Karuhat 12 Days Post ACL Surgery - Update

On May 5th, Karuhat underwent an ACL reconstruction and repair on both sides of his meniscus. He stayed in the hospital for 2 nights, for observation but also just to give him around-the-clock care during the first days, watching for infection or complications. He didn't sleep well those 2 nights (it was raining a lot, it's a strange place, and nurses came in to check on him every 30 minutes or so, throughout the day), but the room was comfortable and the nurses and physical therapists gave him good care. He was definitely reado to come home when we went to pick him up, though. He was on his bed, pointing to his backpack and telling me he was all packed up and ready to leave. We had to wait like 30 minutes for me to pay for his medication and have someone come up with a wheelchair to help him out of the building, and I could tell even those extra tasks were agony for him. It was a rough ride the 30 minutes across town from the hospital to our house, with his leg lower than his waist for the first time and the swelling certainly making that very uncomfortable. But he was rather stoic about it, even when we had to stop for 2 minutes for me to run in and buy him some crutches, so he could even make it into the house when we arrived.

For the next few days it was mostly me changing out the cold packs on his knee every hour, starting from 5:00 AM when I feed the cat and rabbit. Karuhat could finally sleep and was eating well; he didn't need to take any of his stronger pain medications, except for right after the drive home. I could tell he was a little stir-crazy, being indoors for the past 2 days, so I went out and bought one of those wickar lawn beds that you can put out by the pool, to recline in the sun. Karuhat is Thai, so there's no sun-bathing, but the position is correct for how he can sit and it was delivered that same afternoon. He's been having his lunch outside, and dinner as well if it's still somewhat light out and not raining by the time I get home from training. Kevin and I like to note things we've purchased that change our lives for the better (a water cooler and water delivery; the mokka pot for coffee; the cat and rabbit; the car) and this day bed absolutely fits in that category of great purchases.

The weekend after his surgery was a 4 day holiday and Karuhat's son, Ball, came down from Bangkok with his girlfriend to visit. I've never met Ball, but I've heard a lot about him and have seen a few photos. Nothing prepared me for the in-person resemblance he has to Karuhat. While it was only a short stay (Ball and his girlfriend wanted to beat both a possible rainstorm and traffic back to Bangkok), it was absolutely delightful to watch Karuhat show off his relationship to Somchai (the rabbit, who Karuhat named), calling to him to demonstrate how the rabbit will come when called (this only works for Karuhat; Bun doesn't give two shits when I call him) and eat raisins right out of his hand. Both Ball and his girlfriend each fed Somchai some raisins as well, then sat and chatted while Karuhat sat on the beanbag chair for the first time since he got home. At one point, Karuhat called his son chubby - I thought he was talking about the rabbit, so I laughed; I would not have if I'd realized he meant Ball! Ball kind of poked his sides and squirmed a little, agreeing he needs to lose some weight. The next morning, I was at the gym and messaged Karuhat that I would stop at the store, so he asked me to pick him up some razors - apparently Ball had made fun of Karuhat's mustache (or whatever facial hair he had at the time of the visit) and Karuhat wanted to clean up. So, I guess the passive aggressive comments went both ways, haha.

The 1 week check up with the doctor went well. I asked what the doctor had used for the graft, simply because I have read that synthetic grafts take longer to heal and I hadn't seen any secondary scars on Karuhat's leg, but the doctor said he'd taken from Karuhat's hamstring. Then asked, "haven't you seen my photos?" I was lost, what now? Apparently the doctor had sent a bunch of photos from inside Karuhat's knee, taken off the monitor as he was doing the surgery. They hadn't come through to Karuhat's phone, so we got a better connection to the doctor anyway as a result of that question; and I saw the photos. Gross, but fascinating anyway. As the doctor was teaching Karuhat a couple "exercises" to start straightening his leg, he remarked, "so you teach at Samart's gym? Samart was very good, very famous." I interjected, "Karuhat is very good, very famous. He had multiple Lumpinee belts." The doctor looked up at me, surprised, then at Karuhat. Karuhat smiled, slyly. I hope the doctor looked him up; he should know who he just gave a new ACL to.

Just a day after the doctor's check up, I had to persuade Karuhat back into the car (it's a physically difficult arrangement) to go see his physical therapist, Dr. Felix, for the first appointment . Karuhat had taken a pain killer for only the 2nd time that I'm aware of, after our first attempt at following the surgeon's exercises. He wasn't happy about going to see a physio for more exercises. In the car, I tried to express how the surgeon's focus is the surgery and anything he offers for after is just protocol. What Dr. Felix does is all for after the surgery, that's his focus, that's his expertise. Unconvinced, but a trooper, Karuhat nodded and stayed quiet in the back of the car as we drove. But Dr. Felix's bedside manner is great; he has a very gentle approach (the surgeon had hurt Karuhat's knee even on the diagnosis; not because he is inept, but because of his approach) and the exercises we were given to take home were easy enough for me to help Karuhat through them 2x per day. As we got back in the car to go home, Karuhat's energy was high. He was excited by the experience, Dr. Felix's manner, and the work we were to undertake for the next few days. We followed through with the exercises twice per day, and Karuhat changed the way he walks with his crutches (he has always been a toe-walker and needs to be flat-footed; he'll have to change back to his toe stepping once he's healed). Today we had a second session with Dr. Felix, just 3 days of working together at home, and already he's made great progress. So we have a new set of exercises, more advanced, and we estimate he'll be walking without the crutches by end of next week. He gets his stitches out 3 days from now, and then he'll be able to start showering and exercising in water.

Dr. Felix adding some new exercises today at Rebab and Performance Pattaya

Thank you to everyone who has made this treatment possible. Thank you to Karuhat for putting in the work. Thank you to Kevin for having the idea in the first place, and for being patient while I'm very occupied with my own training and spending all the rest of my energy on taking care of our guest/friend/mentor/hero, Karuhat.