TKR From Difficult Moment to Some Positive Moments

[Onestepatatime]

Thank you....

 

[Onestepatatime]

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to give an update, I know it has been a few days since I posted. So I finally got it approved between Prudential and my employer to begin working remote 20 hours per week. Wow, that was really a painful process!!!!!

I am doing ok with PT and mobility, but am finding the more I do, the more pain I am in by 5:00 p.m. then the evenings are all downhill. Last night was my son's birthday so we all went out to dinner. I was out for 3 hours, and was in so much ache and pain, I could not fall asleep until 1:00 a.m. That is kinda where I am at now. I think I am ok, go do a couple of errands, laundry, cook dinner, and by the evening I am a wreck. I have a meltdown just about every night. But in speaking with my PT, he said this is how it is now, but to lessen my activities when I am this uncomfortable, then try a little more, see if endurance builds, and it will be a push and pull for a few more months. Good god, this is rough. But I have improved so much, I will stay focused.
I can finally get on the mat at PT, and have been doing 10 minutes of abs with the guys there so that makes me happy!!!!!

How is everyone else doing???
Karen

 

[bottomshollow]

My response to your post in "anayone seen my quad muscles?"

Karen, if you are currently experiencing pain, swelling, and exhaustion, then you have no business doing lunges with 5 lb. weights, step ups, and pulley machine squats.

Your knee needs healing not training. All that agressive stuff can come later when the healing is complete. I'm afraid if you keep this level of rehab up your recovery is just going to be even more prolonged.

You are only 2 months post op and for this surgery that's early days. You are only 1/6 of the way through recovery and are expecting too much too soon. Please read or reread the following:

The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
How Long Does Healing Take ......
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Using ice

Knee Replacement - Where Am I in Recovery?
So What Is It Going to Take? The Five “P’s” of Knee Recovery
Work “Smarter” and not “Harder”
About recovering a knee - from one who knows!
Some suggestions for home physio (PT) and activity progress
Myth busting: The "window of opportunity"

Please consider pulling back from all the aggressive PT for a while and give that knee a break.

Please keep us posted. We care.

 

[Onestepatatime]

I find your suggestions/concerns both interesting and upsetting. Upsetting meaning, not that your post made me upset, but this is what the PT Director has given me in terms of my routine. I think you are 100% right, that the aggressive routine has kicked my butt. I spoke today with the Director, and he agreed we should pull back on some stuff. That I should not be feeling completely miserable each night.

Thank you for the reminder....much appreciated.

 

[bottomshollow]

Karen, you need to remember that you are the customer---and the customer is ALWAYS right. Some of these therapist just don't seen to understand that your knee is healing and needs TLC to improve--not training for the Olympics. All this heavy duty stuff can come after the healing takes place if you're the least bit intersted in it.

Just please remember you can always just say NO to anything that causes you more than mild discomfort. In relation to this maryo, another of our TKRers said,"What does gentle mean? It means nothing that makes your face change expression." And this is exactly how PT should be.

Glad I could be helpful--take care of yourself.

 

[PooShay]

Judy, re the face: So true! At my last PT session, I scrunched my face during an exercise, and Yolanda (PT) said: "did I see a 'monster face'? Remember, work only to discomfort. If it hurts, back off!". She's a special one!

 

[jancat]

Karen, So glad the job thing worked out for you!
I know the tired feeling. Mentally I feel like I can do so much more, but I get so tried from minimal exertion and other than surg. there is no reason for that. A few times I walked my dog on slow easy walks, and each time I get achy knee about a half hour into it : ( I am so glad to have 6 more weeks of disability. I could not imagine being back at work now, although I AM feeling antsy and have cabin fever. My poor new knee would not be able to handle it.
Just remember that you are still healing and try to take it easy for another few months.

 

[Onestepatatime]

In about 3 weeks I need to get back to the office, right as of this moment I could not imagine surviving a day there. The walks to the cafeteria alone are making me tired just thinking about it. It is beautiful outside today but the most comfortable place after PT this morning has been the couch. Just sore and achy all over.

 

[Onestepatatime]

Have many of you gone through a period after two months where you felt good for about a week, then began to have horrible exhaustion set in, and feel like you are going backwards? While my mobility is good, the level of the tight metal clamp feeling and pressure is enough to set me through the roof. I feel so sluggish...and just when the weather is getting so beautiful out......I do not know what to do with myself....

