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TKR Claudia's Recovery

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Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

CLaudia said:
3. the saying is not "No pain, no gain" it's "no pain MORE gain"! ... it's hard because everyone around me says the opposite, including a couple of friends who have had TKR.
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They are all wrong. Don't exercise a swollen knee past the point of discomfort, let alone into pain. We're with you!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Thanks Roy, makes me feel much better to hear that. At PT this morning we had a serious talk about pressing on my kneecap and it won't happen again. Josephine, Here are my numbers: while lying on my back and pulling heel toward my butt, I can achieve 84. When sitting I can push leg further than 84, but not under my own steam. Also, I'm 13 degrees from getting it completely flat.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

The PT pressed actually on the kneecap and you didn't kill 'em! You are a saint.

You might like to try, gently, ROM and extension exercises, there's a link in my sig.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Thanks Roy, I should clarify, she pushed just barely above the kneecap, on the scar. It was bad! Thanks for the attachment showing exercises, I will work on that, gently, of course!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Claudia,
Welcome to bonesmart. When I was going through PT for one of the knee ops before my pkr this one therapist kept having me push to far on exercise that really hurt. I told her " My knee doesn't like you, I don't cuss but my knee does and you really don't want to hear what it's saying". She got the message and whenever I would go in she would ask me if my knee had forgiven her yet.
Once I got on this site and found the no pain More gain motto I told them at PT and they agreed, still had a few issues with PT but everyone here helped me realize who was in charge of my PT sessions.
Hope you continue to have steady and realitively pain free recovery.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Dayrunner, that was a great way to get your point across. She obviously got the message loud and clear. Bonesmart is the BEST. If ever in my life I've needed support, it's now!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Hi Claudia, you are absolutely right. I found Bonesmart at 4 weeks post surgery, now 8 weeks, and wish I'd found it much sooner. Great caring people with great advice and support. The numbers - don't sweat the numbers, they will come right. I think you've already worked out that there's no point worrying about something, just post it and more than one Bonesmartie will come back with help. Take care.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Hi Claudia,
I am just a few days behind you...I'm 4 weeks today. I had a similar experience with PT, pushed really hard on my incision the day after the staples were removed, top and bottom of kneecap....Josephine said he did that just because he could, that there was no reason for it. I only go to PT twice a week now, and plan to discontinue after next week and do mine at home. I can ride my bike for 10 minutes, very slowly, but that is okay. I do all the exercises recommended in the book Total Knee Replacement & Rehabilitation....if you do not have this book, I highly recommend it. That book and this forum has truly been my salvation through this ordeal. I am using a cane now, but still have the walker for days that I just don't feel very strong. I am taking one 7.5 hydrocodone every 4 hours, celebrex, and neurontin for other pain. Most of my pain now seems to be in late afternoon and at night. I also have a Baker's Cyst behind my knee that is very painful...

Your husband sounds like mine, he has done so much for me, but I know this is very tiring for him. We are also both retired and he has health problems too. Just remember everyone here has traveled our path, they are wonderful to help, advise, and just care about you.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Thanks Bonnie & Claudia of sharing the issue with your iPad.

I had a similar issue with my iPad closing the browser before i could finish typing my post. It doesn't happen on other sites, only this one. Lately however, I don't seem to be having that problem. I thought it was related to my home wireless setup and maybe a drop in connectivity locally. I am anxious to hear what the folks at the Apple store have to say about it.

Be well,

Dawn
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Another iPad user waiting to hear about Apple visit. Problem started last Week? I do sign in and click on remember me, but that doesn't help. Doesn't happen on the iPhone though (I haven't closed the browser in weeks, and I don't get kicked out.

Luvtocamp: who is the author of that book?
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Welcome to the forum! I had a BTKR over four years ago, and I had to learn about the idea of "no pain, more gain" as I am a former college football player and I had several athletic injuries and surgeries.

I was lucky in that I went to a PT facility that had two types of PT's---those that worked on joint replacement folks and those that worked on athletic-type injuries. I learned that the harder yo work to rehab a TKR,the more pain, frustration, and less progress you will get.

You have received great advice---there are wonderful, very knowledgeable, passionate, and compassionate people here on this forum. Patience is a key virute that many of us had to develop---myself included.

We will be with you every step of the way!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Thank you Tim, I'm already experiencing the compassion of everyone on the forum -- it's wonderful. I'm definitely being more gentle on myself. Getting ready to go down to my bike right now and do some back and forth motions, and then do some of my other exercises. I'm comfortably sitting at my computer right now and that is progress!


Luvtocamp, we are certainly close together on our surgery dates. I'm hoping you are doing well and seeing progress every day. I don't use my walker much now but it's sitting right there if I need it. I'm not too proud to grab it if I'm feeling weak. One thing I experience is after sitting for a bit, upon standing up I'm not too steady on the TKR leg. Seems to take about 5 minutes to get my sea legs.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Hi Claudia'
I have been following your posts but you have gotten so much good advice, I would be redundant.
I dumped my IPad, due to the same issue. Not worth the grief. My daughter now uses it for games.
Your PT well, you got the message and I hope you have transmitted it to her.

I am headed for a revision, and I think at least one of the many reasons was too vigorous PT. (They had me doing one legged squats at 4 weeks PO!)

You reserve the right to fire your PT if she pushes you to the point of pain. She is working for YOU!!!!

Stop listening to all your 'friends ' who have had TKR's.
You have your own rate of healing and your knee is in charge of it!!!

