Encouraging words needed...PLEASE!!

[hess]

Good morning,

I had been doing fairly well. I am 3 weeks out of surgery. My ROM was 120, and my extension was -5. I was doing well on the bike, and I was getting around the house with nothing. I was walking everyday. Not much, but I was doing it!

Well, for the past 4 days, I have hit a real wall!!! I can't even get close to making it around on the bike. I have no idea what my measurements are. I am not sleeping (which doesn't have me too surprised). I am having a lot of pain on the medial side. I was walking everyday, now I have no desire to even try because I get so stiff and swollen, that I can't make it far.

I was going to my son's baseball game last night, which was a small goal of mine, and I was not able to make it! I am so upset!! I can't seem to stop the tears, and I'm not sure what to think. My PT says that it will be okay, I've just hit a plateau. That doesn't seem to give too much comfort! Any words of wisdom for me?

Thanks,
Hess

 

[Turtlelady53]

Hess,
I think that after 3 weeks out and you had a ROM of 120 is just amazing. I would take that in a minute! I am little over two weeks out and can't even get above an 83 on oneknee and 85 on the other. My extension seems to be going backwards. It went from 5 to 15! I also think all these drugs just wreak havoc on our system, especially our emotional spirit. Maybe you just need a day off to ice and elevate. It think it's perfectly normal to hit walls, and that most of it is probably just due to swelling. You are still very early in this journey, so hang in there! I've been havin gsome emotional issues myself so am just trying to follow my own advice. Good luck! I'm sure in another day or two you will see a turnaround.
Sharon

 

[1jt@atime]

Hess, I think Sharon is right. Take a day off, put your feet up and ice away. Sometimes it just takes a day off and some extra ice. Three weeks is still early and sometimes I forget that too. You've seen the saying, two steps forward, three steps back......... You'll get there, we'll get there......Take care. Karen

 

[JenniferG]

Karen you stole my saying! lol I though it was 2 steps forward ONE step back. Hess, she's right. And least the steps hurt less when taken!

 

[Rowdy66]

My Goodness, You Have Done Absolutely Wonderfully Well. So You Hit A Plateau, Join The Club. But Look On The Bright Side, You Hit The Plateau Way Ahead Of Most When They Hit It. Things Will Turn Around And You Will Feel Great, It Is Just A Matter Of Time. This Surgery Certainly Has Had A Lot Of Surprises For Almost All Of Us. Just When I Thought I Had Come Out The Other Side I Found Myself Not Only Still On The Wrong Side But In Pain And Feeling Exactly Like You Are Feeling Now. We All Have Felt This Way. I Will Be Two Months Post Surgery On July 13, And I Can Only Tell You I Have Hit More Than One Plateau. I Decided To Just Take It Each Day As It Comes And Try To Accept That There Is Little I Can Do But Keep Trying. I Am So Sorry You Missed Your Son's Game, I Know It Meant A Lot To You. Anytime We Let A Child Down It Is Doubly Hard But There Will Be More Games Where You Can Go And Have A Positive Experience. I Am Sorry You Are Having Such A Hard Time. The Tears Will, However, Dry And Be Forgotten. This Surgery Is Far More Than Just A Physical Experience, It Is An Emotional One As Well. I Will Be Watching For Your Posts And Know That Soon You Will Feel Better. I Will Keep You In My Prayers And Send Lots Of Good Thoughts Your Way. Rowdy

 

[JudyS]

Dear Hess,
I am from the hip side. 3 and a half weeks post right hip replacement. Well last weekend was 3 weeks. On saturday I felt great, still on pain meds, just having learned how to use a cane. I realized on Sat. that I could get around the house just holding the cane. I could walk unaided. I still always had the cane with me.
I had been for a few neighborhood walks the previous week. Our niece, who we had not seen in 12 years (she is now 25) came to visit. The teenagers and my niece took off for a hike. My favorite thing to do.

After they left, I went for my walk around the block. The first part was ok, then it started hurting, then I was severly limping to get the last street to my house.
When I came home my knee was really hurting and throbbing. The rest of my leg was too up to my groin,. More pain (and I had taken 2 percoct) than I had experienced so far. Since then, I have a constant pain in my groin. Not as bad as saturday. Definately 2 steps backwards.

