From the other side

[Michele]

Good morning everyone
I am now at home and on the long road to recovery, I eventually found out what I had done it was a patella relacement. I have not seen my Consultant since the op, I will do in 6 weeks time, but the SHO said that they felt there was a few years yet in the rest of it. For any of you tht have read my previous thread he was reluctant from the word go to do a TKR due to my age (46) so probably with this in mind it was a positive result for both parties. I couldn't wait to get home but I must admit I was crest fallen when I did as I felt frustrated at my limitations. I struggled up the stairs to go to bed and when there I couldn't sleep but I was trapped as I need someone to help me back down and I didn't want to wake anyone as they all had work the next day.
On a positive note the pain is no worse than I was suffering before my operation and I know it will be getting better soon. The nurse visited yesterday all well, can almost straighten but only 70 degrees on bend. I am having problems with my muscles at the top of the leg but to be fair they were not 100% before the op due to issues when I had surgery in my teens. They are going to refer my for hydrotherapy but obviously as everyone has said time and time again 'You must do the excercises' and I know this is true so I am pushing myself and I am sure will see and feel the results very soon.

Well I will sign off for now and keep you updated on the progress.

May I add my Best wishes and prayers for Jo's recovery and well being, I like man, are thinking of you Jo.

 

[Coppernob]

Welcome back Michele. Good to know you're home so soon. Yes, you must do the exercises but you must also rest and be kind to yourself. Even though you didn't have the TKR you've still had major surgery. Hope the pain soon begins to decrease - don't forget your pain meds as Jo would say - and you begin to feel more mobile. The early days are so frustrating as I guess our expectations are a bit unrealistic and we expect to be back to 'normal' almost instantly. I know I did! Take care Linda x

 

[calling_all_angels]

Michele,
So great to hear all went well. Now you must keep your pain levels under control so you will be able to do the excercise's. Isn't great to know that now you are on the road to recovery?
^i^

 

[Judles]

Welcome back, Michele! Be kind to yourself!
Healing can take lots of time! TAke It easy,,,

 

[Nursepair]

Hi Michelle, glad the surgery went well. Have lots of rest, ice and elevation now. Take the pain meds and do the exercises!!

Hope your family will be taking great care of you. Good luck in your recovery, Sue

 

[JudyS]

Michelle
Congratulations on getting to the recovery side. Yes, we do all want it better now. It seems like forever, but when you look back at it (as I do with my hip) it was such a small part of my life.
You will get there.
Take those pain meds and stool softeners.
Judy

 

[Jamie]

Welcome back home, Michele!!! It sounds like you will do fine in recovery....you've got a wonderful attitude. Don't forget the stool softeners as you're popping those pain pills on schedule. Do your exercises, but allow your family to take care of you too. You deserve it!! We'll be eagerly awaiting your reports of milestones achieved as you progress in recovery.

 

[Michele]

Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and good wishes. I know this question is about as answerable as " How long is a piece of string?" but I was wondering if post ops could advise on the length of time they were on ctutches / sticks? I know everyone is different but it would be great to get an idea of peoples progress timelines. I am still having great difficulty bending my leg but am perservering with the exercises. The physio is due tomorrow, she has already reffered me to hydro as I am having problems with my muscle at the top / front of my leg it is very tight which the nurse says is leading to the problem of bending it and I cannot lift my leg at all using this muscle. Apart from this I am getting around slowly on my crutches and don't feel too bad, I am having my clips taken out on Thursday somrthing I am not looking forward to - but hey ho it's another step forward (excuse the awful pun) in the road to recovery.
Best Wishes to all and thanks again

 

[calling_all_angels]

Michele,
So great to hear from you!! Was beginning to wonder if you were ok.
Recovery is not a leg race. and I know that taking baby steps is not easy.
But that is what you have to get use to little baby steps. And before you
know it you are doing things again. It like you don't even notice it. But
your surgery was just what a little over a week ago?? You need to remember
that All Good Things Take Time. (But I do understand the wanting everything
to be better now!!! LOL)
^i^

 

[ship4]

Michele,
Wonderful news you are at home. Since you are having to use crutches, and are having trouble with your quadricep muscle (front of your leg above the knee muscle), my suggestion is to set up a 'nest' for yourself downstairs in your home somewhere. I used my living room for recovery immediately post-op. I slept in the recliner which allowed me to elevate my knee higher than my heart. What a difference it makes! Also, not worrying about doing the stairs right now. You need to concentrate on some of the basic quad exercises for now to build up the strength. Amazing they can replace a patella today...... What did they use to replace it, do you know? I love to know all the details.
Give yourself a break regarding using the crutches. It sounds like you will need them longer as your quadricep muscle is so very weak. Bear weight and extend and flex as much as possible while walking. Do they suggest you go for a walk in your neighborhood outside with the crutches?
Work hard, but take the time to rest and heal too.
Best,
Crystal

 

[Jamie]

Michele, I wish there was an answer for the question of how long you should use crutches.....other than - as long as you need them. Doing the PT exercises, resting and icing/elevating will be the best way to decrease the time they are needed. You definitely DON'T want to risk a fall if your muscles aren't strong enough yet and you don't have good balance.

 

[Michele]

Hi everyone, just thought I would post an update on my recovery. I have just had my 25 clips removed, I had the op 2 weeks today. I can honestly say it didn't hurt at all but I had worked myself up so much about it then when it was over I suddenly felt really sick and dizzy - It is strange how your mind can affect your physical feelings isn't it!!.
I have been informed that my quads are not engaging hence the difficulty I am having bending the knee - I am still at 70 degrees which is the same as when I first came out of hospital and I cannot lift my leg at all, but I am perservering and do all the exercises to the best of my ability trying to push myself that little bit further each time. I do not see anyone now until 07/03 when I see my consultant, so its exercise, exercise and exercise until then (and of course some rest - lots of ice and elevation)
My Best wishes and prayers to all those awaiting their operations and recovering from them.

 

[Jamie]

So glad you got your staples out, Michele. Keep up the fantastic attitude. Your quads will wake up one of these days soon and get on their way to recovery. You definitely know what to do from here! Hang in there!!! If you can get to an exercise bike, it might be of a lot of help to you.

 

[Michele]

Good morning everyone, I went to see the Doctor yesterday 3.5 weeks after surgery,for the first time I did not see my consultant but one of his team. The wound is healing well but obviously he is concerned about my quad muscles not engaging and the fact that my ability to bend the knee (Day 1 - Day 14 - 70 degrees) has diminished to 40 degrees, he said that my muscles have 'knitted' and 'seized up' and the first course of action is continued exercise and hydrotherapy, which I start today. I know it is up to me to push myself and I have been trying but although he was very pleasant I felt like a naughty schoolgirl being told I was not trying hard enough! I queried the fact that I did not have TKR but a patella replacement he said that the consultant felt that the artritis in the rest of the near was not severe enough at this stage to do a TKR, it is present but they are hoping that the knee as it stands will last another 10 years, which is obviously when POSSIBLY a further replacement would be required anyway had I had one this time. At the clinic I met up with a gentlemen that was on the same ward as me and had a TKR on the same day. He is doing very well has just over a 90 degree bend but is still walking with crutches which made me feel better about myself as I am still using them, although I am pleased to say that I can 'potter around' a room without them now.
I told the Doctor that I was having real problems with my other knee (will require an operation in the near future) he got hold of the wrong end of the stick and thought I was asking for one very soon, he said it would have to wait until my operated leg improved, no chance I said I don't want it done now. I must admit I really admire anyone who has gone through a double replacement it must be sooooo hard.
I am to be honest frustrated and angry with myself that I have allowed myself to get in this situation, I question myself 'did I try hard enough? did I give in too easily and accept that the muscles were not working?' I will never know the answer - but I will taking the pain meds and continuing to push harder. I have to go back in 6 weeks to see the Doctor, I hope to be walking in there with a good bend and a strong muscle!!
Happy Easter everyone.

 

[Josephine]

You are falling into the biggest trap of all here, Michele - that evil little voice of negativity that speaks of nothing but 'shoulds' and 'oughts'. It gives you almost impossible targets to achieve and then berates you with "You're useless, you couldn't even manage that little thing! You should be so much further on by now. You ought to be doing without crutches and all - that's just a sign of weakness .... " and so on.

Well, let me tell you about this little voice - HE TELLS LIES. He is the father of lies and you must silence him. Listen to your body - it will tell you truthfully if you are doing too much or can do a bit more. And if you find you can't decide which is which, just let us know, we'll soon point you in the right direction!

I know this question is about as answerable as " How long is a piece of string?" but I was wondering if post ops could advise on the length of time they were on ctutches / sticks? I know everyone is different but it would be great to get an idea of peoples progress timelines.

Given the problems you are having, it could be some weeks before you are up to ditching the crutches. And again - please don't guilt yourself into doing it too early. There really is no need. It's not a contest and no-ones judging you - only you!

