TKR Getting somewhere at last!

[Jazyb]

that's the spirit

 

[Jamie]

Taking tramadol with an antibiotic should not be a problem. You are still very early in recovery and you NEED proper pain medication. Do be sure you are taking plenty of stool softeners (not a laxative!) each day to keep things regular. That is VERY important. You may even need to supplement the stool softeners with some prunes or prune juice too.

 

[speccybecky]

Jamie, you haven 't understood my post, I don 't need stool softeners! My germ caused horrendous diarrhoea and nothing has stayed in for the past week !

 

[Josephine]

oops!

Tramadol is perfectly okay with antibiotics. In fact, any pain med is okay with antibiotics.

 

[PhoenixS]

I hope you start to feel better soon.
A knee recovery and the 'trots' UGH!!!

 

[speccybecky]

Just absolutely wiped out! Lost some weight. Just concerned I also lost some bend and strength doing next to nothing for a week

 

[referee54]

I will be honest---some antibiotics that I have taken have caused everything to run right through me, too!

Don't worry about the possibility that you may have lost some ROM---it is only temporary and no big deal. You will regain that back (if you did indeed lose some) very quickly once you feel better---I know it is frustrating, but just get better---feel better---and your knee will respond in kind.

 

[speccybecky]

I would like to book a holiday to have something to look forward to . Does anyone know if it's likely that I'll be able to access a pool via a ladder in 12 weeks time.

 

[Jamie]

You're so right!!! Now that I look back, I can see that I missed your diagnosis of campylobacter

broken link removed: https://aolsearcht9.search.aol.com/aol/imageDetails?s_it=imageDetails&q=campylobacter&v_t=client97-newtab&b=image%3Fs_it%3Dclient97-newtab%26query%3Dcampylobacter%26oreq%3D1d690b7e5f464fbdab2678c508eb42bd&img=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.campylobacterblog.com%2F10.1371_journal.pbio.0030040.g001-M.jpg&host=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.campylobacterblog.com%2F2006%2F09%2F&width=78&height=78&thumbUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fimages-partners-tbn.google.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcR_FTJy5IfFa_rsXyGQ3hH-4zZHW8KpmxwAihcCO1uYfS96w_oxOvdFpA&imgWidth=600&imgHeight=600&imgSize=112009&imgTitle=campylobacter

Lovely little creatures, they are.....NOT!!!

Sorry and I hope it is relieved by the antibiotics.

 

[speccybecky]

I m fairly sure it was a Chinese takeout that caused the problem. I haven't had a great appetite since op.and no one else.in house is.ill. Maybe my.immune.system is.low

 

[speccybecky]

I bought an exercise bike today. Can anyone help me as to how it should be set. I managed to get on it, with difficulty! Legs on pedals a full stretch. Started moving a bit then just went all the way round backwards a few times and then the same forwards. First rotation a bit gingerly , certainly feeling no resistance. Is it best to keep it like that for a while?

 

[WyrDachs]

Walking a 1/2 a mile at 3 weeks post op...wow, that's a lot. I think your pushing to hard. Rest, Elevate & Ice. Snooze when you can.

I understand about the difficulty sleeping, since I still have some difficulty with that, though not as bad as it was. I had my surgery 1/27/12.

Listen to the people here, they give excellent advice

 

[WyrDachs]

You don't want the seat for the bike to high. You don't want full extension when you peddle. Should be a slight bend in the knee.

 

[speccybecky]

Ok thanks, I thought the idea was to stretch the leg out...as well as strengthen muscles, I'll have a better look when I have more time tomorrow

 

[sandyk]

I bought an exercise bike today. Can anyone help me as to how it should be set. I managed to get on it, with difficulty! Legs on pedals a full stretch. Started moving a bit then just went all the way round backwards a few times and then the same forwards. First rotation a bit gingerly , certainly feeling no resistance. Is it best to keep it like that for a while?

wow that's great - i went on the exercise bike at pt last week and couldn't get a full rotation hoping to be able to have another go on wednesday and i might be better at it - well done you keep up the good work but don't push it too far x

 

[Jazyb]

Hi Nancy

With the bike - to help with pushing the ROM you should have the seat set at a level that when you try to pedal it feels as though it's tight on top of the knee. My physio said it should feel slightly uncomfortable. Maryanne has it explained it much better than me :DOH: , she is absolutely right that your leg should have a slight bend. I'll stop trying to explain now :rolleyespink:

 

[referee54]

Did you get a recumbent stationary bike or a standard stationary bike---one in which you sit straight from the top?

You should have the seat set so that you do not put pressure on the leg muscles or the joint at this point in time. Have the seat set up far enough away from the pedals so that your legs can go around easily at this point in time.

As time progresses, (and so does your knee) you may lower the seat down a little bit.

In the early going, set the tension on the bike to a minimal level as well. You want to very slowly add tension to the bike and slowly gain strength to your legs.

 

[speccybecky]

Regular stationary bike. I didn't expect to be able to go right round ,
it just seemed too easy I must have it set wrong .
I have to admit to being chuffed I could get it round, even if it is set wrong!
Will play about with it tomorrow ....just couldn't wait to try!

 

[speccybecky]

Also GP just signed me off for 12 weeks. I note people going back to work after a couple of months...but I'm quite happy to stay home for a bit! Not sure my boss will be but I did warn him at the outset 3/6 months!

 

[referee54]

At the stage you are at in recovery, easy is good! Just keep the joint loose and work on the ROM---the strength and the stamina will slowly---ever so slowly---build back up.

As the group the Eagles sang, "Takin' it easy, takin' it easy...":biggrin: