Karuhat Update - 2 Weeks Post ACL Reconstruction

Yesterday was very rough in Karuhat's recovery from his ACL reconstruction and MCL repair. We went to get his sutures removed, which went well by itself, but the surgeon demonstrated again this stretch for the hamstring that had proven a problem for us last week. I told the surgeon that Karuhat had experienced pain after this passive stretch, requiring him to take his stronger pain medication (which he really doesn't take often at all). But the ACL was grafted from the hamstring, so understandably, recovering range of motion is important to the recovery. The surgeon pushed Karuhat's leg down to show where it should be, telling me to have him do this for 5 minutes with a 1 kg weight on it, then 5 more minutes with 2 kg on it. I know how much Karuhat hates this position and made a mental note to ask Felix - his physical therapist - for an alternative.
As we waited for the nurses to bring another appointment slip and pay, Karuhat squirmed in his hospital-issued wheelchair. He has an internal rotation limitation on his hip and it makes the position in the chair very uncomfortable. I felt sorry for the discomfort, but wrote it off as temporary.
We got home, Karuhat had lunch outside and then went to rest in his room. He asked for an ice-pack and a paracetamol before I headed to training; he said he felt a little hot, like a light fever.
When I got home from training, 2 hours later, Kevin told me Karihat was in a lot of pain. I went straight to his room and was shocked to see how bad his state was. He's pretty Stoic, has high pain threshold, but he was really suffering. I went straight back out, to a pharmacist I trust nearby (she is truly awesome and has helped me and Kevin countless times), and she advised me on what stronger pain medications I could give him. Back in Karuhat's room within 15 minutes, I handed him a piece of bread with jam to protect his stomach from all the pills he was about to ingest. He didn't want dinner, just wanted to sleep (2 of the pills had warnings for drowsiness, so that seemed promising). We got him as comfortable as possible and turned out the light. He went to sleep at about 6:00 PM.
Next morning he was up, as I was feeding the cat, at 5:00 AM. He didn't want more pain medication, he was putting a little more weight on the leg. He said he felt better, but later, when I brought him breakfast at about 7:00, he wasn't thrilled by the news that we were going to physical therapy today.
However, at 2:00, he emerged from his room walking with his crutches held in his hands like an action star double-fisting two shotguns! I think I literally said, "holy shit," aloud.
I told Felix all about the visit with the surgeon, the pain, the walking. There was a stark increase in swelling, and a moderate loss of range of motion and strength from the inflammation, but Felix slowly worked on both those issues until we were back to where we'd been before the forced stretch incident. We got a great alternative stretch for his hamstring, one that got Karuhat's full approval.
Felix put Karuhat through some new strength exercises and a simple obstacle course (video). Karuhat did all of it, but was getting fatigued and in the softest voice let us know he was done for today. No problem. As we walked out of Felix's rehab center, Karuhat nodded to me and said how good this was. What a relief, to have this experience to immediately override the day before. Once we got home, Karuhat put himself in the kitchen and asked for ice-cream. I mean... absolutely.
It's his birthday tomorrow. We have a full day: merit at the temple at dawn; haircut; his son Ball is coming down to visit; and an ice-cream cake in the freezer.
Thank you again to all my patrons who make this care possible. Without treatment, Karuhat would become unable to work; and without this careful recovery, his movement would be impeded... and without his movement, he's not fully Karuhat. Preserve the Legacy, preserve the Legends.