1cruiselvr recovery diary

[RestAssured]

Lynne,

I am so sorry to hear about your doctor! Sometimes things just don't make sense. Don't worry about how far along you are at 11 weeks. Everyone is different and we all heal at different rates.

Take care and know that we care!

 

[1cruiselvr]

Sonja....thx for your kind words. You are right, some things don't make sense. Such a great man taken from this earth too soon.
I am finally starting to feel better, just so very stiff still. Hope you are doing well. ~L~

 

[pmonroe]

Sunday March 25, 4 days post-op. I'm home now. It's funny how I anticipated that I wouldn't like being in the hospital and would rather be home. Then today when they told me I was being released, my emotions went in the other direction - hoping I could stay longer. They sent me home with prescriptions for pain management and sleep.

I understand the mixed emotions about going home. I had a very positive experience in the hospital with excellent care. I was glad to go home cause there would be no vital checks in the middle of the night or bloodwork at 4AM. On the other hand, I knew if I had any questions at the hospital, there was someone on hand more than willing to help. Anyway, home is a good place to be as well. Continue resting, icing, etc. Good luck with your recovery.

 

[referee54]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm hurting pretty bad tonight. I think it is because we went to see my mom which is close to an hour and a half drive one way, and I'm just not used to riding that long.

My drive home from the hospital and then back again a week or so later for some ultrasounds were the absolute worst experiences that I ever had during my BTKR recovery! A 1/2 hour drive, something that we all take for granted, drove me to tears---I was in agony.

Your knee is still very early in the recovery phase, and even though the ride, by most standards, was a relatively routine amount of time for you---your knee was trying to call a "time-out"---it was way too long for what your knee was ready for.

 

[1cruiselvr]

Well it will be 12 weeks tomorrow since my TKR. Today was my appt with the new OS since mine passed away from a sudden accident on Memorial weekend. As I thought, I'm flunking extension but doing well with flex. I am getting a dyna-splint brace tomorrow and my new OS wants to see if this helps before deciding on a MUA. I am frustrated because 4 weeks ago, my original OS decided not to do the MUA because he thought I could get better extension with more PT. I didn't so now it's a brace. If that doesn't work, we are back to the MUA. Time is wasting away. My job is not going to be held open for me forever. To top it off when I went to the receptionist desk to book my follow-up appt, the dr won't be in the office at the 3 or 4 week mark, so I might have to wait until 5 weeks. I explained how time sensitive my situation was, but what can she do when the dr isn't in the office? She's going to call tomorrow with a mid July return date. I will have no recourse but to ask that they release me back to work at my next visit. I hope the brace helps is all I can say. I did a word search here and didn't find much on the dyna-splint brace. I think that's the kind I'm getting. Will know more tomorrow when the guy comes to fit me. Well thanks for listening. Guess I'll go dust something.....~L~

 

[skigirl]

lynne, did you explain all of this to the doc? If so, I am surprised that he ignored you. Sometimes If I can't bring myself to say everything, I write it all down.

Why not wear the splint for two weeks and return to him before he takes his vacation? Most of all, perhaps write him a letter, explaining the problem with your job and request a MUA if that is what you want. You are in charge of your knee--and if you want a MUA, then ask for one. For him, if he does not know about your job, he cannot make a decision including it. Kelly

 

[1cruiselvr]

Skigirl.....unfortunately I figured this out after leaving the dr and trying to schedule my followup appt. I'm going to talk to my PT tomorrow. He's next door to the dr and close with him. I'll get his advice about it all.
My knee brace is not something worn 24/7. It's worn 30 min a day for a week, then 30 min 2x a day, etc. I will get the exact details tomorrow. Hopefully it will help because I need to get back to work. So at my next appt (whenever that is, office is suppose to call me tomorrow), I'm going to ask to be released back to work. By that time, it will be 4 mos and work won't wait any longer. ~L~

 

[Jamie]

Lynne, have you been doing the exercises discussed in this thread from the BoneSmart Library? If not, I really recommend you do them. They have worked for many people who had trouble with extension. It is the most difficult thing to get back to normal.