Best to you.
Heal properly
Sandy
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

The book is authored by two people...Daniel Brugioni and Jeff Falkel....Jeff has had BTKR, and is a physical therapist. The exercises are in a week to week format, lots of great information concerning all aspects of this surgery and rehab. I bought it on amazon for about 16.00....money well spent. I read and reread sections, and read and reread stories here on Bonesmart.

My biggest problem now is a Baker's Cyst behind my knee. I had this prior to the surgery, and now it has returned....so very painful. I will talk to my OS about what I can do when I see him Wednesday. I still have bad pain late in the afternoons and early evening hours when nothing seems to help. That has been my "crying time" for the past couple of weeks. Some days I actually cry, some days just want to....the pain is a deep horrible bone ache that my pain med doesn't help. I am praying for good recovery for all who are going through this.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

PooShay said:
Another iPad user waiting to hear about Apple visit. Problem started last Week? I do sign in and click on remember me, but that doesn't help. Doesn't happen on the iPhone though (I haven't closed the browser in weeks, and I don't get kicked out.

Luvtocamp: who is the author of that book?
Click to expand...

I have moved all my Apple iPad discussion over to the Techy/Bug problems. I have another appointment on Sunday at noon because it is still shutting down on me after they thought they discovered the problem yesterday. Be sure to check into the iPad shutting down thread under Techy problems. :thumb:
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Claudia, it sounds as though you're doing brilliantly. You've already had some excellent advice so I've nothing to add except welcome and keep us posted!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

CLaudia said:
Hi Josephine, thank you for your response and the Library list - I'm finding it invaluable!!
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Jolly good! :thumb:
CLaudia said:
1. pain medication: I'm taking Hydrocodon (10-325) 1 Pill every 5-6 hours. I see lots of people on the forum take anti-inflammatories, should I be adding something like that?
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I think that 1 of those is quite a small dose. Are you sure it doesn't say on the packet "take 1-2 every 4-6 hours"? If so, you should be taking 2 every 4 hours. If it doesn't say that, you should have a chat with your surgeon and ask him if you can at least have an extra tablet at least once or twice a day. Five weeks is still the beginning of this process, your wound is still fresh and sore and you need better meds than that. I was taking my Tramadol and paracetamol (Tylenol) to the max every day.

Until you can get something sorted, take 500mg Tylenol with that hydrocodone. And, assuming you have stopped the blood thinner medication, you could add 400-800mg of ibuprofen 2-3 times a day. But you need something more than you are having.
CLaudia said:
2. are you resting lots, icing and elevating as well? Yes, I'm resting a lot, icing all through the day and elevating several times. I take at least one nap every day.
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:thumb:
CLaudia said:
3. the saying is not "No pain, no gain" it's "no pain MORE gain"! Yes, I'm coming around to this way of thinking, but it's hard because everyone around me says the opposite, including a couple of friends who have had TKR.
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You do know this saying was perpetrated by the infamous Ms Fonda. whose name, I might add, is dirt amongst members of the orthopaedic fraternity to this day. She has single handedly been responsible - and continues to be responsible - for almost as many patients seeking treatment for back, joint and muscle pain and injuries as pro-football! She was wrong, wrong, wrong, but the saying continues to echo through the ages! :DOH:
CLaudia said:
4. what is your ROM as a matter of interest? I think it's 90, does that make sense or that just my flex number? I'm on my way to PT in an hour so will ask her.
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90 is your flexion and is okay for 6 weeks. But there is no rush to get better. There are articles and threads in those links explaining how ROM (range of movement) continues to improve for months. It will probably be better if you get your pain meds sorted out.
CLaudia said:
5. don't do too much PT or activity. Rest is the key - My PT is 3x a week, and on the off days I do some stretches and take a walk outside. Yesterday I took everyone's advice and really rested a LOT. A friend (yoga medics teacher), came over and gave me a knee massage which seemed to ease a lot of the tension I was experiencing. I did a few gentle bends some walking in my house but that was the extent of it. I feel much better this morning and swelling so far is really down.
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That's really good. But not too much. PT day is for PT, the day in between is the knee's day off - your's too!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

What was very frustrating for me for a while was working very hard and not understanding why my results were diminishing. I did not listen to my own PT's or the people on this board for a while----I was used to working hard and breaking down barriers in recoveries.

That all changed when I had an epiphany and learned to treat my surgical knees in a kinder, more gentler manner. It can be frustrating to hold yourself back, but it is actually much more effective in moving forward if you understand and implement the "no pain, more gain" philosophy.

When you understand---truly come to terms what has been done to your knee---the cutting, the sawing, the pounding, the gluing, etc----you will understand why the knee can become so angry. You will then also understand why a recovery from a TKR can take much longer than we would like it to.

Practicing patience is challenging, too, but when you understand what has happened to your knee, and how you should gently exercise and not attempt to push your activity to record levels (literally!) you will then be able to move forward---not only physically, but emotionally, too.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Josephine, my hydrocodon prescription says "take one tablet every 4-6 hours". I am going to start taking 2 before PT, and tomorrow I will get some Tylenol and ibuprofen.

I went to church this morning --a big accomplishment. Knee a bit stiff now but I'm icing, elevating and relaxing the rest of the day. Happy Sunday all!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

CLaudia said:
I went to church this morning --a big accomplishment. Knee a bit stiff now but I'm icing, elevating and relaxing the rest of the day. Happy Sunday all!
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that is a tremendous accomplishment---putting your life back in order is what we all have wanted, and you literally did that today! Congrats!

Icing is very wise, too!
 
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