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Bless you all from a Newbie !

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Pookerbear

new member
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
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Age
68
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I had my left knee replaced 8 1/2 weeks ago, and last week I suddenly developed an excruciating pain behind that knee I'd never felt before. I live alone, and in order to fight the combination of panic and depression, I began googling knee pain post-surgery and came across this wonderful forum! I have been "lurking" for the last week, reading page after page of posts from 2007 (my search results somehow brought me to one of the older pages, and I was initially too busy devouring all the old posts to find my way to the main site until tonight). I registered in order to thank everyone who posts to this forum; you have all been a source of inspiration, information, and comfort to me.

As for me, I am progressing daily...I had the unfortunate luck to have the nerve which runs along the outside of the knee hyper-extended during my surgery, and have lost all feeling from about mid-calf on the outside of my leg, down my ankle, across the top of my foot, and in my big toe. Because I've lost both motor and sensory nerves, I have no control over the muscles in my ankle, leaving it weak and prone to buckling on me. As for my big toe...who knew it played such a critical role in being able to put a shoe on! LOL!! I've been forced into wearing Crocs as much as possible, simply because they have a strategically placed hole I can stick a finger in to lift my big toe up and flatten it out to match the other four! As my foot slides into any kind of footwear, the big toe touches the bottom of the insole, and starts to bend under with the forward motion, and I have no ability to lift the toe up!

I am returning to work next Monday, and am concerned about being able to put in an 8 hour day right off the bat! I have an office job, so I spend most of my time at my desk working on a computer, so it isn't like I will be doing any physical labor, but I guess I'm just a little afraid to be going back to work after 8 weeks off. Anyone have any advice, anectdotes, cautions, concerns or general words of wisdom?

Thanks again to everyone past and present for letting me know that while I may live alone, I don't have to go through my recovery alone!
 
Welcome to the forum Pookerbear :-) Glad you have been able to get some comfort and knowlwdge. I lurked for a few weeks last year. I am a year out now. I just can't leave all my "friends" here, it's like a big old happy family.
Sorry to hear about the nerve damage, have you tried a long handled shoe horn to help with your shoes? Have they said if you will get your feelings back eventually? Are you having some physio still?

Jo will give you advice on the return to work thing, it sounds soon to me, I would say 12 weeks at least and then part time. I think Jo has a chart somewhere? Some of the others here returned early though, they used a skate board under the computer desk to keep their foot on and pushed it back and forth to keep it from seizing up. You will need to get up and walk around every so often too. Then elevate and ice during your breaks.

Good luck and keep posting. And some ((((HUGS)))) for being alone.
 
Thanks, and yes, I still have physical therapy three times a week, hopefully for another two weeks. I originally was scheduled for four weeks, which end this Friday, but my PT has said he wants to extend it another 2 weeks because of the nerve/ankle issue. I guess I will find out on Friday whether I get to continue or not...

As for the shoehorn, I'm afraid it doesn't help with getting my toe placed properly :) I'm actually becoming more adept and donning shoes by stepping down periodically to force my toe to lay flat...sort of a slide/step, slide/step routine! LOL! All I can say is once a real shoe is on my foot, it doesn't come off until I get into bed :)

A skateboard! Brilliant! I would never have thought of that - thank you! And thank you for the hug...I really needed that tonight :)

- Cathy
 
Hi again Cathy, you are very welcome. I could not have got through recovery without the support of my family and friends and my wonderful friends on this forum.

Perhaps your PT could maybe strap your toe to keep it flat? Don't do this yourself as I don't know if it would cause a problem with circulation? You could ask though. G

Have a good night. More (((HUGS)))) Sue
 
I wouldn't go back straight into full time if you can help it. You need a gradual acclimatisation - a phased return to work - after such a major op. Is it too late to negotiate that with your employer?

I always had employees work something like this ...

week 1: Tues, Thurs 10-3
week 2: Mon, Wed, Fri 10-3
week 3: Tues, Thurs full day
week 4: Mon, Wed, Fri full day
week 5: normal duties

I am glad you have found this forum useful. Always nice to know we are acheiving our objectives!

And welcome to the BoneSmart family!
 
when I had my hysterectomy years ago, I was scheduled to work 1/2 days for two weeks and then it increases 2 hours per week until I'm working a full day.

whatever work schedule that works for you~ and you do need to tell your boss you do need to get up every 1/2 hour to walk around. Sitting for a long period of time is known to cause blood clots, so it's best to take precautions.
 
Well I just opened Padora's Box with mentioning to my employer I may need a little time to work up to a 40 hr week...now my Certification to Return to Work from my surgeon is no longer sufficient as it doesn't state what hours I can work specifically on the form (it just gives the date and what limitations I have upon return). Now I have to go back to my surgeon with a four page FMLA form he needs to complete in minute detail. Sometimes it is a real drag working at a law firm :(
 
Hi Pookerbear (LOVE that name!)....welcome to our crazy but loving family! Sounds like you've gotten some great advice already, but don't hesitate to post as you transition back into work. No doubt someone here will have been through whatever is going on and they'll be able to help. If nothing else....you'll get plenty of virtual hugs, which always help. Here's one from Kansas....(((HUG))))).
 
Pookerbear

I would suggest talking to a podiatrist about the toe and ankle problem. This is the area they specialize in and they might be able to make you some orthotics to help out. I went into by BTKR with a nonunion foot fracture and my podiatrist was able to help out.

