MUA Aussie Icy Pole (popsicle)
- Thread starter dovemck
- Start date
United Statesdovemck
member
I have 15 steps to my front door and two cats - next knee, I'm booking in with you guys!
dovemck
member
Good thing I'm starting to wean off the pain meds, I'm itchy everywhere now and I understand it's not an unusual side effect of Targin and opiates in general (although I've not had problems with them before). I need to pick up some antihistimines to combat this in the short term - anti-itch cream is fine for a small spot, not a systemic reaction! Guess I need to let my GP know as well...always something else to do!
Ingot a lot of quality walking in today at the mall. Because it wasn't crowded and the regular surface I was able to concentrate on technique. It's the little things that make a big difference! I was pushing off with the bad leg nicelh but was stepping forward onto it flat-footed. I realized if I pick up my toes as I step through I don't lurch/lean forward as much and what a great COMFORTABLE stretch across the front of the knee joint! I'm convinced I gained ROM just from that. Fingers crossed for rehab tomorrow when I get measured - I pushed a 78 last time.
I have to go prop up my leg in bed and concentrate on not scratching - night all!
Ingot a lot of quality walking in today at the mall. Because it wasn't crowded and the regular surface I was able to concentrate on technique. It's the little things that make a big difference! I was pushing off with the bad leg nicelh but was stepping forward onto it flat-footed. I realized if I pick up my toes as I step through I don't lurch/lean forward as much and what a great COMFORTABLE stretch across the front of the knee joint! I'm convinced I gained ROM just from that. Fingers crossed for rehab tomorrow when I get measured - I pushed a 78 last time.
I have to go prop up my leg in bed and concentrate on not scratching - night all!
Luck for more ROM. Sorry your itches are worse!dovemck
member
No new ROM *sighs* can't get 5 degrees everyweek. Ah well, still good signs. Can now sit on edge of tall chair or bed and dangle my leg. It doesn't go 90 degrees but it doesn't have to be supported.
tiredwife
alpha
@dovemck best exercise for ROM is putting your foot up on a step hold onto the rail and gently lean forward bending the knee. Hubby does this 3 or 4 times a day, 5 times each session. He also sets on a chair and slides his foot back as far as you can get it with his hip up a little and then gently lowers his hip to the chair. Only do exercise to discomfort and not to pain.
dovemck
member
I'm weaning off Celebrex for inflammation and the Targin. I also take a Nexium. Called the GP about the itching (and now rash/hives) and she feels it's the Celebrex. She uses Targin with her palliative care patients and never heard of itching problems. Silently - in my politically incorrect mind - thought that this takes awhile to come on - perhaps longer than the palliative patients are for?
Anyway. Thought I was supposed to wean off Celebrex so didn't take one yesterday, used Panadol Osteo during the day until the ache was too much and took a Targin - the proceeded to lie in bed and scratch for the next hour or so. Seems to me the Targin brought it on. It's Friday morning here now - wondering if I should push for a Targin replacement before surgery closes? @Josephine what is your opinion? I'm thinking call...
Anyway. Thought I was supposed to wean off Celebrex so didn't take one yesterday, used Panadol Osteo during the day until the ache was too much and took a Targin - the proceeded to lie in bed and scratch for the next hour or so. Seems to me the Targin brought it on. It's Friday morning here now - wondering if I should push for a Targin replacement before surgery closes? @Josephine what is your opinion? I'm thinking call...
dovemck
member
Pushed hard to get up to a momentary 80 degrees. The physio set up the most amazing rig - sitting on the side if the table bed with legs dangling, she set up a pulley on the wall behing me and threaded the ropes through the table legs and put straps around my foot/ankle attached to that. As I push my good leg oyt, it draws my new knee in -and vice versa. So much interesting and ingenious rigging - I bet any of them could rig a sailboat!
Without prompting from me, the physio questioned whether I'm using enough pain relief. I'm sort of weaning off naturally only taking something when I feel I need it. She wrote a letter to my GP telling him I need to continue with the analgesia and not wean off yet so I can work harder and more often on my rehab. That caughg me by surprise!
