TKR Kiwicurls TKR 27 Feb 2024

[kiwicurls]

@AnnYo , I will put in an order for the ice bodysuit and my husband wants one too. I love it!
@SnowHare , My stomach will never be the issue with anti inflammatory drugs. I take a proton pump inhibitor daily for hiatus hernia and reflux so my stomach is well protected. However, my GP says taking diclofenac for long periods of time increases your risk of heart attack by 40 percent. The literature does say this. Now, I don’t know if this is really the case and at my age (65) your chances of heart problems rises anyway; all part of ageing. So I will continue to take the occasional diclofenac when I really need it. Only a 25mg tablet so it’s not as if I’m overdoing it!

As @mendogal suggested, I am concentrating on sit/stand exercises now as I am still having trouble getting up from the loo. Last time I didn’t have the sore shoulders and could pull myself up on things but now I realise how out of condition my body is. I suppose when I think about it, I have been limping slightly for years. It didn’t help having two foot operations which required months of sitting down and only walking to the loo. All of this meant I went into this tkr very out of condition.
I think hourly sit/stands from the dining chair might help. It’s slightly higher than the loo seat and I can do it without pushing up on anything. I just put my hands on my knees and lean forward as Ealing Gran suggested.
I know I’m writing a lot here but it might help someone else.

 

[mendogal]

Keep on writing!!! Keep on progressing!!!!

 

[kiwicurls]

Isn’t it interesting that we are all so impatient in our recoveries? I have been doing sit/stand exercises every hour all day in the vain hope that it will make getting off a low seat easier… in record time. Not next week. I want to do it right now!
Deep down I know nothing can be rushed and it will happen in its own good time but I’m off to do another ten repetitions…

 

[sistersinhim]

Dicofenac suppositories

I found that the Diclofenac pills work so well, but can be bad for you. I've never heard of the suppositories and don't think they are available in the states. Do you have any side effects from them?

 

[kiwicurls]

Week 9
Sorry to go on about the loo but I have found out why I can get up easily without support from the dining chair but not from the loo which is a mere 5cm lower.
When getting up from the chair I have legs wide apart but not so on loo because pants/jeans restrict how far apart my legs can be!
Short of removing my trousers, standing up then trying to get back into them…??
I might have to wear dresses but it’s getting colder and there’s still the undies to get in and out of! My husband had a suggestion but it’s not one I want to put on here!

 

[Layla]

My husband had a suggestion but it’s not one I want to put on here!

What? Go commando?!!

What about a grabber, or dressing stick, I believe they are called, in the bathroom to pull up panties and pants until you're feeling stronger and more limber...

 

[kiwicurls]

A grabber won’t solve the problem of trying to get back into them while standing up. Wobbling about on one leg isn’t an option.
It doesn’t matter, I’ll figure something out. I promise not to mention loos again. It’s a minor issue in the bigger scheme of things.

 

[EalingGran]

found that the Diclofenac pills work so well, but can be bad for you. I've never heard of the suppositories and don't think they are available in the states

Might be worth checking. The suppositories are in the UK formulary but I don't think they are used much because of cultural resistance. Different cultures are happier with different formulations. The French are much happier with suppositories and have many drugs available this way.

 

[Peterfox]

Tylenol p.m. helps me at night to get a good sleep. Almost 6 weeks out and I feel there is a light at the end of the rainbow. Range of motion is added and extension is still a little difficult. As all this was the same before the surgery. Ice elevate at least four times a day stretch at least four times a day. Hang in there I think it will get better.
I still would like to get a full rotation on the bike. But they’re still is a lot of pain.

 

[kiwicurls]

Week 9
This morning I changed the sheets on both beds, mopped floors, dusted the whole house and did 3 loads of washing! I feel really good today. But I have to tell you what happened yesterday: Now, I know I said I wouldn’t mention loos again but:

The loo seat raiser broke! Oh disaster! Panic!

I had a horrible night trying to get off the loo, at 3am I sat there trying to figure out how to get up without waking husband. Managed it but this morning he went out first thing and bought a new seat raiser as I really can’t get up easily.
I am resigned to it…I have fantastic ROM, very little knee pain at all, can do almost everything else and my limp is improving slowly…

But I can’t get off the loo.

