TKR GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12

[megbabyrn]

Dori,Giving your self permission sounds like the best decision. I love the idea of that facial as well, lol!! I try to take the day off from exercises, other than stairs, and cooking, etc, after PT when I do something new, and I am hurting. Took me a while to figure that out though, almost to 10 weeks!!!

 

[luvtocamp]

Dori,
Once again, you made me feel so much better!! I pray for you each day, and will continue to do so. This road is so much more than I ever anticipated, but like you say, life is more that this time right now. My husband is so good to encourage me...I try not to let him see how down I get at times, but sometimes he just knows. My hope is still to go camping in mid April, as much for him as for me. I am practicing using stairs, walking, and slowly riding my bike each day, but then I pay a price each day late in the afternoon and early evening when the pain comes roaring back. As you said, we must keep on keeping on, and that is what I shall do....My very best to you dear Dori, I hope and pray you have a better week next week.

 

[GrandyGirl]

Thank you so very much. I wish the very best for you too!

Dori

 

[GrandyGirl]

G'morning!

The inflammation from last week is now under control and I have "eased back" into my exercises.

I have an appt. to see my OS today at 2 pm. This Friday will be 8 weeks post-op and I am feeling just fine so I am expecting a good report.

So I will check in later today with a report. Wish me luck!!

Have a good day.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[Pumpkin]

All the best for a good report from your OS, glad you are feeling better.

 

[Jazyb]

Good luck Dori

 

[GrandyGirl]

Hi Everybody,

My 8 week checkup went very well today. I didn't get to see my OS but was examined by one of his associates. His bedside manner was a little "rough around the edges" at times and I didn't like the way he was manipulating my leg, but I looked past that and we got thru the exam just fine. He said that i had full extension but needed to continue to work on my flexion. I got the OK to resume water aerobics which should help and I intend to start Monday. We made an appt for June and depending on how my flexion looks at the time, we'll discuss having my other knee replaced.

Moving forward, I feel that I need to try to push myself just a teeny-weeny bit harder on the physical therapy. Specifically, I need to press just past the point of discomfort in order to increase my ROM. Right now, I STOP right at the moment I begin to feel discomfort and I don't think I will make a lot progress that way. It's like strength training. Sure those last few reps might really be challenging, and the next day, my biceps might ache, but that's the way my body makes measureable progress. I'm thinking that I should use that same approach with my PT. I still believe in no pain, more gain...just increasing my effort and tolerating a bit more discomfort, not pain.

I'd like to hear your opinions about that please. Thanks.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[Jamie]

Well, I wouldn't recommend it, Dori. Pushing just a little beyond the discomfort stage into slight pain just may reward you with just a little more swelling that would then decrease your ROM. You don't want that!

It's best to only change one thing at a time. You are going to add water therapy to your recovery routine. That actually is a LOT of exercise and you may feel it for a while.

You didn't say what your ROM was at present. What is it? You know.....(you've heard this before from me, I'm sure).....you're still VERY early in this recovery process. Patience is a virtue!!!:th_heehee:

 

[Jazyb]

Hi Dori

Pleased all went well with your appointment. As for ROM - I push my knee back to the point of it feeling a little bit uncomfortable but not pain. I have been doing this since beginning of my recovery - it seems to work for me. I sit on the edge of a chair I get my leg bent and push it back under the chair, then lean into it (hope that makes sense) and that one really does push the ROM. My OS told me that was one of the best exercises for ROM.

I agree with Jamie about doing the water therapy will be adding a good deal of extra exercise into your routine - that should be enough at this point. Take care my friend.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I feel that I need to try to push myself just a teeny-weeny bit harder on the physical therapy. Specifically, I need to press just past the point of discomfort in order to increase my ROM. Right now, I STOP right at the moment I begin to feel discomfort and I don't think I will make a lot progress that way. It's like strength training. Sure those last few reps might really be challenging, and the next day, my biceps might ache, but that's the way my body makes measureable progress. I'm thinking that I should use that same approach with my PT. I still believe in no pain, more gain...just increasing my effort and tolerating a bit more discomfort, not pain.

It isn't like strength training.

Strength training, correct: you push yourself in order to damage the muscles, which then rebuild themselves stronger. It is possible to overtrain, but it only becomes applicable at pretty intense levels.