Without prompting from me, the physio questioned whether I'm using enough pain relief. I'm sort of weaning off naturally only taking something when I feel I need it. She wrote a letter to my GP telling him I need to continue with the analgesia and not wean off yet so I can work harder and more often on my rehab. That caughg me by surprise!
tiredwife
alpha
@dovemck Sorry the itching is still an issue! Hope they find the trigger soon. Sorry I can't remember, is it just the leg or all over?
Sometimes I am a little leery of when they say take the pain meds so you can push harder in PT. It makes me think that you might be pushing your leg too much during PT making it hard to feel when you are overdoing it. This would inflame damaged tissue, causing more swelling, making it harder to flex. That sounds like a vicious cycle to me. Pain is there for a reason, to keep us from injuring ourselves.
Sometimes I am a little leery of when they say take the pain meds so you can push harder in PT. It makes me think that you might be pushing your leg too much during PT making it hard to feel when you are overdoing it. This would inflame damaged tissue, causing more swelling, making it harder to flex. That sounds like a vicious cycle to me. Pain is there for a reason, to keep us from injuring ourselves.
dovemck
member
interesting isn't it @tiredwife I was reading about the meds before P/T in another thread recently and thought to myself, well I haven't heard that in relation to TKR - it's always been take the meds before so you can work hard. I'm at about 75 now coming into 6 weeks, so I do need to do some hard work - OR ELSE!! I see the surgeon at the end of the week and he won't be pleased, he wanted greater than 90 before I left the hospital (day 5). I understand the whole swelling / bending thing, I think there's a happy medium and I need to get closer to it.
The itching was only my leg by now it's everywhere. I've been off the Celebrex 5 days now and still itching - so much for the nurses theory! My GP is back from hols tomorrow, I'll contact him without going through the nurse and fax off the letter from the GP asking for different-but-same-level analgesia.
The itching was only my leg by now it's everywhere. I've been off the Celebrex 5 days now and still itching - so much for the nurses theory! My GP is back from hols tomorrow, I'll contact him without going through the nurse and fax off the letter from the GP asking for different-but-same-level analgesia.
tiredwife
alpha
@dovemck Hubby likes to take his meds right before PT so they are kicking in right at the end of PT. His pain level usually jumps up to a 4 while doing PT. He has been at a 3 pain level and once in a while a 2. He is a typical overdoer. Could your itching be because of meds? Try and have a great day!
dovemck
member
I'm finally getting depressed about all this. I came from such a low place that no matter what happened I would be better, I just really thought better would be better than this. I know it's only 6 weeks, but I've still only managed 70 degrees flexion and now my extension is starting to get worse - I was at 0 and then for a bit at 5 and now it's 10. It hurts to let it lie straight and it doesn't stretch into 0, it just hurts.
I can't do leg slides to anything near 70, if I want 70 I have to come from it from the quads/hamstring side - putting body weight behind it. I can and do lurch around the house without crutches but it's not nearly as 'graceful' as when I've just finished a physio appointment. I use one crutch when I first get out of bed or have been sitting for awhile, but when I use two crutches I feel the stretch laterally over the front of my knee and it feels to me what should be happening - but doesn't with one or no crutch.
I admit it, it's the very first time I'm sitting around in tears and feel panic. I can't really function with only 70 degrees. My goal has been 90, but I know that's not really functional either. I'm only 52, I don't want to be using a cane permanently, I still want to be able to walk distances, go to the gym, dance and climb ladders, go camping and sleep on the ground. I don't know what else to do.
I see the surgeon tomorrow morning and I'm going to be a mess. My emotions - my disappointment is too raw and close to the surface. Thank the gods I'm in Australia with private health care, I still have 40 physio appointments, but really, what's the point if there's no gain?
I'm so confused about MUA - whether it's a good thing or not. Studies seem to show that it's not. Personal stories seem to say it's a good thing. MUA was threatened and held over my head at inpatient P/T so I know it's the way things are done here.
