The Dance

Eclectic and faint a lonely sunrise

As a backdrop horizon surmises a smile,

Arrayed in kaleidoscoped clouds softly hued.

A glorious triad fulfilled quest flares

Its entourage of dichotomy suspended

To earth’s finite...blinded in love and mission.

Dance of the autumn leaves, bow to

Rhapsody fusioned in summer breezes.

The cosmos two-step in planetary

Greatness…

Waltz to His sovereign flow of life

Impaled to redeeming satisfaction.

Aggrandize your destiny Earth.

Rhythmize a heart beat. Dance.

Sona Wilae 2017

Circus Chronicles

You know people are a trip! Now that's a throwback colloquialism only a baby-boomer could love. No matter the latest trending topic, society as a whole will racially dissect media sound bites, cultural insignificance, and social media rhetoric. This type behavior is as old as time, only now the misinformation travels faster. The latest scuttlebutt concerning the forty-fifth commander-in-chief is beyond comical with a cup of evil and a dash of psychosis. America viewed the eight year Obama administration leadership as a circus-de-soul. Not to say every bill passed or policy reviewed was unfairly scrutinized by the public or the opposing pundits, however, the outcry of verifying the president's ethnicity and citizenship became the most mundane of political affronts. This administration is synonymous to an individual who forgot to unpack bigotry, lies, misogynistic ideals, racism and idiocracy for their four-year staycation at the White House. America has become a twenty-first-century amoral wasteland. Despite the clear and present danger of greenhouse gas emissions and the earth's implosion of environmental unnatural disasters, the urgency of commandeering this vehicle of injustice driving Americans to the brink of insanity has become tantamount to lifesaving vaccines.

Though impeachment with extreme prejudice and psychiatric reevaluations are warranted and for the good of the planet, it seems #45 tweets seem to take precedence over the countless human beings in dire need of Medicaid. Every subject matter unrelated to making America great has become a senseless pursuit of unhappiness. It is with humorless disregard for my right to public speech that I share this blog. I am as serious as life itself when I consider how disappointed I am with why America chose to unanimously elect the most controversial and appalling business mogul to ever disgrace the cover of Newsweek. If the consensus of white-black-conservative-racially-cultural-insensitive-America was to punish Obama-supporters by creating a circus of misfits and under the guise of a pathetic ringmaster, so be it. But, don't expect sensible-America to purchase tickets to the "biggest show-flop on earth" or market your anti-poor-people propaganda.

There aren't any treasured spoils of war after this breach of democracy or the republic by which "we" stand. Well, unless you consider stupidity and depreciated integrity a commodity.

Kickin It!

As the holiday gracefully concluded it's shift, a new day of challenges reported as ordered. Today's list of demands; eating, watching the 1st 48 reruns, calling in a refill, updating FB-you know the important stuff. My new normal is taking one positive step at a time. As my post op journey proceeded with caution my purview of life paralleled a few range of motion exercises. The cause and effect of executing a "simple kick," of my recovering leg strengthen sleeping muscles while alerting my ball and socket joint that the new "kid on the block," needs a kickstart.

Today started with only a minor interruption, ELECTRICITY! Due to equipment failure, our block was cast into the dark ages. Florida hot is not the season to suffer such cruelty, however after, like forever, the service was restored. Thankfully so, remember yesterday's blog admonishment on maintaining your PT schedule at all cost, well rescheduling was just a speed dial away.

So my routine proceeded without fail and I retired for the evening with a well of analogies. Tomorrow brings a day of business and medical updates, nursing visits, and my progress continue to take a life of its on, whether I choose to participate or not. Mainly because my heart is strong in achieving the goal of regaining a much-needed aspect; walking without debilitating pain! My mind has joined forces with faith in God and wholeheartedly I "run this race." Next stop squatsville! Yay!

Tips To Heel

Just wanted to share a few tips on TKR healing. Primarily every post-op patient desire to reach the stars when executing rehab exercises is a textbook expectation. There are entirely too many variables in each of our lives or medical histories to patent a generic action and response table of contents.
I've written in previous blogs the importance of healing properly and in most cases, pain or the reluctance of the joint to communicate with their neighboring community of muscles can delay progress. Our all-knowing brain Central has provided a guidebook and each system abides and harmonizes well, until post evasive procedures. It's as if tissues and organs go on strike. Expect delays in the #2 department, or depression, change in appetite and for life not to make amends because you've invited a surrogate member to cohabitate in your body. However, keep your rehabilitation at the forefront of your to-do list and if humanly possible #1 on your list of priorities.