Stretching is quite different. It is putting tension into ligaments, tendons and muscles to make them longer (to give extension and ROM) and does not involve the damage/rebuild that training does. It is very easy to overdo it.

So, having said all that, I think you have it about right. I take stretches beyond discomfort to the edge of hurting, but no further. Stretches should be in sets of (about) 3 lasting for 10-30secs each. You will notice an improvement during the exercise as things warm up - then back to square one for the next set, say an hour later. Gradually things will improve. But err on the side of backing off, not pushing on.

My ROM has gone from (roughly) 120 to 130 in about 6 weeks.

 

[aretha]

Hi Dori,

You sound great at present, and as a great advocate of water aerobics, go myself 3/4 times a week, and I consider this the best therapy you can do for your knees as it is non-weight bearing, and feels so much freer and easier in the water to push it a little. Please don't push into pain though as it will only cause swelling and put your recovery back again. Hope the water does help to maximise your ROM and you feel so good too.

Love to you

 

[GrandyGirl]

Thank you all for your feedback. I am so glad I asked. I think I need to concentrate more on stretching that just moving the knee. I have been doing the exercises that were given to me upon discharge and completing all the reps but these are not really stretches. More than anything, I just want to make continual progress and take it easy getting there

I am in no way in a hurry and I know it's still very early in the game for me. So if I can incorporate some effective movements into my routine at this point, I think it would be helpful in the long run.

Jamie, I'm sorry I failed to mention my ROM. It measured at 95 degrees. He said that with 95 I could probably do everything I needed to do but that I should be able to get much more if I work on it. So I will keep in mind that adding water aerobics is actually adding a lot and I iwill take it easy.

Roy, I appreciate your detail description of stretching. That really sounds like a sane approach, especially the part about waiting an hour or so later to begin another set. It's my hamstring that I need to stretch. That's also the reason why I still can't make that first revolution on the recumbent bike.

Jo, I understand that exercise you are describing and the doc demonstrated it yesterday. It has not been part of my normal routine but I am going to begin incorporating it.

Aretha, I am looking forward to getting back in the water. Is there an aqua exercise in particular that you feel has helped you increase your ROM?

So again, gratitude!

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[Josephine]

That's exactly what I did, Jo. No-one taught me it, I just figured it out for myself! But I didn't do too many - maybe half a dozen a couple of times a day ... if I felt like it (which I rarely did!). Fact is that ROM is there all the time, you just need to give it a chance to reveal itself out of the swelling.

 

[helix-2000]

Continued success in getting more ROM.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Fact is that ROM is there all the time, you just need to give it a chance to reveal itself out of the swelling.

Hmm, if one's calves and hamstrings have shortened from years of 'walking funny' because of arthritis, surely they have to be stretched back to normal before full ROM is attainable?

That's certainly the case for me.

 

[Campervan]

Hmm, if one's calves and hamstrings have shortened from years of 'walking funny' because of arthritis, surely they have to be stretched back to normal before full ROM is attainable?.

I think I'm right on this and I sure somebody will correct me if I'm not - we need to split ROM measurement into its two components - flex and extension. We all generally say "my ROM is x" when we mean "flex is x". I think there's a library article that explains it. So Roy I can see shortened hammies affect extension, but would the shortening affect flex?

 

[Campervan]

...ps, Dori you sound like you're doing fine for 8 weeks. Enjoy the aqua therpay.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Hmm, if one's calves and hamstrings have shortened from years of 'walking funny' because of arthritis, surely they have to be stretched back to normal before full ROM is attainable?

I think I'm right on this and I sure somebody will correct me if I'm not - we need to split ROM measurement into its two components - flex and extension. We all generally say "my ROM is x" when we mean "flex is x". I think there's a library article that explains it. So Roy I can see shortened hammies affect extension, but would the shortening affect flex?

Yes quite so, I was using ROM in its generic sense.

Hamstrings and calves for extension, lots of stuff I don't know the names of but can feel when I use the skateboard, for flex.

 

[Josephine]

You're correct, Roy, but that's the exception rather than the rule. :wink1:

 

[CLaudia]

I also think you are doing great for 8 weeks. When you think about what they did to us, 8 weeks isn't much time. Patience is difficult; we just want to be all better!!!