TKR GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12

[GrandyGirl]

Hi Dori -I'm about a month ahead of you and remember your stage every well. I can tell you that this last month has been amazing -every day brings something to be excited about - I'm certainly not "there" yet in terms of not thinking about this knee but it isn't stopping me from doing anything I want to do as long as I plan my days to allow for rest and ice when I need it. Lots to look forward to --keep doing as well as you are and soon you'll be excited with your progress, too !

Thanks for sharing that Randi!

I keep hearing over and over how glad people are that they had this surgery so I know it's just a matter of time. This morning at the store, the manager who is a friend of mine, was telling me that his father had a bilateral knee replacement a couple of years ago and is doing so incredibly well. He said, "Just wait, you're going to be so happy you did this!"

So I'm just waiting....

I had a good physical therapy session this morning, including stairs and the recumbent bike...still haven't made that first revolution yet but it seems like I'm making my way around a little more each time

Dori

 

[bottomshollow]

Yep, Dori, slow and easy wins the race. :frown: And it does seem long and drawn out---but amazingly enough---by the time you're 4 months out (where I am now) and doing so much better, it will be hard to remember all that stuff that went on the first month or so.

I have to really think about what it was like in the beginning--I even go back and read my early posts :th_heehee: to refresh my memory. And I can say with no reservations that I would do this again in a heartbeat! It just takes TIME----and unfortunately we just want it all NOW-----and we ain't gonna get it .

Hang in there-you're doing very well. Keep us posted. We care. :cat-kittyandsmiley:Judy

 

[GrandyGirl]

Judy,

It's nice to hear that a certain level of amnesia comes with the recovery process. I guess it's a little like labor pains. We know they were bad but we can't really remember all the details once it's over.

I hope it's like that because, God willing, I've got to take this plunge again in a few month with the other knee. It's just plain bothersome these days and I'd probably be doing a "little bit" better if I had a good leg to stand on.

BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING....I KNOW IT COULD BE WORSE...and even though that nagging arthritis pain makes me cringe at times when I need to put my weight on the "good leg", it's doing the best it can...just like the rest of this body of mine.

Lord hammercy....I will be one very happy camper when all of this is a distant memory like it is for you)

 

[GrandyGirl]

After spending a weekend mostly doing nothing, I think I overdid it yesterday morning with my physical therapy exercises, my trip to the grocery store, and rocking back and forth on the recumbent. My knee was angry and I iced and elevated most of the afternoon and into the night because it was swollen and sore.

It's still sore so I am staying put today...no PT and remaining horizontal instead of vertical as much as I can. I called a friend and asked her to stop by after work to bring me more ice and some dinner because I will not be cooking today.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[speccybecky]

I overdid it last week. Hope you feel better tomorrow.

 

[megbabyrn]

Dori,Sounds like you deserve a day of rest. Good for you!

 

[Jazyb]

Hi Dori

We all over do it sometimes and I was certainly guilty of that last week - paid the price on Saturday. As soon as our knee feels good we go for it and pay but in a way we are learning our boundaries and how much to push. You are being sensible and having a quiet day - enjoy it and remember tomorrow is another day :wink1:

 

[aretha]

Great stuff Dori, nice to hear someone recognises when they have done too much, it happens to us all, and at least you have the sense to rest up today and let someone else do the leg work, and get fed into the bargain!!

 

[GrandyGirl]

I LOVE you guys. How wonderful it is to hear you all sharing about how you've overdone it at times as well. That's exactly what's happened. And you are so right, this is how we learn where the boundaries are in our healing process. Thank you.

Dori

 

[Randi]

As they say "it takes one to know one" ...the support of just knowing you're not the only one really does help ...from another guilty over-doer !!:th_heehee:

 

[GrandyGirl]

One thing is for sure, I will think twie before I overdo it again. I'm still back in the saddle yet. I have a new level of respect for just how much my knee needs gentleness and time to heal. This is no joke.

I'm better but still not ready to resume my physical therapy routine. So I am very gently stretching, using my crutch again, taking it very slow and easy.

I have activated my local support system and an accepting people's offer to go by the grocery store, bring ice, etc. I am not driving anywhwere this week and am mostly just icing and elevating and a few trips back and forth to the kitchen and bathroom.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[Jazyb]

Morning Dori

I'm glad to see you are doing this the bonesmartie way and letting your knee dictate how you spend your day I think the stage we are both at it is easy to over do it, as sometimes our knee feels great and we push on but it is still early in the recovery - something I have to remind myself and others!! Have a good day.

