TKR Bionic knee #2 done 1-21-15
- Thread starter Awriterafoot
- Start date
- Status
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
Ha! No guilt allowed. I write all the time anyway, so it gives me something to do on these long, boring days!!
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
I had a fairly rocky night last night, achy and restless and up at 3:30 for nearly an hour. Woke up with a gloomy mood hanging over me. It was very snowy and I couldn't get out to walk, which usually cures it. I'm just getting to the restless stage now--I want to return to my normal life. Go to the gym and swim and drive myself around. The trouble is, I'm not really all that far along yet, and every time I try to cut back very far on the drugs, the knee reminds me of everything we had done.
Patience is not my strong suit and I might have used a bunch of it on the first knee (which was achy today with the weather). But time is what it takes to heal, and that's what I must remember. Time, patience. Eye on the prize--healthy knees!
Barbara
Patience is not my strong suit and I might have used a bunch of it on the first knee (which was achy today with the weather). But time is what it takes to heal, and that's what I must remember. Time, patience. Eye on the prize--healthy knees!
Barbara
TexasTee
post-grad
I know you are right...in my head...the rest of me wants to DO SOMETHING! I did feel better yesterday upping my regular PT to include some upper body workout as well - whatever we can do to distract from the never ending sitting. You'd think rest, ice and elevation would be nearly a vacation, instead it feels like punishment!
Homeport
senior
I had physio today 4weeks exactly post op and my flex is 110 and leg about 2 in terms of not straight yet but was told vast improvement on walking overall good day
My nights are so disturbed too finding a good sleeping position knowing on back and leg straight is best for knee but not for best sleep cannot wait to be able to get in bed and sleep anyway I want
How is the writing going
20/01/2015
My nights are so disturbed too finding a good sleeping position knowing on back and leg straight is best for knee but not for best sleep cannot wait to be able to get in bed and sleep anyway I want
How is the writing going
20/01/2015
referee54
Former BoneSmart staff member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2007
- Messages
- 17,577
- Age
- 72
- Location
- Northern Part of the Buckeye State
- Gender
- Male
- Country
United States
Next to the length of my recovery after my BTKR, sleep issues followed closely at the second most frustrating aspect of the recovery.
I could not get comfortable---it was not pain, but I could never really find a comfortable position. I would wander about the house looking for a place in which I could get comfortable.
I actually found this forum on one of my late-night forays onto the internet!
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
Tim, me too, on finding the forum on a late night foray on the internet. I still come in here when I can't sleep. Cup of herbal tea, bonesmart, then I feel better and go back to sleep.
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
I had first PT today and it was old home week because I have the same team I had the first time around. My main PT was just astonished at how far ahead I am this time over last, in all measurements except one. ROM on the straight end is poor, but that happened last time, too, and ROM on the other knee is fine now. She did say that 125-130 was about as much as anyone got after a KR. Has anyone proved that wrong?
Very tired tonight, but expected it. The good news is that I forgot to take meds before and it was not a problem. I was starving to death by the time I got back, though, and shaky, and definitely ready for meds by then. I will either sleep really well, or the restlessness will be stirred up. Either way, hey I'm home, I don't have to work, so I can nap if I wish. (Hey! Good news!)
Good idea on the upper body work, @TexasTee. I have some weights downstairs I could have my husband drag them up. I'm doing the tai chi warm up everyday and walking---up to 4500 steps, whoo too!--but it snowed and now the sidewalks are frozen.
Very tired tonight, but expected it. The good news is that I forgot to take meds before and it was not a problem. I was starving to death by the time I got back, though, and shaky, and definitely ready for meds by then. I will either sleep really well, or the restlessness will be stirred up. Either way, hey I'm home, I don't have to work, so I can nap if I wish. (Hey! Good news!)
Good idea on the upper body work, @TexasTee. I have some weights downstairs I could have my husband drag them up. I'm doing the tai chi warm up everyday and walking---up to 4500 steps, whoo too!--but it snowed and now the sidewalks are frozen.
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
Hi, @Homeport. (what's your first name, by the way?)
I'm sympathetic on the sleep issues. I had a good night's sleep last night and it was great, and I remembered that this part doesn't last forever, either.
I'm sleeping some on my side now, BTW. I think at this point, it's okay, and I know I sleep so much better that way. I have a body pillow that's very soft and between that and another pillow, I can usually find something to support the knee and let me sleep awhile.
Wrote 1203 words today. How about you? Did you get back to it?
I'm sympathetic on the sleep issues. I had a good night's sleep last night and it was great, and I remembered that this part doesn't last forever, either.
I'm sleeping some on my side now, BTW. I think at this point, it's okay, and I know I sleep so much better that way. I have a body pillow that's very soft and between that and another pillow, I can usually find something to support the knee and let me sleep awhile.
Wrote 1203 words today. How about you? Did you get back to it?
TexasTee
post-grad
Hi Barbara - glad you had old home week at PT - that makes it so much nicer, doesn't it? Knowing what to expect is half the anxiety.
I certainly have no evidence of more ROM than that personally, but I've seen several people post of higher numbers 135-140's - I'm hoping I can be a miracle baby in that area, it would make yoga much, much easier! My Non op leg is 148 if I recall - can sit flat on it with no issue, whatever that might be.
Some of it has to do with what you have before the op - I asked my OS last time and when he put the device in my knee he was able to move my leg back far enough to touch my rear so it's in the realm of possibility, at least.
I certainly have no evidence of more ROM than that personally, but I've seen several people post of higher numbers 135-140's - I'm hoping I can be a miracle baby in that area, it would make yoga much, much easier! My Non op leg is 148 if I recall - can sit flat on it with no issue, whatever that might be.