Typically prior to surgery our ability to walk with or without assistance required trained concentration ingrained in our memory banks. Life has divine opportunities to ensure that most human beings will suffer major overhauls or experience upgrades to our body's our spirit and mind. And with this process as adults, we don't always relish re-education of an ability we may have taken for granted or prefer not to change.
So, in keeping with exercise table of contents, I've advanced to what I've dubbed "rock-n-roll fame", which is also a fitting byline for this particular blog. I've advanced to standing in place and balancing on the tip of my toes as high as possible, followed by rolling back on my heels. The objective is to maintain balance on the recovering knee as with the unaffected side. Sound familiar?
Metaphorically, we may all experience tip-toeing through life as delicately as possible, not daring to disturb peacefulness. Stand tall and if necessary stand on the tip of your toes to get a better view of your destination, or to reach that box of noodles way in the back of the second shelf pantry.

In closing, I'd just like to add a cup of inspirational to mentally digest. It's overwhelming when attempting to balance our will to recover with a weakened support system or assuming your healing journey will not include delays, setbacks or a guaranteed date of completion.
The goal is not to exceed my former abilities which my arthritic knee failed execute without pain or further damage but to regain a reasonable level of betterment.

Mark Time...March

From ROTC marching drills to the elite and flawlessly executed marching drills of Marines, marking time ensures a unit will mobilize simultaneously, or movements are synced with mental or verbal commands. Today's PT included an exercise straight from the archives of marching drills, so to speak. The sole purpose of any therapy, in my case physical recall, is to restore a delicate chain of command. Each muscle group associated with a simple movement requires coordination, which requires impulses of cooperation.

Here lays the present dilemma; the hamstring of the affected leg refusing to mark time with the opposite rising-bending knee. However, the brain being the HNIC will continue to feed the information until that particular squad follows suit. The good news is the uncooperative actions of the hamstring are temporary due to the knowledge of how to execute said action lays dormant awaiting that "ah-ha," moment.

With all the various drama involved in the recuperating, life still continues to introduce or reintroduce itself in the guise of zero balances and late payments, spouse medical emergencies and just the sheer gall of attempting to move forward with prearranged plans, interrupted by an unscheduled negative tantrum. Despite the positive and inspirational quotes one may store up for the roughest of times, repetitive reminders in the verse of a song, or a fav biblical quote sometimes surfaces after the meltdown. Such was the case today when I had to choose between rescheduling my session due to circumstances beyond our control or weather the storm while completing my commitment to physically recover like my life depends on it. With all the endurance involved in my road to redemption, there is still the self-care I must administer with courage and here's that subject matter again; timing. I was instructed to remove the surgical bandages after five days. Suffice it to say, my husband was a "no show," LOL! He and ninety-nine percent of humanity cannot stomach the site of countless staples tucked safely under bandages. The surgical site, of course, looked great; medically. No infection, and delayed affection from my husband made the bandage change perfect. Bless his heart.

Walking Tall

Ambulate with your shoulders back, relax your back, heel to toe while looking straight ahead, as you take moderate breaths. It takes painstaking effort and undivided focus to redeem a normal gait. Rehabilitating improperly to avoid pain while kicking proper technique to the curb is a waste of time and energy. It's vital to accept the reality of intermittent pockets of pain, however, the pain lessens as you commandeer your mental faculties and determine to execute your exercises with strict attention to detail. I'd rather slowly progress properly than rush through sessions and inadvertently succumb to bad habits which may very well lead to avoidable corrective surgeries.

My first rule of thumb was to "listen like my life depended on it." Despite the meaningless scuttlebutt of mean and uncaring physical therapist, I garnered an impressive level of respect for the profession if for no other reason than to hone in the necessary skills required to improve my recovery.

