1st therapy session

[Jenniferne]

My so far so good just went to OUCHHHHHHHHH..... I had surgery friday and went to the hospital today for my 1st out patient therapy. I walked in without cructhes and very little pain. They couldn't believe how well I was doing. First thing is they put me on this piece of exercise equipment which resembled a bike but after a few minutes he would stop me and move the seat up futher and I would continue for a few more minutes and then once again the seat was moved up until I had a good bend in my knees.I got off but felt fine and then he layed me on a table and that is where things got rough. He had me do the exercises I had learned in the hospital and was doing at home but then he threw in alot more. When I left there I was sore but feeling okay . By the time I got home I was calling out for the crutches. My knee was throbbing with pain and is sooooo swollen. I had a hard time sleeping through the night . When I awoke I still had sharp pain in my knee and yes the crutches and pain pills are coming in very handy. Okay friends who have been through this is this normal. My surgery was just Friday. I should of walked into the therapy looking like a wounded puppy maybe he would of been nicer to me.....

 

[calling_all_angels]

Jen,
I am afraid that this is the Norm for PT work out. Did they ice your knee when you were done? And they will add leg press, step-ups, scooting around on a low stool w/wheels,
treadmill, leg pulls, and bike race's, Some days I just want to stay home and hide!! LOL
Just kidding I am very Lucky everyone at PT is wonderful. They do not want to hurt me they are just trying to get me where I want to be.
It will be come easier. But icing is so important.
Now I have to get a shower and get ready for my ride to PT. LOL
^i^
RTKR on Jan 14 2009
LTKR on March 6 2009

 

[Josephine]

Absolutely, angel! Icing is key.

 

[Jenniferne]

Yes they did ice my knee for 10 minutes when all was said and done. Oh MY...... Sounds like along hard journey ahead with lots of silent tears. What makes this really tough for me is my hubby. He has no compassion what so ever. Since he runs his own company that is the number one thing on his schedule. I just happen to do the paperwork so first thing in the morning he is expecting me to get to work. I have tried to talk with him about what I just went through and how I feel but it just leads me to tears. So I have learned to be strong and then break when I am alone. No fun. I have already decided to take my sisters offer on my next knee replacement and have her come and stay with me for the first two weeks. I will get through this but it is hard when no one cares. I even had to babysit my grandson last night. My son also works for my husband and Alex ( my grandson) did not feel well so they sent him home from preschool. My husband said that it would only be for acouple of hours until my son finished this job. Sorry to say but I am so happy when my hubby leaves for work so I can sit and rest.

 

[Josephine]

You should go on strike! I hate to hear of men that treat their spouses like this. What ever happened to the "in sickness and in health" vow?

 

[Hope810]

Hi Jenniferne -

So sorry about your situation. I was so cared for by my family that I'm embarrassed. I did have my sister-in-law come for 2 weeks to help out. I too had a difficult time with my first PT hurting me. On my second visit I talked with the therapist and asked him to work with me so I could manage the recovery better. He did wonderfully better with me after that so SPEAK up for yourself. (Remember to use a lot of I statements ...I need more information ...I would like to work with you but found this so exhausting ...like that.)

Next I suggest you ask your husband to SIT and talk with you about the operation. Let him know that you may have been too brave about this and recovery is going to take 3-4 MONTHS and even 1 YEAR to get your strength back. Folks don't think of this as major surgery but it is. Make sure he and your family understands that they cut through the bones in your leg and reattached them with a replacement knee. The surgeon actually cuts off the bottom of your bone in the thigh and the top of the bone in the calf then inserts the parts between. This is going to take lots of time to heal. Let him know that this isn't going to be as easy as you thought and you need his help and understanding. Hopefully he will hear you. (I will be married 36 years this June to the best guy in the world!)


I'm 8 weeks post op and still do a lot of resting. You are just 1 week so make sure you rest for an hour in the morning and baby yourself. And in the afternoon, make yourself lay on your bed for 2 hours resting ...a recliner or chair doesn't work the same. Pace your own body. As for the office papers, can they wait a few days or can someone else do them for a couple of weeks? I'm sure your husband is worried during this poor economic time and let him know of your love and worries about his business too but it will not help him if you have a major complication - slow and steady is the way for this recovery.

I just returned from a week vacation and was able to walk around a bit fairly well every day. I brought my cane even though haven't been using it at home. I walked around the sites every day, about 1 mile. It will be better every week. My best to you.

Hope
age 57, LTKR on Feb 23, 2009

 

[Josephine]

Nicely put, Hope!

 

[Hope810]

Thanks, Jo. I have to say that I was pretty overwhelmed with the surgery at first once I understood what was to happen. Glad I explained it right. Even at 8 weeks I feel like I'm still baby myself too much. My trips to the grocery store are still a major event! This website has been so good for me. Sounds like you are progressing well yourself.

