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TKR Grandma B's Recovery Thread

You are right it's not worth it cutting back on meds I payed last night for it! Just came back from pt and took my pill on time it was slightly painful but not totally unbearable I tell him if it's too much and he stops and I also told him when I feel comfortable I'll let go of the walker not when he thinks I should, because he's always suggesting I should try to let go of it, I'm the one that should feel secure walking not anyone telling me it's time! Sorry but it really upsets me and I feel like I'm not progressing . He did measurements and I'm at 100 ROM which I think isn't bad.
 
Flexion of 100 at this point in recovery is really good. There are many here who would love to have your flexion. So yep, it's not bad at all. :yes!:

Don't feel like you're not progressing just because you still prefer to use your walker. If it's any consolation, I used my walker for five weeks. I did use the cane around the house by that point, but I felt more stable with the walker when outside. So I walked up and down my block (a few driveways each way) using the walker. Never cared what anyone thought about it. Life's too short to worry about other people when there's serious work to be done. :walking:

PT can be bossy, but you clearly know who is really the boss. :wink:
 
As always when I read this site I finde comfort and such kindness from everyone I'm truly blessed to have found this site I don't think I'd be so encouraged to keep going if it wasn't for you kinde ladies! I'm still afraid to go for a walk up the street , but this was my first time that I walked into a bakery and I was so proud that I did it, my husband was a little nervous but he let me go. It was in and out since we were there early and no one was there other wise I don't think I would of walked in.:happydance:
 
Spouses are so adorable. They love you. They want to protect you. It scares them to death to see you toddle about on your new (mysterious to them) appliance.
 
When you feel more up to it, I find taking a walk in a store suits me very well. The Target near me, surprisingly, not usually crowded, especially during the day, during the week. It is climate controlled and a shopping cart makes a great incognito walker! My Target also has a decent size grocery area that I think is our town’s best kept secret, because it’s not crowded, so a good place for me to shop.

My husband and I split up, he walks a faster pace around the main aisle that goes all around the store, while I take a slower, more scenic route, since what I need is motion, not speed.

We found our local Walmart too crowded and busy to take our walks in there.
 
I'm feeling so down today , I don't want to complain but I feel like I'm not getting anywhere, it's still difficult to stand for a while when I try to do things and I'm wondering if anyone else is going through the same ? I'm almost 4 weeks from surgery but it feels like an eternity !
 
You're not even a month out from surgery, Grandma B. If there is such a thing as the dog days of recovery, you are in them. The worst of early recovery is over, and the wonderful victories still to come have not yet started. No wonder nearly everyone in TKR recovery feels like they are not advancing at this stage, that they're stalled, that nothing is happening.

A ton is happening, though you can't see it. It's happening inside your knee every hour and day. By resting, you are actively promoting this wonderful healing. Yet it can feel like torture because you can't do all the things you were so sure you would be able to do. This element of patience and how trying it can be is not addressed by surgeons and medical practices. I really wish they would do more to prepare people for this.

Please complain, and vent, and let out those feelings. We've all been there or are there. Rest assured, there is an other side. And new people reading these threads will learn that, yeah, this recovery is rough in lots of ways, not just because of pain. :console2:
 
I thought going into TKR all the rest/relaxation would give me a feel for retirement...not! I thought if this is what retirement is I don’t want it. Around week 3-4 many get antsy and feel the need to do more. Standing will be hard for quite a while because as Susie said, there’s still a lot of healing going on. When cabin fever hit me a friend would drive me a short distance to her house where I would again, elevate and ice while we watched a movie. Also, the same friend would drive to a nearby restaurant where I would usually sit in a booth with my leg propped up while enjoying a meal out and then head home because just this short actvity would wear me out.

At not 3 weeks you may need to get out of the house, but don’t overdo it. Just one actvity with your leg up might alleviate the doldrums. I also began online Christmas shopping because I knew I wouldn’t be up to walking stores or malls before Christmas. Take a look at the Activity progression for TKRs just to remind yourself that what you’re feeling is normal.

Oh and I love retirement! It’s nothing like TKR recovery!
 
