TKR Hopefaith's Ups and Downs of Recovery

[hopefaith]

Yes, hopefully. It sounds like overall your hubby copes with most of the recovery process. I get we are in very different places with that. I think about your upcoming date frequently. I still love that you posted psalm 23 for me on your thread. Very meaningful.

 

[hopefaith]

I called my PA this a.m. because my knee is SO stiff after my trip down the stairs. He said this is a bump in the road, but that structurally my knee is fine. Here is my question. He said that if I don't keep up with PT, my knee will just get stiffer and stiffer after this happening. I wonder what to do? It really hurts a lot to bend my knee past what I would guess is 80 degrees although I am no PT and am only guessing. I do know it is WAY stiffer than before this event. I need some advice. I am SO down today.

 

[JustJeff]

Well I'm no pt either but I would imagine that after an injury, swelling would be a normal healing side effect of riding blood and serum to the site, Just like Post op. So wouldn't the bonesmart mantra apply here? So rest, elevate, ice and be patient and hopefully although the tunnel is extended, the exit is still visible. And oh yeah, get medical help. After all, who the heck am I?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[busylizzie]

I was just thinking the same. Give it some time to recover from the trauma first. Rest, ice and elevate. Re-evaluate each day to see if it is getting any better. Go gently. Any concerns get medical help.

 

[Nana moon 27]

Xoxoxox big hug for youWill post tomorrow evening Eng time. Xxxx take care x x x x

 

[cafecortado]

Ouch! @hopefaith. I'm just trying to catch up on everyone's threads and see you had a very scary incident! I'm just glad it wasn't worse! I know you must be in pain right now. From my experience of reading on here, rest, ice & elevating are the most important things, especially after a trauma. Why don't you tag Josephine and ask her opinion? Take care my lovely friend love xx


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[hopefaith]

@cafecortado thank you for your very kind words! Yes, very scary and I feel so down today. I think it's the emotional response from what happened. You are a lovely friend too!

@Nana moon 27 I was feeling like you had disappeared! Missed you.

 

[hopefaith]

Okay, so @Josephine my question is in the post above but I will get straight to the point. I tripped 2 days ago and my knee is much stiffer. I can barely bend it. My PA said to keep up with the PT otherwise it'll keep getting stiffer. It is VERY painful. Your thoughts?

 

[Ellejay]

@hopefaith, I'm so sorry your accident has caused your knee to swell and become more painful. I'm sure Josephine will answer you soon, but it would agree with everyone else, lots of ice and elevation. I couldn't exercise my TKR knee for a while, other than heel slides and other basic exercises because my other knee was so painful and I couldn't weight bear on it, but as soon as I could, the TKR knee was fine and my ROM improved.

 

[kneeper]

I would just do very gentle heel slides a couple of times a day just to where it feels uncomfortable--don't try to push for gain--just to keep it from totally stiffening up, but mostly rest and ice and elevate for the next few days.

 

[busylizzie]

@hopefaith I noticed you were posting so you must be awake in the middle of the night.. How are you? I slept better but feel hung over now. I must still need more sleep. Has you knee settled down any? Sending you hugs

 

[dogwheels]

Hi again @hopefaith - replied to you on my thread and now have come over to yours.
All I can say is that after my 'blip' when the knee would not bend - even though it was very stiff and uncomfortable I too was told that I had to move it. But NOT A LOT!
The physio said it was vital to keep it moving, but only within the parameters of what it could do and what didn't cause pain. Remember it will be uncomfortable but should not be painful. She said that anything I could do was better than nothing at all and if one exercise suited me better ..... do more of that one. Just to keep it moving.
I was told not to do my usual run of all my different exercises in one session - but to just do 10 reps of one every time - the key being little and often. All I did were heel slides, hamstring curls, sliding the foot forth back and forth when seated and the one I used to hate, sitting with your legs dangling and bending your leg underneath with assistance from the other one. I was banned from strengthening and straightening exercises - but in your case Id just go easy with the strengthening ones to give all those soft tissues a chance to heal and calm down.
As everyone has said here, ice and elevate, and most importantly try and not get stuck in one position for too long. Move about regularly.
Things will soon calm down if you listen to your knee and treat it gently.

