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At 11 Weeks, both knees replaced

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lissa

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Hi!

I'm the mieacle baby that had both knees replaced and was released to go home after three days. Have knee bend at 140. At four weeks, was walking fine with walker and hiking poles. THEN, therapists looked at my odd bent walk and found out I did not have 0 extention...far from it...at -10...very bad! So, knee bending was forgotten, and 10 pound weights were added above my knee for 15 min a day...to work on extension. What a slow painful thing this is. Now at 11 weeks, have 0 extension so all this is fine..great..super...Problem is, I'm in more pain-stiffness-throbbing acking all around the components. Scar tissue is clean, swelling, well inflamation seems to be right below the patella..and it occurs all the time! I have to do the weight thing and the straight leg raises to keep extension...but I do not walk unassisted without hurting with each "correct" step! Tramadol I reduced to one every six hours, but i would like to go back to four hours..just to see if I can get apin back under control. Therapists have cut out my biking, and all repititive weight bearing exercises. I can swim..but we are all on "hold" as they do not want me to increase pain meds. The kneees and the components are good..and healed...but I am not happy with having such a step by step problem when walking. I expect the stiffness, I expect pain during the exercises...but i find myself taking more and more time to get up...and knees are throbbing in bed...just don't want to get up and moving. This is not me! I have a shorter tolerance than at 4 weeks. Therqpists say it if all inflamation...so I'm taking Aleve with Prilosec (ulcer stuff)...but don't see any dramatic differrence.

Since I was such a early recoverer...up to 4 weeks..you can imagine this 11 week no porgress...well, its more than that..it's not walking easily...makes me cross and crazy.

Suggestions, Please! Lissa
 
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Aw Lissa are you icing at all I know that sounds simple but it really works.......Im so sorry but 11 weeks ..I know you were going great in the beginning but look at it as a lil set back you will get there you were there once.......think positive i know its hard but your strong i remember all your stories........Please let us know how you are doing we are all here for ya............)
__________________
RTKR 4-3-09
MUA 5-4-09
KIM
 
You need to go back to your OS. Sounds like you have a problem.

That was amazing what you did at first. Lets just hope you did not push to much at first.

There has to be a reason and they need to xray those knees. Something is going on.
 
Lissa,
Kim is right. Make sure you keep icing the knees. I had both done July 20 and we are about at the same pace. Don't let this get you down! Have you asked your OS for an anti-inflammatory prescription? Also, your PT does not have a MD behind his name. They should not tell you how much pain meds to take and should not tell you to cut back! Follow what your directions say unless your OS says differently! Good Luck and keep us posted!
 
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Aw Lissa are you icing at all I know that sounds simple but it really works.......Im so sorry but 11 weeks ..I know you were going great in the beginning but look at it as a lil set back you will get there you were there once.......think positive i know its hard but your strong i remember all your stories........Please let us know how you are doing we are all here for ya............)
__________________
RTKR 4-3-09
MUA 5-4-09
KIM
You are always so supportive! Yeh, I ice...but not as much..it makes everything stiffer you know...but I just got up and got ice packs..bummer.. thank you for listening. I wish I HAD more funny stories..have serious grim look in face..husband syas I look ill...well, pain does that..should be beyond that now! Poop!
 
Lissa,
Kim is right. Make sure you keep icing the knees. I had both done July 20 and we are about at the same pace. Don't let this get you down! Have you asked your OS for an anti-inflammatory prescription? Also, your PT does not have a MD behind his name. They should not tell you how much pain meds to take and should not tell you to cut back! Follow what your directions say unless your OS says differently! Good Luck and keep us posted!
the surgeon put a no refill notice on my tramadol, so have to beg his assistant..has been no problem...but I THOUGHT by saying no refill, that was his indication that I should cut back...so I have...now, can't tell difference when I have pain meds inside and not...was so proud of saying I'd dropped the dosage!
 
6 weeks out here, I have had zero refills. I have to go to the office for each refill and has to be signed by Dr. No call-ins or copies on pain meds.

