Sheboygan Yoga with Inspire

I actually had quite a wonderful experience this past weekend having knee surgery.  Of course, it's when someone is sick, in the hospital or helpless when family and friends often come together or when one finally relaxes for an extended amount of time.  Friday, my husband stayed home to be with me in the hospital.  The staff and doctors at Sheboygan's Memorial Hospital were very comforting as I prepared for arthroscopic knee surgery to remove the medial meniscal tear that happened from years of athletic wear and tear and more directly - first a downhill skiing accident and then a traumatic knee blowout in volleyball.  

Living in this small town and closely connected Sheboygan community benefited me as I personally knew my anesthesiologist John Pillman, who was a huge comfort as I nervously prepared for the surgery.  "Your mother called me yesterday bawling, telling me to take care of her baby!" he said as he came into the room for the first time to greet me.  "You seem nervous, would you like some drugs to help you relax?" he asked.  I told him I would try my yoga breathing techniques to help me calm down and prepare.  Deep breathing, mentally realizing what I had control over and didn't as well as thinking about my trust in the doctors, helped to calm my mind and body, and I did not need the drugs.  

Soon, Dr. Mark Lang entered my room.  With soft  and genuine eye contact, he explained the surgery precisely and patiently.   I highly recommend him.  He was clear, concise and human, the perfect balance you want in a surgeon.  

My husband and I said a little prayer or two, he kissed my forehead, and we said goodbye.  Off to the operating room.  The nurse took me down the long, cold hallway and into the sterile room. My friend John was there, explaining to me the effects of the anesthetic.  I was a little scared to enter into this strange world of unconsciousness, and then realized my life was in their hands.  Literally, John told me afterwards that when you're under, you actually stop breathing.  He breathed me during my surgery.  Talk about surrender and trust to a higher power, the higher power and intelligence flowing through these men and women.  "Here it comes" he said.  I felt a surge of something rush into my body and then seconds later.........

I woke up to John and the nurses above me.  Saying something, I don't quite remember.  I came back into my room where my husband waited.  Damn, that was the most relaxed I've felt ever!  I was able to spend the next few hours just resting, waking up from the drugs.  Chris and I spent the rest of the day together.  Just being together, relaxing, not having anything other to do but spend time together helping me heal and enjoying each other's company.  It was magical.  

I am now 3 days from my surgery and my knee is recovering smoothly.  A day or two on crutches and then slowly reintroducing weight bearing activities.  I have been practicing yoga ever since.  First just relaxing, practicing the state of letting go, of not doing...then small mindful muscle contractions to awaken the sleeping muscles....then stronger contractions and standing poses to begin rebuilding my strength.  I felt no pain after the surgery, just a very slight discomfort near the 3 wounds where they entered with their amazing technologically advanced tools that clipped out the floating cartilage.  My strength hardly feels diminished.  I am amazed at my body's ability to recover so smoothly.  But from years of yoga practice, I know my body and I am taking it slowly while moving forward.  A bit of swelling hinders my range of motion, but that's about it.  I can practice standing poses already and despite three professionals: a physical therapist, a chiropractor and a physician's assistant all telling me a year ago that my ACL was definitely torn, my operating doctor, an MRI and anesthesiologist showed my ACL to be in amazingly "pristine" shape.  

I am so grateful for my yoga practice, beforehand, during surgery and afterwards, for my teachers who taught me yoga therapeutics and for the strength I was able to build in my leg to prepare for the surgery.  And I am grateful for my colleagues, students, friends, family and workplaces' support throughout this experience and the wisdom and experience of my doctors and nurses.  And especially for my husband's selfless care and infinite love.  An all around wholistic experience of body, mind, heart and soul.