Log Book
Feb 2009
Feb 2009
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| February 2009 |
Maricopa, Arizona - Susie
Susie decided it was time to seek further medical consultation about her right knee. As the left
knee continues to get better, it is becoming more apparent that something is terribly wrong with
the right knee. It remains very much larger than the left knee. The flexion is not as good as the
left. The extension is very much less than the left. The right knee is unstable and painful. So
with a referral from Dr Page (the physician that established Med To Go through which she had
the left knee surgery in Hermosillo) she went to see a physical therapist here. The PT had
good news and bad news. The bad news: Susie’s right knee problems are primarily related to
a “frozen” knee cap and lack of full knee extension. Without the proper extension, she will
never be able to walk correctly. She can’t achieve full extension with a “frozen” knee cap. The
good news: the situation can be resolved with AGGRESSIVE physical therapy and exercise
(and lots of pain pills).
Susie found a physical therapist here in Maricopa (closer than the one who did the evaluation in
Tempe) willing to treat her right knee. It’s the same PT clinic where Susie’s mother went for her
knee replacement therapy. Susie goes 3 times a week to the office, where after exercises,
moist heat and electrical stimulation the PT literally “pulls” her right leg: stretching tight muscles
and tendons behind the knee, distracting the joint to loosen it, pushing and pulling the knee cap
to break adhesions loose, etc. It is painful while it is happening, but after the right leg usually
feels much better and she can walk better. Susie can do a home exercise program, but she
cannot do everything the PT is doing. As long as she continues to benefit from the PT visits,
we will try to stay in Arizona. If the right knee doesn’t get better, she will not be able to walk.
Meanwhile, here at Province in Maricopa, Susie can use the pool daily for more exercise.
Bay Area, California - Sam
On the 5th of February Sam flew to Oakland for some doctor appointments at 5 different Kaiser
facilities during the following two weeks. Everything checked out OK, or at least he’s not
significantly different physically than he had been for years. But being in the SF Bay area gave
him the opportunity to visit with many friends, be invited to a Single Sailors Association meeting
(SSA was where he met Susie) where he was told that he’d enjoy the “Featured Speaker” (when
he asked “who” he was told “Sam Crabtree”), go to a special Diablo Sailing Club meeting-pizza
party called because he was in town (that’s where he started his sailing career back in 1968),
and join many Richmond Yacht Club members for dinner at the RYC clubhouse.
Meanwhile, back in Arizona together
So at this time we don’t know exactly when we will return to Catch The Wind in San Carlos. Until
the problems with Susie’s right knee are resolved, we may need to stay in Arizona where she
can get the aggressive physical therapy she needs. In the meantime, we have found the “card
people” here at the community center where Susie’s parents live, and are playing bridge, hand
and foot, and canasta. Life is still good.
Susie decided it was time to seek further medical consultation about her right knee. As the left
knee continues to get better, it is becoming more apparent that something is terribly wrong with
the right knee. It remains very much larger than the left knee. The flexion is not as good as the
left. The extension is very much less than the left. The right knee is unstable and painful. So
with a referral from Dr Page (the physician that established Med To Go through which she had
the left knee surgery in Hermosillo) she went to see a physical therapist here. The PT had
good news and bad news. The bad news: Susie’s right knee problems are primarily related to
a “frozen” knee cap and lack of full knee extension. Without the proper extension, she will
never be able to walk correctly. She can’t achieve full extension with a “frozen” knee cap. The
good news: the situation can be resolved with AGGRESSIVE physical therapy and exercise
(and lots of pain pills).
Susie found a physical therapist here in Maricopa (closer than the one who did the evaluation in
Tempe) willing to treat her right knee. It’s the same PT clinic where Susie’s mother went for her
knee replacement therapy. Susie goes 3 times a week to the office, where after exercises,
moist heat and electrical stimulation the PT literally “pulls” her right leg: stretching tight muscles
and tendons behind the knee, distracting the joint to loosen it, pushing and pulling the knee cap
to break adhesions loose, etc. It is painful while it is happening, but after the right leg usually
feels much better and she can walk better. Susie can do a home exercise program, but she
cannot do everything the PT is doing. As long as she continues to benefit from the PT visits,
we will try to stay in Arizona. If the right knee doesn’t get better, she will not be able to walk.
Meanwhile, here at Province in Maricopa, Susie can use the pool daily for more exercise.
Bay Area, California - Sam
On the 5th of February Sam flew to Oakland for some doctor appointments at 5 different Kaiser
facilities during the following two weeks. Everything checked out OK, or at least he’s not
significantly different physically than he had been for years. But being in the SF Bay area gave
him the opportunity to visit with many friends, be invited to a Single Sailors Association meeting
(SSA was where he met Susie) where he was told that he’d enjoy the “Featured Speaker” (when
he asked “who” he was told “Sam Crabtree”), go to a special Diablo Sailing Club meeting-pizza
party called because he was in town (that’s where he started his sailing career back in 1968),
and join many Richmond Yacht Club members for dinner at the RYC clubhouse.
Meanwhile, back in Arizona together
So at this time we don’t know exactly when we will return to Catch The Wind in San Carlos. Until
the problems with Susie’s right knee are resolved, we may need to stay in Arizona where she
can get the aggressive physical therapy she needs. In the meantime, we have found the “card
people” here at the community center where Susie’s parents live, and are playing bridge, hand
and foot, and canasta. Life is still good.
| NO PHOTOS Feb 2009 |