No, I don't mean the teeth kind. I mean the S & M type contraptions that I need to wear on my legs to
walk. I have the standard
knee brace on my left leg (the blue one). This has a hinge for me to bend my knee but also makes me sweat like a
weight lifter, not to mention the smell after a day or so (
UGH!) Thank
God it's washable. Then there is the one on my right leg. That's the leg of my last operation. This sucker is the mega
braces of all braces. It is specially designed to turn my knee outward so as not to put any weight on my inner knee, since that is
bone on bone. It costs $546 and (yes) the insurance paid for it. The truth is I don't think it works. I still get that "pinch" every few steps when there is bone contact, even though it does make me walk a little better.
Getting these things on in the morning is a trip. When I wake up I have to pee so bad that I don't have time to get them on. I hold the walls to get to the bathroom and sigh with relief. If you are under 50 and reading this you have no idea what I am talking about. Then I hold the walls to get back and put the torture contraptions on. It takes me about 10 minutes to get them on and adjust them so I can walk. Then I walk like a zombie (stiff legged) for another 10 minutes until I get used to them.
I have been wearing these braces for about 3 months now. They suck because (unless I wear a skirt or maxi dress) they show under everything. I went to
Boscov's the other day wearing a pair of shorts and scared kids for miles!
I can't wait to get the knees done just to get rid of the braces. I know I will have ace bandages and other stuff for a couple of days but then . . . . freedom. The good (and bad) news is that I have PT this morning and get to take off the braces. :)
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