Picto Diary - 11 to 31 January 2018 - Rehab. Waiting to Ski

Above: Me and My Shadow. Snowshoeing. Iron Canyon. January 2018.

Note: Recovery referred to is as a result of a broken tibia plateau while back country motorcycling in the Arkansas River divide in Colorado, early August 2017. Skilled surgeon, Dr. Davis, of the Rosenberg, Cooley, Metcalf orthopedic clinic, put in a titanium plate and eleven screws. Through September into mid October I was 100% non weight bearing on the left leg. Got pretty good at hopping around with a walker and using crutches. TIMDT was a champion caregiver. She wheeled me around on for two weeks in late September early October on a Regent cruise liner, Panama Canal cruise.

Above: Me wearing compression stocking. January 2018.

Some time ago, I posted the above image on Facebook and a "friend" wrote, "more than I want to see."

Well, this is a clinical note here folks. Suck it up.

During the final 20 days of January 2018 my primary focus was on preparing myself to be back on skis by the first of February.

Snowshoeing in back of the house, on self made trails in Iron Canyon, proved to be good preparation. I was able to assess balance, exert some cardiovascular effort, and generally re-familiarize myself with the cold outdoors. I felt I was making progress getting ski-worthy.

I made frequent visits to the Park City Hospital Physical Therapy section where I exercised the bum right leg according to the specs of the PT people who had helped me since December... Marline, Wendy, and Theresa. I had an hour routine where I used five pieces of equipment, step up platform, balance board, and "sobriety" walking along a straight line. The entire PT routine took about fifty minutes. I'd often eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria... pretty good.

If not worried about the ongoing swelling of the leg, I was perplexed. Why did I feel so OK... no pain, full movement etc., but, why was the leg still swollen?

PT majordomo Marlene suggested I see lymphatic system specialist Theresa.

I had three sessions with Theresa over the time covered in this diary. I learned about the lymphatic system, how it drains waste, how, when traumatized, it takes a while to recover. Theresa's treatment included a special lymphatic massage technique. She would measure the leg before and after. Typically we'd lose a half centimeter at various points along the leg, but, by the next week regain 1/4 centimeter. Depending on where the measurement was taken... knee... calf... etc. we had to reduce two to three centimeters to get to the measurement of the left (good) leg.

So... down a quarter centimeter each week... slow progress.

Theresa said I should wear a thigh length compression sock, which I did, for the final three days of the month. It wasn't bad. Initially hard to get on, I now have the knack.

I plan, as long as Medicare keeps footing the bill, to see Theresa about the swelling, but, at less frequent intervals. At least I can see measurement progress.

Dr. Davis, the surgeon, told me that sometimes full recovery for a surgery like mine, takes as long as 18 months. That doesn't mean you have to wait that long for 100% usage... but, you might have to tolerate the swelling for a longer time.

I've been pretty good about working out at the hospital PT gym and snowshoeing in back of the house. My desire to ski fully and functionally by February 1 is a good incentive to spend the time.

Also during the period... lots of the usual... lunch and going with Margaret, time with the grand kids, time with friends. Life is good (knock on wood).