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TKR Almost Two Years Post Op and Still Struggling and Searching for Answers

Readabook said:
the assistant who sounded all alarmed that I had pain after clinical exam just sent a note- "not worried, all normal..."
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Possibly this is due to the physicians overall impression so it's noted there is no obvious cause for alarm?
Referring to the message that was passed along to you. You can always question the notation for a better understanding.

I wish there was a way you could ease up on the stair climbing at home. I do understand you're caring for your mom, but is there someone that will step in, or step up in an emergency? Asking because it seems you're in a position where you need some TLC yourself and it's important you're able to rest and recover from your discomfort and pain also. Just as a flight attendant cautions us on a plane - Please put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others. I'd love it for you to be able to get a break somehow. :console2:
Wishing you comfort for the weekend and some restorative rest too!
 
@Layla, Thank-you for your thought. And I certainly brought them out by whining as I did.

I have been resting for a few days from the sacrum injection, then had to pick up my sick 3 yr granddaughter from daycare as he dad is working I and her mom, my daughter, is at a conference in New Haven, If I am germ free I will go see mother as soon as i can, I will not do her stairs and jokes will be made about that. . It all ok. Others can carry the boxes,to my car - until I go home and go thru them all.... I am being careful. Not much else I can do!
 
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I do understand your need to help others but, as @Layla says, it is really important to rest if you are going to be able to carry on longer term. Just try to prioritise yourself at least some of the time. Those painful joints and tendons won't heal if they are constantly being aggravated.
 
Hello and Happy Saturday,
Hopefully everyone is as mindful of your challenges as you are of theirs.
Obviously family loves you...and you just soldier on through your discomfort / pain. We don't know all of the details of your life and recovery, but hopefully if your loved ones have any indication that you're struggling yourself, they will be respectful of that in return for all you seem to do for them. Ideally it would be great for you to get the rest you need to completely heal from the TKR or any other issues that have cropped up since surgery. Wishing you a peaceful day of rest. :wink:
@Readabook
 
well my body is so tired of itself! I pulled something in my dominant arm and shoulder so one more pain area and anxiety! Honestly. I did see my lovely podiatrist today and shared my knee doctor visit where he put extreme pressure on my extended knee. The podiatrist groaned. He said it couldn't hurt the implant , but could stress my knee ligaments and that was still within a normal response for 12 days later. it is calmer, but I am very kinda angry at the whole thing. Oh well. I guess I know that if I go do something intense it can handle it! I am going to start PT in another week, for all of me. I am going to an "integrated PT " place nearby that I never knew about and when i went in to explore I think everyone was my age or older- which is a first around here and I am happy about that. Be well all.
 
Readabook said:
He said it couldn't hurt the implant , but could stress my knee ligaments and that was still within a normal response for 12 days later. i
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Agree with this. Sorry for what happened. The new PT place sounds much better. Good luck!
 
Layla said:
and you just soldier on through your discomfort / pain.
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Readabook said:
well my body is so tired of itself! I pulled something in my dominant arm and shoulder so one more pain area and anxiety!
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Have you considered that your body is shouting at you to rest?
Would you ever consider resting?
Readabook said:
Oh well. I guess I know that if I go do something intense it can handle it! I am going to start PT in another week, for all of me.
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Please try to listen to your body, and really think about any changes which could be made in your daily and family life to reduce the physical and mental load.

We simply can’t either will or force our bodies to heal by wishful thinking or intense physio. Sometimes it’s simply time and rest.

I’m wanting to start PT for all of me, however I know my body is not yet at that point yet. I have learnt to listen to it and I’m lucky to be guided by an excellent PT who only lets me work at a safe level, despite my hoping for more.

As we go into winter, please think ‘hibernation’ and think of it as a useful time of rest and recover.
Do you really want to push your body so much until one day it stops you completely? I ask this out of care and concern because I’ve seen this happen to many others. We have one life, and we owe it to ourselves to look after ourselves first. There was a time in my life where everyone else came first due to illness and for those years I kept going and going. However from those hard times I learned and I listened, and now I look after myself very well and listen to my body.
Please think carefully, or simply rest.
(Rest includes normal activities of daily living for yourself and regular light exercise)
 
@Layla @Legseleven I do understand what you are saying. I haven't been to my mom's in three weeks. And not going this weekend. I am not shopping which is fine, but I want to have some normalcy. I want to chose food I can eat cause my husband struggles there! I had been given names of PT places-I have lost so much muscle which isn't good and need help with my back and my bones, with everything. This place made me grin when I peeked - everyone was gray and smiling and it was quiet. I have canceled the long plan New England trip with my husband as I know the drive getting up there would be tiresome. I hope we get some day drive in. I guess I am in that place where you said you were. and I am fighting tooth and nail to be better for myself and that will be best for others. This isn't me right now and I need get help finding her. I need carfeul strengthening and need to get out in the world
@EalingGran so you did concur with that implant was fine and the gentle place sounds fine. And that soft tissue takes weeks? Thanks so much! I appreciate that!
 
