TKR GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12

[Jamie]

I have to agree with Jo....here is the machine you are describing:


It appears to me to be a lot more of a workout than a simple exercise bike and could be way too much for someone so new to recovery as you are. The fact that you are having pain and swelling following your sessions tells me that it's too much too soon.

It's up to you, of course, but if it was me....I'd save this machine for later....a few months from now. It would be much better for strength and muscle building than for the "gentle stretches" that we recommend in the early recovery days.

Do remember that you are in control of your therapy. You have the right to tell the therapist what you will and won't do....especially if you are having swelling and pain. Please don't do that to yourself! It won't make your recovery any faster or better than taking loving care of your new knee.

 

[GrandyGirl]

This is the machine.

i will definitely take your advise. In fact, i already have. Today i told the therapist my knee was swollen and sore and she spent a good pirtion of the session elevating and icing my knee down. We reduced the number of reps and basically cut it short. Ive been relaxing icing on for 30 minutes on then take a break and, repeat.

I will postpone the machine for now. How abt stairs/stairs?

 

[GrandyGirl]

I just moved it into a private room. The first 2 days I was assigned a private room but when I was moved onto the orthopedic floor, I was assigned to a room with a neuro patient and getting sufficient rest has been tough. Btween her quirky antics with the tv remote, insomnia, frequent medical consultations, and routine hospitalization in general, I was waking up several times an hour. So Im back in a private room.

I plan to do the exercises on this handout but basically today i just want to sleep, maybe take a stroll down on my walker, but its an easy does it day.

Dori

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Then on top of that, we are expected to Willingly exdrcize this hot, offended joint!

No you are not! Did you read my previous post?

Jo that's the point; some of the physios do indeed expect it!

 

[GrandyGirl]

Precisely! Whether we choose to do it or not, we are EXPECTED to do so.

Today I walked out of tge front door of this hospital and just sat there enjoying the fresh breeze for 20 minutes or so. I hadnt been outside in 7 days.

So it's naptime

GrandyGirl

 

[Larosser]

Dori, you're just a couple of days behind me! It sounds like you're doing great, DO NOT feel guilty about anything at all. Sleep as much as you can - throw in a few zzzz's for me.

Best
La

 

[GrandyGirl]

Thanks so much. I do feel like everything is going well. The only thing that is unusual is every evening around 7 pm, my temperature goes up to 100 degrees. I have always been sensitive to small changes in my temp. So I have been given tylenol and it breaks the fever. My blood tests are fine. So i figure it is because my body is working hard to heal. I dont know what it could be otherwise.

 

[Pumpkin]

Everytime I read your posts I hear this little plastic toy turtle I used to have singing Slow Down You Move Too Fast.
Take it easy and let your knee heal.

 

[Jazyb]

Hi Dori, I am glad you have a private room, so now you can rest and have some peace and quiet. I was so pleased to read your post on my thread, you now sound more settled and happier with your recovery. Take it easy!

 

[GrandyGirl]

G'morning,

Yes, things are much more peaceful now that I am settled into my private room. Today I am planning to just take it easy, catch up on some mindless tabloid reading, and continue to learn this new language called Kneeish. My knee (Sweetie Pie) is calling the shots now and today the translation is "EASY DOES IT."

 

[Josephine]

They might expect it - does it automatically mean you have to comply? No it does not! We are sentient, self-motivated, adult human beings, are we not? I maybe wouldn't engage in a war of words with a physio about it but I would most certainly not undertake any activity that hurt me or had repercussions afterwards. Do you own yourselves or not?

 

[GrandyGirl]

Josephine,

Occasionally, cyber-communication, being pure consciousness, devoid of the typical characteristics of human-to-human communications, can convey an emotional element that is unintended or misinterpreted.

I understood your position that the elliptical cross trainer was too much too soon and discussed it with my therapist and we've agreed to add that back later. The remainder of the week consisted of walking, parallel bar movements with her folloeing behind me with thw wheelchair in case i needed to sit down and mat exercises like the ones posted on this website. Friday my knee was stiff and hurt so we iced and elevated it during a portion of my session, which i understand happens sometimes. When ot in therapy i have been lying down most of the time, waljing back and forth to the bathroom and ocassionally taking a stroll. I walked abt an hour ago but my knee told my body i waz tired so i am back in bed resting abt to have lunch.

I am reiterating all this, not to bore you but because the comment that you posted "sounded" aggressive and somewhat condescending?? I am so grateful to have found this suppirt community. Bonesmart has impActed my life and recovery in a positive and neaningful way. At this pt, I think things have settled down on my end in terms of communicating w the nursing staff refarding my pain management as well as with the therapists.

Its important that the waters berween us remain cl ear of confusion and crazy energy.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Occasionally, cyber-communication, being pure consciousness, devoid of the typical characteristics of human-to-human communications, can convey an emotional element that is unintended or misinterpreted.

...

I am reiterating all this, not to bore you but because the comment that you posted "sounded" aggressive and somewhat condescending??

I think that you perhaps have answered your own question?

As you say, it is almost impossible to put over nuances and subtleties; but it is incredibly easy unintentionally to say something that another doesn't like. I can't think of a reason why any of the Admin or Moderating people here would want to act in any superior way, so I suggest that it's just that her choice of words wouldn't be yours, and that's all there is to it?

 

[GrandyGirl]

It's easy for me to agree with that. My statement covers my comments as well. There is power in the Word, however it is transmitted. So let it be known that whatever I say to anyone on toBoneSmart is said in love and respect.

Dori

 

[GrandyGirl]

I have had abt 3 shooting intense pains in the middle of my knee and twice an electrical sensation that radiates from my knee towards my groin area.

Has anyone else had this, know what it means, or what should be done abt it, if anything. I cannot access the library from this Android but i can open a link if you send one. Thanks.

Dori

 

[GrandyGirl]

The sensations occurred over a span of days this past week and i had tge knee pain once today. It lasts a few seconds and goes away.

 

[referee54]

I have had abt 3 shooting intense pains in the middle of my knee and twice an electrical sensation that radiates from my knee towards my groin area.

Many of us felt the same thing, or something very close to it. You are healing, and your body is reconnecting things together---such as all of the nerves that were cut during surgery. The will go away over time, but your incision area may be numb for some time; that, too, will end eventually.

 

[GrandyGirl]

Thank you for reminding me about the healing process. I thought I'd read someone share about electrical/shooting pain but I am unable to navigate the website freely with this android... Also it affects my spelling in a bad way

thanks!

Dori

 

[Pumpkin]

Hi Dori,
I had the shooting electrical pains, just everyting sorting out.
Wishing you continued healing and a return to a full and active life!

 

[GrandyGirl]

Thank you Pumpkin. It's the kind of sensation that really grabs your attention, isn't it.
Already I can tell that this new knee is going to be fantastic. By contrast, it really emphasises just how decrepit my other ("good") knee is.

Dori