I can totally relate to you. It has to get better.
Take care
Judy in So Cal

 

[bumleg]

Wow, three weeks out and already 120 ROM. Thats some accomplishment. I'm sorry you have hit a sticking point. Its very frustrating to be doing that well and then suddenly seem to be back at step 1. Hang in there I hear it will get better. I say that because I am 12 days post op and no where as far as you. I am counting on it getting better based on what others on the board say. Maybe plateaus are the body's way of catching up with much needed rest I don't know. Ice ,elevate and keep the crying towel handy for those time when all you can do is cry. I'm glad I'm not the only balling my eyes out. Not that I'm happy any of you are suffering to that point its just good to know I am not alone. None of us are. Thank goodness.
What kind of pain meds are any of you guys using to get through the pain of increasing ROM. Before I do PT I take 2, 7.5 Lortabs and 2, 50 mg.Ultrams. It makes me sleepy and I have to take a nap but when I wake up I can do pretty well with the exercises but I still have a hard time tolerating the pain from trying to increase the ROM. I can't decided if I need to see if my OS will give me a stronger pain med or if its possible to use over the counter topical analgesic for the muscle soreness that causes the pain. With Doc's being as Narc conservative as they are these days. I think they might have given me stronger meds after surgery but I was too busy itching, being sick and sleepy to notice if one was any better than the other.

 

[Skeet]

Hey, there. I am at 6 1/2 months post op and you sound totally normal. I had great extension from the get go (0 even in the hospital) and good ROM, but not 120 by 3 weeks. You are doing fantastic! I still hit walls now and then. Just last week I had three days where my knee hurt and was tight. I was having the restless legs and trouble sleeping. None of that had happened in the past two months. It is scary but normal. Hang in there. Get your rest and keep icing and taking whatever meds help you. The road to recovery is like a roller coaster and has lots of ups and downs and a few loops.

As for the crying... that was standard for me for months. I had crying spells for a long time. I had my doctor prescribe an anti-depressant which helped a lot. I got some mild anti-anxiety pills that helped me sleep. I got out of the house even if only a car ride. I had friends come visit. Started my crocheting and knitting again. Spent a lot of time on this forum. Sometimes I just needed to count my blessings and pray. Major surgery is really hard on us in more ways than just our knees.

You did the right thing by jumping on here and asking for encouragement. I'll be praying for you to overcome this and to get back to your good ROM and feeling better. Know that 120 was my goal and it took me months to get there. Now I'm at almost 130. The most important thing is to stay with it. If I forget to do my PT exercises for more than a day or so, I feel it. God bless you, dear.

 

[johnc]

Your Knee Is Swollen And You Need To Ice,ice,ice For A Day And Let It Calm Down, Welcome To The Peaks And Valleys Of Knee Replacement, It Will Get Better

 

[Josephine]

Why are you in a lot of pain? Are you trying to cut back on your pain meds? Sometimes stiffness and swelling is a reaction to pain so maybe step up on the pills for a few days and see how that goes. Three weeks is far too early to be trying to do without.

 

[Jamie]

Hess, I agree with what the others have said.....maybe you were pushing yourself harder than you realized. At any rate, slow down a little bit and make friends with your ice packs all over again. It sounds to me like your difficulty may be from swelling. I know from my own experience that even a slight bit of swelling can make your knee hurt and tight. Be sure and ice not only the top and sides, but also behind the knee. My therapist told me that swelling can occur back there and many people forget to put ice there too. Good luck!!! It will get better!!!

 

[Skeet]

Also, remember to elevate the leg! That makes a huge difference with the swelling, too.

 

[dar]

It seems I hit a place like that every couple of weeks. I have such an encouraging PT. And what they have told you is probably correct it will be okay. I get so very frustated at my set backs and no one really understands that -- but I understand. I keep getting told that this is a rollar coaster ride. And somedays you just don't want to find out if you are on the up day or down day or even doing the flips. But, we are determined to change our lives and so we get up each day, strap ourselves in and go for it. It is going to be okay you will soon be up and going again soon. -- dar

 

[Sue Z]

to JohnC,

I had to laugh at your " peaks and valleys " of knee replacement!
Oh how true and you can go from peak to valley all on the same day! Just remember as Scarlett O'Hara said " tomorrow will be another day". Hang in there all you TKR's.

SueZ

 

[Weezl]

H.esssss! Now Now, You know the drill. It's going to be tough. and what is especially tough is that that you don't recognize the tough when it presents itself. The crying and the sorry for me and the I hate me for being sorry for me, is all normal. Everyone is right. But you still have to go through it and you can't speed it up you just have to go through it in your own unique way and we are all here to hear all of your crummy patches and all of your successes until you are beyond it. For whatever it's worth, we are here for you! May you sleep at night! SMILE! Ms Weezl.

 

[johnc]

I woke up monday and had no pain ''Im six week out now'' and I thought this is so nice, but a few hours later my knee was really hurting, hang in there and you will heal. johnc