 

[GrandyGirl]

Hi Jo,

I agree with you. I didn't understand what others meant when they said that the "knee is in control"...but I do now. The main thing that I didn't understand was just how involved the healing process after knee replacement surgery actually is. I assumed it was like the hip, and it isn't.

I'm taking it easy today but moving around more. A dear friend came by with her husband and they brought me some groceries, ice, and helped with some tidying up. He adjusted my recumbent bike to the right position so I will be ready to resume rocking back and forth whenever LaNitaa (my knee) agrees it is time)

Have a marvelous day.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[megbabyrn]

Dori,It sounds like you have a great plan in mind!! Once I realized that my knee was in charge, I didn't suffer that much anymore. I also know if I try something new @ PT, I will need to rest the next day ( I did all day today). It is hard accepting help sometimes, it was really nice of your friends to do what they did for you. I am sure La Nitaa thanks them too !!!!!!

 

[GrandyGirl]

Yes, it was so nice of them to come by and help me. I wasn't expecting to see the husband but they were out and about together and both came by. I've known this couple for almost 30 years and oddly, I met him first at a gymnastics class we were both attending with our daughters who were 5 at the time. So they are like family. He walked in with both arms full of bags of ice and she came in behind him with a few bagsof groceries. Without e word, she just straight into the kitchen and began washing dishes, (unloading my dishwasher, finally and tidying the counter space, etc. I just sat down with a cup of tea and chatted and relaxed. I felt so blessed.

So I've been moving around a little more. I'll probably resume some level of activity tomorrow, but easy does it. Tonight I gave myself a nice pomegrante facial and enjoyed a hot, steamy shower for a LONG time, using my shower bench. Now I'm sipping some lemonade and watching some shows I recorded this week on the DVR.

Have I gotten the knack of doing it the BoneSmart way yet??:th_heehee:

 

[karmigirl]

Dori,

Sounds like you got it. Slow and easy. Take it as it comes and don't try to rush it.

 

[aretha]

Sounds perfect Dori, a pomegranite facial and a long shower, sounds like heaven, and what lovely friends you have, you are certainly blessed Dori!

 

[luvtocamp]

Hi Dori,
Sounds like you have made some wise decisions lately. I have also slowed down a little this week....my fibromyalgia has been screaming for the past two days...I think all the stormy weather has really affected me this week. I worry about losing ground on the days that I just can't move much, then I come here and find my reassurances from all the great posters!! Hang in there dear friend, we will soon be walking with that spring in our steps!!

 

[Jazyb]

Morning Dori

How lucky to have such good and helpful friends. Your day sounds perfect and Iike the sound of that facial :wink1:.

 

[GrandyGirl]

G'morning,

I just posted a reply and it suddently disappeared into cyberspace....so I will try again. Thank you Jo. I agreee, I am BLESSED to have some very sweet and loving friends in my life. That facial was fab! The next morning my skin was just glowing. I really could appreciate a pedicure and I need one but I think it would be uncomfortable sitting in that spa chair for that long so I'll have to wait on that a lttle longer.

Luvtocamp, I can certainly relate to feeling like Ive "lost ground" because of my inability to resume my physical therapy this week because of the setback I had. My next appt with my OS is March 6th and I know my measurements will reflect my inactivity and I was concerned about that.

But you know what? Big deal! It is what it is. I have learned that this recovery of mine will take what it takes. Sometimes, despite my best effort to comply with the program, my recovery will veer off the path entirely and when it does, I will just have to go with the flow.

This whole week I have basically been lying on my back icing and elevating, getting up slowly to go to the bathroom and kitchen, preparing light meals and snacks, too much, tv, talking on the phone, and internet, several bouts of self pity, and some impatience at this entire recovery process. But at the end of day, what can I do except continue to do the best I can and allow my body to heal at its own by cooperating to the best of my ability.

In the whole scheme of things, this setback, my measurements Tuesday, and this entire recovery period will be a small blip on the big butt of life! So although I couldnt do much physical therapy this week, I did lot of mental and spiritual therapy and I'm still rolling...still in the game. It's all good.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl