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TKR Claudia's Recovery

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Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Tomorrow I will happily be at 5 weeks. I had a great PT session this morning, felt so loose and bendy, and the therapist has started asking me if she can go further when she bends fhe knee. I left feeling like I'd made progress instead of beat up. Knee stayed somewhat loose most of the day but by tonight it was back in charge, stiff and stubborn. I'm icing now and resting. Baby steps every day. While I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I believe there is a definite glow!
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Quoted by CLaudia: While I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I believe there is a definite glow!

Such positive vibes :flowerysmile: ---I like that optimism. I think this makes a huge difference in a person's recovery. Am happy to see that you're doing well with just the usual bumps.

Keep us posted. We care.:cat-kittyandsmiley: Judy
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

:thumb: That's the way to do it!!! Slow and gentle, then a little push, ice and rest....repeat.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

:thumb:
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Just wanted to say to everyone the "no paIn = more gain" Bonesmart philosophy is so accurate. Ever since I slowed down and stopped worrying about my progress I'm improving so much. Had another productive PT session this morning. The knee felt so much looser, no pain (just discomfort), and my therapists eyes got wide when she saw how much easier I was bending. Also for the very first time I was able to lay on my back and raise my straight leg up off the table with no assistance. I did it 20 times and no pain! Just Monday I couldn't even do it 1x without help. I wanted to jump for joy! That was my proof that when the knee is ready to do something, it WILL happen. You cannot force anything.

Anyone out there having doubts about following the Bonesmart philosophy, please give it a try. Your knee will benefit but also your stress level will go way down.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Claudia,

These Bonesmarties really know what they are talking about. Funny how the revalation hits us, when we see the progress we make. Logic just does not seem to have a part in play of knee recovery. But when it hits we all tend to relly stick with it.

This doesn't mean you won't still overdo it a time or too. The only way to really know if you can do something is to try if it hurts don't do it again for awhile.

So good to hear your PT went so well today, you really need to give yourself a pat on the back youachieved a great accomplishment. These things may seem so small to some but to the recoverer they really are huge.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

Good for you ! Keep it up !
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

CLaudia said:
Knee stayed somewhat loose most of the day but by tonight it was back in charge, stiff and stubborn. I'm icing now and resting. Baby steps every day.
Click to expand...


You are absolutely correct! Tiny steps---my knees would be fine in the morning, and I would think..."Is this the day that everything falls into place?" Then, by noon or 2:000PM, the stiffness, the soreness, and the limp would set back in.

Icing/resting/elevating are all very wise---these things can tax our patience---just keep looking and moving forward, and you will reach your destination.
 
Re: Forum Newbie - 4 Weeks/2 Days Later

You're so right, I'm stiff again tonight, but icing and elevating and taking pain meds. I do think every morning, "maybe this is the day". My knee replies "Not so fast Sister, I'm in charge here"!! :snork:
 
I think I've been feeling so good that I've been overdoing it. Yesterday I went to physical therapy, then home for a nap, and then to my Goddaughters dance recital. I was there for 4 hours, and did a lot of sitting and walking around. By time I got home my leg was quite swollen all the way down to the toes and I was exhausted. I could hear Josephine in my head reprimanding me not to overdo! Today I'm planning a lot of rest and ice and nothing more than gentle stretches. It will be a quiet Saturday for me.
 
That is actually very easy to do. We begin to think that we have been in recovery long enough and we begin to feel really good---and just push it a little too far. I would bet that almost all of us have done that.

You are wise to take it easy and ice/elevate/rest.
 
^true. And sometimes sitting for long periods without elevating can be as bad as activity in the early days.
A quiet Saturday sounds good. You sort of figure this stuff out as you go.
 
Hi Claudia,
So good to read your positive reports. I know what you mean about sitting, I still have trouble sitting for more that 30 minutes. Get very, very stiff. I am 5 weeks and 1 day out now...still have more bad days than good ones, but little by little I think I am making progress. My OS told me I did not need anymore PT, and I am very thankful for that, I have really good flexion, and extension, can walk with a cane, some steps without it, but still rely on it most of the time. I am riding my bike, walking, stretching, and lots of icing and elevating. still taking med by the clock. I just can't wait for the day when I can get up and walk without any assistance and feel normal again!! I still refer back to the book I mentioned and follow all the exercises in there. Did you get a copy? Hope you had a restful and peaceful day.
 
luvtocamp said:
Hi Claudia,
I just can't wait for the day when I can get up and walk without any assistance and feel normal again!!
Click to expand...

I felt exactly the same way! I kept waiting and wondering if I was ever going to return to normal. It took some time, but it did, indeed happen. In all actuality, it took me about 4 months to get close to that "normal" and 5-5 1/2 months really feel "great. It wasn't until about 8 months that I would say that "normal" was a reality.
 
re: Claudia and Tim: I experienced the results of my over-zealous attitude last night. I had done too much and my body reacted by getting a low grade fever. Today I felt stiff and so I took a pain pill and am icing and elevating and resting. My daughter is coming over to visit but we will spend our time right here in this bedroom with me in bed icing and elevating. I am happy to be recovering and happy to be reminded that my knee is in charge and that my progress will not be linear (or predictable).
One day all of this will be behind me. I look forward to that and will try my best to enjoy this process as I move through it.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl
 
At almost 6 weeks post-op, here are some observations/questions:
1. There is discussion of this on another thread, but one thing I'm noticing is that tight rubber band feeling. For me it's more in the front of the knee. Not really painful, just a strange feeling. When does that usually disappear?
2. I've never slept so much in my life. I have seen Josephine's energy drain pictures so I understand it's normal, but I've never been one to nap and now I can nod off any time of the day, and I'm talking deep sleep!
3. My appetite is nowhere near normal. That's not necessarily a bad thing as I need to take off some lbs, but at times I have to force myself to eat. If I do feel hungry, it doesnt take much to fill me up. Have others at this stage felt the same?
Thanks all, it's great to have a place to find answers!
 
CLaudia said:
At almost 6 weeks post-op, here are some observations/questions:
1. There is discussion of this on another thread, but one thing I'm noticing is that tight rubber band feeling. For me it's more in the front of the knee. Not really painful, just a strange feeling. When does that usually disappear?
3. I've never slept so much in my life. I have seen Josephine's energy drain pictures so I understand it's normal, but I've never been one to nap and now I can nod off any time of the day, and I'm talking deep sleep!
4. My appetite is nowhere near normal. That's not necessarily a bad thing as I need to take off some lbs, but at times I have to force myself to eat. If I do feel hungry, it doesnt take much to fill me up. Have others at this stage felt the same?
Thanks all, it's great to have a place to find answers!
Click to expand...

1. Many folks have written of the "rubber band feeling around/across the knees. I had them myself---they are actually quite normal and will go away in time with the stretching and gentle exercising. Here is a current thread that deals with what you may be feeling: TKR Tight rubber bands at 5 weeks

3. Sleeping like that is also very, very normal and to be accepted. For starters, you have been on pain meds and they knock you out. Secondly, your body has experienced some very serious surgical trauma, and it is focusing a great deal of energy on healing; the rest of the body takes short shrift then. I slept a great deal and would get very tired very easily. Think about where your body is sending all of the nutrients and energy---i also believe that you expend alot of "nervous energy" during this healing process, too.

4. Your appetite is also at the mercy of pain meds, too---food didn't taste very good to me, and i didn't every really feel hungry; it was quite some time until i actually enjoyed the taste of some of my favorite foods. For what it was worth, the Thanksgiving of 1997---the one about three weeks after my BTKR---was the pits---it was the worst one that I have ever had. I was in a drug-induced haze and food ---all very delicious---didn't have any taste at all. I slept and slept (refer to #3). It really took me about seven-eight weeks before I actually began to enjoy food.

2. I haven't figured out how to answer this one as it is a toughie---I will get back to you, though...:snork::biggrin::snork::biggrin:
 
Tim, thank you for the laugh! The meds affect many things! I wasn't thinking they would affect the appetite, but I guess it does make sense. I've never been one to take pills so maybe they are hitting me quite hard!
 
Ah, come one---you changed your post!!!! I am calling "No Fair!!!"

Rest assured that what you are feeling is quite normal. I went through very much the same things that you are going through. I would watch TVLand in the afternoon and doze through episodes of Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

I also, even at seven weeks or so, would get rather tired even by taking a short jaunt in my truck to the store---even that would wipe me out.
 
As for the appetite ...I think many of us go through this . But, sadly (at least for those many of us struggling to lose weight) it definitely comes back -or at least it has for me...suddenly I'm ravenous:biggrin: . Probably has lots to do with being able to exercise and walk after such a long time -so I'm not complaining. You're doing fine. Just keep it up !
 
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