juniper
senior
Debbie, thinking about you. Nothing like new medical issues to put our own in perspective. Take care, and as you look out for, and visit others, remember to keep taking good care of yourself.
TKR Debbie1954
- Thread starter Debbie_joints
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Debbie_joints
post-grad
United StatesI know I shouldn't even be thinking about something this trivial, but to me it does cause concern. I will tag Josephine and see what she says about it. I have worked hard to lose over 70 pounds since Dec and have kept it off for several months. Was worried about the knee replacement and not being able to exercise like I was, but so far it was good and I was at the lowest in 30 years. Now I start on Ibuprofen and in just a few days I am up 3 pounds. This is not the first time it has happened to me. Whenever I use Ibuprofen I gain weight. I even talked to the pharmacist about it and he said it is not normal to gain from it, but said it could happen. Of course I will stay on it until I get to where I need to be. So wondering why this happens and hoping that it will level off. I have worked hard and hate to see something like this make me gain and then I get in a bad mood.
Ibuprofen can cause fluid retention, I just read this. If that's the case, then you aren't getting "fat", just retaining more water. Keep an eye on your ankles. I don't know how the benefits of ibuprofen for inflammation balances out with potential fluid retention. Seems at odds with each other.
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
That's right, Janet.
In that case, Debbie, why don't you take Tylenol instead? It's a much better pain med than ibuprofen anyway. Take 1,000mg up to 4 times a day and you should be fine with no fluid retention.
In that case, Debbie, why don't you take Tylenol instead? It's a much better pain med than ibuprofen anyway. Take 1,000mg up to 4 times a day and you should be fine with no fluid retention.
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Debbie_joints
post-grad
Josephine, I am taking Tylenol already and up to about the 4000 mark when you add in what is in my hydrocodon that I take at night. I will only take the Ibuprofen while I am going to physical therapy and hopefully that will be over with next week. The Ibuprofen is suppose to help with inflammation, but if it makes me gain water weight, can't see how it helps.
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Debbie_joints
post-grad
Brrrrrrrrrrrr you know the icing of the knee isn't bad when it is hot out, but the temps are going down and I didn't turn the furnace on yet as it is still 68 in the house, but boy, you add the ice to the knee and it is cold. So just adding another layer and trying to stay warm.
RestAssured
alpha
Well, I am trying to work up some sympathy for you but...... Nope! 
We are still in the high 90's with no relief in sight! The Mosquitos are feasting on me at my sisters, and my luck will be that I come up with west Nile virus next!
We are still in the high 90's with no relief in sight! The Mosquitos are feasting on me at my sisters, and my luck will be that I come up with west Nile virus next!
OP
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Debbie_joints
post-grad
SONJA, I am going to put soap in your mouth if you keep saying stuff like that. No mosquito better come near you. I was just complaining how hot a summer we had, and now boom, cold it is. Freeze watch or warning for tomorrow night. Guess the furnace will have to be turned on. Next week sounds better though. Now go spray yourself down with deet.
RestAssured
alpha
Yes, Debbie! I am heading towards the bug spray as I type! 
Dhare63
post-grad
Sonja, I don't know how you manage with the heat. My sisters and their families all live in south Texas, specifically near Bay City, and every time I visit, I melt. I just can't hack it. I was there in April and stayed at Surfside Beach, it was muggy and my knee was very unhappy. I like to visit but wow, I sweat so bad!
Debbie, it's 40 degrees here in Vermont this morning. I ice my knee every morning and night, but because it is so cool these last few days, I wrap the knee in ice, then get under my nice warm fleece blanket. My husband thinks I'm nuts, he's probably right but it works for me!
Be well,
Dawn
Debbie, it's 40 degrees here in Vermont this morning. I ice my knee every morning and night, but because it is so cool these last few days, I wrap the knee in ice, then get under my nice warm fleece blanket. My husband thinks I'm nuts, he's probably right but it works for me!
Be well,
Dawn
OP
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Debbie_joints
post-grad
Dhare, I have a down filled comforter that I ususally save for the dead of winter that I have out already. I think we will have to head to Arizona early this year (that will never happen).
I am going to have a fun day today, my 3 year old grandson is coming this afternoon and staying overnight with grandma and bumpa. Now that should take our minds off of our aches and pains.