Hope

 

[Jamie]

Jenn....please read and reread Hope's post. She is right on the mark. You cannot be trying to work and babysit at this VERY early stage of recovery. You should be resting and on pain pills!!! I think you are hurting yourself by trying to hide the pain you are in from your husband. If he never SEES what you are going through, why wouldn't he think you were just fine and back to normal. Don't be afraid to use those tears of frustration to your benefit. No shame in crying when you are going through something as huge as this surgery. If all else fails, sit him down and have him watch this video of the surgery you just went through...

broken link removed: https://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3347931048322867705

That should do it. (HINT: It may be a bit graphic for YOU to watch)

Do make sure you are icing a LOT throughout the day and night. I used to go to sleep with two gel packs on my knee each night.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Jen,
Believe you me I do know what you are saying!! I have been by myself after returning home from the hospital both times. My Hubby thinks that he is being helpfull just by bring some soda home and picking up the mail. He just does not get it. He is not being mean. he just does not get it!!! I am not allowed to be sick or under the weather!! I am the caretaker!! So I have been there. Put on a Super Bowl Party 2 Weeks after getting home because he did not want to cancel it. And he did not see why I was upset. I even fell off the last step going to the basement to bring stuff upstairs for the Party. I layed on the floor hurting scared that I had really messed up the knee but, after a few minutes I got myself up and finished getting stuff ready. (Hubby was asleep upstairs he never knew that I had fallen.)
I am glad to hear that your Sister will be with you the next time!!!! No one should have to be alone for the first few days.
^i^
RTKR on Jan 14 2009
LTKR on March 6 2009

 

[Texas]

Continue your progress as I think you are strong and will do well...........everyone speedy recovery as well.......Kim

 

[backbay38]

I feel very badly for all of you who have to live with husbands who won't take the time to understand. I am so lucky with mine; we have lots and lots of fights and are very independent people but he was so supportive and helpful as long as I needed him. I was actually amazed because I am a strong person too and don't usually ask for help. I think what everyone has said makes a lot of sense; Tex -- you have to try to talk to him and help him to understand what you are experiencing and why. It's really tough with a small family business --especially now with the recession. But you are his wife, not his slave. And this is not the time to be strong in his presence and then cry secretly. I think sometimes that if I had let my husband see my softer side more often we would have had fewer fights. and it works both ways; men don't like to show emotion sometimes but they need to know it's OK and you won't think less of them. Talking is the key --- you have to try to break through to him. You have a long road to hoe with this knee before you are back to "normal" and you have to have the freedom and comfort level to allow yourself to recover at your own pace. And he has to understand this --- and that you'll help with the company when you are able and not while you are in the early stages of healing. No one just "bounces" back from a serious operation and as everyone else has said -- this is serious stuff!!!! And it's not too late to ask your sister (or was it sister-in-law) to come and stay with you for a week or so if you need some mental and physical support. This is one time when you have to put "you" first. Not the grandkid, not the son, not the husband. You. OK?? We're all saying the same thing..... so let us know what happens.....

 

[Josephine]

Jen,
Believe you me I do know what you are saying!! I have been by myself after returning home from the hospital both times. My Hubby thinks that he is being helpfull just by bring some soda home and picking up the mail. He just does not get it. He is not being mean. he just does not get it!!! I am not allowed to be sick or under the weather!! I am the caretaker!! So I have been there. Put on a Super Bowl Party 2 Weeks after getting home because he did not want to cancel it. And he did not see why I was upset. I even fell off the last step going to the basement to bring stuff upstairs for the Party. I layed on the floor hurting scared that I had really messed up the knee but, after a few minutes I got myself up and finished getting stuff ready. (Hubby was asleep upstairs he never knew that I had fallen.)
I am glad to hear that your Sister will be with you the next time!!!! No one should have to be alone for the first few days.
^i^
RTKR on Jan 14 2009
LTKR on March 6 2009

Well, sweetheart - I'm sorry to say it, but just who do you have to blame for letting him get away with all this when you hide serious things like that from him? And when you still soldiered on and did the party as well? I'm not married so I'm sorry because I'm probably totally misreading all this but it sounds a bit like that game "There's something wrong and you've got to guess what it is"! TELL HIM how it is, TELL HIM what you need and TELL HIM what you don't need. That goes for everyone.

BTW, I liked what backbay said "You're his wife, not his slave."

 

[calling_all_angels]

Jen,
If you can talk to your hubby then by all means do so. If not can you do a backbay38 suggested and have your Sister come now for a while?? It is hard sometimes for people to understand that we lose ourself so slowly in the first years of marriage that we do not even notice right away that we are the ones doing all the bending. We get busy raising our children and making sure that they are Well taken care of that we give more of who we are away. Much easier then figthing!!!!!!
Jen you are a VERY SPECIAL PERSON and you need to take care of yourself the BEST that YOU can. But sometimes when there is a 3rd person around "The Hubby" will be at his best yes? So if you could have someone come maybe you can just start worrying about yourself. Good Luck.
^i^

 

[Sticker Lady]

Jen-
I feel so bad for you and send you ((hugs)). Jamie and Hope are right on the mark--Your first job is to heal and that won't happen without lots of time and care. Stay in your PJ's and let hubby know that you are not available to work right now. You're doing it for him,after all, you wouldn't want to make a costly error because your brain is fuzzy from pain pills. Be GOOD to YOURSELF!
Blessings,
Irene