Gel-girl
member
Perhaps a strange time to start a recovery thread but here goes. Quick recap on recovery so far.....if it hadn't been for bonesmart I'd have thought I was the only one in the whole world who was suffering with pain, crying at the least thing and wanting to shout at GPs and physiotherapist 'you wouldn't treat me like this if you'd have had a whole knee replaced!!!'
So 13 weeks out of surgery
Two days ago I made a two hour drive to Gatwick airport - well hubby did - I just kept falling asleep next to him! Stopped once on the way. Managed to get all my 2 week medication through security (we only had hand luggage, no hold luggage) spent time in the airport walking around and sitting drinking and eating. I had my beautifully colour co-ordinated green compression stockings and a tubigrip round the offending knee (in retrospect this wasn't such a good idea and I felt it caused some of the swelling that happened as the day went on).
I decided to use my stick on the airport just to show people not to mess with me - haha, no to give me a little confidence. I also decided not to use 'special assistance'. We ended up using the back steps to the plane but as there were not many people about my slow ascend was fine. The 2½ hour flight was ok I got up to walk the length of the plane twice and once to use the loo.
At the other end I was still using my stick and my 'not that slow', 'one step at a time' but quick descend from the back steps was fine with other half going ahead and waiting and me moving to one side so people could get past. Luckily we were very near the exit and I was directed to a short 'human' operated passport control instead of having to queue with the electronic readers. We were soon at our place and I was able to put my leg up with very cold cloths round the knee and makeshift gel pads in the freezer using freezer bags and water which I used during the night as my sleep was very restless with quite a lot of pain between meds. Anyway the change of scene and the sun has made a difference to my psyche but might have been better to have had a weekend away in Bournemouth!!
Meds List
Tramadol 50mg 8/day - 2 every 6 hours
Paracetamol 500mg 8/day - 2 every 6 hours
Codeine 30mg 8/day - 2 every 6 hours with paracetamol
Ibuprofen 6/day - 2 every 8 hours
Gabapentin 300mg 3/day - 1 every 8 hours
Zomorph 10mg modified-release 1 at night
My personal feeling on the meds are:
Tramadol works, paracetamol works, not sure about codeine but because I take it with the paracetamol it's difficult to tell if it works, Ibuprofen works, Gabapentin sort of works and has certainly taken away my sensitivity. Zomorph is something left over from before my TKR to help me sleep with my arthritis. Not sure it worked although my sleep at the beginning of the night was good (and still is) but as soon as the pain kicked in I was quick to take the paracetamol.
So 13 weeks out of surgery
a) I am still in pain,
b) still taking the meds - will list them below - over 24 hours,
b1) still elevating but not in bed,
b2) still icing for well over 40 mins using gel pads (best thing since sliced bread - hence the user name!) 4-6 times over a 24 hour period
c) waiting for the pain clinic to see me (18 week waiting list - so many people in pain at the moment [truth not sarcasm]),
d) appointment in less than 2 weeks to see my GP about 'all' the meds I'm on,
e) signed off from the surgeon at 5 weeks,
f) physio not signed me off but quite happy for me to do my 'exercises' at home and will see me for a massage in 4 weeks 9 (just don't push that knee down again! She did the first time - not the second!! - lovely girl though) exercises consist of heel slides with foot up only heel on bed and quad squeezes. I only do these when I remember which is not every day and usually only when I feel like it usually 5 each, never more than 10 - don't tell the physio thought!!!
g) half cycles on the static bike at home, also not everyday just when I feel like it so twice a week for about 5 minutes - I feel I should do more!
h) and walking up to 5000 steps a day without crutches or stick, trying to stride, walk without a limp and with a straight back. Sometimes I do more but boy can I tell!
b) still taking the meds - will list them below - over 24 hours,
b1) still elevating but not in bed,
b2) still icing for well over 40 mins using gel pads (best thing since sliced bread - hence the user name!) 4-6 times over a 24 hour period
c) waiting for the pain clinic to see me (18 week waiting list - so many people in pain at the moment [truth not sarcasm]),
d) appointment in less than 2 weeks to see my GP about 'all' the meds I'm on,
e) signed off from the surgeon at 5 weeks,
f) physio not signed me off but quite happy for me to do my 'exercises' at home and will see me for a massage in 4 weeks 9 (just don't push that knee down again! She did the first time - not the second!! - lovely girl though) exercises consist of heel slides with foot up only heel on bed and quad squeezes. I only do these when I remember which is not every day and usually only when I feel like it usually 5 each, never more than 10 - don't tell the physio thought!!!
g) half cycles on the static bike at home, also not everyday just when I feel like it so twice a week for about 5 minutes - I feel I should do more!
h) and walking up to 5000 steps a day without crutches or stick, trying to stride, walk without a limp and with a straight back. Sometimes I do more but boy can I tell!
Two days ago I made a two hour drive to Gatwick airport - well hubby did - I just kept falling asleep next to him! Stopped once on the way. Managed to get all my 2 week medication through security (we only had hand luggage, no hold luggage) spent time in the airport walking around and sitting drinking and eating. I had my beautifully colour co-ordinated green compression stockings and a tubigrip round the offending knee (in retrospect this wasn't such a good idea and I felt it caused some of the swelling that happened as the day went on).
I decided to use my stick on the airport just to show people not to mess with me - haha, no to give me a little confidence. I also decided not to use 'special assistance'. We ended up using the back steps to the plane but as there were not many people about my slow ascend was fine. The 2½ hour flight was ok I got up to walk the length of the plane twice and once to use the loo.
At the other end I was still using my stick and my 'not that slow', 'one step at a time' but quick descend from the back steps was fine with other half going ahead and waiting and me moving to one side so people could get past. Luckily we were very near the exit and I was directed to a short 'human' operated passport control instead of having to queue with the electronic readers. We were soon at our place and I was able to put my leg up with very cold cloths round the knee and makeshift gel pads in the freezer using freezer bags and water which I used during the night as my sleep was very restless with quite a lot of pain between meds. Anyway the change of scene and the sun has made a difference to my psyche but might have been better to have had a weekend away in Bournemouth!!
Meds List
Tramadol 50mg 8/day - 2 every 6 hours
Paracetamol 500mg 8/day - 2 every 6 hours
Codeine 30mg 8/day - 2 every 6 hours with paracetamol
Ibuprofen 6/day - 2 every 8 hours
Gabapentin 300mg 3/day - 1 every 8 hours
Zomorph 10mg modified-release 1 at night
My personal feeling on the meds are:
Tramadol works, paracetamol works, not sure about codeine but because I take it with the paracetamol it's difficult to tell if it works, Ibuprofen works, Gabapentin sort of works and has certainly taken away my sensitivity. Zomorph is something left over from before my TKR to help me sleep with my arthritis. Not sure it worked although my sleep at the beginning of the night was good (and still is) but as soon as the pain kicked in I was quick to take the paracetamol.