Oh, sorry about your dilemma and good luck. I'm a bilat too.
 
the surgeon put a no refill notice on my tramadol, so have to beg his assistant..has been no problem...but I THOUGHT by saying no refill, that was his indication that I should cut back...so I have...now, can't tell difference when I have pain meds inside and not...was so proud of saying I'd dropped the dosage!
Oh! I put myself back on Aleve, only anti-infl..I can take ...so that is a drag..have to manage the inflamation with legs up in air...not sure that is helping either!

Sure is nice to be remembered! You ARE exactly at the same date. did you do one knee vs two? What are you taking pain-wise...and how often, may I ask. Do not want to go to Dr., he was so pleased with me..besides since everything he did seems to be healed...this seems to be MY problem, ya kno?
 
6 weeks out here, I have had zero refills. I have to go to the office for each refill and has to be signed by Dr. No call-ins or copies on pain meds.
You wouldn't be saying that the no refill has no bearing on us as patients...and our pain...I can and should be taking what I need to not be so in pain ALL day and night long? Sure would be nice if I didn't "cut my husbands head off" every day!
 
I understand...in agreement with Dr. at my 5 week visit last Monday, notched it down from Percoset to Hydrocodone. I add Aleve.
Knees seem to hurt more on the surface area...cranky here and sleeping impossible as well.
 
[COLOpistsR="DarkOrange"]You need to go back to your OS. Sounds like you have a problem.

That was amazing what you did at first. Lets just hope you did not push to much at first.

There has to be a reason and they need to xray those knees. Something is going on.
[/COLOR]
don't wanna go to surgeon. figure since both therapists agree that knee components and scar tissue are NOT the problem, the surgeon will have nothing to offer. He's done his job. It's not the components..I don't have any sharp stabbing pain..therapists have been very serious about this...it seems to be tissue and all the other stuff that drives me nuts! Thanks for talking...makes me feel not so crazy..at least for now!
 
Well let me just say the therapist do not have the MD behind their name. There are a whole lot of post on here where the therapist have done more bad than good.

I loved the ones I had and trusted them. But I am afraid I would be at the OS office.

Maybe Jo or Jamie will be on soon and can give you some advise.

Anyway I hope you get better soon.
 
Lissa, my dear...you are ONLY 11 weeks out from major surgery. You can fully expect to have swelling and pain still....especially when you are working in therapy. Your pain is NOT under control and that's what is causing your problems...including grouchiness! You MUST get back on real pain medication taken on a regular schedule so that you stay ahead of the pain curve.

ALL doctors issue prescription pain meds with no refills. They want you to come back and talk to them about your pain needs...that's why. You shouldn't have to beg...just discuss what is going on. But if for some reason your surgeon won't refill your pain prescription (some do get a rather warped view of how much medication is needed following knee surgery), then go immediately to your family doctor. They have a much better understanding of pain and will probably do the job for you.

Then tell your PT that you are under a doctor's care for the pain medication and they don't need to worry about it. Be sure you take a dose about an hour before you go to therapy.

Please, please don't try to cut yourself off from your pain meds before you are ready. And you're NOT ready now if this is how you are getting along without them.
 
HI Lissa, Just wanted to say Hello and Congrat's on your new knee's. I hope you
are feeling better soon. Take care and Best Wishes, Tom
 
Hey Lissa look first i know in time your funny stories will come back i so loved those.........now 11 weeks out with 2 knees done i think your doing amazing just posting.....lol....its tough i had one and wow it hurt.........i dont know if you said it was swollen but if its ok and you can. my pt said ice then a lil lil heat i would put a moist towel over it )and in between the heating pad...dont let it get wet......and it felt sooooo good and loosened it a lil...and my pt would ask did you take your med before you came there way no way i could have done with it at pt.......dont be down on yourself you truly are so early in recovery to you it seems long because you get tired on if but we get one chane to get this right .......you can do it i know you can.........believe me i know ups and downs with this but in the long run you will be ok ........hang in there girl im praying for ya............post anytime like hereing from ya........)
 
