TKR 2nd time around recovery

Now that you are allowed to shower, have you ever tried magnesium oil?

@luvcats I never heard of magnesium oil. Makes total sense though. I think magnesium helps with restless leg. I just got some coconut water to help with my fluids and electrolytes and I noticed it has magnesium in it. Hopefully it helps. The muscle feels a little better today. I am able to do more when I attempt PT.
 
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So far a good day. Suffered no ill effects from halving my mid day oxycodone dose yesterday. I noticed I was overly sleepy this morning so I think I will half the dose of my morning oxycodone tomorrow. That will bring me to a total of 2 pills per day.

Muscle pain is beginning to ease up and I can move more freely during PT sessions. Got in some good naps and down times. Eating alright. No fainting. A good day.
 
@luvcats I never heard of magnesium oil. Makes total sense though. I think magnesium helps with restless leg. I just got some coconut water to help with my fluids and electrolytes and I noticed it has magnesium in it. Hopefully it helps. The muscle feels a little better today. I am able to do more when I attempt PT.

I hope the coconut water helps sort out the electrolytes. I have an fear of falling right now.

Magnesium can help restless leg because it helps your dopamine levels. Restless leg isn't really a muscle thing, it's a brain problem. I have restless leg and tried everything before I got specific meds for it. But direct skin application of magnesium can really relax the muscles underneath.

I'm so glad you had a good day and are getting your meds sorted to your needs.
 
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2 weeks ago today was surgery. Major issues are straightened out at this point and it is just getting through the days of PT, ice, elevate, rest, repeat. I am almost straight extension and about 96 flexion. I wish it was more, but I know I will get there.

I think I get to go off of warfarin next week -yay! And, I am down to 2 oxycodone per day and continuing to wean. For the most part this works. From dinner through bedtime is a struggle, but the ice cuff helps a lot. I think I am about a week away from driving myself to PT rather than using VNA PT. Although I love my PT guy - I will miss him.

Watched a few NetFlix movies today: Definitely, Maybe and Murder Mystery. Both were light and funny. Just my speed at the moment. If the sun comes out, I want to get outside for a walk. My therapist thinks it is time to try for a bit of a longer walk than just around the house.

Yesterday my sister stopped by, which is always a treat. She brought watermelon and fresh pineapple, both cut up and ready to go. And she made a yummy shrimp stir fry for lunch that we ate on the porch. She also folded clothes and changed my sheets. Next week she is taking me to a hair appointment while she gets a facial. That should be fun. Did I mention how awesome she is? :)

Not much to report - in the dull, long days of recovery. I hope everyone else is doing well.
 
Glad all is going well. Sometimes the days do get long.
 
You so realize it is the little things, like cut up fruit.

This is so perfectly said! I wanted watermelon so badly. But had no energy to cut it and did not want to impose on my exhausted husband. But she just knew without me even asking. Love her!
 
What a lovely visit. The fruit sounds amazing. It's so nice to have just the right sort of visitor. Some visitors stay too long, expect too much, and are exhausting.
 
It's the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. I always got to remind myself, joy comes in sips, not gulps.
 
True words @TimeBuster - especially right now when we must count the little joys and be patient.

@luvcats did you change your forum name? I have to say your last one made me chuckle. And I so agree about guests. My sister is not even like a guest. More like a second mom. She can come here any day! Hope you are doing well.

In other news, my husband just left for work. His morning routine is crazy. Makes me coffee and breakfast, refills the ice in my ice cuff, refills all my water bottles, escorts me upstairs to shower, cleans up the kitchen. Not to mention all his own stuff he must do. This morning he got to the bottom of the stairs and looked up sheepishly, remembering that the forgot to be right near me in case I fall. I told him I was glad he is finally trusting my abilities that I can be ok unsupervised. It has to take a load off his mind. I do worry about him. But am blessed with a great hubby and sister.

Icing and listening to my favorite meditative music. Hoping we all have a good day.
 