Some of it has to do with what you have before the op - I asked my OS last time and when he put the device in my knee he was able to move my leg back far enough to touch my rear so it's in the realm of possibility, at least.
Homeport
senior
Hi my first name is Sue I went to physio yesterday and she was pleased she applied pressure to my leg to get it straighter and have paid for it by a very disturbed evening and night hoping hydrotherapy today will help
That is brilliant amount of writing I have dragged open laptop and feel inspired
20/01/2015
That is brilliant amount of writing I have dragged open laptop and feel inspired
20/01/2015
@Awriterafoot and @Homeport I would not worry that much about ROM at this point if you can get to 120 you can basically do anything and it seems to be getting better just through daily activities..last week I knelt down without thinking something I have not done for a long time and even got up!!! and last night while sitting in my recliner, The Fortress of Solitude, I picked up a book and crossed my legs with an ankle on a thigh and read for 5 minutes before realizing what I was doing......I have not been to physio since week 6 and rely on golf,stretching and things I do on my own like little squats and lunges...@texastee Teresa is right about upper body even if it only light weight for upper arms to help get up from chairs,toilet,etc and I keep little dumb bells nearby if watching the news or something ... I continue to be amazed at the little things you can do as the recovery goes on....
Vinny
Vinny
Last edited by a moderator:
janmont
member
Hi @Awriterafoot , I can't beleive you can walk so many steps. I am one day ahead of you and I can't walk nearly as much as that. Good for you! Does it bother you with pain and swelling when you do walk?
TexasTee
post-grad
Hi Barbara - sounds like you might have a fitbit? I love mine - it's nice, even when the numbers are much lower than I'm used too, to have it and be able to track my progress. I really like the sleep feature and do you know, I'm actually sleeping more soundly after the surgery than I was before? Amazing! I'm less enthused by the fact that it has not registered even ONE "active" minute since the day prior to the op...it's a challenge 
@janmont - I think you'd be surprised by the number of steps you put in, even just doing what you need to around the house.
@janmont - I think you'd be surprised by the number of steps you put in, even just doing what you need to around the house.
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
@Homeport Sue, that's one of the things I've set a limit on--I don't let them do that to my knee now. It really does make it aggravated, and I'm happy to compromise and let gravity do the work with prone hangs and bracing it on a pillow and letting it straighten itself. Sorry you had to pay that price.
Yes, I love my FitBit, @TexasTee. I have the Zip because I hate having anything on my wrists when I work, but this is my third one (killed the last one in the washing machine--funny, it didn't like going through the cycle), so I don't measure sleep with it. But it's good to see the step count going up, even if I don't have ANY active minutes. Oh, wait, one day I got 2.
I'd like to get to more ROM than 125 for similar reasons. This PT tends to be a little gloomy. She forbade kneeling, too, but my surgeon said it's fine if you can do it.
@janmont, I'm with Teresa on this--I bet you are walking many more steps than you think. It's been very cold and icy here so I haven't been out to actually take a walk and I still logged 2500 steps each day or more. Also, we all progress at different speeds, and I have been a serious, long distance walker for a couple of decades, so it's my thing.
Thanks for that feedback, @vinny. That's encouraging that you squatted and got back up without thinking! LOL on The Fortress of Solitude. The island of recovery. Ha.
Yes, I love my FitBit, @TexasTee. I have the Zip because I hate having anything on my wrists when I work, but this is my third one (killed the last one in the washing machine--funny, it didn't like going through the cycle), so I don't measure sleep with it. But it's good to see the step count going up, even if I don't have ANY active minutes. Oh, wait, one day I got 2.
I'd like to get to more ROM than 125 for similar reasons. This PT tends to be a little gloomy. She forbade kneeling, too, but my surgeon said it's fine if you can do it.
@janmont, I'm with Teresa on this--I bet you are walking many more steps than you think. It's been very cold and icy here so I haven't been out to actually take a walk and I still logged 2500 steps each day or more. Also, we all progress at different speeds, and I have been a serious, long distance walker for a couple of decades, so it's my thing.
Thanks for that feedback, @vinny. That's encouraging that you squatted and got back up without thinking! LOL on The Fortress of Solitude. The island of recovery. Ha.
Homeport
senior
I agree I am not letting them do that again I paid with restless evening and sleepless night and today had hydrotherapy that went far better no stress run by the hospital were I had my op the physio said go at your own pace don't do anything that is hurting
My main concern is I seem to be unable to keep much down in the evenings
Your physio seemed to go well
@vinny I agree about every one having own pace
20/01/2015
My main concern is I seem to be unable to keep much down in the evenings
Your physio seemed to go well
@vinny I agree about every one having own pace
20/01/2015
Last edited by a moderator:
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
OP
OP
Awriterafoot
member
Ugh..feeling the drugs a bit today. They make me emotional and a little depressed, I think. Can't wait to be free of them. A couple weeks more. Have dropped to half original dose, but can't seem to get much lower. I might ask if I can switch to Vicodin. It didn't seem to make me feel so erratic.
In the good news, I walked 6200 steps today--and got 29 active minutes! Yay! I didn't really intend to walk so far, but it was bright and sunny and there are lots of places I can cut off and come home, so I walked until I got tired, then came in and had lunch and a nap. It's a bit hot tonight, maybe a little cranky, but not bad. We'll see how things are in the morning. Going to lunch with a friend, which will be really great.
In the good news, I walked 6200 steps today--and got 29 active minutes! Yay! I didn't really intend to walk so far, but it was bright and sunny and there are lots of places I can cut off and come home, so I walked until I got tired, then came in and had lunch and a nap. It's a bit hot tonight, maybe a little cranky, but not bad. We'll see how things are in the morning. Going to lunch with a friend, which will be really great.
- Status