Simon
 
Thank you for the great suggestion, Simon...I hadn't even considered a podiatrist. My PT is currently focusing on strengthening that ankle with various exercises, but until the nerve regenerates, there isn't much more we can do, but I didn't think about a podiatrist; I could possible get even a brace of some sort to prevent that ankle from turning in the way it does now so at least it wouldn't buckle and precipitate a fall. I really appreciate your suggestion. Thank you.
 
Well I just opened Padora's Box with mentioning to my employer I may need a little time to work up to a 40 hr week...now my Certification to Return to Work from my surgeon is no longer sufficient as it doesn't state what hours I can work specifically on the form (it just gives the date and what limitations I have upon return). Now I have to go back to my surgeon with a four page FMLA form he needs to complete in minute detail. Sometimes it is a real drag working at a law firm :(

Don't worry....I'm sure the surgeon has been through this type of administrative stuff before. Sometimes you just have to go through additional wickets to get to where you need to be.
 
Hi Pookerbear, and welcome!

I'm in my second week back at work (surgery was 11/21/08), and I can tell you it is an adjustment. Like you I'm at a desk job. The main problem is sitting too long.

My PT explained that the ligaments, or muscles or something...(I'm no expert at body parts) that are at the front of your hip area get shortened when sit . So you need to stretch them out during the day. And your knee can get very stiff if you don't mindfully put the foot up, etc. I bought a little mini-cycle for under my desk. It's pretty good for getting the blood circulating, but I have to be careful not to bump my incision as I bring my knee up.

The other problem for me is not being able to lay down and rest when needed. Also, finding the time to exercise when at home. Suddenly there is not enough time for everything you need to do in life.

Best wishes on your return to work, and your recovery.
 
Well I just opened Padora's Box with mentioning to my employer I may need a little time to work up to a 40 hr week...now my Certification to Return to Work from my surgeon is no longer sufficient as it doesn't state what hours I can work specifically on the form (it just gives the date and what limitations I have upon return). Now I have to go back to my surgeon with a four page FMLA form he needs to complete in minute detail. Sometimes it is a real drag working at a law firm :(


A law firm! I'm surprised you weren't already drowning in paper :)

I suggest you chat with your doctor and see if he/she will write a partial return to work schedule Jo suggested on the FMLA form. Then you are much less likely to be turned down. FMLA covers partial returns :)

Seriously--WELCOME to the forum. It's a great group, as you already have discovered.
 
Hi and Welcome Pookerbear! So sorry to hear of all the nonsensical red tape you have to deal with now! Seems like instead of working WITH you, they're working against you! Hope you work things out and concentrate on the most important thing for you now,,,,recuperating!!!! Good luck!!
 
What a lucky break for me! After I posted about my FMLA paperwork nightmare, I decided to take the 4 page form and the Certification to Return to Work sheet my doctor had already completed over to his office. I was hoping to drop off the long form, and see if I could talk someone in the office into adding a note at the bottom to read "May work 4 to 8 hours/daily as tolerated", which I figured should cover me if in my first week or so back to work, I can't make it a whole 8 hours. My HR person tried to scare me by saying if I tried to leave early and didn't have the paperwork to back up my FMLA leave, that they wouldn't pay me for it. "Very strict guidelines"! My tush! I just had my bones sawed off and a prosthetic joint hammered into place as a new knee joint! I think the reason would be pretty obvious if I needed to work a half day once in awhile that it would be related to FMLA leave! But I digress.. :)

I arrived at my doctor's office and had just started to explain I needed a notation at the bottom of my Certification to Work when my surgeon walked up to the front desk and said "what would you like for me to write?" He made the notation verbatim, and then took the FMLA form, sat on the desk, and filled it out while I stood there! THAT was my lucky break! What are the odds of being able to stroll into your doctor's office unannounced on a lark, and find your surgeon not only in, but walking past the reception area, and feeling chatty and friendly and willing to fill out four pages of paperwork on the spot?! Now I can face our HR person Monday morning (hopefully) armed with enough paperwork to choke a horse...or an HR person...for a little while. I know there will be more forms to allow me to return completely full time, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it :)
 
Good job Pookerbear....when the time comes to return to work full time, most OSs have a stack of "Ok to return to work" notes ready at hand...they dealwith this stuff all the time :)
 
Way to go Pooker!!! I'm glad it worked out so well for you and now you can go get that dirty, rotten HR troll!! A pox and double knee surgery on her (has to be a woman, right?)....
 
Way to go Pooker!!! I'm glad it worked out so well for you and now you can go get that dirty, rotten HR troll!! An pox and double knee surgery on her (has to be a woman, right?)....

It absolutely is a woman! And thank you SO much for your characterization (which is dead on accurate) and your support!

More than anything, I don't want to have to waste any more energy on jumping through the hoops this woman loves to put in front of people. She's called me almost daily ostensibly out of concern, and oh, did you know you have to do/have/document/fill out or file blah, blah before you can come back to work? I think I've finally dotted every i and crossed every t she has been able to come up with, so I'm crossing my fingers for a smooth transition back to work! Thank you, Jamie.
 
You're welcome, Pookerbear. We Kneesals must stick together!!
 
Pookerbear,
You had a Angel with you today. I hope now you can just exhale and heal.
And maybe caller ID???? LOL
^i^
 
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