Hi Josephine and all,
Thanks SO much for taking the time try and help... I do feel like I've been hung out here with not much help so I really appreciate you all!
My pain level right now is around a 6-8 and today, the knee itself is painful even with weight-bearing, which has definitely not been the case until this morning. No idea what I did to incur its wrath, either!
I am taking Oxicodone 10mg ev. 4 hours and Tylenol Xtra strength ev. 4 hours, and so one or t'other is ev. 2 hours. I am taking Methocarbamol, the muscle relaxer but only at bedtime, at 10pm. I'm taking a stool softener in the evening and enjoying my morning stewed prunes so the digestive system is okay. I've been drinking a quinine-based tonic water, with the fizz allows to dissipate at a nurse friend's recommendation for muscle spasms. I'm taking Rescue Remedy about 3x a day along with hypericum for nerve pain...though cannot ascertain if they are helping or not. Having been dealing with this pain for nearly 4 weeks now, I'm kinda a mess emotionally which is definitely not me! Scaring my spouse, actually, since I'm always the positive upbeat one...
My leg size is between moderate and larger, and bumpy since there a couple of areas adjacent to the incision that are super tender, hit and more swollen than the rest.
No one is measuring my ROM yet as my PT hasn't done so, but I'm probably at 10-120? I'll ask my husband to photograph and measure when he's back from eye doc.
I am icing a lot, most of my waking hours when I'm not up and active, using an ice machine 9the blue cube, I've heard it called) and sometimes ice packs gel packs I borrowed. My PT didn't think the compression socks were adequate so suggested I wear ace bandages (wide, 4" width one) from ankle to above knee 6" when going out and it feels supportive and safer. I'm using the ice machine all night long.
I am elevating the leg constantly, most hours at least at hip level, and at or above heart level all night and every few hours for at least an hour.
My activity level is pitiful! Remember: I operate a wild bird store so am on my feet, normally, constantly, interacting with customers, advising them , encouraging them etc., so my minimal activity is weird! I am walking about the house at least hourly, going out to either visit my kiddos and 5 year-old granddaughter every few days, going to PT office 2-3x a week, occasionally going shopping with DH, have gone out to coffee shop once and had dinner out once, but only when I know I can have a chair to put my leg on once I arrive. I am not driving yet, but we will be taking a more active picking up from school role with my granddaughter next week when my son-in-law is away for a few weeks, so need to be more able to do so!
Exercise at home:
Ankle pumps (involve quads, core and keep foot at right angle) 20 hour ideally
Quad squeezes 10-20 / hour
Butt squeezes 20 / 4x day
Standing Heel raises 10-20 4x day
Heel slides. 10 4x day
Flexbar* stretches (foot on bar 'side of walke!], gently pull top bar toward self, gently bending knee)
10 3x day (when done softly, gently, feels good by end and ROM briefly improves
Counter mini-squats. (Holding counter, dip knees bent to small degree). 10 ev. 2-3x day
(this makes other leg make terrible grinding sound!)
Standing rock 10 2x / day (operated leg bent, forward of other leg, lean forward and hold 5 Sec.)
Rolling bar backs of legs. Using roller bar, run bar up and down backs of legs, sides and, if not too painful, along peroneous longus and tibialis muscles on lower leg (front and lateral side of leg)
I've been in enough pain that I am not doing them all now, but try to do 10 minutes of some at least 3x day...
At PT office, I am being given guidance in very specific ways to do these, i.e. first engage core, then quads, only then bend ankle to do ankle pumps. PT office has hands-on "magic touch" PT, exercise psychologist, massage technician, etc. PT often uses ultrasound on my leg, does strain-counterstrain manipulations, releases neck, back.], etc. if restrictive, etc. She has not been too anxious about ROM until late last week when my lack thereof made her seem anxious to increase my range. I cancelled my appointment today as I am unable to weight bear without pain and if I go, I want to do more than make a darn puddle after managing to get up the steps!
The Flexbar is a tool loaned to me by a friend who, at 4 weeks after her surgery 2 years ago was out camping at her 4 week mark already! It's a side of a walker cut off the rest with a somewhat lower cross bar to use to increase and hold one's stretch. My friend made her own from a Goodwill walker she bought for, like $5, but here is a link:
http://totalkneereplacementrecivery.net/fast-recovery/
I think that answers the questions...
I am going to my PCP doc today to see what she suggests, if there is something that will help reduce the pain and give me my life back ...
Thank you all for your support and sympathy!