After a long session of flexing and extending my knee, my physical therapist plugged me into an ice machine that circulated cold water around the poor tired limb.
The end result: I’m told I’m healing up very well, the recommendation is that I just do one more PT session and continue exercises at home, but so far I’m ahead of the game. I also managed to walk the 3½ blocks between my house and the hospital without much difficulty.
I look forward to returning to my hobby of Cossack-style dancing next week.
Out of curiosity PZ, what are some of the exercises they suggest? Any stretches too?
Did they use TENS patches on you? Back in 1986 I recall that used before (maybe not after) surgery to get the muscle out of a sort of adaptive shut down state. I imagine if you’re able to walk and exercise TENS might be pointless. I had a quite severe acute injury where blood was drained from my knee by the orthopedist. Still too soon!
You don’t have an ice machine at home already? It was required for my wife’s complete knee replacement. She managed to get three of them from neighbors…there are a lot of old people around here and many of them have had knee surgery. New ice machine are a bit expensive, but the used one’s were free.
Good luck with the Cossack dancing! I did some of that when I was a lot younger, but now I’m afraid my knees would revolt.
New trend: icemaxxing.
numerobis @4
Ice baths and cold water immersion are already promoted by the healthmaxxing influencers. Not quite sure I want to go there. PZ’s ice therapy is more localized with what looks like a glorified blood pressure cuff. Should work well for his current knee issue.
Early last year my water heater croaked and it was a few days for a plumber to come out and replace it. I was forced to take ridiculously cold showers. I read up on that and there are alleged benefits. I’ll pass.
I really cannot envision myself immersed in an ice bath or as a Polar Bear Club participant. Not knocking that sort of extreme experience as invigorating as it may be. YMMV.
The exercises are more for stretching and preventing the joint from locking up — they aren’t going to significantly increase limb strength.
Mary talked about getting an ice machine for home, because she always overdoes it. It looks like I’m not going to really need it, since the knee is healing up fast.
BTW, I note that Mano Singham agrees with your views.
“The Democratic Party establishment has to be overthrown” .https://share.google/Ahq24lLx6RGMx1FBT
Hemidactylus @ #5 — The ice machine is basically a bucket with a pump built into the lid that feeds ice water through tubes to cuff that wraps around the knee. You can see on of the tubes in the picture. The bucket/pump may be sitting below the table PZ is on. You fill the bucket with ice and water, attache the lid, plug it in, wrap the cuff, and turn it on. The advantage of the ice machine over ice packs, which work, is that the ice machine can keep the knee cool for hours.
PZ @ #6 — What you had done is a lot less serious than a complete knee replacement. The ice machine was very helpful for the first 6 weeks or so to keep the swelling down. However, if you or Mary decide you need one, let me know. I could ship one of ours to you. We really didn’t need three but they are abundant here in Marin County, California. We still have two of them.
So the ice is to numb the patient to pain? Will not the knee be very sore when the cold dissipates?
.
Here is something to cheer up PZ (and other secular Americans).
Campaigns are complaining about the cost of reaching secular voters!
A political consulting firm admitted how easy and cheap it is to target religious voters.
.https://youtube.com/shorts/qwYpXh8MOL0
I just checked, Birger. I’d have thought it had more with inflammation amelioration, but apparently it is that too.
cf. https://www.rehabmart.com/post/ice-machine-for-knee-surgery?utm_source=copilot.com
I think it’s pretty cool that PZ upgraded from an air-cooled knee to a liquid-cooled knee.
FWIW I suggest being careful NOT to overdo it. My dad had a knee replacement and as recovering well – until he got too ambitious and tried to do too much which then set him back quite a bit and made his recovery take a lot longer. So probly take it slow and gently – albeit I’m not a Doctor and so, well, listen to those who are. My Dad’s fully recovered now so, anyhow.
It’s a pity you need PT.
@ ^ .. But good that he’s getting it and it seems to be going well.
Pity knees don’t repair themnselves better and ar esuch flawed body parts in the first place.
As think PZ has already noted – intelligent (not!) design my ars.. knee!
(off topic)
Stevo, Mano has a post tailor made for your latest obsession:
https://freethoughtblogs.com/singham/2026/05/26/the-democratic-party-establishment-has-to-be-overthrown/
It’s about why the Democrats couldn’t beat the worst candidate for president in history. There’s more than one reason but one relevant to your obsession is:
So it turns out Trump’s second term wasn’t because a random blog commenter you’re obsessed with failed to support genocide. It was because Harris and her party royally fucked up.
Guess you’ll have to call her Trump-enabler Harris from now on dude.
(/ off topic)
pathetic
@ 15. Silentbo defender of Trump enabling bad faith trolls :
You are right about one thing there – that is wildly off topic and a blatant attempt to derail this thread.
You (& Mano’s analysis) are fractally wrong here but here is NOT the right place to discuss this.
I agree with StevoR. Silentbob @15 instigated this round. Please stop.
John Morales @ 10
Thank you!
Postoperative treatments are more complex than I thought.
PZ,
I’m surprised that they are recommending so few PT sessions.
18 years after knee surgery with no PT and 10 years after spine surgery with insufficient PT, I have absolutely no sense of balance. I can’t walk without forearm crutches. My PT works with me to try to restore some sense of balance, but it doesn’t seem to be happening.
Be sure that you walk and be mindful of keeping your balance. Hopefully, your PT will give you some exercises for balance.