 

[speccybecky]

Karen, it's all normal. It's a roller coaster and I hate to tell you it will be for a bit longer. BUT you will get there. Be kind to yourself x

 

[Randi]

Hi Karen- I think most of us have been through that at various stages of this crazy recovery and I believe some of that increased tight feeling is a result of being able to do more..so we feel better, do more then pay (briefly) for it. But hang in - it does get better again.

 

[Onestepatatime]

Ok, so not to get discouraged about feeling good for a few days, and then by doing more and maybe too much, I feel like I am going backwards? I am supposed to start going to the office in two weeks and am all nervous. I also suspect that you guys are right, that PT has been too rough and I need to back off. I am just so anxious to get in shape, be ok for the summer, etc.
Thanks for the support!

 

[bottomshollow]

Karen, you can be just as anxious as you want to get in shape and be okay for the summer; but your knee is NOT anxious and does NOT care what you want. That's just the harsh reality of TKR recovery.

All us "experts" :th_heehee: keep trying to tell you this recovery takes up to one full year to be complete. You're only a bit over 2 months post op---you're just 1/26th of the way through---gotta a long way to go yet.

You will get all the PT you need and then some from just going to work. You will need very little if anything in addition to your normal everyday activites. And they are going to wear you out. Please be prepared to find a way to elevate and ice during the work day. Please be prepared to go home at the end of the day exhausted. And please don't beat up on yourself because you are NOT super woman---none of us are.

You are going to have to realistic about all of this and make a plan of how you are going to cope. And you CAN cope! And you may need some help from family and friends around the house. You cannot do it ALL---but you have to do everything you can to take care of your knee and your health.

Keep that chin up, be good to your knee and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Matt]

Karen-I too have Prudential and my representative up to this point has been very helpful and understanding. I will see my OS this Friday, May 18th when he will determine if I am fit to return to work on May 21st. I am at the point that I feel like I can probably do a 1/2 day (lots of standing and walking with my job, no option to work from home unfortunately) but I will discuss with him. I only wish some of these people would experience a tkr for themselves. Best of luck with your situation.

 

[referee54]

Ok, so not to get discouraged about feeling good for a few days, and then by doing more and maybe too much, I feel like I am going backwards?

Yep---all part of the roller coaster ride that you are on! You feel great---or at leastg pretty good, and then you may do a little too much too soon, and then you get feeling tired and possibly stiff and sore.

Remember how long recovery actually is---for me---five months was when I BEGAN to feel pretty good, and it was six-8 months before I didn't get worn down at times.

Upwards to year---remember that, please----for a total recovery. I think sometimes our knees trick us and we do a little too much because we feel soooooo good. Then, we have to shut down for a while. Just keep icing/elevating/resting when needed. You are doing fine!

 

[Onestepatatime]

Thank you for the words of wisdom. I do need to get a grip on my situation and just come to terms that I am not going to be in the county bike club or resuming spin classes this summer. Being a single mom, I get overwhelmed some days on how am I going to find the energy to do all that needs to be done. And right now, I do not see me being at work 5 days a week in two weeks, so I will need to figure that out.
But I am thrilled that my range of motion is good, 125 without trying. I just wish it came pain free.
Speaking of pain, what I am experiencing is after about 5:00, the pain starts setting in. Yesterday I started taking the vidodin again every 8 hours, and that helps immensely. For now, I will stick with the pain meds....

 

[bottomshollow]

Yes, Karen, please stick with those pain meds. No one wants to stay on them any longer than they have to, but until it is possible to control the pain with Tylenol and ibuprofen or other OTCs---keep taking the stronger stuff. It is not worth it to try to tough it out and be in pain and miserable.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Onestepatatime]

Thanks. I am wondering if I should go see the surgeon or the head PA about the pain in my leg, I suspect it is normal and I just beat it up too much in PT, etc....

 

[speccybecky]

Just keep taking the pills.........

 

[kneeper]

Speaking of pain, what I am experiencing is after about 5:00, the pain starts setting in. Yesterday I started taking the vidodin again every 8 hours, and that helps immensely. For now, I will stick with the pain meds....

I'd say that's a sign you've been overdoing a bit over the course of the day