dovemck
member
Australia@tiredwife - thanks for the information, I was worried I was becoming allergic to - something. One less thing to worry about. Cheers.
MUA Aussie Icy Pole (popsicle)
- Thread starter dovemck
- Start date
tiredwife
alpha
dovemck
member
I still have bouts where I just want to scratch, but it is easing up a bit. Taking on board what @tiredwife and @kneeper said, I'm assuming it's just some healing going on and will happy to be done with it. Thanks for the insight, always good to know it's not unexpected.
I have two appointments today, one with the rehab physician and an hour later with the physio, I should be whupped by the time I get home.
For some reason, starting yesterday i felt my whole knee joint was looser - in a good way, in that I was able to move more freely (but not so much that I suddenly had more ROM). It's like I'm holding it less tightly - but I'm not doing it consciously, the muscles holding tightly in place have released some. I was able to take a couple of small, halting steps across the bedroom without leaning on something - but since I still have unexpected episodes where it straightens/hyper extends, I can't do it too much or I know I'll fall. Might be time to start working those muscles that control that straightening, I'll bring it up with the physio.
I have two appointments today, one with the rehab physician and an hour later with the physio, I should be whupped by the time I get home.
For some reason, starting yesterday i felt my whole knee joint was looser - in a good way, in that I was able to move more freely (but not so much that I suddenly had more ROM). It's like I'm holding it less tightly - but I'm not doing it consciously, the muscles holding tightly in place have released some. I was able to take a couple of small, halting steps across the bedroom without leaning on something - but since I still have unexpected episodes where it straightens/hyper extends, I can't do it too much or I know I'll fall. Might be time to start working those muscles that control that straightening, I'll bring it up with the physio.
tiredwife
alpha
ConnieJOS
senior
It's good that it feels a bit looser to move. But you're right, some of those muscles still need to heal and strengthen. But you don't have to do intense exercises to do that. You may be ready for some new ones, though.
dovemck
member
Nearly at the one month mark so I'll do an update post.
Still two crutches, Extension 0, Flexion 68. Itching comes and goes, mostly it's not bothering me, but when it comes on I can scarcely take my mind off wanting to scratch. I'm taking Targin 5mg, Nexium 20mg and Celebrex 200mg with breakfast each day and usually don't need anything else until bedtime when I'll take another Targin - not so much because of pain, but because it helps me to get to sleep and stay asleep without so much tossing and turning. My GP still has me off my Tritace blood pressure meds because one month out my BP is 128/80. Up from the early post-op days of 90/60, but not high enough to need lowering yet.
The quads are just starting to firm up and show some life. I rely heavily on other muscles to move my leg. Physio and consulting physician believe they have been in an atrophied state for 10 - 20 years - possibly longer. The original surgery was 36 years ago so it's possible.
Started a couple of new exercises at physio, between the rails I am now stepping up and down with the bad leg, trying to strengthen the quads. I am not expected to take the full weight, just press the quads. I also use an orange theraband - facing an upright, the band is tied into a circle which I step into then put just above my knee (the band goes around the back of the leg). I step far enough back to get a pull or good tension on the band and then bend the knee 10 - 15 degrees and straighten again. The aim is to strengthen the muscles where and when they do the most work - locking and unlocking. After I do this particular exercise I notice a reduction in the number of times my leg sort of gives out or locks up whilst walking. If I can get that under control I'm sure I'll graduate to one walking device - crutch or cane.
I use the overhead pulley with a sling under the lower femur to help with flexion. I pull up as far as I can and then assist with the pulley. This is still pretty painful with a sharp pain somewhere just below the kneecap towards the median - opposite side of the scar. It also pulls on the lateral side along the lower femur in what I'm guessing is either the Vastus Lateralis and/or the IT band.
One of the things I read about TKR that kinda grossed me out was the idea of a clunking sounds/noise/feel. Well as I've been going about doing stuff, I feel an occasional pop or crack - the usual noise/feel of the arthritic knee I lived with for ages and can remember thinking that's great, I'm getting back to normal. Except when I thought about it, I realized those bits that popped and snapped are gone now, what I'm getting is those clunking noises I was so worried about. Turns out it's a non-event.
It's early spring here in Melbourne Australia and my hubby is working on the getting the outdoor spa ready for action. It's cleaned up and the chemistry is nearly perfect. Two more weeks before I get the tick from my surgeon and can start hydrotherapy, really looking forward to that part of the program!
Still two crutches, Extension 0, Flexion 68. Itching comes and goes, mostly it's not bothering me, but when it comes on I can scarcely take my mind off wanting to scratch. I'm taking Targin 5mg, Nexium 20mg and Celebrex 200mg with breakfast each day and usually don't need anything else until bedtime when I'll take another Targin - not so much because of pain, but because it helps me to get to sleep and stay asleep without so much tossing and turning. My GP still has me off my Tritace blood pressure meds because one month out my BP is 128/80. Up from the early post-op days of 90/60, but not high enough to need lowering yet.
