TKR From Difficult Moment to Some Positive Moments
- Thread starter Onestepatatime
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Margaret is right! If the normal footwear at your job is more formal (heels of some type), just explain to your boss why you'll be wearing more sensible shoes for a while and then don't worry about it. After all.....if you had a broken leg or foot, you would be wearing a cast and no shoe at all! You're still in the "recovery" phase even once you are able to get back to work.
If you need some reinforcement....take your cane. It's also good for whapping anyone who scoffs at your tennis shoes! After all.....YOU have been through a MAJOR surgery and they have not!
OP
OP
Onestepatatime
senior
Hello All,
As always thanks for the replies and support. I am going to return my new shoes and find ones that are comfy and cheaper. I decided spending a small fortune on comfortable shoes is not necessary (or maybe I will keep one pair). I have to remember my knee was messed up prior to surgery and I wore my existing shoes so need to go through my closet and recall which ones they were. (I am one of those women who have a HUGE shoe collection). So giving up my heels and some of my slides is separation anxiety, lol. I need to make do with what I have in my closet I think, since I am on reduced pay with disability.
Can you tell I have too much time on my hands because I am very fixated on my shoe situation? I did not mind living alone, until this recovery. I used to find peace in my down time with my son at his Dad's. Now I just wish someone was here to talk to, play a game with, watch t.v. help cook, etc. I can't wait to get everything back to where it used to be!!!!!!!!:hissyfit:
As always thanks for the replies and support. I am going to return my new shoes and find ones that are comfy and cheaper. I decided spending a small fortune on comfortable shoes is not necessary (or maybe I will keep one pair). I have to remember my knee was messed up prior to surgery and I wore my existing shoes so need to go through my closet and recall which ones they were. (I am one of those women who have a HUGE shoe collection). So giving up my heels and some of my slides is separation anxiety, lol. I need to make do with what I have in my closet I think, since I am on reduced pay with disability.
Can you tell I have too much time on my hands because I am very fixated on my shoe situation? I did not mind living alone, until this recovery. I used to find peace in my down time with my son at his Dad's. Now I just wish someone was here to talk to, play a game with, watch t.v. help cook, etc. I can't wait to get everything back to where it used to be!!!!!!!!:hissyfit:
OP
OP
Onestepatatime
senior
Can some of you also give me a "sample day"....meaning I think I am over doing it and that awful tightness that feels like metal is pushing through my knee cap is back. I do not think I realize how much I am standing because I will feel better, then do laundry, make some food, run an errand, etc.
So how long is too long to stand at 6 weeks, I need to manage my days better.....
So how long is too long to stand at 6 weeks, I need to manage my days better.....
jancat
graduate
Karen, I am sure it is tough being a single mom WITHOUT just having had a TKA! And I know it is not easy living in expensive NJ ; ) I was in the state you are in-thinking if I just work hard I will get through this a bit faster and easier than others have; maybe even get back to work a bit earlier. Apparently NO! I was even on another forum where for some reason most of the stories posted there were by people who healed exceptionally fast or had no problems whatsoever. Meanwhile, because of that, I had set myself up for unrealistic expectations. So here I was, unable to do some of the exercises without pain, unable to sleep, unable to go to the bathroom, unable to get my pain under control and crying a lot for no reason. I am not trying to sound like this board saved my life or anything so dramatic. But I will say that there has been a wealth of immediately useful information here that was directly applicable to me and actually has benefited me. I now relax more. I am no longer thinking that I should be doing more than a few exercises, icing and elevating every day. I am taking this time for myself now, heeding the wise advice here because since I have I have felt better. Take this time for yourself- you will not get this break again. Happy Healing!
OP
OP
Onestepatatime
senior
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am all weepy, which is not like me. I wonder when I will be able to handle going back to work, I miss it, and I need the money. But I am afraid of going off disability, and not being able to handle it yet. Maybe in two weeks I can propose starting back a few days or half days a week. I keep telling myself this is not my new "forever" and it will all be good someday, hopefully soon.
Pleinair5
member
Hi Karen~~~ we are here for you because we all are in the same place, or have been. You and are are pretty close, mine was March 20. Definitely notice fast when I have done to much, with swelling, more pain, and fatigue, and even mood. Everyone was there in the beginning but after a while I think they think we are better and we really still have a ways to go. For the isolation I have been tapping into old things on Netflix and it helps me get through, icing and elevating, or doing some ROM while watching old Mad Men episodes. Anyway, anytime you feel frustrated, everyone here is family. Good luck and let us know how you are doing.