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Readabook said:
you did concur with that implant was fine and the gentle place sounds fine. Snd that soft tissue takes weeks? Thanks so much! I appreciate that!
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Yes. Implants are generally very solid and can take a surprising amount of abuse, such as falls etc ( not that I recommend testing that out!) But soft tissue injuries are underestimated and many of us don't listen to our bodies and re-stress the injured ligaments/ tendons so they don't heal properly.
 
@EalingGran which make me so upset cause i Did not expect this ligament testing in office! I hope doctor didn't ruin things.
 
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I do understand. Of course you want to feel back to normal after this amount of time and I'm sorry you continue to struggle. Maybe ordering groceries online and picking them up is an option if the process wears you out, or you're struggling after a trip through the store. I love that option when I'm feeling overwhelmed and have too much going on. I do prefer grocery shopping myself, but this option has saved the day for me on a few occasions.
Readabook said:
I guess I know that if I go do something intense it can handle it!
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The implant can handle it, but I respectfully disagree that you can handle it because you were really hurting initially and it sounds like the pain has not fully resolved. From this point forward, be very vocal when anyone is manipulating one of your limbs, if it hurts tell them to STOP. It's sad to think of you struggling as you are. :console2:

I think it's wise that you're postponing the New England trip for now. A shorter, easier getaway sounds best until you're feeling stronger and have less discomfort / pain. The PT place you mentioned sound like it would provide a calm, peaceful place to work on regaining the strength you need to function normally again. Let us know if you begin attending there and how it's going.

Sending love, strength and a warm hug your way. I hope today is a good day! :thumb:
@Readabook
 
The implants can definitely handle it, it's our soft tissues that can't. When I was a little less than a year out from my TKR, I stepped in a hole, rollen my ankle inward and fell directly on my baby knee. I ended up with a broken ankle, three broken bones in my foot, and a terribly bruised and painful knee. But, the implant was fine. It was quite a while, (months), before my knee quit hurting, but it was all soft tissues issues, not the implant's.
 
@sistersinhim Thank-you for sharing this story, And I am sorry that happened, but it is so relatable for me! My feet and ankle have been compensating since irritated my shin a year ago- walking wonky does not help! But to be strength tested to see if I have shin splints and now have mutinous soft tissue- well at two more weeks I am frustrated- It helps SO much to hear about soft tissue realities and the strength of the implant. This is a very helpful (and hopeful) comment. oxo
 
When I was 4 months post op we went to visit friends for a weekend. I tried so hard to keep up with everyone and not look like a wimp, lots of up and down stairs, a very low toilet, and a storm that came through, all affecting my new knee. At the time I thought by 4 months I would have been past the “over did it” stage, but by the time I got home, my ROM was shot and I was swollen and in pain, and it took a whole month to recover. Thus the title of my thread, drama Queen knee!
 
@sistersinhim, @Jockette - I just DO NOT understand why an ortho doc would not mention this to calm the patient. And why a new to me would have to challenge me so hard. I am resting and I am actually seeing my original PA who I found and is a very zen fellow to just make sure I am ok and maybe be a landing spot if needed. Then I want to to recover from the ridiculous last few months I have had.
I truly can not tell how your soft tissue stories have helped me. Making my family crazy for sure. I hope i can help others.
 
Don't know whether you've seen it, but Charlie33 shared a great post yesterday about how, after four years of pushing, everything changed in his recovery when he stopped pushing. It's a very helpful post.

Here's his thread; scroll down to post #48 on page 3:

C

THR Thread 'Almost Four Years After Hip Replacement: I Stopped Pushing So Hard, and Everything Changed'

Hi all,

Great information across the board. Thanks and appreciate everybody’s insights.!

Left total hip replacement on 11/22. 9 days in. Modern posterior or direct superior is what the doc called it (4 inch incision, no muscles or tendons cut). No precautions. Hip was bad for 15 years but really deteriorated fast over past few months. Trip from Evaluation to operating table 5 weeks total. First 5 days pretty rough. Forced myself to walk 10-15 mins per hour as instructed and do PT. Last three days been much better. walking unaided 4000-5000 steps a day but not all at once by any means...
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Readabook said:
Then I want to to recover from the ridiculous last few months I have had.
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Last month external circumstances led to a different environment and this caused overuse of the soft tissues in my knee. It’s settling now. Yes, the replacement joint is robust, however our muscles, tendons and ligaments are not and they need time. Often ligament annd tendon injuries take longer than bones to heal. Every time we over use them, especially after a major procedure like joint replacement this adds and compounds the recovery time. It’s taken six weeks for my knee to begin to settle from the unexpected environmental impact in September, and the ongoing recovery continues.
The article above on post #199 shared by benne68, written by Charlie33 is such a good read.
Take good care.
 
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