When I first started talking about the injections, I was told it could take as long as six months to see a change so I wasn't really expecting an immediate change although I did a lot of self-searching. At two weeks, I went in for my first rehab which actually was a check to see where I was physically.
She asked if I had noticed any difference. I sort of shrugged and said I guessed most people didn't at this point. She smiled and said some did but my knees were much worse than most. Yeah, remember I was already planning a double knee replacement.
When I started rehab with Dr. Kirwan, I realized it was like no rehab I had ever done. It was one-on-one with Dr. Kirwan. With the exception of when I was on the treadmill, she was with me, checking my form, making sure my balance was good – hands close to my sides or arms to make sure I didn't fall. She wanted to improve my core strength as well as my form moving on my renewed knees.
Rehab wasn't easy but it wasn't at all painful. I had to learn to feel my body centered with my eyes open and then she made me do it with my eyes closed. That is hard. She encouraged and was so patient and made me realize that I was improving.
Rehab at many places is a solo thing or nearly so. Someone gives instructions and then walks off to work with someone else. They come back when a timer calls them and sets the next task. Lonely and not very instructive is what I'd call it.
Not so with Dr. Kirwan. She is my support, my teacher and she makes sure I'm not repetitively doing the same wrong movement. She makes me know I'm getting better.