Betsy
Betsy
PooShay
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Karen, you got it right. This is not your "forever".
Karen, we usually tell folks not to plan on going back to work until at least 12 weeks out from surgery. And then, to do so with a gradual schedule over a couple of weeks to build back to up a 40 hour week. That is the ideal. If you must go back sooner, please do try to do some part days with a day of rest in between to start. You WILL be tired beyond belief at first.
Sadly, there really is no typical day! Everyone is different. Your own recovery differs from day to day and week to week. But.....I can tell you that if you are hurting and uncomfortable, you're doing too much. From the little you wrote in your post, it did sound like you're pushing things a bit. When your knee starts hurting, that's the signal to slow things down for a while. Ice, elevate, rest, take pain meds until you're feeling better and then you can add more activity slowly. It's a balance....and one that's sometimes difficult to find.
Sadly, there really is no typical day! Everyone is different. Your own recovery differs from day to day and week to week. But.....I can tell you that if you are hurting and uncomfortable, you're doing too much. From the little you wrote in your post, it did sound like you're pushing things a bit. When your knee starts hurting, that's the signal to slow things down for a while. Ice, elevate, rest, take pain meds until you're feeling better and then you can add more activity slowly. It's a balance....and one that's sometimes difficult to find.
jancat
graduate
Karen, I am only 3.5 weeks post-op. Here is my sample day: I get up, freshen up, go downstairs, sit, have coffee. Check email, check Words With Friends. (To be fair, husb. has fed cats and dog and driven teen daughter to school.) I then make my breakfast, something easy like an egg and toast and OJ. Then I take pain pill, wait about a half hour for it to take effect. Then do some exercises. I frequently do straight leg raises when I am just sitting, so I only do the harder exercises now-mostly the stair stretch to increase ROM. I start OP PT tomorrow so this will change. Then I ice and elevate while reading. I walk around my house to get stuff, made the family breakfast yesterday and (easy)dinner a few times this week. I have not cleaned like I did before surgery so the house is not up to my usual standards. I repeat this exercise, ice, elevate thing several times in the day. Occasionally I go food shopping with husb. once during the week. I get the mail, take small walks in my driveway. Catching up on my reading while icing and elevating. I feel so slovenly and decadent doing almost nothing : )
It is a good question and I wondered about it too. I hope others will share.
It is a good question and I wondered about it too. I hope others will share.
Ditzzeechick
senior
Karen-
My day is beyond slovenly! I wake up, whenever, depending on how my knee was during the night will determine what time I roll out of bed. I make the bed, shower, take the 4 mutts down two flights of stairs to do their business. Make coffee, read, watch tv, do stretching exercises unless they hurt, then I do nothing. I'm having the recovery of a turtle. Last week I skipped PT and there was a shift in the amount of swelling which freed up my knee allowing more mobility. Also, a few weeks back I was crying uncontrollably and depressed, I changed my meds up and it helped. I'm mostly taking aspirin and Tramadol these days. I go to PT 3 times a week. I am not back to handling normal household duties. 30 minutes in the grocery store wears me out. I am finding my appetite and energy levels are picking up a bit and expect that in another 4 weeks I should be feeling more like my old self.
I am forever thankful I do not have to return to a job because there are nights that I cannot sleep. I would be useless to an employer at 8am. I still find I cannot hold my eyes open by lunch time. IF I were you, I'd hold onto the NJ disability and ride it out until week 12. I think you'll be surprised at how much better you're going to feel in the upcoming weeks. This does end, but as we've been told, it takes a lot of time.
My day is beyond slovenly! I wake up, whenever, depending on how my knee was during the night will determine what time I roll out of bed. I make the bed, shower, take the 4 mutts down two flights of stairs to do their business. Make coffee, read, watch tv, do stretching exercises unless they hurt, then I do nothing. I'm having the recovery of a turtle. Last week I skipped PT and there was a shift in the amount of swelling which freed up my knee allowing more mobility. Also, a few weeks back I was crying uncontrollably and depressed, I changed my meds up and it helped. I'm mostly taking aspirin and Tramadol these days. I go to PT 3 times a week. I am not back to handling normal household duties. 30 minutes in the grocery store wears me out. I am finding my appetite and energy levels are picking up a bit and expect that in another 4 weeks I should be feeling more like my old self.