I'm currently wrestling with anxiousness. I know I have the mental capacity required to continue to improve, but my rehabilitation window differs from my body's timeframe to readjust itself. I'm learning certain muscles respond defiantly if they feel bullied or harassed. I basically must set up a meeting with other muscles and sign an agreement of coordination. Actually, my left tibia and femur bone remain civil after a minor reconstruction but caused "mad" friction with the "quad squad." Go Figure. Well, tomorrow we'll resume talks before our weekly summit and hopefully agree on a peace treaty.

Home, No Garden

Ah...the pleasures of independence and the soon retirement of the bedside commode call for a celebration while completing the first at home physical therapy calls for a much-desired nap! So with that being said, let me conclude day three of many to come.

But let us not digress in terms of post-surgery protocol. There are various extremes which must be achieved in order to heal, but more importantly, heal properly. The body has a God-given mandate which tries desperately to stay on schedule. In my case knowing my knee will heal doesn't exempt me from establishing schedules which will promote wholeness in a reasonable amount of time. Though we all heal differently or defiantly due to "pre-this," or "post that" the physiology of the human anatomy maintains its basic format. Undergoing major surgery requires intense focus and commitment to follow instructions and research before, during and after one of the most pivotal decisions some of us will ever experience personally. The TKR plan required my signature, insurance, a coach, knowledgeable care-team and the heart to endure any possible complications. With every one of life's decisions comes the possiblities of failure which can be rectified or not. So, upon arrival to the hospital I mentally challenged which mishap would not be worth the risk. Afterall my diagnoses of "osteoarthritis," had reached its full degenerative potential. The pain was beyond relief and belief, and after nine long excruiating bouts with injections in both knees, arthoscopic surgery, wheelchairs, exercises, weight loss, The blessing offered as a last resort to restore a vital member of the musculoskeletal system.

Skeletal Muscle. Skeletal muscle is the only voluntary muscle tissue in the human body—it is controlled consciously. Every physical action that a person consciously performs (e.g. speaking, walking, or writing) requires skeletal muscle. The function of skeletal muscle is to contract to move parts of the body closer to the bone that the muscle is attached to. Most skeletal muscles are attached to two bones across a joint, so the muscle serves to move parts of those bones closer to each other. *INNERBODY.COM COPYRIGHT (C) 1999 - 2017 HOWTOMEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

 Hopefully your physical therapist will critique your personality and tweak a recuperation plan conducive your personal checklist of achievements. If you plan to complete your treatment plan with confidence and minimal "whining," and ensure your adventure has a happy ending then the ordeal is well worth the effort.

At this present time I have endured a bathroom visit, versus the bedside commode, completed my first home physical therapy and properly completed my strengthening exercises. My goal is to recuperate correctly, without the "peg-leg ambulation," or improper gait. Looking forward to MOVING FORWARD!

What Now-Day 2

At this juncture, of the post-surgery sequel, the relevance of extended support from friends or family isn't as vital as support provided by household members. My husband has provided exemplary support due to his experience and victory over recent health battles. The pet-babies are as confused as should be expected, even going so far as to give me the "stank eye."

My first full day home became blurred lines of the day of the week or my pain scale level. However, the day had a mission to complete; agencies and healthcare providers called or visited to ensure my sleepy naps were delightfully interrupted. A visit to our bathroom was in its planning stages and I was psyched. My caretaker is a handsome fella with a great physique and he smells great, however, I was anxious to visit our personal space of solitude. My caretaker's stress has lessened due to my agreement to call if I need anything, I mean anything, however, I'm more determined than ever to advance my acuity level. Thus far I travel on a street named; safe. Despite being independent I'm actually more comfortable being the caretaker. I"m a former medical assistant, patient care tech, and nursing assistant, and a born nurturer.

Well, I guess I'll conclude this particular blog of events and nonexistent anomalies with a good day and a pleasant evening. Apparently no-news, in this case, is good news. Oh and goodie-goodie gum drop, tomorrow is my first home rehab. "Go Figure!"

Day 1 Surgery

The morning of my surgery was anything but typical. When I arrived at the hospital, any residual jitters were practically nonexistent. The "heads-up, chin-out" mantra became concrete. I literally, sat in preadmission with a well made-up mind to go with the flow. I was confident and determined, well until I ran out of FB updates and started checking the wall clock every few minutes. Ah...the resurfacing of the inevitable, and uninvited jitter parade.