May I add my Best wishes and prayers for Jo's recovery and well being, I like man, are thinking of you Jo.

How kind of you to think of me - and I missed it!

 

[Linda2]

So did this paragon of recovery knowledge send you for physical therapy or are you supposed to do the hydro and exercise without direction? You might notice that I'm disdainful toward physicians who think everyone is going to bend as quickly and easily as Jo has managed (although I'm tickled pink for her). Many of us need the support.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Michele,
Listen to JoJo and Linda. You should not let anyone have the power to make you feel like you are not trying hard enough. This is your body and you know how much you can do!! I know that my left knee has been a real pain in the hinney compared to the right knee. And I have spent alot of time in the last 4 weeks crying about it and I felt useless. But then JoJo said in a post tears help heal! So I am not going to feel guilty about crying any more either. Listen to your body Michele it will let you know how much it can take. My Pt is working on breaking up scar tissue at this time, and trust me I wish I could think of excuses on PT days so I could get away from the pain!!! LOL I am a whimp! But to have someone rub on my New Knee's as hard as they can to loosen it up is way too much pain!!!!! But I go because I do not want the OS doing it. So hang in there. Let me know how Hydo and PT go for you. I will be here sitting quietly praying for all of us.
^i^

 

[Jamie]

Michele, please let us know what your therapy is consisting of. And frequency. And what they are giving you to do at home. There should be a definite plan for you at this point. But I definitely agree with Jo that it does NO GOOD to think about anything you might have done differently. Focus on today and tomorrow!!! We'll be here to support you.

 

[Michele]

Thank you to eveyone for your kind words of support they are most welcome and have made me feel less useless. I had my first session at hydrotherapy yesterday and I think it went well (apart from nearly falling over when my crutch slippped on the poolside after the session and shot accross the floor luckily I regained my balance and didn't actually fall) The session consisted of me getting into the lovely warm pool with a small group of 5 others.The physio then welcomed me and asked me the problems I was having, I explained my muscles were not enaging and that I was barely able to bend it to 40 degrees. She started off by taking me to the corner of the pool where I placed mt two arms over the corner sides and let my bottom half float to the top of the water, I then attempted a cycle motion to relax and start the bend in my knee. This went quite well although the bend to be quite honest was no better but it certainly made it more comfortable to reach the little bend I could.
I then moved to a seat which was below the water, when sitting on it my legs were about 12 inches below the water, the physio wanted to assess my range of movement and asked me to straighten and bend the leg as much as I could. Straightening is easier although I know it is not fully straight but the bend was poor. She asked me if she could use her hand gently to push it down to bend and told me to say stop as soon as I was in sever discomfort or pain, I cannot say I was in pain but severe discomfort so she stopped and told me to use my other leg to do this and hold for 5 seconds then release and keep repeating. After about 15 times it certainly felt easier so much so I was able to bend it to approx 60 degrees on its own without the use of my other leg. How happy was I that it would bend, so happy I cried, I think I was so scared at the thought of it never bending again I was so relieved when I felt I had made progress. I continued this until my first 20 minute session came to a close. The physio was very supportive and congratulated me on the progress I had made, I think she could see how much it meant to me. I am having a session once per week, next week will be 30 minutes and then as I progress there will be resistence added to make the muscles work harder.
I am not attending any P/T sessions the exercises I have been told to do are to sit on a chair ( I have wooden floors) in my stockened feet and try to push the foot back (bending the knee) holding for 10 seconds and then repeat, obviously this should loosen the muscles and get easier each time. I also have to try and raise my foot from the floor both sitting on my chair with my leg straight and also lying on the bed again keeping the leg straight. I cannot achieve this yet but I have now been able to 'bounce' my leg up and down for about 5 seconds approx 2 inches from the floor which I could not do before so I think improvement is being achieved.
I am trying to stay positive and to be quite honest most of the time I am and have a great attitude towards a challenge but sometimes as Jo quite rightly say's the voice of negativity calls out and although I never feel sorry for myself I get angry with myself and feel I am useless.

If anyone has any other suggestions for exercises please let me know, I won't know if anything else works unless I try.

Again many thanks for your kind words and support, apologies for going on a little but you all are my main sounding board, as I don't like to burden my family too much with my frustrations.
Take care all of you and JO well done on your steady recovery you are doing so well, a true inspiration and fantastic mentor to all.

 

[Josephine]

Well, that is awesome, Michele! You must be feeling so much better having made what is a goodish stride. I think you have a really positive attitude and desire to improve so I'm certain you will get there ultimately. Improvement can continue as long as 12 months after the op.