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Gale- RTKR Oct 5th-Feeling Lost-13 days post op

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Gale I've been pretty depressed lately and reading all the reply's to you have made me feel better!!!!
Hope it is working on you too!!!
judy
 
The sites Jo posted are great!!! Those are exactly what I did in PT plus some other ones. You can come here and vent anytime you want. We are always here for you! Hope you are having a better day today. I remember having days wondering why in the heck did I do this! But now, I would do it again if I had to. Once you get started on what Jo told you to do, your ROM will improve...you'll see!:gphg:
 
Cindy & Judy,
Yes this site and all of you people on it are really great! I'm feeling much better about everything since doing a lot of reading around here. It's jsut comforting to know that just about everything I'm feeling and experiencing is totally normal!
Gale
 
Hi Gale! It sounds like you are a week ahead of me in recovery. When you said you were reading this site in tears not from pain, but from wondering where you should be, I understand. It can be very overwhelming. Especially if you only stumbled on here after surgery. Trying to piece this together can be confusing.
But you know what? That is ok!
I was able to use all of this information before my surgery and formulate plans and thoughts around that. You are trying to press your experiences into a framework that you are just beginning to understand. Don't worry. Just let what is , be what it is. You can use this information now to guide you going forward.
It sounds like you had a pretty good procedure, and have your pain under control. That is wonderful, and no small thing! You can begin at any time to improve your knee function, and these folks are the best at guiding you through it.

So, allow yourself a few tears, we are all shedding them for a million reasons. Kick up your heels (literally), and take some pain pills and start an exercise program.

You are right in step with all of us!
Welcome Girl!
 
Gale, I find myself tearing up at the silliest things for the last week, and I didn't have the surgery yet. And no, it is not that time of the month, lol. Wait until you see me next week.

Kimberly: Glad that I could help sweetheart. I thought that went over everyone's head. I like making people laugh.
 
Gale -- I'm chiming in a little late here but sounds to me like everyone has said just about everything you need and want to know. The PT is important so start as soon as you can 3 times a week. The PT will go over all the exercises with you and tell you which to do at home; most of us did them 2 or 3 times daily -- the simple ones that just build strength in your thigh muscles -- and the self bending (pulling that leg toward your butt). But if your knee is swollen you just won't get too far until it goes down --which it will little by little. If you were very flexible before your operation you will soon get it back. If you weren't you will have to work a little harder at it. But "normal" is basically being able to do what you want to do -- live the life you lived before your knee got in the way. That differs for all of us so don't try to model yourself after anyone but you! Usually around 3 or 4 months out is when you really notice you're able to do things and move well etc. And once you get the staples out you will feel much better also. I rolled up a couple of blankets to prop my foot and ankle on as "elevation" cause I didn't have anything else and I was told NOT to put a pillow under my knee itself. Stretching my knee out straight like that so I could elevate it felt a bit uncomfortable at first but gradually I stopped noticing...
Just remember your goal is to walk unaided. If you feel solid on your feet try using one crutch or a cane in protected spaces rather than the walker. Although the walker is really good to work at your gait so you don't limp.
Try to find a good PT who has worked with many knee replacement patients. And who will work with YOUR body and mind -- not someone else's. Each of us needs to be challenged with these exercises differently -- and especially if you haven't done exercise before you really need to understand what you are doing (and ask if you need to).
Good luck and as you get stronger and stronger you will see how your life has changed. I didn't believe it about the life-changing operation when I read it here before I had my TKR. But now -- 8 months later I can tell you it is absolutely true! I am reborn. And you will be too!!
Keep posting and there will always be someone to "talk" to on this forum!!! It's a great place!
STephani
 
Hey gale just checking in to see how you are doing !!!!!!!!!!!!! Please keep your head up we are all here for you and totally understand............hang in there gets better..............)
 
Kimberlyann-
I'm slowly wrapping my mind around the fact that no matter how much I want to get up and tapdance, or run a marathon, it's just not gonna happen. Although I could never do those things before either! haha! But seriously I am slowing my mind down, and focusing more on just simply getting better. I've been doing all the little "lay in bed" exercises from the beginning and listen to my mp3 player and "dance around" with my feet while laying in bed lol. I've been icing TONS and finally figured out how to roll up a blanket just right and lay it under my whole leg so it keeps the whole leg elevated without bending at the knee. A week or so late, but I'm guessing it will still help with the swelling.
My procedure did go well and I'm thankful for that the Dr told my hubby that I was way too young to have it done, but that my kneecap was completely wasted... which is kinda funny because that never bothered me, was all the inside bone grinding that did me in. I don't feel that anymore *big grin*
I'm off to finally see the doc for my 2 weeker, and to get the staples out.. they haven't really bothered me at all, so we'll see if I notice any difference from that. I'm just afraid he's going to hurt me lol!!
Good luck with your recovery too!!
Gale
 
Terri,
I was emotional the week before I went in too, thought I was just being a big baby, but I think it's pretty normal when you don't really know what to expect. Just make sure you take your pain meds!! ALL of them... and anyone elses you can get! HAHA (JK!)
Besides...You're going in on my birthday, that's good luck!
Gale
 
Stephani-
Thanks for the reply! I'm sure tomorrow my Dr will pop those staples out, and send me off to PT with a swift kick to the behind. I did 3 weeks PT before surgery, and my PT people are GREAT, so I'm actually looking forward to it, even though I wont be saying that after my first appointment I"m sure haha! I have always been pretty flexible, and I think that's one reason I'm so over the top frustrated with so little bend, I NEVER sit like a normal person lol, I always have my legs bent or one foot under me or something weird.
Your advice not to try to model myself after anyone else is great advice, because I am continually thinking about this woman at work who was up and at it 4 weeks after her RTKR and running errands and living life like she hadn't had anything done. She's 67 I think. I just try to put a picture in my mind that she probably just left her cane in the car trying to put on a good show for us at the shop LOL. Horrible aren't I?
I can bear a bit of weight on it now, managed around my small kitchen tonight and cleaned up after dinner... actually felt GOOD to do something normal. I did a bit of laundry, folded the clothes in my lap while laying back in bed.. so I'm managing to figure "work arounds" to getting some normalness back into our family routine.
The guys (hubby and my 2 teen boys) are ever watchful and always fretting over me and helping, so that's a huge blessing.
Obviously rambling endlessly on my posts here is mentally theraputic as I seem to be making a habit of it, but then again, no one -has- to read it right? LOL
My spirits are WAY up tonight, I feel great, feel progress, and can spot a light at the end of the tunnel... way way way at the end, but yep it's there!
Gale
 
Kim-
You're too sweet! Thanks for checking in! I'm having a great day, a nice quiet evening, and will be heading off to get some sleep here soon. I hope this mood and mindset clings thorugh my appt tomorrow! You're at the 6 month point right? How are things going for you?
Gale
 
hey Gale,
I am glad to hear you posting in such a good mood. Keep it up , something is working
judy
 
The appointment went GREAT! :thmb: I posted about it in a new thread, I wasn't sure if I should have kept posting on this one, or make another, so I made another figuring maybe if at some point others are looking to relate to a 2 week check up, they'll find me babbling about mine there :hehe:
Gale
 
Hi Beth, so sweet of you to ask! I wrote all about my "day out" in another thread "gale's 2 week check in". Things went great, hope all is well with you :)
 
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