Day 5 and I'm starting to recover physically and emotionally from the manhandling I got yesterday at therapy. I was blessed by the poop fairy so that helped make me feel better.
Tomorrow I go back to PT and will see the therapist I had with my other knee. I know he'll just do some gentle evaluation and show me what exercises he wants me to do and then no more PT until next Tuesday. Should be a better experience than yesterday. Unfortunately since the mangling from the Bad Therapist yesterday I've started having some leg spasms again. If you read anything about my recovery from the LTKR you know those spasms absolutely drove me crazy and made me miserable. I hope they aren't starting up again, but I refuse to panic or worry about it yet. There are enough problems without looking for ones that might not show up.
BTW, I was thinking about the comments about not needing PT and I have to add that when it's done right, PT made me feel better afterwards. It was uncomfortable during the actual therapy (note there is a difference between uncomfortable and excruciating pain) but after I got home my knee and leg felt looser and moved better. I also got great feedback on my gait, how I was doing my exercises, and stuff like that. So I'd like to go and just have to make sure it's the right therapist.
I've been sleeping ok, but only in my recliner. I tried the bed for a few hours the first night I was home and just couldn't get comfortable so I moved to the recliner. I'm ok with that for now - at least I'm getting sleep! I do tend to wake up covered in sweat but I gather that's not unusual after surgery and should stop before long.
Doctor sent me home with 7.5mg Percocet and instructions to take 1or 2 every 4 to 6 hours. I started out taking 2 every 4 hours, which is what I did with the LTKR but I kept getting very itchy and vaguely naseous. Then I remembered that last time they were 5mg so taking 2 was 10mg, and now I was taking 15. That seemed a bit much so I started cutting one in half so I'm taking 11.25mg of Percocet every 4 hours at this point. Still a smidgen high but after yesterday's adventures I'd rather be a bit on the higher side than the lower. After tomorrow's PT I'll see if I can can go to either taking 11.25 every 6 hours or taking 7.5 every 4 hours. I was advised by the insurance company nurse that I should take 2 Advil every 6 hours to help with the swelling, which has been quite bad, in addition to the Percocet so I'll probably try the 7.5 option and see how that works out. Just want to back off the Percocet before too long. I know pain killers are important and don't mean I'm trying to get completely off of them yet - it's way too soon for that! But I don't need to be taking too many either. Just trying to find the right balance.....
Not much appetite yet, but that worries my husband more than it does me. He's doing an awesome job of taking care of me and I just don't know how those of you who don't have a caregiver do it. You certainly have my respect!
Oh - this time the doctor didn't use steri-strips on the incision. Just some type of clear glue that should wear off on its own. So I keep thinking how horrible it looks compared to last time, but last time it was covered for a couple of weeks. If I figure out how, I'll post a pic of it on the thread for scar pictures. It sure is good for generating sympathy from people (those few who have dared to look at it - I don't leave it uncovered in public).
For now I'm doing gentle exercises like foot pumps and butt squeezes and walking around the house when necessary. I even make it a point sometimes to go to the farthest bathroom just for a few more steps of walking. Mostly I'm resting in the recliner with my leg elevated and iced, dozing in and out, watching TV, reading, and playing on the iPad. It feels good to finally got the other one done and be headed into recovery without the thought that I would have to go through all of it again, like I did with the LTKR recovery.
Happy thoughts, fellow BSers!!!
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