I am going to have a fun day today, my 3 year old grandson is coming this afternoon and staying overnight with grandma and bumpa. Now that should take our minds off of our aches and pains.
RestAssured
alpha
Dawn,
When I was teaching, and before I met my hubby, I told everyone who would listen, that I was retiring in Vermont! My Mom said she would visit me in the summer. Now, I have a husband who is partial to warmer weather also, so I guess my retirement dreams have floated out the window!
When I was teaching, and before I met my hubby, I told everyone who would listen, that I was retiring in Vermont! My Mom said she would visit me in the summer. Now, I have a husband who is partial to warmer weather also, so I guess my retirement dreams have floated out the window!
OP
OP
Debbie_joints
post-grad
Just wondering when you all were going through physical therapy, did your therapist use massage or that ultra sound machine (or whatever that is). Mine hasn't done or used that at all. I have been trying to massage my leg in the evening after my shower but don't know if I am doing the right thing. My sister who had a replacement said her therapist actually massaged her incision too and she said it hurt, but he said it was breaking scar tissue. Wondering if I should find a massage therapist or not.
Nyland
post-grad
Hi Debbie!
My at home PT massaged the side and it helped to loosen. My out patient PT told me to massage and add heat. I have massaged it myself before bed with coconut oil, then the heating pad for a few minutes. I don't think it is helping to loosen things up. Like you, I have no idea what i am doing.
My at home PT massaged the side and it helped to loosen. My out patient PT told me to massage and add heat. I have massaged it myself before bed with coconut oil, then the heating pad for a few minutes. I don't think it is helping to loosen things up. Like you, I have no idea what i am doing.
Jebsw
graduate
With my first knee, the PT did do some sort of massage over the incision to loosen scar tissue, as your sister said. It seemed to help. Im trying to do a bit of that on this knee myself, but I don't feel I'm very good at it. On one visit when the regular person was away, her fill-in did a fuller type of massage. My leg felt quite different afterwards, but I'm not sure if it was good different or bad different.
It's a cool, blustery fall day here. 15 degrees (Celsius). Wonderful!
It's a cool, blustery fall day here. 15 degrees (Celsius). Wonderful!
Jebsw
graduate
Debbie,
Here's a link to an excerpt from from the book that many people here recommend, Total Knee Replacement and Rehabilitation, on how to do scar massage:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=PM...&sa=X&ei=ahdeUO4oyavKAdXFgIAN&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAg
Here's a link to an excerpt from from the book that many people here recommend, Total Knee Replacement and Rehabilitation, on how to do scar massage:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=PM...&sa=X&ei=ahdeUO4oyavKAdXFgIAN&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAg
KathyH
post-grad
Glad your husband has got his surgery date for his back, Debbie.
I have stopped taking Ibuprofen as I think it was that that gave me the chronic constipation, so it does seem to have all sorts of side effects.
I have stopped taking Ibuprofen as I think it was that that gave me the chronic constipation, so it does seem to have all sorts of side effects.
Dhare63
post-grad
Sonja, Vermont is a wonderful place to live, but it does get challenging in winter sometimes. The weather is cooler now which is great. This time of year, it's macaroni and cheese, beef stew in the crock pot, chili, etc. I will definitely be retiring here, if I ever get to retire!
Debbie, my pt used both ultrasound and massage, after both surgeries. Massaging the scar does help keep your kneecap moving, and the ultrasound was used one day after I had quite a bit of pain which helped a bit. Deep tissue massage was done on my calf and hamstring which I really liked, it helped stretch my really tight muscles.
Take care,
Dawn
Debbie, my pt used both ultrasound and massage, after both surgeries. Massaging the scar does help keep your kneecap moving, and the ultrasound was used one day after I had quite a bit of pain which helped a bit. Deep tissue massage was done on my calf and hamstring which I really liked, it helped stretch my really tight muscles.
Take care,
Dawn
RestAssured
alpha
Debbie,
Katie massages my scar, and also does lymph edema treatments. It has helped a lot to break up the scar tissue.
Katie massages my scar, and also does lymph edema treatments. It has helped a lot to break up the scar tissue.
OP
OP
Debbie_joints
post-grad
I have my three year old grandson here and it was so cute as he would come to sit on my lap and he would ask me which leg hurt before he would climb up on my lap. Then I was putting some lotion on my leg and he looked at my incision and told me my knee is lumpy. Just too funny.
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