I am forever thankful I do not have to return to a job because there are nights that I cannot sleep. I would be useless to an employer at 8am. I still find I cannot hold my eyes open by lunch time. IF I were you, I'd hold onto the NJ disability and ride it out until week 12. I think you'll be surprised at how much better you're going to feel in the upcoming weeks. This does end, but as we've been told, it takes a lot of time.
ShannonS
junior member
Once again, I was starting to get frustrated and wondered about doing things and stopping pain pills & found this. I'm 10 days, post surgery and everyone keeps telling me how great I'm doing, but sometimes I hurt so bad that I think it's unbearable.
I'm going to have to fly to Texas next week, when I'll be 3 weeks post surgery and now that I know all this, I'll take my ice packs, pain pills, and wheel chair at airport all with me.
So I'll keep taking my meds, doing rehab and move on. Thanks to all of you!!
Shannon
I'm going to have to fly to Texas next week, when I'll be 3 weeks post surgery and now that I know all this, I'll take my ice packs, pain pills, and wheel chair at airport all with me.
So I'll keep taking my meds, doing rehab and move on. Thanks to all of you!!
Shannon
ShannonS
junior member
You mentioned crying out of the blue, let me tell you I thought I was going crazy. Thanks so much!!
OP
OP
Onestepatatime
senior
Yeah, I do not think I am going crazy, I just feel like who wants to listen to me being all mopey and weepy. But hey, we have been through a lot!!!
Wow, you are flying at 4 weeks post op? You should ask if you have to wear compression stockings to fly in. Make sure you book a seat with extra leg room. And you may want to arrange for handicap assistance to get you throughout the airport. If I had to fly now, I would.
Wow, you are flying at 4 weeks post op? You should ask if you have to wear compression stockings to fly in. Make sure you book a seat with extra leg room. And you may want to arrange for handicap assistance to get you throughout the airport. If I had to fly now, I would.
jancat
graduate
Yes the first 2 weeks were the worst! Crying for NO reason all the time, a mess, could not get pain under control and then blamed my craziness on pain meds and stopped them for 3 days (TOTALLY INSANE AND NOT RECOMMENDED!) Seriously, reading Jo's post about post-op blues was the cold shower wake up call I needed. Everyone who had this before me said to take your pain meds on schedule and because of the constipation and altered mental state I thought I could stop them and set myself straight. Those 3 days of no pain meds were even worse. SO make sure you pay attention to the advice here about taking them on time and relaxing. I am so glad to be giving myself this gift. No more feeling guilty about doing so little for me!
bottomshollow
Former BoneSmart staff member
Yes, yes, yes! take those pain meds on schedule. And take whatever you need to offset constipation at the same time. Controlling that pain will make the next few weeks bearable and they will certainly seem to go by faster.
And follow that BoneSmart mantra---pain meds on schedule, rest, elevate (toes above nose) and ice, ice, ice. It really does work!!! and ofcourse you get to watch lots of mindless TV!!!!
It does and will get BETTER! Hard to keep that in the front of you mind just now, but it's true. This recovery requires lots of TIME and PATIENCE. Time we got, patience we usually have to search for.
Be good to yourself and keep us posted. We care.
And follow that BoneSmart mantra---pain meds on schedule, rest, elevate (toes above nose) and ice, ice, ice. It really does work!!! and ofcourse you get to watch lots of mindless TV!!!!
It does and will get BETTER! Hard to keep that in the front of you mind just now, but it's true. This recovery requires lots of TIME and PATIENCE. Time we got, patience we usually have to search for.
Be good to yourself and keep us posted. We care.
jancat
graduate
Yes, I have a nice pile of books that I have been meaning to read all set. I am working my way through them and enjoying every second of it. Finished older Mad Men episodes and ordered some old House episodes from Netflix.
OP
OP
Onestepatatime
senior
I told them at PT today that I did not have a good week end physically and I thought they manipulated my knee way too hard Friday. Today they took it easy on me. But about an hour after I got home, I felt like I started to crash. I feel like I got hit by something. My new knee hurts, and my other knee started to hurt. I can't get comfortable, and am feeling so done. Maybe the damp weather here in NJ doesn't help, but last week I felt so much improvement and now I feel like poop. Tomorrow I go for my 6 week follow up to the surgeon and I am sure he will say all is normal, but this does not feel normal. 
jancat
graduate
I am also having up and down days. I start OP PT tomorrow so that will be interesting. Yes, the weather here has been so gloomy, I am sure that contributes. Today was more of a down than an up day. Pain was always a little too there despite taking meds and icing. Just feeling blah and can't shake it. I know- there are days I can't wait to be DONE! Patience......Hang in there!
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