Yes, do go to your own doctor. You need pain meds now. This issue with the extension is a new one and you're not going to be able to crack it without proper pain control. You need to take a minimum of 50mgs of Tramadol every 4hrs but you could top that up with 2 acetaminophen as well. I think you'll find it will be really good coverage.
 
Yes, do go to your own doctor. You need pain meds now. This issue with the extension is a new one and you're not going to be able to crack it without proper pain control. You need to take a minimum of 50mgs of Tramadol every 4hrs but you could top that up with 2 acetaminophen as well. I think you'll find it will be really good coverage.

thank you, Jo! I have gone back to Tramadol one every four hours, and Aleve 3 a day...and have a Dr.s apt this Wed. Didn't think the extension work would cause all this new pain..therapists didn't think it would as its just stretching...but these past two months have been gastly..again, your website is super..I get comfort and get back in control! Your second knee...not total, I gather. Are you thinking of total down the road? I HAD to go thru the arthoscopy so I could show the pictures to the surgeon...who didn't believe the knee was so bad. Love bandage at your feet! Lissa
 
Lissa, my dear...you are ONLY 11 weeks out from major surgery. You can fully expect to have swelling and pain still....especially when you are working in therpay. Your pain is NOT under control and that's what is causing your problems...including grouchiness! You MUST get back on real pain medication taken on a regular schedule so that you stay ahead of the pain curve.

ALL doctors issue prescription pain meds with no refills. They want you to come back and talk to them about your pain needs...that's why. You shouldn't have to beg...just discuss what is going on. But if for some reason your surgeon won't refill your pain prescription (some do get a rather warped view of how much medication is needed following knee surgery), then go immediately to your family doctor. They have a much better understanding of pain and will probably do the job for you.

Then tell your PT that you are under a doctor's care for the pain medication and they don't need to worry about it. Be sure you take a dose about an hour before you go to therapy.

Please, please don't try to cut yourself off from your pain meds before you are ready. And you're NOT ready now if this is how you are getting along without them.

Thank you Jamie. You spoke to me like my mom...very kindly but very firmly, boy, did I need that! Don't like turning into this wimpy character...not at all! So, back to Tramadol every 4 hrs., aleve 3 x a day...and I have Dr. apt Wed. He needs to know why I'll want more meds...Jo says its the extension work...I have been worse the past two months...but they have been gruesome extension straight leg raises, weight on upper thighs for 15 min...therapists didn't think this would cause more pain..as its all stretching..so I just went along...think the early start I had made everyone keep pushing...and I just did as I was told...odd, how pain changes all your reasoning ability! Lissa
 
Hey Lissa look first i know in time your funny stories will come back i so loved those.........now 11 weeks out with 2 knees done i think your doing amazing just posting.....lol....its tough i had one and wow it hurt.........i dont know if you said it was swollen but if its ok and you can. my pt said ice then a lil lil heat i would put a moist towel over it )and in between the heating pad...dont let it get wet......and it felt sooooo good and loosened it a lil...and my pt would ask did you take your med before you came there way no way i could have done with it at pt.......dont be down on yourself you truly are so early in recovery to you it seems long because you get tired on if but we get one chane to get this right .......you can do it i know you can.........believe me i know ups and downs with this but in the long run you will be ok ........hang in there girl im praying for ya............post anytime like hereing from ya........)

You sure know how to pick up a person's ego..I feel like you just picked me up literally, dusted me off, and helped me get back on the horse! Meds are back to original dose...and have apt with Dr. Wed. He'll need to kno why more pain..etc. Thanks, for quick pick up! Lissa
Wed.
 
Lissa, I had extension issues also with my TKR. Who in their right mind would think that "just stretching" exercises would not cause pain!!! My heavens! It HURTS to stretch those parts, so treat yourself nice and take the pain meds. They help with swelling also which causes pain in itself....sort of the double whammy of therapy workouts AND swelling = pain.

You're gonna be fine, hon. Just hang in there!!!
 
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