Physical Therapy Session 2: I arrived just past 11:30 and hobbled a bit through the lobby and into the offices of Athalon Physical Therapy. I spoke briefly with Jennifer (a smile to melt ice on the coldest day) who takes care of the office. She told me I looked great for being just out of surgery. Courtney, the assistant PT greeted me and she helped me hang up my coat, which was filled with several pounds of electrical items (2 mobile phones, portable keyboard, headphones for each, external battery, adapters and connectors for later use… heck I’m listing them because I’m sure you were curious.)

Jason, my PT and main man, was busy with several patients so I had some time to wait and check out my injury. It still felt very sore, especially around the main patchwork. I hop up on my favorite table, number two in the right side of the room. Every one is staring at the NBA riots that occurred last night and are making the rounds yet again on Sports Center. Jason started me off with leg push downs to try to reach full extension (keeping your leg as straight as it goes and 0 degrees is where you want to be.) He hooked me up to a muscle stimulation machine and placed a rolled up towel under my knee joint (that center area and sweet spot) and told me to press down as hard as I could during the time I felt the stimulation, which lasts around 10 long seconds. When it goes away, for roughly a 20 second rest, relax. This was easy although apparently I didn’t have the flex I hoped for. But no worry… we haven’t even gotten started yet. This was to be a very long session…

Vanessa next to me was in serious pain. She’s a sweet, nice cutie just out of college who had some major cartilege reconstruction and was unfortunately in horrendous pain. They think it may be nerve damage and the last time the pain management treatment isolated the wrong spot on her leg… her foot instead of her knee! Her upbeat attitude inspired me today.

Next, Jason gives me the warm massage ointment rub down to move out the swelling. That went quickly because he soon had me swivel around so that I was lying down on my back but with my legs up in the air against the wall. I have myself positioned several inches from the wall and the goal is to lower my left leg (right leg looped underneath for support and to raise it) all the way down to an almost 90 degree angle. I ask Jason whether we should wager whether I can get there and he says emphatically “you will.” He’s a prophet. I never would have believed it as it was slow going at first but after several minutes of “feeling the stretch” for about 5-10 seconds, I get there!

Next up, I swivel around and get on my stomach, knees and legs hanging over the edge of the long table. The forces of gravity (and an extra light ankle weight on my left leg) dangle and are forced to extend themselves. This goes on for several minutes and Jason works my leg stiffness from the extension away and I’m feeling much more “looseness.”

Next up… the bicycle. But first I have to practice walking there and the goal is to first place the crutches forward, step forward with a straight leg and first put down heel and step forward through my toe… heel to toe. Finally get to the bike. I’m supposed to pedal forward first and then “squeeze” when my left leg stiffens and push slightly to get more flex for about 10 seconds. Reverse direction and do the same thing. I realize that I cannot nearly do full rotations but I am getting there.

Now we are back to try one more set of those leg/quad push-downs with the towel under the center of my knee. After working on this for 10 minutes Jason tells me that I’ve done extremely well and I do get full extension, woohoo! Afterwards we get some serious ice in the cryocuff and then I am out of there!

The crosstown bus is right outside and I hop it a few stops to get to CompUSA to pick up a new laptop backpack that I’ll be using more frequently. I take a few client phone calls and then hop another bus outside that drops me off near my old apartment… Going uptown for just a few blocks you cannot imagine how many people tripped over my leg, a well dressed high maintenance elderly woman was trying to rush by me when I was pulling out and putting away my metro card (incredible) and wasn’t fast enough for her. My stop comes and this 40+ year old woman just lets the back doors of the bus just slam in my face and a woman sitting on the side realized what happened and ran over to try to hold the doors open for me. I am thankful and both of us seem rather disgusted.

And now it’s time to climb 4 stories of rickety stairs with semi spirals on each side. Wow… this was a major challenge but made it up there. I had to meet someone who will rent my bargain apartment… Glen arrives and he sees my knee brace. He remembers his days of having ACL surgery too when he had a patella auto! Wow, it is amazing to find out how many people have had this surgery after not knowing what the ACL really did a few weeks ago. He says my leg and my stamina and demeanor are awesome. Cannot believe I’m up and around after 3 days. He’s got a nice scar from his surgery and remembers the pain… and wishes he had an allograft as well.

I stick around for a few more hours and then begin the big climb downstairs to head back to Queens to the parents. Climb up my step ladder several times to reach storage areas, walk around the apartment using the crutches and I’m ready to rock and roll at about… 7PM! I take the bus downtown to the 53rd St. stop and fortunately people aren’t as horribly rude. I have to make my way down roughly 60 stairs that turn and finally get to the platform to Queens.

The ride back is uneventful and Dad picks me up from the subway. I have time for a Bailey’s shake at Haagen Daz and get home in time for Monday Night Football. The knee is achy and I have to ice it down. I may have pushed things today and I need to calm down a bit tomorrow although I hope to go into work potentially. I see the rest of the game and figure that 6 hours sleep should do me well as I turn on the CPM machine and begin to sleep off my day…