TKR Bethsail’s LTKR Journey January 10, 2018

[sistersinhim]

Today I just worked harder.

If you work harder your swelling will increase and your ROM will go down. You don't have to work at all, just do what you are doing! How many times on here have you heard doctors threaten their patients with a MUA if not by so and so by so and so. It's baloney. It is just another way for them to earn a quick buck! Granted, there are a very few people that do need a MUA, but not at less than a month like you are. That is ridiculous! There is no time limit that a MUA can work. That's baloney, too!

Don't let your OS get you down. You are doing fantastic for as young as your knee is! It's just 2 weeks old, for goodness sake! All you should be doing is walking back and forth to the kitchen and bathroom and bedroom! I didn't even go anywhere for 4 weeks! Don't let anyone tell you that you aren't doing great! Cause you are!

 

[bethsail]

Thanks Jockette! I’m at 85 now so I’m sure I’ll hit their milestones. I’m feeling better emotionally about it. I go to outpatient PT to tomorrow morning so I’ll have a better handle on where I am in my rehab.


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[bethsail]

So outpatient PT was awesome. My Therapist basically said the same thing you all said, I am doing great and I’ll get there. And guess what, we did: over 90 naturally using gravity with no pain! Much better than pushing it. We spent two hours working everything and I feel great. Thanks for all the positive comments. It means a lot.


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[sistersinhim]

90 degrees at 2 weeks is great! Most doctors expect that at 6 weeks! You go, girl!

 

[Jockette]

What all did you do for 2 hours at PT? My sessions were never that long, usually not even a full hour.

 

[bethsail]

What all did you do for 2 hours at PT? My sessions were never that long, usually not even a full hour.

Heat, all the standard home exercises (quad sets, leg arcs, straight leg raises, heel slides—using the wall, to name a few) she also massaged my calf and foot, propped up my knee with a wedge to allow it to flex naturally, exercise bike working my knee forward and back. Then ice to finish off. I also did some cardio on the hand bike (20 min). So the actual PT is about 90 minutes.


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[bethsail]

So today was one of those one step back days where I learned that my mind is ahead of my body and I need to slow down. I have been driving some so today I figured I would do some errands. Needed a script refill and more Tylenol so hey let’s go inside CVS. Etc etc. Bad idea. 3/4 through my tasks, I realized I was wiped. I also had some bleeding—just a few drops — from the incision. Not good when you’re on blood thinners. So I quickly deferred a few items, came home, and got elevated with ice. I was so swollen I could not complete my home exercises. Hard lesson to learn. There is a delicate balance between increasing activity and proper rehab. I am taking it easy tomorrow. Just PT and one to do no longer than an hour until next week.


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[sistersinhim]

You don't need to do PT until that knee settles down. The swelling is a sign that you are doing way too much. All you should be doing is resting, icing, elevating and taking your meds. Please baby that infant knee of yours.

 

[LuckyKY]

Thanks for sharing... I’m just a little behind you and haven’t yet done any PT or “official” exercises but feel that I’m doing well all in all. Hope you bounce back today after lots of elevation and icing!

 

[Jockette]

That’s a lot of exercises for a 3 week old knee!

 

[KarriB]

The first month was all about elevation, ice and rest for me. The more the knee swells the harder everything is. Take it easy and give your new knee some time to heal. It will thank you with less pain and less swelling.

 

[Gill0416]

I’m having terrible nerve pain too. Went to bed with several medication patches last night. Someone told me that it could possible be spinal fluid leakage from the epidural (spinal anasteshia) Hope you are feeling better!

 

[bethsail]

Thanks Gilk0416! Some days are better than others with the nerve pain. Yesterday was pretty bad but I also really overworked myself. Today I was much more conservative with my activity. Two hours of PT and one hour of housework/chores (I live alone ) mother rest of the time I took it easy and practiced RICE (rest ice compression and elevation) . The numbness and sensitivity in my right thigh have not changed since I was in the hospital. I’m on Gabapentin and that has helped. It took me a while to figure out the correct dose. Depends who you ask what caused it. My GP said failed spinal— surgeon said could be trauma fro surgery in general or that. Good luck!


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[bethsail]

Reset day. Today I listened to my body and really dialed back all this activity. One big item per day. Tomorrow I have a friend bringing me dinner and I have to go out for my blood draw. I am sticking to delivery groceries and amazon. Call friends and have them come help with laundry etc. was tired and went to bed at 8pm and of course I’m now awake LOL. Pain level was good today.


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[KarriB]

Taking it easy today is the way to go. Too much activity early on makes for a sore knee. My friends came over with food, to do laundry and just visit. It was nice and I could fold while elevating. My sister did the grocery shopping for me as there’s wasnt any online/pickup at the time.

 

[SusieShoes]

Resting, elevating and icing is the way to go right now. It's amazing how just a little errand or a couple of chores can wipe a person out at this point. Even a little activity will do it, so it pays to portion that activity carefully. This period won't last forever, just another couple months at worst. Of course, patience is tough to get right, especially when we start feeling mentally up to doing things.

I was well past four weeks before I undertook a long grocery trip. Took a long nap after it, too! Hope you're taking lots of naps.

 

[sistersinhim]

Two hours of PT and one hour of housework/chores

Oh my goodness, that is way too much on a knee that's less than a month old. I know what it's like to have to take care of yourself, but going to pt is enough for one day. Or better yet, do your chores and skip PT. You don't need it anyway will all you're already doing.

 

[bethsail]

Thanks for all your help tamping me down. I’m learning to take it easy. I accepted a ride out to dinner tonight. I had a great day of PT today, really pleased with the progress I’ve made this last week since going to outpatient PT. I’ll skip errands and go to outpatient PT! Very pleased ROM is at 102 with gentle therapy. I have really taken all the advice here to heart and split my heel slides/ROM type activities throughout the day. I got some great news today that the pharma team is pleased with my Coumadin levels and My bi weekly blood draws are over. I am to stop the Coumadin next Wednesday and no longer need to wear the compression stockings. Hooray!


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[jboles]

Great report. Your ROM is excellent and no more compression stockings

 

[bethsail]

Today I hit another milestone— a complete rotation on the stationary bike! Felt so good. Finally got my beige compression stockings that I ordered on line— the shipping was sooo slow.... but they look so much better than the white TED hose and are similar compression. I stop wearing them in two days but I enjoy having them on. Incision is healing nicely but having a lot of pain on the inside of the knee. The ice is helping—I ice almost anytime I’m not up and about. Overall a good day.


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