Recovery

“Total Knee replacement : AP view (Xray)

Image via Wikipedia

Having undergone a right total knee replacement (R TKR), I am 4 weeks into recovery. That normally means 3 weeks of home health service with home physical therapy (PT) followed by another 6 or so weeks of outpatient PT. I’ve now just completed my first week of outpatient PT. My incision is healed well – the staples were removed on Monday 2 weeks ago.

Emmy has learned a whole new set of things to do! Interestingly, none of the PTs are very interested in her abilities. They don’t want her to do stuff for me, they want me to do things for myself. Well, facts of the matter are that I simply cannot do some things. I need a little gizmo to help me put on my socks – been using it for years! I also need assistance with getting my underbritches on and my slacks or shorts on. Emmy does that for me – I put my panties on the floor and work my feet into the waistband and into the legs. Emmy comes, checks it out, then picks up the waistband and lifts it up to me! Same with slacks or shorts, or even a skirt. She picks up the waistband and lifts it up to me!

PT gives me exercises to do at home between visits. Unfortunately, they don’t take into consideration that my mixture of RA and fibromyalgia flares the 1st or 2nd day after that. The flare knocks me off my pins for 2 days. Then, and only then can I do some home PT. But if I am too vigorous, it will lay me out for another couple of days. I do what I can, but try not to overdo it. The PTs will not be pleased with me!

Emmy helps with my PT. I lie on my back on the couch, and she noses my foot as I slide it up toward my bottom. She loves to “push” things, so she pushes my foot to help me get my knee bent as tightly as I can. Then she pushes my heel as I slide my foot down. This is a game she really loves to play! She can earn treats for that!

We continue to do the laundry together. I couldn’t do the laundry without her! She noses light switches up and paws them down as necessary. We practice downstairs where Himself has affixed a really large wall protector around the switch. Even keeping her nails short, she can scratch the paint and dig into the wallboard, so other switches we avoid unless I’m really feeling wimply!

I’m still using a walker. I’m a bit ataxic and off balance when using my cane. But even in the house, I put her leash on her collar when I’m walking with my cane. She knows just how to balance me. I feel much safer when she is on my right (“side”) and my cane is on my left.

Next year, sometime, the left knee will be done. And then she’ll walk on my left (“heel”) while I use my cane on my right. Smart little girl!

Thank you, Emmy! You are my wonder-dog!

Related articles

• Post Knee Replacement Therapy Includes the LegTutor (handtutorblog.wordpress.com)
• Women may recover faster earlier after total knee replacement surgery (earlsview.com)
• Direct Access to Physical Therapists Associated with Lower Costs and Fewer Visits, New Study Says (prweb.com)
• Knee Replacement and Injury Recovery (kneerecovery.wordpress.com)

Service Dog Etiquette [reprise]

Emmy gets my dropped cane for me

[I am reposting this, with some additions / revisions from my old "Waiting For the Woof" blog. The ADA Law and Regs have changed a little.]

I recently read some information about service dog etiquette that makes a lot of sense.

Since not everyone knows about service dogs, not everyone knows about service dog etiquette.

First – a service dog is not a pet! A service dog has at least 2 years of intensive socialization and training behind him and is an expert in what he does. Most have been bred from working dog stock and not only thoroughly enjoy, but need to work.

A person who has a service dog has a very well-trained working dog. When you meet them, remember that the dog is working. Don’t interrupt it.

Always speak to the dog’s partner first, and always ask before beginning to interact with the dog.

Don’t pet the dog or make noises at the dog without permission of the dog’s partner.

If the partner says, “No,” then the answer is, “No,” and simply agree with it and go with it. It has nothing to do with you, it has to do with the service dog and his duties.

Never offer food to a service dog! This will distract him from his job. It can even cause injury to the disabled partner.

If you encounter a service dog in training or a puppy in training, ignore it! At this stage of training, they are easily distractible and can have a whole day’s training lost if interfered with.

It is impolite to ask the partner about his disability. If you are intrusive enough to ask such an invasive question, do not be surprised if the partner refuses to discuss it. The partner is not being offensive – he just doesn’t want his privacy invaded any more than you would.

Business Owners

If you are a business person, you may not prevent a person from bringing his service dog into your establishment with him. Both Federal and State laws specify that service dogs are to be permitted into any business or location where other members of the public may go. Even clinics or hospitals usually permit service dogs to come in.