Results from the BoneSmarties who have had the DynaSplint are pretty mixed. It is reported to be rather uncomfortable to wear and may not really do much for you. So this is a time you need to be assertive with your surgeon to get what you need. If it's an MUA, then hopefully it can be done soon.

 

[1cruiselvr]

Jamie, yes I've done those exercises. In PT they put weight on my ankle when I do the one where you lie on your stomach and let your legs drop over the edge of the table or bed if doing it at home. Right now PT is focusing mostly on extension exercises which is good. Also, using the brace and working up to 2x a day. It's not painful as you start out with a slow stretch and then tighten it more every 5 min or so until you reach 30 minutes. I go back to see the NP on July 9th and hope to get released back to work after that. It's time I get back into life again.

 

[outdoorguy]

Hello from the other side. Dr ended up doing a total knee replacement. I thought I was prepared for the possibility but I was wrong. It was a rough few days. First the nerve block didn't take so it was a painful 12 hrs of figuring out what pain meds would work. I got no sleep that night. Then the pain meds made me nauseaus, blood pressure dropped so I was dizzy. Boy what a ride. This morning I was starting to feel better. After PT, they sat me in a chair. I didn't know I was suppose to call the nurse to be moved to the bed. So I sat there for 3 hrs which caused bad swelling. So now they are working on getting the swelling down. It seems to be one thing after another. They are talking about sending me home tomorrow. That worries me. I'm not sure my husband or I are prepared for this.

Hi you can never really know how it will go until, it's done. My first TKR left knee went well. No complications but as I said you can only hope for the best. On my right TKR this past March it was a real different story.
During surgery I regained consciousness right at the time the Dr was sawing the bones. I did not open my eyes but I recall the sound. Sounds just like a skill saw cutting through a piece of wood. I made a grouning sound then the next thing I remember is post operative care. It gets worse. For some unknown reason I became a bleeder. They struggled in post op to control the bleeding. After 6. Hrs in post op they sent me to my room still bleeding profusly. In the next 8 hrs they changed my bedding 3 times because of the bleeding. By that night I had lost so much blood I had passed out. I woke at about 5am hooked up to all sorts of equipment. It was a surreal experience. I woke next at near 9:30am feeling great. Hooked up to oxygen and one monitor. The nurse came in almost immediately and unhooked my from the remaining equipment and she explained what had happened and what they did. I am so glad this is not. 50 years ago. It may be that I might not be here now. Long story short, today medical science is amazing and we are so lucky to be living today. This was a life changing experience for me and a very good one. So in the end all will be as it should be.

 

[1cruiselvr]

I am so glad this is not. 50 years ago. It may be that I might not be here now. Long story short, today medical science is amazing and we are so lucky to be living today. This was a life changing experience for me and a very good one. So in the end all will be as it should be.

Very true. 50 yrs ago I don't think they were doing this type of surgery so we would be still suffering. Hope you are doing well now. I've just passed the 12 week marker and feeling a bit better every day. I hear stiffness will be an ongoing problem for about a yr.

 

[1cruiselvr]

Hello everyone,
It's been awhile since I posted. I went thru a very frustrating time with my extension. Months of PT and a Dynasplint didn't do much for it. So on July 13th I had a MUA with arthroscopic debridement and release of the posterior ligament. The ligament release has really made a difference. I still have a long road of PT and recovery ahead but now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just wanted to circle back around and let everyone know my status that followed me in the past and posted such wonderful encouraging words. I am so very grateful for this forum. It's been my emotional savior so many times.

 

[bottomshollow]

Lynne! What great news! Some of us just have a longer road with the occasional BIG bump to overcome. So happy you are seeing light at the end of your tunnel. You know what to do, and I know you'll get there.​

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Take care and keep us posted. We care.

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[skigirl]

Lynne, I am so glad that you did what you needed to do to keep yourself moving. Good luck with the rest of the recovery. Kelly