It’s very funny, isn’t it. I have to laugh. I’ve still got my sense of humour!

 

[mendogal]

Your mind is in the.... Oh, never mind!!!

 

[EalingGran]

This morning I changed the sheets on both beds, mopped floors, dusted the whole house and did 3 loads of washing! I feel really good today.

Go easy. That's a lot more than I managed at 9 weeks. In fact that would count as a busy day at 18 months for me!

 

[kiwicurls]

@EalingGran, it’s not much, really. I felt a real sense of achievement doing the beds for the first time since tkr and dusting isn’t very strenuous. I only mopped the kitchen and bathroom.
Husband hung the washing out and brought it in, all I did was put it on and later, fold and put it all away. I’m surprised that would count as a busy day for you because I actually feel very lazy when compared to a friend who runs marathons, climbs mountains and cycles for days! She never stops and is 73. I’m a couch potato in comparison.

 

[EalingGran]

Husband hung the washing out and brought it in, all I did was put it on and later, fold and put it all away. I’m surprised that would count as a busy day for you because I actually feel very lazy when compared to a friend who runs marathons, climbs mountains and cycles for days! She never stops and is 73

Yes but she hasn't had a TKR!
I'm not a great one for housework. Never have been! I do enjoy a good long walk though and I personally think gradually extended walking together with pilates is the best rehab regime post joint surgery.
I can now do even heavy laundry unaided but I think that sort of standing and housework is quite heavy early on.
A lot of things are quite deceptive. I love gallery visits but they were hard work in the first few months and I used a stick to lean on. I also enjoy looking after my toddler grandson and can now kneel relatively easily but that was definitely hard if not impossible, early on.

 

[kiwicurls]

Don’t worry about me, @EalingGran , I haven’t suffered from my housework yesterday.
Today: pouring rain and cold, stayed indoors and the only exercise I did was 5 minutes on the pedals.
Unlike you, I don’t like long walks because of my deformed feet. Mine aren’t made for walking, according to my foot specialist. I do the bare minimum for health and not a step more but I am on my feet a lot as I am fussy about housework.
My friend would likely run a marathon a week after a tkr! When she broke her wrist a few years ago she actually went into a severe depression from suddenly ceasing her usual high activity level. I think running releases endorphins and can be addictive. Not saying this is a bad thing. Each to her own.

 

[EalingGran]

My friend would likely run a marathon a week after a tkr! When she broke her wrist a few years ago she actually went into a severe depression

I would love to see her try! A lot of people have totally unrealistic expectations from this surgery- including some physios and surgeons.

 

[Peterfox]

So excited to get in pool this week
Will be using my headphones with my playlist
I will be dancing
I heard your leg at first is dead weight
Is this true
But still excited

 

[kiwicurls]

@Peterfox I haven’t been in the pool so I don’t know what it feels like but don’t overdo things. Easy to do in water. Enjoy it!

@EalingGran , you’re good, being able to kneel! I can’t and I don’t want to try; too scared! You’re lucky your grandson is a toddler. I miss that stage and my grandchildren are 11 and 13 now. Adorable but no longer so cute and cuddly sadly.

@mendogal did you look up rhus tox 30? I noticed your interest. I was put onto it by a member of Gransnet a few years ago and I’m so lucky it works for me. On the odd occasion it doesn’t but mostly it’s great for rls. Downside: it’s $30 per tube, so expensive but the tube of tiny pills lasts me a few months.

Week 10 tomorrow! I’m still limping but not as badly and only use walker when out. A bit sore today but I did a supermarket shop and made a big pot of soup so that’s enough for one day.
Looking forward to our seaside holiday on Saturday but the forecast is for rain, of course.

 

[kiwicurls]

Oops sorry @mendogal it was @Layla who was interested in the rhus tox, not you. Layla, did you look it up?

 

[Layla]

Yes, I did look it up, kiwicurls, as it's unfamiliar. It says it is a tonic used for treating several health complications including itchy skin with rashes, conditions related to herpes, eczema and is also effective in the treatment of rheumatic pains. It is also helpful in relieving conditions of nausea, vomiting and high body temperature.
I hope it brings you relief. You're likely sleeping now and it will be Tuesday for you when you wake, so Happy Tuesday! I hope you have a great day and week!
@kiwicurls