Finally, our number was called and I was ushered back to the dim-lighted den of apprehension and fear. By today' standards and protocols, most patient teaching is so detailed and with the internet packed with information, the public is almost medically certified and surgically astute. You are responsible for sterilizing your person, nasal cavity while assuring you are fluent in medicalese. I expect civilization to gravitate to self-operation in the next five years. Eighty percent of the population will be capable of administering personal anesthesia while a preprogrammed robot performs the surgery.  Anyway, back to my reality. As soon as the nurse stated; "you'll start to feel sleepy..." I woke up in a hospital room, all loopy and elated to have jumped the first of many hurdles.

Pain is as guaranteed as opening your eyes and realizing you've undergone an invasive procedure. The secret to maintaining a civilized response is to take a few "woosahs," and introduce yourself to your temporary pain-partner.

Next...coming to the stage; RECOVERY

Surgery Eve

The proverbial, "action speaks louder than words," becomes crystal clear as you prepare for surgery. Whether corrective surgery or cosmetic surgery, any procedure that requires anesthesia causes mild to major concern. Who knows what truly goes on while one is sedated, right?

Actually, there were many factors to consider when my husband and I were offered the option to undergo a total knee replacement procedure. Primarily because I've needed the surgery since before we met, however, due to guidelines imposed by the "powers that be," stated my health options were limited. "Go figure." At the genesis of my orthopedic woes, in my mid-forties, the devices were not as advanced as the current materials used, so it seems the "greater-later," factor proved beneficial. "Go figure!"
The wear and tear on my knee cap continued to react defiantly even though I lost, as the saying goes, "mad weight," the clicking, burning, buckling, and the excruciating pain was beyond what I could personally bear. Thankfully, in preparing for the inevitable I took a long mental survey of how this temporary bed-rest might affect our household. Mind you, I don't have small children to consider, well human children. We do however parent to lovies; Pearl and Emma a dog and cat respectfully. But, their well-being is mandatory. Next, was the more important of my immediate family concerns, my loving husband. How would my surgery affect his livelihood and more importantly his health? My husband is epileptic however by the grace of God, we have maintained a minimal season of seizures. Stress is definitely a concern when caring for a loved one, and also a gateway to provoking seizures. Ensuring he maintains a low-glucose diet has been his personal goal for years before we met, so we're good in the aspect.

Next, there's the subject of insufferable post-surgery. Mentally preparing for the rehab and the pain induced at the mention of rehab becomes all too surreal. I've actually been there before in a more life-threatening turn of events; acute compartment syndrome which kept me hospitalized for almost thirty days. I was the victim of a stray bullet in my right lower leg and recuperating was one of the hardest periods in my young adult life. And, yes that injury became the nemesis to the opposite leg.

So, here we are this surgery-eve not reliving the past, but accepting the proverbial; "no pain, no gain." The fear factor at this particular moment is a back-burner issue, especially since the administrative issues that ensued prior to this blog was stressful enough. But that's another subject matter. Prayerfully, I will continue to share this journal of expectation and the will to reach a better quality of life. My goal is to enter my senior years gracefully. I believe this is the beginning of better days to come.

PreAdmission

Pre-Surgery Butterflies - Prologue

What to expect before any surgery becomes a haunting daydream and constant afterthought in even the most minimal day-to-day occurrences. No matter the positive "vibes," and believers faith strong enough to move mountains, the inevitable human will succumb to the world of worry, and anxiousness.
The good news is there's hope beyond the approved preadmission jitters. If the surgery will improve your quality of life, half the battle is already won in the battle to defeat those pesky "butterflies."

So let's dwell on the subject matter of "post surgery." And, let's take it a step further as I open my journal of "before, during and after," my total knee replacement. Thankfully, my husband has exceeded every expectation in attending every appointment leading up to our decision to opt-in to knee surgery. The home preparation was actually a no-brainer and flawlessly executed. Funny, how I expected a few minor adjustments, yet the greatest adjustment was mental. So...I plan not to just encourage, but rather share my journey. Hopefully, my experience will enlighten future patients beyond the must watch "what to expect," video.