June 28-48 hours post op

48 hours, plus: I am now writing three days in a row-which I won't keep up-but i have to comment on the minimal amount of pain i have had so far.  I have had the femoral nerve block medicine still going-I carry it in a little pouch that goes on my shoulder or my neck like a necklace.  I reduced the speed of release for the medicine as of this morning, just to keep it going as long as possible.  It looks to be getting pretty low now and I am starting to feel more in my leg.  I was numb for about 36 hours and really this afternoon, more than 48 hours after surgery, is when I have started to feel some pain.  I guess because of the medicine and numbness, I have been able to achieve very good degree of knee movement.  I use the constant passive machine CPM about 4 hours each day-actually more, because I am trying to take advantage of this time with so little pain where I can hopefully prevent scar tissue and encourage blood circulation in the knee/leg, which is good for the graft.  The degree of knee movement is at 110 degrees!!!!  When I had the arthroscopy in March, to harvest the cartilage, I could barely bend at first and absolutely could not engage my quads.  Today, I was able to lift the leg using the quadriceps (ie not compensating by using hip muscles) and we added straight leg lifts to my PT exercises, along with hamstring stretch, calf stretch, heel prop (prop it on a thick foam so that the leg straightens-not so comfortable, but therapeutic)., and ankle pumps (moving foot around, "drawing letters" in the air with toes).

  I am walking on the crutches a few times a day around the house and to the car when I have to.  I have only gone out of the house to go to PT this morning and yesterday morning. My husband keeps reminding me that I have to get up and move some so that I don't develop blood clots and to keep circulation going. Today, I was fitted and given my immobilizer brace that I will be wearing for 6 weeks to 3 months.  So far, it is not uncomfortable.  I have heard from other people I know and read on this site that the brace can be painful if it pushes into tender areas. 

I know there may be some challenges ahead with rehab, but the lack of pain and the quick initial progress has been great!