This knee journey has been tough, both physically and mentally. I am diligently going to outpatient physical therapy three times a week and doing my at home exercises several times a day. My muscle strength and balance are great. Unfortunately my flexion (bend of knee) is a tad behind where I should be. Since I am making progress functionally and slooooowly making progress with flexion, my therapist recommended a dynasplint. This is a contraption that you wear that keeps your knee bent. Well, anything is better than having an MUA (manipulation under anesthesia) where the surgeon manually bends your leg all the way back.
It looks like quite the torture device, doesn’t it? One of the therapists told me that all I had to do was wear it while I was sitting watching Netflix. Um, that shouldn’t be too bad, since that is what I already do in the afternoon. 🙂
I know this journey is not linear and it has it’s ups and downs. The dynasplint is a slight set back, but a recent outside walk I took made up for it.This walk felt like the first real turning point since my knee surgery on June 1st. The late‑summer air had that clear, almost‑September softness, and from the first few steps I could tell my body was ready for more. I settled into a steady rhythm — no wobbles, no second‑guessing — just a clean, confident gait that carried me through a full 30 minutes. Somewhere along the way, I even felt a little cardio spark, the kind I haven’t felt in months, and it surprised me in the best possible way. By the time I got home, I wasn’t thinking about recovery; I was thinking about my warm shower, my light laundry, my writing, and my afternoon with The Closer — a whole day that finally felt like me again.
What setbacks have you overcome?
Nancy Loderick's Blog 
Steve
September 2, 2026
Nancy, this was such a lovely and encouraging update to read. I know how frustrating recovery can be when you’re doing absolutely everything you can and yet one part of the process stubbornly refuses to catch up as quickly as you’d like.
And that Dynasplint really does look like some kind of medieval torture device! 😂 Still, if the alternative is having someone manually force your knee to bend under anaesthetic, I can see why you’re willing to give it a go. Netflix and physical therapy sounds like a pretty good combination!
What really stood out to me, though, was your 30-minute walk. That sounds like such a significant milestone. No wobbles, no second-guessing, just a steady, confident gait. Sometimes we get so caught up in measurements, exercises and degrees of movement that we forget to celebrate the moment when our body simply starts feeling like our own again.
I can relate to that from my own knee recovery this year. Mine hasn’t required surgery, but I’ve certainly experienced the frustration of wondering when things would finally start feeling normal again. And you learn to celebrate things you once took completely for granted.
A walk becomes an achievement. Stairs become a victory. And having a day where you’re not constantly thinking about your knee feels like freedom.
I particularly loved the part where you said that by the time you got home, you weren’t thinking about recovery anymore. You were thinking about your shower, laundry, writing and watching The Closer. That might sound like ordinary life, but I think that’s actually one of the biggest signs that you’re moving forward.
Recovery isn’t always linear, and a setback doesn’t mean you’re going backwards. Sometimes it just means the journey is taking a slightly longer route than we’d hoped.
I’m really glad you had that walk, Nancy, and even more glad that it gave you that feeling of being yourself again. Here’s hoping there are many more “I’m not thinking about my knee” days ahead!
Keep going. You’re doing brilliantly. ❤️
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Annette Rochelle Aben
September 2, 2026
I have never heard of this option… not that I would have use for it, but I have friends who just may need the information. carry on with your “functional progress” a phrase I know all too well. cheers
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