I am almost straight extension and about 96 flexion. I wish it was more, but I know I will get there.
Your ROM is excellent for so early in your recovery, so try not to worry about it.
 
Thank you @Jockette for the reinforcement. The thing about doing this twice is you compare to last time. Last time I had more ROM by now. BUT - I was using more pain killers and I had not had a fainting spell that pulled a muscle. The good news is I can just look at my other perfect knee and remind myself that it will come in time. I appreciate you reinforcing that.
 
For most of us our medical team puts sooooo much pressure on us about ROM and it’s so unnecessary. It will come as we heal and there is no timeframe we have to do it in.

I was always measured after they pushed my knee to a (painful) bend they liked. So I have no idea what my true ROM was, but in the early months I certainly didn’t have the function at home that those office numbers implied.

My ROM not only improved after my one year check up, it has improved since my 2 year check up! :happydance:So don’t let anyone hassle you about your ROM, there honestly is no rush.
 
You are so right! When I saw my PCP for my pre-Op clearance, she said studies now show that there are similar results with PT, PT on your own and even no PT. I found that oddly reassuring.

I also remember last time the visiting PT telling me that they get great ROM but then come back in a year and the clients have lost the movement. I think that is because mainly visiting PT sees some pretty bad cases. My experience with my knee is that it keeps getting better. I have over 130 with my right bionic knee.

I will say my physical therapist is good about it, he does not want me to go to far, as long as I keep moving and developing strength. And I am! On Monday, my muscle hurt so much I could barely bend my knee, and I could not do a straight leg lift. Now I can do both, which means the muscle is getting stronger. All on just 10 mg of oxycodone a day and reducing. And if the muscle is strong, the rest will follow. This is such a game of patience! Sometimes (um, most of the time...) I tend to be an overachiever, so I must remind myself to pace and be patient. :)
 
@LaxMom

We share the same craving...watermelon!:) :-) (: My hubby has been purchasing me, almost daily, containers of fresh cut diced watermelon. It is my go to treat in the afternoon. Watermelon and a chilled bottle of Ensure Max Protein...the Cafe Moca is yummy.:ok:

What is odd, I am not normally a big fruit eater. However, now with my new baby knee, Penelope, I am craving watermelon and cantaloupe. Thirty six years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I craved canned diced peaches and pears like crazy. Do you think there is a connection between new babies and fruit?:chinstroke:

Anna:flwrysmile:
 
Day 18. As of today I am down to just one 5 mg oxycodone at night. I learned I will be off the blood thinners on July 3rd - yay for that! I am going to try to get off the oxycodone by the end of the week, but think it is good to reserve the possibility of using it just at night if I have to.

My worst pain has been from dinner through bedtime. Yesterday, I tried a few different things - more support for my leg while eating dinner, a warm shower after, support and ice in the evening while watching TV, and it worked, making for a less stressful evening. I am loving my Ossur Cold Rush Therapy. I had issues with it initially and had to return the first one and get a replacement. So far, so good on the second one. Amazing how that machine can help with pain and reduce the need for more medications. That is the one big difference from my 2014 surgery - I am using way less in the way of pain medicines. Fingers crossed that will continue.

Yesterday and the day before I walked outside with my husband. Finally the sun has shown its face in New England! The first day we went about 300 yards and yesterday we went about 600-700 yards. It felt like quite the accomplishment and required ice and a deep sleep afterward. It seems so strange that just a few weeks ago, I was walking so much further and now I am literally taking baby steps. I do find that the following day, I do not have any additional pain and my quad muscles appear to be getting stronger. I was also able to easily ride the recumbent bike with on zero resistance setting for 10 minutes at a time. Pretty happy with that. I actually wondered today if I am turning a bit of a corner and perhaps things might start getting a bit easier. I hope so!

As for binge watching, @Benay I am now onto Grace and Frankie. Have you seen it? I guess it has been around a long time, so probably old news. But it is funny and just enough for me at the moment.

I hope everyone out there is doing well today!
 

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