TKR 2 straight legs? Check!

[ElanorG]

Fernie, Heat on your foot and ankle sounds good. Yes, the deformity in the knee causes all sorts of issues in many places in the body. It was my experience that the skeletal adjustments happened faster than the tendon, ligament, muscle things, My pelvis was both out of alignment horizontally and rotated and I would say in two weeks after the surgery I noticed that I was realigned and it felt so good. But the tendons and ligaments and muscles in my hips and TKR leg took much longer and I still have issues with my overly contracted hip flexors. I still have some knots in my hamstrings but they are much smaller than they were. So it is a long process and each person's experience is somewhat unique depending upon how your body was affected by the knee deformity that was happening. You have a lovely day too!

 

[Fernie]

Thank you sonja for making me just what I need tonight, I bet you were a handful at school . It's funny as when I hurt my knee originally, I wrecked the tendons and muscles and doc said I'd be better off ifit broke...c'est la vie...

Cool, Iwill crack on with those groovy moves and let you know. Will check out zofran as well so I can take my proper meds..... You are a great help. Fx

 

[1ELISEA]

Sorry you are feeling so battered but it sounds like you are progressing smoothly. Right now your body is concentrating on healing so no worries about PT. Just keep icing and resting.

 

[Fernie]

Thanks ladies. We really take our bodies for granted, you simply do not appreciate just how much the knees are responsible for so much else.

Take care

 

[Josephine]

Fernie, I have some questions to ask you:
1. what medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking and how often?
2. how often are you icing your knee?
3. how often and how high are you elevating your leg?
4. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and PT?

 

[Josephine]

​

One thread for your recovery please?​

 

[Ms.fixit]

Absolutely don't push while your quads are jumping round and cramping up. Can you take magnesium supplements? That helps too, as does Epsom Lotion. Even more helpful, homeopathic Arnica pellets 30-c and Arnica gel. I was in the exact same situation as you are ten days out. Over the next few weeks the knee and quad will calm down and you can concentrate more on moving the knee. All the swelling acted as a kind of splint and now that your leg is deflating all those muscles are waking up..it can be really nasty but it won't last forever.

 

[RestAssured]

Or yep, it could be from the aftereffects of surgery! LOL I remember hurting and being tender a little of everywhere in the leg. Now if you ever need advice about a revision and want another long story, feel free to ask! Or if you are in the mood for a sciatic back surgery story, I'm your woman! Or..... LOL I think I will just stick to the encouraging part for you! You are doing very well Fernie!

 

[RestAssured]

Thank you sonja for making me just what I need tonight, I bet you were a handful at school . It's funny as when I hurt my knee originally, I wrecked the tendons and muscles and doc said I'd be better off ifit broke...c'est la vie...

Cool, Iwill crack on with those groovy moves and let you know. Will check out zofran as well so I can take my proper meds..... You are a great help. Fx

Yes, I believe they thought I was a handful all right! My parents wanted to wring my neck for telling the doctor that I was in the middle of Basketball season! I just laughed and said, maybe when I graduate! That's when I went to college and threw the discus and shot put so nope not then either. Needless to say I am a little stubborn!

 

[Fernie]

Fernie, I have some questions to ask you:
1. what medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking and how often?

Prescribed: Cocodamol 30/500 x2 up to 4 times a day, nefapam 1 to 3 30g tabs up to 3 times a day and ibroprofen 400g - 1 tab 3 times a day.
Due to horrific nausea after talking with hosp, I'm taking: 3am- 2 x coco, 7am -3 x nefa, 11am 2 x paracetamol, 2pm 3 x nefa, 6pm 2 x para and then 2 x coco before bedaround 10pm. I'm also taking a dalteparin sodium jab each day

2. how often are you icing your knee?

Not quite 24/7 but most of the time, incl twice at night.

3. how often and how high are you elevating your leg?

Always aim for toes over nose, again, whenever I sit down, pretty much all day!

4. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and PT?

Usually pretty active and do most of chores etc. now I'm doingnothing except PT exercise couple times a day andwalk to bathroom etc.

Sorry hope you can make answers above! Thanks for any advice, leg has shooting stabbing pains today after being extremely tight overnight and earlier today. Fernie

 

[Toothfairy]

Hi Fernie, sorry you are still having a lot of pain , roll onTuesday, hope your doctor can help.
Certainly sounds like you are doing all the right things. Hang on in there, better days are on their way,
chin up,
Toothfairy,
x

 

[Fernie]

Hi toothfairy, sounds my recent posts are just a lot of moans and groans! This is hard. Ths whole elevating thing is getting me down, hurts when I do, ie leg goes stiff as a board and sooooo tight, and if I don't it just aches I thought the icing and elevating would be one of the better things andgive me some relief. Maybe I'm not walking about enough! Exercises are tough today.

anyway, how are you doing, our Kim is up tomorrow as well.