If you don’t like dogs, or are afraid of them, simply put yourself on the other side of the person from the dog. Do not make a scene, or otherwise distract the dog.

If the dog “forgets” his manners and barks or growls at something or someone, you may inquire as to what the problem is. If someone has been teasing, poking or otherwise alarming the dog, they should be reprimanded. On the other hand, some service dogs alert their partners to impending seizures or crashing blood sugars by barking once or twice, and that may be the source of a bark or two.

You may ask the person to remove their service dog from the premises if the dog’s behavior is disruptive or destructive.

If another customer has a severe allergy to dogs, you might ask the person with the service dog if you can help them outside or if they can wait outside until the person with the allergy is through. This problem has not been defined by law, however. Balancing the health needs of the allergic against the rights of the disabled with service animals will probably be worked out in courts of law in the future.

If other customers complain about the presence of the service dog, explain that the service dog is medically necessary, and that Federal law AND State law protect the rights of the person to have their service dog with them in public places.

Many disabled people with service dogs carry pamphlets or cards that explain Federal ADA laws about service dogs. Some carry information about the training their dog has gone through and any certifications it has. You might politely ask the disabled person if they have such information with them if another customer is confused and you feel you don’t have enough information yourself to help the situation.

Places To Go For More Information

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Update: Primer for Small Businesses – section on service dogs

Americans with Disabilities Act: Title II 2010. Took effect on March 15, 2011.

Delta Society

Assistance Dogs International (ADI)

International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP)

Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS)

Related Articles

• What are reasons why people with disabilities should have a service dog (wiki.answers.com)
• When A Dog Is More Than A Dog-Officer Shultz (takingonacause.com)
• New law: A service animal can be dog or mini-horse (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Emmy Wishes You a Happy New Year!

Happy 2011 from Emmy, Herself and Himself! May it exceed your desires in every respect!

Happy New Year!!

 

Emmy and Me

 

The Different Car

Last week our car was in the shop. I had been backed into by someone, and had enough damage we thought it was worth getting fixed – on the other person’s dime, of course. We were provided a rental van – a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country with Sto-and-Go seats in the back.

As Emmy does not do well on a bucket seat – and it REALLY isn’t safe for her – I stowed the bucket seats in the back, attached her seatbelt harness to the heavy hook in the floor, and off we went.

Within 4 blocks Emmy was starting to whine – which she NEVER does. Thinking I had missed a cue somehow, I stopped in a parking lot, and walked her to the grass. She just “read the newspaper” and never did anything. Hmmm. Something else. Recently fed. I brought her over to the van thinking to put her in and check her over while she stood there. She balked at getting in, but eventually did with much encouragement. Hmmm, again. She was whining before I got her harness on and latched. I pulled her extra blanket over for her to cuddle against, and her towel to chew on (or vice versa – whatever she wanted to do) and firmly closed the door.

We drove the rest of the way home with whining and squealing going on. When we got home, she was trying to stand up and get out. I had to get the Ol’ Curmudgeon to come down and wrestle her into position so the harness could be unlatched! Once out of the car she slunk upstairs and into her crate. She didn’t come out until she was SURE we were not going anywhere. Then she was her sunny, goofy self – as if nothing had happened.

Each time we went out, she was apprehensive and unhappy, whining a lot. She would slink down the stairs with her head down, not want to get into the van, and then whine the entire time she was in it.

Finally, the day came to turn in the van and pick up our van. I left her at home with the Ol’ Curmudgeon. There was just no point in setting up our van again down there at the service center in the cold (22deg) weather. I just slipped from one car to the other.

The next time we went out, she was apprehensive and unhappy until she saw her own van! Then she was happy again.

We are NOT looking forward to 2012 when we have scheduled the purchase of a new van! None of the current crop of mini-vans (2008 forward that I’ve researched) have a bench seat in the back – only in the third seat. I can’t get in and bend enough to fasten her in to put her there. So the Ol’ Curmudgeon will have to devise something that will let her be more happy. We are thinking about it, and will try to devise it for her to try out before we actually change cars.

I don’t like it that she can be tossed about a little. The bench seat provides some stability and security for her. We’ll see what we can do.

In the meantime, however, she is happy again riding in HER car!

Yup, I talk to My Dog. Don’t You?

Denise Portis has a marvelous post on her blog today! Just had to share it!

Oso Comes to Play

A friend came by for a few minutes with his Chocolate Lab in his car. He had left him out there, not wanting to intrude. We invited his dog in after checking about immunizations and at least basic behavior (no real obedience, but friendly, part of a 5-canine pack).