Forget all the stuff above - before the surgery I was achey all the time but I could move. I wonder did they/I wait too long to do the surgery? This can't be it. This 70 degrees can improve over time but reading between the lines it sounds like it will improve but not much. Will I be 'happy' with 90 degrees at one year? No way in hell. Will 70 ever become 120? I don't know, I don't see anyone getting that kind of improvement. This is all just too depressing.
I can't do leg slides to anything near 70, if I want 70 I have to come from it from the quads/hamstring side - putting body weight behind it. I can and do lurch around the house without crutches but it's not nearly as 'graceful' as when I've just finished a physio appointment. I use one crutch when I first get out of bed or have been sitting for awhile, but when I use two crutches I feel the stretch laterally over the front of my knee and it feels to me what should be happening - but doesn't with one or no crutch.
I admit it, it's the very first time I'm sitting around in tears and feel panic. I can't really function with only 70 degrees. My goal has been 90, but I know that's not really functional either. I'm only 52, I don't want to be using a cane permanently, I still want to be able to walk distances, go to the gym, dance and climb ladders, go camping and sleep on the ground. I don't know what else to do.
I see the surgeon tomorrow morning and I'm going to be a mess. My emotions - my disappointment is too raw and close to the surface. Thank the gods I'm in Australia with private health care, I still have 40 physio appointments, but really, what's the point if there's no gain?
I'm so confused about MUA - whether it's a good thing or not. Studies seem to show that it's not. Personal stories seem to say it's a good thing. MUA was threatened and held over my head at inpatient P/T so I know it's the way things are done here.
Forget all the stuff above - before the surgery I was achey all the time but I could move. I wonder did they/I wait too long to do the surgery? This can't be it. This 70 degrees can improve over time but reading between the lines it sounds like it will improve but not much. Will I be 'happy' with 90 degrees at one year? No way in hell. Will 70 ever become 120? I don't know, I don't see anyone getting that kind of improvement. This is all just too depressing.
Reebok
member
We are all having issues, no one gets off easy.
I dont want to or need to preach to you, but if I can offer any support I will.
I am at 8 weeks, and thought I was doing well.
Second week back at work, and I am struggling too.
Lean on us here if you need to. Your body has had a major shock, and will take a while to recover.
Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum
I dont want to or need to preach to you, but if I can offer any support I will.
I am at 8 weeks, and thought I was doing well.
Second week back at work, and I am struggling too.
Lean on us here if you need to. Your body has had a major shock, and will take a while to recover.
Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum
dovemck
member
ah @Reebok, hadn't seen you around the traps lately - I thought perhaps you were one of those that DID get off lightly!
It will get better, it has to. I guess the idea of seeing the surgeon and having to discuss what else has to be done is just a bit overwhelming. The whole TKR is huge, but the very thought that there's more 'stuff' to come - having to contemplate MUA, lysis, or poorly fit or aligned prosthesis is too much right now. Crawling into a dark hole and hiding for a bit sounds much nicer, except of course it's not like I can get comfortable enough to get more than 3 hours sleep at a time. Gah.
It will get better, it has to. I guess the idea of seeing the surgeon and having to discuss what else has to be done is just a bit overwhelming. The whole TKR is huge, but the very thought that there's more 'stuff' to come - having to contemplate MUA, lysis, or poorly fit or aligned prosthesis is too much right now. Crawling into a dark hole and hiding for a bit sounds much nicer, except of course it's not like I can get comfortable enough to get more than 3 hours sleep at a time. Gah.
Reebok
member
3 hrs seems like a giftwrapped present. Wish I could sleep that long!
Only reply when I have something to offer, plenty of people here who know more than I do!
I may be nieve and innocent, but my approach has been to accept the good things with joy, and just find a way to deal with the rest.
Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum
Only reply when I have something to offer, plenty of people here who know more than I do!
I may be nieve and innocent, but my approach has been to accept the good things with joy, and just find a way to deal with the rest.
Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum
tiredwife
alpha
Sorry things are tough right now. From what I've learned here, if you are truly stuck an MUA can be helpful. I think the debate is over when is the time right. We've had some members with good results with an MUA.
I hope your OS has some answers for you.
I hope your OS has some answers for you.
