Quick Update

Just thought I'd write a quick post to give you an update on how my new routine is going and how my knee is getting on.

My new routine is going well and I have managed to keep up to date with my bible reading. How nice it is to be able to focus without distraction on reading my bible and the latest book club book!

My knee is still pretty much the same. The new painkillers are much better than the previous ones as the new ones just make me drowsy rather than dizzy, nauseous and drowsy! I have my first hydrotherapy appointment tomorrow so will update again after that.

Sorry for not blogging for a while but I was on holiday in Cornwall for a week. It was lovely!

Hope you're having a good week.

My New Routine

Today is the first day of my new routine. This is not to be legalistic, but to give me some structure and so that I have space to spend time reading my bible and books that will help me in my walk with God.

So that I can be accountable with this, I will not answer my phone or text message or email before 11am during the week. If I phone you etc. before 11am during the week, please feel free to pull me up on this.

I have struggled the last week. I have had a cold and increased the number of painkillers I was taking last Wednesday. This meant that by the time the 2nd dose of the day had taken effect, I was feeling very dizzy and sick. I couldn't continue like that so I have reduced the amount to only taking 1 tablet every 12 hours which is more manageable but the pain is still not under control. I have spoken to the doctor today and we are going to try another painkiller and he will work with me to get the pain under control so that hopefully I can advance with the physio. I have another appointment tomorrow afternoon so hopefully the new painkillers will be working by then!

In all this, I know that God is there but I am not sure what his purposes for me going through this are.

I am trusting in Romans 8:28 where Paul says "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called because that was his plan." (NCV). I was also reading back through some notes I made when reading Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren where she quotes a guy called Gary Thomas. He says "...faith isn't tested by how often God answers my prayers with a yes but by my willingness to continue serving him and thanking him, even when I don't have a clue as to what he is doing."

There are many things that have come out of this that I can be thankful for but all too often it is the negatives that are more apparent. I have built new friendships and built on old friendships and have been provided with a consultant who knows what he is talking about when it comes to knee problems. As well as being part of a fantastic church family.

I hope you will join with me on this journey of discovering what God has in store for me. I will post again soon.

Rebecca

Time Away, Physio, Painkillers and More Physio

I had a great time away in Cromer, staying with friends and got to see the sea! Yay! I spent most of my time there playing games with the kids. On the Friday evening, we went to a Quiz Night which was to raise money for one of the boys' football team. We came 8th out of 11 teams!

I had physio again on Monday and have been advised to increase my painkillers as the pain I get when trying to bend my knee is inhibiting what the physios can do. This means that I will now be taking some strong painkillers which make me very drowsy and also affect my being able to sleep at night. Please pray that I will be able to sleep despite this.

I am continuing with the exercises the physio had given me previously as well as adding in new ones that I was given on Monday.

I have physio again on Friday and I'm looking forward to going for a meal with friends from University on Saturday.

Hope you're well.

Rebecca

Update

I saw the physio again today who advised there is a slight improvement in the strength of my quad muscle (the one above my knee!) which is good as I only had 3 days from the last appointment til today to work on it!

He has also given me some more exercises to do and suggested that I go swimming once a week. I have 2 appointments next week so hopefully there will be some more good news then.

Mum and I are off to visit friends in Norfolk tomorrow so I'm looking forward to the change of scenery and catching up with them.

I'll post again next week to update on progress.

Long Road Ahead!

Today I had physio and was dreading the fact that it may be very painful and that I would not cope with it. The physio was very nice and has told me that it will be a long road ahead as we need to strengthen my quad muscles and then we can begin to work on the range of movement.

I have been given various strengthening exercises to do including one where mum or dad will need to lift my leg to a particular height and then let go and for me to hold it there...this has 3 different directions that each work a different part of the muscle harder. This is in addition to the strengthening exercises I have already been doing.

I have also been advised that I need to keep the range of movement I already have so need to be trying to bend my knee frequently and have an exercise to do for that too!

I am seeing the physio again on Monday and will possibly be being referred for Hydrotherapy again.

Will post again once I have any more information.

Physio...Ouchy!!!!

Just thought I'd do a quick post to let you all know that my first physio appointment is booked for Thursday at 8.30 in the morning. I'm not looking forward to this but know that hopefully the process will aid the recovery of my knee.

Will blog again after physio to let you know how it went.

We Made It, Despite The Snow!

Well, we made it to the hospital just under two hours early for my appointment as we left home early because of the snow. It took us just over an hour to get from Bracknell to Reading!

The consultant has advised that there is nothing more that can be done surgically at the moment as it appears to be tracking in the right position but that my kneecap is pretty much useless because of the damage to it!

They are arranging for me to have intensive physio, which will be extremely painful to try to get my knee moving but the consultant will keep an eye on progress with regular check ups. The first being at the end of April.

I found this outcome to be somewhat disappointing as I had hoped he would be able to do the surgery and that would improve my knee. I am very scared that the physio won't work as it didn't work when they tried it before...but will give it a very good go and work hard at it again!

I will post again once I have news of when the first physio appointment will be!