Oso Comes to Visit

So, Oso came in to play with Emmy. Emmy was SO excited at first. Oso was more interested in going out into the back yard. We took them both out and watched them for a while to be sure they were “playing nice.” They did fine. Emmy followed Oso all over the yard while Oso ignored Emmy and marked territory everywhere he could think of! LOL!

Finally we brought them in – panting and happy. It FINALLY occurred to me to get out the camera! DOH! Obviously I’m just not a “camera person.”

Oso and Emmy

Oso and Emmy Ignore Each Other

Oso Resting in Kitchen

It wasn’t a very long visit, but as you can see, they don’t have any problem with each other! Oso is invited back anytime we are at home!

Sick Husband

We are being rather quiet at the moment. Himself has had a raging kidney infection and has been horribly sick. I’ve been totally worried about him, and Emmy has been beside herself. Several trips to MD and to pharmacy. Thank goodness for Publix Grocery’s free antibiotics program! Our doc looked at the culture and sensitivity results and plucked an antibiotic on Publix’s list of freebies from the list. The offending organism is very susceptible to that antibiotic, so we are using a good one. Himself is gradually getting better, but not altogether with it as yet. At least he isn’t a limp dishrag like he was for a while.

So Emmy has been beside herself. She would trot back to the bedroom and nose Himself’s hand, then come back into the living room and stand looking at me with a puzzled/worried expression on her face. Then she would yawn widely (sign of upset or stress) and trot back to visit Himself. She did a LOT of trotting back and forth in the 2 days he was in bed! When I took her with me to the pharmacy, she would sit up and look for him until I got us underway, then sit up and look for him the minute I pulled back into the driveway. She disapproves of me going places without him, or him going places without me. She wants Himself and me to be as joined-at-the-hip as she and I are!

We are a trio, as far as she is concerned. I’m her Food Goddess, and Partner, but Himself is somewhere in the mix and is important to her. Perhaps it’s because he is so important to me, and she senses that. She doesn’t obey him with the alacrity she does me, but does basic obedience for him. For me, she does nearly anything, and I can help her learn new behaviors rather rapidly [like taking my shoes and socks off, pulling off my slacks, pulling my jacket off by pulling at the sleeves].

She loves her little fuzzy animals. She does not tear them up! She still has some from 2 years ago when she came to me! So she has spent a bunch of time over the last couple of weeks with her “puppies” (as we call them) snuggled on her bed with her. Now that Himself is in the living room, again, she still keeps her “puppies” nearby, but not to the extent she did when he was feeling so rotten. She was actually feeling secure enough to play “fetch puppies” today. Guess we will all survive!

Knowing About Different Kinds of Service Dogs

Wonderful blog post over on the Service Dog Blog.

The Attack of Influenza

Both Himself and I are down with flu. Himself is much sicker than I at the moment. We seem to take turns. Emmy is bored, bored, bored, but is putting up with little activity except when I stagger out to feed, water and “business” her. Then I stagger back to bed. Right now, though, I’m tired of trying to develop bedsores, so I’m sitting up and surfing the internet.

Here’s something very interesting that I found. Hope you find it interesting, also.

Bergen County dog’s unique trick: connecting with autistic children

We Passed!

I know this is a bit of a repeat of the previous post, but I wanted to demonstrate more precisely what it means to go through the Public Access Test.

September rolled in, and so did time for our annual recertification for Public Access. This is an intensive and thorough test of all of Emmy’s skills and my handling skills. We were tested similarly to the sample Public Access Test on the ADI website. I had been using that to be sure Emmy and I were spiffy on all the tasks.

We were met at the parking place in front of the Columbiana Mall main entrance.

First order of business – unload Emmy safely. CHECK!

Next – Have Emmy “do business.” Well, we had rushed over from the motel where she had “done business” right before getting into the car. She balks at this when she really doesn’t need to go. Her pattern is about 4 times a day, and her next time would be about 4-5 hours later, so I didn’t. But I did explain – inside the mall, when asked. SORTA CHECK – Hmmm. Gotta remember this for next year.

I told her to Leave It when I saw a piece of apple on the ground. – CHECK!

Next – get into the Mall safely. I punched the “automagic” door opener with my cane, told Emmy to wait – but didn’t give her enough lead, so she was forced to crowd in beside me, not real safe. SORTA CHECK – gotta remember for next year!!