The quads are just starting to firm up and show some life. I rely heavily on other muscles to move my leg. Physio and consulting physician believe they have been in an atrophied state for 10 - 20 years - possibly longer. The original surgery was 36 years ago so it's possible.
Started a couple of new exercises at physio, between the rails I am now stepping up and down with the bad leg, trying to strengthen the quads. I am not expected to take the full weight, just press the quads. I also use an orange theraband - facing an upright, the band is tied into a circle which I step into then put just above my knee (the band goes around the back of the leg). I step far enough back to get a pull or good tension on the band and then bend the knee 10 - 15 degrees and straighten again. The aim is to strengthen the muscles where and when they do the most work - locking and unlocking. After I do this particular exercise I notice a reduction in the number of times my leg sort of gives out or locks up whilst walking. If I can get that under control I'm sure I'll graduate to one walking device - crutch or cane.
I use the overhead pulley with a sling under the lower femur to help with flexion. I pull up as far as I can and then assist with the pulley. This is still pretty painful with a sharp pain somewhere just below the kneecap towards the median - opposite side of the scar. It also pulls on the lateral side along the lower femur in what I'm guessing is either the Vastus Lateralis and/or the IT band.
One of the things I read about TKR that kinda grossed me out was the idea of a clunking sounds/noise/feel. Well as I've been going about doing stuff, I feel an occasional pop or crack - the usual noise/feel of the arthritic knee I lived with for ages and can remember thinking that's great, I'm getting back to normal. Except when I thought about it, I realized those bits that popped and snapped are gone now, what I'm getting is those clunking noises I was so worried about. Turns out it's a non-event.
It's early spring here in Melbourne Australia and my hubby is working on the getting the outdoor spa ready for action. It's cleaned up and the chemistry is nearly perfect. Two more weeks before I get the tick from my surgeon and can start hydrotherapy, really looking forward to that part of the program!
dovemck
member
Rollercoaster day. Achey and a bit uncomfortable sitting at the computer, uncomfortable sitting in a chair and achey from lying down so much. Still stiff and sore from physio yesterday and really didn't want ice since I was chilly all day anyway. Woke up with a splitting headache - what do you take for that when the normal drugs are Targin (oxy), Panadol and Celebrex? I only took the Panadol and went back to bed for a couple of hours. Just kind of blah all day. On the plus side, from a sitting position I've been able to lift my foot a few inches. My quads are firing! Not much, but firing all the same.
tiredwife
alpha
@dovemck Have they tried electrical stimulation on your muscle? Hubby hasn't had it but a lot of folks on here say it really helps. Sorry it is one of your blah days. Sorry about the headache, a cold clothe on the head usually helps mine (that and a dark quiet room). There are also acupressure points in the webbing between the thumbs and pointing fingers next to the bones. Pinch there and rub in circles and that might help. Think you overdid it a tad yesterday.
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The Panadol (acetaminophen) would be the medication of choice for a headache. It was wise to go back to bed for a rest too. I hope that got rid on the pain for you. The blahs are just part of the deal sometimes with recovery. Be sure you are not in any pain with your knee and that you're taking your other meds on a schedule since you are really early in your recovery. The other thing that can help is to nap and get as much rest as possible. Be sure to ice and elevate your knee when you are lying down. It helps so much!
dovemck
member
Thanks @Jamie the extra nap and Panadol seemed to do the trick. On the second wake-up I felt better and took the rest of the drugs with brekkie. You're right, I was fencing with the ODIC.
@tiredwife - you're good. If I were closer I'd come convalesce with you!
@tiredwife - you're good. If I were closer I'd come convalesce with you!
dovemck
member
Just wondering...pre-knee, I was pretty good at predicting the weather - if you know what I mean. Well the gorgeous Melbourne spring weather took a turn today and it's been cool and drizzly all day - and I've been achey. Makes me wonder if that eventually goes away when the healing is complete or if it's a permanent trick in my repetoire?
dovemck
member
I just wanted to put this info in my thread - should have done it ages ago but really, those blurry moments after surgery are easy to forget - I remember waking up in recovery in a lot of pain - dull, deep ache in my knee - and a nurse saying to another she's in a lot of pain, too much, get the anesthetist. Don't remember anything after that, not even moving to my room or waking up there. I wonder if they're so used to people having a block of some kind that they might have overlooked the fact I was a general? I can remember waking up the same way after my spinal surgery - early in recovery, a lot of pain and someone going to get someone to give me meds and nothing after. I hope by writing this down, should I ever need surgery again I can tell the anesthetist about this - maybe I can spare myself the pain.
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