee; what I can and cannot do from a walker; how long can I be upright before I feel exhausted and need to sit down with my leg up or my leg up with an ice pack to cool the knee down. 

It’s been a time to learn about how difficult it is to ask for help, but realizing you have to or some need is not going to be met. My wife and I totally agree that it is easier to assist someone else than to ask for help. Over the years we both have filled in as temporary care givers to each other and to other family and friends, so we have experience in both roles.

I had imagined what the recovery and rehab process would be like. I anticipated the pain and adjustments that would be part of the day to day. And for the most part, my imagination was worse than reality. There has been pain, but not as severe as expected; some amount of discomfort and the inability to get comfortable in familiar positions while sitting or lying in bed.

Keeping occupied without being physically able to move freely has been a challenge – all these things I could do if only I could lift this or move that. And then, the things you can do take so much longer to accomplish, whether you need help or doing things while using a walker or just getting from one room to another. A trip to the bathroom becomes a mission to be planned – what else can be accomplished along the way or on the way back.

The physical therapy rehab session scheduled for three times a week have been a challenge. To move the joint further each time, to be able to put more weight on the affected leg, balance, and trust you won’t hurt yourself – or even worse – fall.

So far, all is well. Bandages off, wound healing, still a bit swollen. I have a ways to go with getting full movement, but I’m doing more for myself each day and know how fortunate I continue to be in this very significant episode of life.