I'm glad to finde out it's normal to feel this way, my husband took me out to the doctors office because to get my prescription I have to go in and sign for it they will not let him pick it up. That trip was about 15 minutes to office and walking in was like the most longest walk in my life that when I signed I had to sit for a bit to get my self going again , I m grateful for you're quick response I don't feel like I'm stranded thank you Susie and karri :flwrysmile:
 
I am worn out just going to the doctors to pick up my script and then waiting for it to be filled, you were right karri a short trip helps with the board feeling , I like the idea of going out to a restaurant to have a meal with a friend, sounds good
 
Grandma B said:
I like the idea of going out to a restaurant to have a meal with a friend, sounds good
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For your first outing like that, try to pick a restaurant where you can prop your leg on a bench or another chair, and where you can leave early if you get too uncomfortable. For my first outings, I just chose to go for coffee, rather than a full meal.

The outing will do your spirits such a lot of good.
 
I told my sister -in-law about the idea of going out to either a restaurant or just for coffee and she agrees it would do good just to get out and also when it's not too crowded so just in case I'm uncomfortable we will leave, I think to sit with my leg proped up won't be too bad if it gets to unbearable I'll just take the order home.
 
Let us know how it goes. I’d sit in a booth, leaning against the side instead of the back with my right leg up. You’re right about a non-busy time. We usually went around 10:00 (breakfast) or 1:00 for lunch. If you go in using a walker or cane and explain you need a booth I’m sure the restaurant will accommodate you. The booth is better than an extra chair because propping it up there means the whole leg is supported.
 
I had to smile about the leg propped up thing. Yesterday at PT when I had to wait at the reception desk for my follow up appointments, my leg was swelling so bad, I hoisted it up on the counter which was about 5 ft high so that I could stand there without pain. Several people were kind of a gasp and mentioned my flexibility and that no one had ever done that, but I didn't care.. :heehee: comfort is king right now!!! So PROP away!!!
 
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I’m super flexible also. My PTs and nurses were always astounded, asking if I did yoga or Pilates. My answer was always no, for years before my TKR swimming was my only exercise.
 
I am laughing so hard right now just picturing youre leg propped up 5 ft on the counter top ! I'm always worrying what people think I don't know if I'd be able to do that, I wish I'd have the nerve, thank you for making me laugh:heehee:
 
Flexibility is a plus! I had to laugh at the counter-prop. My whole family, including my kids, have hypermobile joints. Touch thumb to forearm? I can do that. Stand with legs straight and put hands flat on the floor? I can do that, too... including now with the new knees. It’s what enabled me to put my socks on two days after my bilateral knee surgery. Not sure I could do a counter-prop, though! That’s a new one.

@Grandma B, if you need to use chairs, follow the advice and use two so you give the leg full support. That’s the key thing. Propping it up with your knee hung out like a bridge Is something you won’t be able to do for long. You want to enjoy your outing. :beer:
 
I'm not that flexible wish I was . when I was a teenager I was really flexible but as I got older that went away , propping up on two chairs sounds good and I'll ask for a table in the back so people won't stair I don't think I'd enjoy eating with people stairing at me I get embarrassed . I don't know what happened but when I got to pt today I just started crying so embarresing they were very nice trying to calm me down , it just came out of nowhere I just wanted to scream I feel like why did I do the surgery what if at the end I'm still not walking right, this is really putting me through all the emotions ! When I finally finished my exercise my rm was 105 , he told me I was doing good and then he gave me ice for the knee and also plugged in these stimulus things on my knee he said it helps with the pain and swelling I made sure it was set on low cause I'm not sure if that's a good idea I want to ask you guys if anyone had it and does it help like he said. After reading this site I'm really cautious with what they try to do to you! I'm glad I can vent my feelings and everyone pitched in to help.
 
I agree with you, after reading this site my faith in my PT, and my surgeon slipped! I don’t do anything unless Bonesmart approves!

I did have some electrical stimulus at PT, they put it outside the knee on both sides, so not on top of the kneecap, then they put ice on top of that for 15 minutes. I’m not sure if it helped but I wasn’t aware of it hurting anything. I thought it was interesting that they iced me first, then had me do stuff, then didn’t ice after.

I know about tears coming out of nowhere!
 
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