TKR Fire wolf recovery<
- Thread starter Fire wolf
- Start date
United States
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
Glad to hear that it should improve. I guess I figured that since it was not a "strenuous" job I shouldn't have had too much difficulty going back. I think that I was so happy to be out of "prison" that I didn't realize I was sitting like a "normal" person for so long and forgot that Spence likes to be elevated! Well, he showed me!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
Sitting in waiting room at OS office, seems he is running behind today. Kind of unusual for him. I am noticing that my tkr leg does not like air conditioning.
It seems to kick up nerve pain? from groin area through quad to medial side of knee. Or maybe I have just truly lost my mind!
It seems to kick up nerve pain? from groin area through quad to medial side of knee. Or maybe I have just truly lost my mind!
SusieShoes
Former BoneSmart staff member
As a writer, my desk job involves sitting for hours at a time. It's hard to keep a scene, and especially dialogue, flowing if getting up and walking around every hour. Only in the last couple of weeks have I been able to do this without swelling and pain, and it still helps to take a break after two or three hours to elevate and ice. Or maybe that's just habit at this point! Anyway, yes, it does get better!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
12 week post-op appt with OS went well. He and PA are very happy with Bionic Spence's progress. My OS does not measure ROM, at least he never did after any surgery he has done on me.
He did ask me if I would be interested in trying out some new compression sleeve that he has been just starting to have people use. Apparently it is worn above the knee, and has a "bump" that sits on a specific area of the quad and a specific area of the hamstring. It is designed to help to get the muscles to start firing again properly, especially for people who have had a lot of surgical trauma to knee over the years. You wear it for 1 or 2 hrs every day for 2 weeks, then every other day for a period of time (can't recall all of the specifics).
I figured sure, why not, so he took measurements and the rep will call me this week, as they currently don't have any stocked in the office. My PA suggested that I take pictures of Bionic Spence at different places, like how some people take a child's stuffed toy and take pictures of it as it is on vacation or a business trip, or whatever!
Now, I do have an album for Bionic Spence on my phone as I have photographed his progress, but none of "Spence at the office", "Spence driving", "Spence at the park", etc. I am such a bad owner!
So I may have to do that now!
And I like how the PA described the tightness and rubber band feeling..... she said that Bionic Spence is just giving me a hug!
It is so very thoughtful of him, really!
He did ask me if I would be interested in trying out some new compression sleeve that he has been just starting to have people use. Apparently it is worn above the knee, and has a "bump" that sits on a specific area of the quad and a specific area of the hamstring. It is designed to help to get the muscles to start firing again properly, especially for people who have had a lot of surgical trauma to knee over the years. You wear it for 1 or 2 hrs every day for 2 weeks, then every other day for a period of time (can't recall all of the specifics).
I figured sure, why not, so he took measurements and the rep will call me this week, as they currently don't have any stocked in the office. My PA suggested that I take pictures of Bionic Spence at different places, like how some people take a child's stuffed toy and take pictures of it as it is on vacation or a business trip, or whatever!
Now, I do have an album for Bionic Spence on my phone as I have photographed his progress, but none of "Spence at the office", "Spence driving", "Spence at the park", etc. I am such a bad owner!So I may have to do that now! And I like how the PA described the tightness and rubber band feeling..... she said that Bionic Spence is just giving me a hug!
It is so very thoughtful of him, really!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
Haha! Thank you, and sure, I am sure he would love that!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
I was going to post a pic of Bionic Spence driving, but my phone won't let me 
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
That's a frequently held opinion and it's invariably wrong! Sitting at a desk can be every bit as demanding as any other job.
I am .......... speechless!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
@Josephine , is that speechless in an "oh my goodness that is awesome" kind if way? I hope so, because I loved it!
I couldn't ask for a better OS and PA who have really gotten to understand me, my expectations for myself and my desire to be active, and who have bought into my sense of humor and actually refer to my tkr as "Bionic Spence"!
And how can I not like the fact that Spence likes to give hugs!!
