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TKR Here she comes just a walkin' down the street

I am so glad you have had your surgery and are doing so well. I can't imagine being awake through it! You are one brave lady!
 
What a good idea about the ankle exercises! I will remember that for my next one! It might even help my brain then, too!
 
Such a great report! :yay: You're certainly brave to be awake for surgery~good for you! So happy the staff there is taking such good care of you! Keeping you in my prayers as you continue to recover.
 
Your hospital sounds like a dream. Hoping for good pain management when the block wears off.
 
Ok, had two group therapy sessions today. It's sort of in between aggressive and our own philosophy. On the good side, they tell you to push yourself to a certain point but never to force it. And they don't touch you at all. But they do have you do some exercises that I know bone smart discourages. Today, we started out with good old ankle pumps, quad clinches and butt clinches. Then we did leg raises while in recliners with our legs up, both with and without a bolster under our bad legs. Next, knee bends on a piece of wood while in our recliners with legs up. Then we sat at the edge of our recliners and did need seated knee bends. They kept reminding us not to force anything, but this early some of them hurt to do at all. So I did fewer than asked for the painful ones and/or did them for less time.
Measurements for extension am-5. Pm session, -0. She did urge me to push with my hand myself to get the zero which I did, but she said not to the point of pain. For flexation in the afternoon 91 while lying down, 102 while sitting up. Both were a couple degrees improvement over the morning sessions. Again, I was urged to pull back with my hands for the lying down rom, but as they said, not to the point of forcing. And they do not pull or push anything themselves. Also good, they said many of us would experience more swelling shortly and our numbers would go down. They said don't panic, don't force anything, but ice and elevate (yea) to get the swelling down. However they also emphasized to continue doing all the exercises, and to walk around a bit every couple hours. I'll do the walking, but be quite sparing re the exercises.
 
@mamazipp, I don't think it has worn off yet. I find it difficult to believe my comfort in lying down is all Im going to feel, so the pain probably will start creeping in tonight or tomorrow.
 
Great to hear that you are doing so well...remember don't over do it...stay pain free!!!
 
@greatlakes its great that you have really no pain
I had a femoral block too but was left in for two days. I thought the pain would come soon after it came out. But it didn't.
Keep up with pain meds and don't let the know pain creep on with you. After a few days when there is non pain it is still recommended to take it before pt sessions.
Also don't let the pt bully you into getting more Flexion or extension by putting you in pain. A number isn't what you should focus on but your function.
Good luck and looking foreward to your posts
 
I think this'll be your third day. You're incredibly lucid for this point in recovery. I could barely hold a conversation.
 
Wow-- that's a lot of exercise. I love that they are stressing not to force anything.

I had a femoral block and anesthetic gel -I didn't have hardly any real pain until day 3, when everything wore off. It wore off gradually, do the pain came gradually and never got above a 3 or 4-- but I was taking my oxy every four hours on schedule (my OS prescribes it that way for 5 days-- to be taken whether in pain or not). I found that the ice machine was my best friend on day 3 and I kept it on all night for the first 4-5 days. Hopefully, you'll have the same experience. I was expecting a huge pain surge and was relieved that didn't happen.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016
 
Thanks @sheliac , and @Dearjr, good to hear. I think mine is starting to wear off a bit. Just got back from pt, and it was much worse today. I couldn't do the leg lifts. They picked up my leg for me, and then I could hold it for several seconds and lower it, but couldn't lift it on my own at all. Yesterday that was easy. And while my extension is still zero, my flexation went way down to 86. The nice thing about group therapy though is that you can really see that what you're experiencing is normal. There were four other in our session who had surgery the day I did, and who were able to do these things yesterday but not today. And a lot of us varied for the worse today from our measurements yesterday. The leg hurt more today when doing the exercises, and others experienced that too. It's comforting to be able to talk it out with the others who are where you're at.
 
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Pick your battles on the non-recommended exercises. You're taking the right approach -- doing fewer than asked or for shorter duration. Let them think you're trying, but if/when it hurts, stop doing it or ask for a modification. Those hourly exercises? You're taking the right approach (I may or I may not do them). If I think of it, I do it, but I don't go crazy with them. Ankle pumps and heel slides to comfort are good. So are the isometric quad exercises.

You're keeping up with your medications as scheduled, so you may not experience much of an increase in pain as the blocks wear off. I always mentioned increases as I noticed them to the nursing staff, and they would comment that it was probably the block wearing off, and they would tell me what my options for pain relief were. I'd choose the one that seemed most practical for the situation. I had a wonderful nursing staff this time. I'm sure the two bags of M&Ms I brought them had nothing to do with it. As I was preparing to check out, I noticed the nursing staff I'd had the previous year for my other knee was coming onto shift. They weren't bad, but they weren't as good as the staff I had this year.
 
That's certainly true for about everyone I guess. After surgery my OS moved my leg to 130 flexion. When I got to my hospital bed I could do a straight leg raise easily. Then things started to go downhill on day 3 as the Exparel wore off. I wasn't able to do a straight leg raise again until, I believe) day 8.
 
I love that you have the group exercise (the support). I would really like that. Thank goodness for you all -- I don't know how I'd cope without being able to touch base with people who've "been there".


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016
 
@FlaGranny thanks so much for providing that timeline! And @PolarBear60 nice idea with the M&Ms. Feeling a bit better after an hour of elevated rest and ice. Ordered far too much food for lunch, had to send half of it back, oh well.
 
Your main concern is keeping the pain under control...sending you positive thoughts :flwrysmile:
 
Congratulations on your new knee. Your ROM is already excellent. Staying on top of your pain meds is most important.
 
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