Next – have Emmy Down-Stay while I went 6 feet and then again went 20 feet away from her. She was to Come when I called her. I had her pick up her Leash and bring it to me [SMILE] as long as she was to Come to me. That worked! CHECK!

Next – go through two departments of a store without “sniffing the merchandise.” Only one time did I have to remind her to Leave It. – CHECK!

Next – get on an elevator safely. We negotiated that well. – CHECK!

Next – get off an elevator safely. – CHECK!

Next – wander through a few more departments. Only one Leave It needed. – CHECK!

Next – demonstrate some of the things she does for me: picking up objects. She did this so well, that all the testers were tossing small objects onto the floor. Interestingly, she picked them all up – and brought them to me! I had to try to figure out which tester had tossed which object and deliver it to them! – CHECK!

Next – Demonstrate her ability to help me at checkouts by giving a clerk my money (in a wallet inside a paper bag), and then taking my purchase, placed in a paper bag along with my wallet and giving it to me. – CHECK!

Next – Play “pick up” a couple more times! – CHECK!

Next – Go down the elevator, calmly and safely entering and exiting – same deal as before. – CHECK!

Next – wend our way out the store to the food court (the part of the test I dislike the most). In the food court, I had to demonstrate that I knew how to keep her out of the way of servers or other patrons, and keep her from eating food offered by others. Emmy is a “chow hound” – she LOVES food! Keeping her from eating the wrong stuff is about half of the effort I need to put into her! Well, with some strong effort on my part, I kept people from giving her food, and kept her from eating stuff dropped on the floor. – CHECK!

Then they brought not 1, not 2, but 5 (!) children over to pet her! Emmy LOVES children, and will just wag her tail silly and lick them slimy all over given the opportunity. But for this, she was in her cape, and she knew she was working, and she couldn’t do that. I had to help her restrain herself, of course. But she managed, only turning her head once to look at the children. – CHECK!

The testers stepped over her a few times for more handler control checks. – CHECK!

Out into the mall, get Emmy to Brace to help me stand up from my wheelchair. Then sit on a bench and have Emmy go Under. – CHECK!

As we were travelling in the Mall, I told the testers about my e-friend, Denise, and her hearing dog Chloe. Chloe had mis-stepped on a metal-grate set of stairs and ended up losing 3 toenails. She was out of commission for nearly 2 months! This is one of the reasons we don’t let our service dogs go on escalators, too – so easy for a dog to get a toenail caught between the steps when they collapse, or to get them caught where the steps go into the mechanism at the end of the up or down stairs.  They they would be out of commission for 4 – 8 weeks, depending on the amount of injury! So metal-grate stairs will be on the forbidden list – or at least on the be very-very-very-very careful list! Some metal-grate stairs may not be avoidable – we just need to be careful on them. As I don’t  “do” stairs, that won’t be a problem for me! – CHECK!

We exited the building, with Emmy Targeting the handicap-button to open the door – PERFECTLY. – CHECK!

Then there was “doing business” afterward. – CHECK!

And entering the van safely. – CHECK!

OK! Emmy passed with flying colors. There were a couple of suggestions for me which I mentioned above. One of the testers said it was nice seeing a “mature team” after seeing all the new teams going through! I thought back two years – yep, we did do much better. Validation for me!

Must say, I appreciate the help of my oldest son’s wife who accompanied me to Columbia and pushed my wheelchair exactly the way I asked her to! She was great! And she is looking forward to doing this again in the future! We had a good time, did a bit of MIL-DIL bonding, and ate some things we shouldn’t! If she goes with me next year, we will have to plan a meal at the Texas Steakhouse over on Two Notch Rd.

It takes longer and longer to recover after things like this – extended stress, lack of sleep, tiring out without opportunity for napping or resting. I ran a fever for 3 days after returning. Oh, misery! I’ve spent almost a week sleeping nearly 16 hours a day – about 8 hours at night, 3 1/2 4 hour nap after breakfast, 3 – 4 hour nap after lunch! My hands are still swollen, as are my feet, and my hips and knees are most “unhappy.”

There is no ADI-certified tester in Georgia! I found that hard to believe, but it’s true! Hence, the need to travel to South Carolina for our annual Recertification. And it’s good to see some of the others from our “class” each year – not to mention Jen and the trainers, and, yes, the testers! They really try to make it as stress-free as they can. And they are good at it.

So, it’s over for this year, I have my certification card in my fanny-pak, and we are Ready to Roll!