Hope you have had a good weekend and you get everything done at work this week. Best wishes, Fernie x

 

[Fernie]

Hi Fernie, sounds like you are not positioning yourself correctly when you elevate. That can cause all kinds of stress. Here's link Jo wrote about the correct way to elevate. It sometimes take a bit of fiddlinng to figure out what's most comfortable. Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

Hi jaycey! I'vechecked and double checked this position and I'm doing exactly as image 3 with the footrest, yet my foot hurts like crazy and then goes so stiff and I can barely move it. Also I didn't realise you need pillows right up your leg for the bed elevation like image 4. Mine currently only go to calf area I guess. Any more advice much appreciated, thanks so much, I know I need to crack this to get some relief Fernie

 

[Toothfairy]

Hello Fernie,
You are not moaning, you are just sharing your difficulties. That is just what we are all here for. I think you have hit the nail on the head when you said 'this is hard', it is hard but it will get better and you will get through it, you are so positive.
Unfortunately being positive doesn't mean it is all plain sailing. I think before surgery we are so focused on ' the day' that we mentally gloss over this bit. You are only 10-11 days after very major surgery and your body is going through all this healing. Hang on in there my dear, it will pass. In two weeks time when I am stating this roller coaster you will be in a much better place and will be telling me it will pass!
I am just fine thanks, I bought some ginger tea today as it is supposed to help with nausea, we will see.
I am expecting work to be hectic this week but at least time does not hang. We have a trip away next weekend to see my daughter and Grandaughter and after that I will get myself organised for my hospital trip.
Take care and if the exercises are hurting leave them for a day or two till your knee feels better.
Sending you a hug,
Toothfairy x

 

[Fernie]

You are an , always concerned for me. I know it will pass but this lack of being able to do anything much is way tough. Anyway, positive head back on again. If I can be on decent meds and have my first PT and have dressing taken off by end of week it will be great. .

Hopw you have a good week. Lovely that you will see your daughter and grandaughter as well .

Bye for now, Fx

 

[livinginfl]

Fernie,
I will be thinking of you and hope your trip to the Dr will help you with your meds and any other questions you might have. Wishing you the best, so you can get back on track,
Lots of luck and keep your chin up,

 

[RestAssured]

Fernie,

Not all is smooth sailing! On Friday, I had what I called a "blowout" with my knee because it decided to pop out in different directions three different times in PT. I had Per Training right after that, and do you think stubborn me said, not today? Noooooooo....

But you know what? I felt better after working out with Felice Friday night an Saturday morning!

Some people come here and we hear about their amazing recoveries! I look for the ones who are working through the dogged determination that is the core of who I am. I will never give up, and you dear Fernie are early in recovery, so don't put your cart before your horse. Have some patience! You can always borrow some of mine if you need extra!

p.s. By the way the reason the reason that you can borrow some of my patience is that a lot of BoneSmarties will tell you that I was hitting the road soon as surgery! I thought I could "rule the world," and went full speed ahead, until the knee would bring me back to reality for a day or two. then it was back to full speed ahead again! I am feeling too great to to sit on the sidelines so minor inconveniences like kneecaps sliding around take a back seat to living! LOL

 

[Toothfairy]

Hi Fernie,
Hope your night passed smoothly. I think you are right, 'decent meds' are what you need. If you could have the holy grail of enough pain relief without the nausea you would feel much better. Fingers crossed for a better day today.
See you later.
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go
Toothfairy x

 

[Fernie]

Sonja, that sounds painful ! I do need to learn some patience and it's tricky as I'm so use to dashing here there and all over the place, this has really stopped me in my tracks .

Im hoping for a better week and if I can sort out the little niggles I'll be happy and can progress with my recovery journey. Have a good day. Fernie

 

[Fernie]

Good morning toothfairy, how are you?

I had a decent night, took one of the dreaded anti inflames with my cocodomol and it zonked me out for a good 6 hours, also adjusted my elevation pillows so they were more elongated and it did the trick. Slept on op side as well. Took couple meds around 4ish then got another hour or so. Mind you, I got a bit upset before bed and was soooooo tired so a good sleep was long overdue.

This week is half term, so I have to keep my little girl amused for a week. Hubby still home working fortunately, and I've got various friends coming with kids, good as hey can help me and Fix lunch, I think I've managed to book up most of the week as its just so hard not being able to playproperly with her and run about, not to mention fetch and carry for her! bless her. She is being so good whilst I'm in early days and it must be tough for her as well.

So, Mrs Toothfairy, last week at work for you for a good while, I hope you enjoy it and get everything done that you need to. Do u have a fixed time off? I'm going back after Easter, which will be around 8 weeks, then I'm doing staggered start for nx 2 wks. I only do a few days anyway and I reckon this should about right, unless any complications of course.

Take care Fernie X