I couldn't ask for a better OS and PA who have really gotten to understand me, my expectations for myself and my desire to be active, and who have bought into my sense of humor and actually refer to my tkr as "Bionic Spence"!And how can I not like the fact that Spence likes to give hugs!!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
No worries, I just wanted to make sure I read it correctly. I know that my sense of humor is a bit off center, so I don't expect everyone to even read what I say the way it's intended!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
Well, tomorrow is the 1st big test of driving 2 hrs, sitting through 8 hr work day, and driving 2 hrs back home. I admit that I am a bit anxious about it, but I will try to move Spence around and elevate as much as possible.
@Josephine , is elevation still helpful even if I can't get knee above hip level? Not sure if that will be possible, but may be able to get it elevated at least a little bit.
@Josephine , is elevation still helpful even if I can't get knee above hip level? Not sure if that will be possible, but may be able to get it elevated at least a little bit.
SusieShoes
Former BoneSmart staff member
Just from my experience, in addition to reducing swelling, elevation helps by straightening the knees for a bit. This helps reduce pain in the swollen joint. It's the immobility of sitting for hours that leads to stiffness. I also do lots of leg stretches under my desk. But nothing is as helpful as elevating, even without the icing.
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
@SusieShoes thanks so much! Am doing a training today, so I hope to be able to at least put my leg up on another chair without looking too unprofessional.
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Susie, I do hope you're not suggesting a dead straight leg?
Any kind of elevation will be helpful, even if it's only a little bit. But try it and see.
SusieShoes
Former BoneSmart staff member
@Josephine, oh no, not a dead straight leg when elevating. I meant just straighten it out of the bend from sitting while at the desk. :smile2: I find when I sit at a desk or table, it helps if I can just straighten my leg for a few moments. Then I bend it again. It's a strategy for desk-sitting, but for elevation a slight bend is best.
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
Whoops, guess I messed that up today!
OP
OP
Fire wolf
graduate
Well, we managed to make it through the day, Spence and I. Getting up at 5:15am was not fun! No offense @kmak81230! 
The 2 hr drive there went well. I didn't stop and stretch at all, just wanted to get there because I was soooo tired 
from Spence waking me up last night. I did have leg up on chair for a good part of day, which apparently was not the best idea, but I did bend it frequently when it started to become uncomfortable behind my knee. I got up and moved around a few times as well. The drive home wasn't too bad, although I did start getting pain in my quad as well as around Spence, mostly on the lateral side, but some medial side as well. I believe that I might have been able to avoid some of that if I took a 2nd dose of Tylenol sooner. I haven't been as focused on the "when can I take more pills" schedule recently, so I found myself chasing pain in the car.
I was a little stiff and had some pain when I got out of the car, but in a few steps I was feeling better. I refuse to limp anymore, so those first few steps were a little slow, but I am ok with that. So hopefully I will sleep better tonight, and will definitely be taking Tylenol PM and probably Tramadol as well. Then I get to repeat the same tomorrow!
So I will try to change up how I elevate Spence tomorrow. I am happy that he didn't decide that I needed lots of loving hugs today! Just hoping that he behaves and sleeps through the night!
The 2 hr drive there went well. I didn't stop and stretch at all, just wanted to get there because I was soooo tired from Spence waking me up last night. I did have leg up on chair for a good part of day, which apparently was not the best idea, but I did bend it frequently when it started to become uncomfortable behind my knee. I got up and moved around a few times as well. The drive home wasn't too bad, although I did start getting pain in my quad as well as around Spence, mostly on the lateral side, but some medial side as well. I believe that I might have been able to avoid some of that if I took a 2nd dose of Tylenol sooner. I haven't been as focused on the "when can I take more pills" schedule recently, so I found myself chasing pain in the car.I was a little stiff and had some pain when I got out of the car, but in a few steps I was feeling better. I refuse to limp anymore, so those first few steps were a little slow, but I am ok with that. So hopefully I will sleep better tonight, and will definitely be taking Tylenol PM and probably Tramadol as well. Then I get to repeat the same tomorrow! So I will try to change up how I elevate Spence tomorrow. I am happy that he didn't decide that I needed lots of loving hugs today! Just hoping that he behaves and sleeps through the night!
