I can drive again. I haven't been able to since hurting myself almost 2 months ago. The therapist said that as long as I am comfortable doing it, because I am strong enough, that I can drive. Short distances at first, and build up towards longer journeys. Of course, I have no idea what constitutes a short versus long distance. I am going with 30 minutes at a time as a starting point. I think that if I can get around in trips that put me behind the wheel for less than 30 minutes I should be good to go. This works well for me because I don't really go anywhere that is farther away than that, so I'm pretty much good to go.
This mark has been important to me throughout this process. I want to be self sufficient, and being mobile is a way to do that. No longer do I have to rely on people to take me from point A to point B. I can go get my own groceries. If I have to go to the pharmacy for something, I can do that. If I want to go somewhere to watch a game with my friends, I can do that. If I want to drive around for 30 minutes or less, I can do that. I have a car. I get to use it again. The frustrating thing, the especially frustrating thing, is that I just got this damn car in November. I got to drive it for about 4 months before I had to get back into the passenger seat for 7 weeks. That hardly seems fair.
But there is more good news recently than bad. I shouldn't complain. Not only is driving again back in my life, but it comes at the expense of pills. What I mean is, I gained driving and ran out of Ibuprofen this morning. No more horse pills to take three times a day, no more feeling like an old person with scheduled pill taking times. No more worrying about side effects. More importantly, no more dealing with side effects.
All of this is means that my recovery is going swimmingly! I am meeting my benchmarks and right on schedule, according to the protocol set forth by my orthopedist. I seem to be doing well. I don't hurt, and even if I did, I have more than enough ammunition to ward off pain. Granted, my leg isn't as strong as it could be, but it's strong enough to drive. The remainder of my rehab will be strength, balance, and conditioning for my quad. The bone is healing around the burs at the end of the new ligament, but I still got 8-10 weeks before that is fully healed up. With that bone growing back, I can still walk around pretty well. I have a noticeable limp, and I lack the confidence to push it (which is probably a good thing), but at least I can get around my neighborhood without a chaperone.
The next thing to go is the big brace. I have it wrapped around my leg all damn day, except for when I'm asleep or in the shower. I have an appointment with the orthopedist in a couple weeks, and then I should be fitted with a smaller version of the thing that I have. Probably more comfortable and forgiving. I wonder if there is going to be any separation anxiety. I know that I am going to be stronger by that time, to the point where I wonder how long I am actually going to have to adjust my life to account for my knee. I got a stronger version of the PT band that I had before. The added resistance is going to help expedite the strengthening process, and along with general use, I think that I am in pretty good shape.
This is the time when I nod my head approvingly at my own awesomeness.
SD
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