Talk later
XXX

 

[hopefaith]

@busylizzie Yes, I couldn't sleep well last night after 1:30. It has been happening more lately. I don't feel so well right now. I have cut my pain meds. some, but I need to more, gradually, because they are doing such a number on me emotionally. Yes, my knee has settled down some. I went to my Chiropractor and he also does acupuncture. That has really helped. And how are YOU? (Are you weary of me asking about your upcoming surgery? Some people want to be asked, some would rather not have the constant reminder.) I just am in awe of all you have endured....how very difficult. and you support others. I am glad to have "met' you.

 

[Nana moon 27]

Hi @hopefaith when I am at my caravan, I have to walk to the next site to poach their wifi!!!! I do tend to just post on my own thread at this time and then when I come back I do I try and catch up properly. Please feel free to post on my thread anytime. I will catch up with you soon x x x I miss you too x x x

 

[busylizzie]

@hopefaith I don't mind you asking. I'm still very tired as I expect you are as well. Glad your knee is slowly improving from the mishap the other night. Its really frightening when something like that happens. I fell down the stairs a few years back before my knee was bad and damaged my coccyx. Its fully recovered now, but it was scary at the time.

 

[hopefaith]

I went out to a late breakfast with my youngest son (26) this morning. He is getting married in one month. He and I have always been close. We had a wonderful talk. I can be quite open with him and I feel so much better after talking with him. It was a lot on the knee, but I am now elevated at home and icing so hopefully not part of the ODIC. (Are those the right letters?). I also had PT. She tries to distract me by talking when I have asked her to stop, but I still insist she stop if I have pain. She is getting a bit pushy. ( she is worried about the dreaded ROM OS appt.). I get worked up when I hear others getting all worked up. I do NOT publish my numbers on here on PURPOSE. My knee is healing! That is what matters!

 

[Celle]

I get worked up when I hear others getting all worked up. I do NOT publish my numbers on here on PURPOSE. My knee is healing! That is what matters!

That's a great attitude, @hopefaith !

As the others have said, move that sore knee a little bit, but don't force it. It's had a shock, so pamper it - and pamper yourself a little, too.

 

[chestnc]

Hi @hopefaith, decided to come over to your thread. You are alway so kind and checking on me on my thread and that is where we end up chatting. I hope you are feeling better after the incident and you are recuperating. I went into a little of the two falls I had post TKR. I was sore and this occurred after the three month point and I was already back to work. I was sore with both falls for several days afterwards. I just took my pain meds and rested. I did not feel the fall badly in my driveway until the next day. It was Valentine's day Friday Feb 14th and I had a wedding to go to that evening which I managed to do and do some dancing. After the wedding I could barely walk up and down the stairs to get home. So the stiffness started late that evening. By the time I got home I could barely walk up the many steps I have to get into my home. I live on a hill and have a split level ranch. That as it for me for the weekend. I iced and pain medication around the clock. I had a lot of pain and stiffness. So hopefaith, I ould take the pain medication around the clock to help with stiffness and I would also rest, elevate, and ice. Feel better soon!! Sending soothing hugs to you.

P.S. I am glad you are able to talk to your son . How old are your other children. My youngest son is 24 years old and he and I enjoy communicating as well. He reminds me so much of his dad/my husband in so many ways. I see now that is why they used to bump heads at times.

 

[hopefaith]

@chestnc how fun to have you visit over here. (I tell you , figuring out this site whilst, as the Brit.s say, being fresh post op., not particularly tech. savvy, and pretty much narcotic brain was quite the feat.) Anyway, nice to have you. You seem so kind. I like checking up on you. You have been through some incredible heartache. I feel so deeply for you, although I don't know that kind of pain, I do know deep emotional pain. That's interesting that your son reminds you of your husband. That butting heads. Isn't that the way it goes. My oldest son ( I have two sons 29 and 26) and I butt heads and I do fear it is because we are somewhat alike although he would be horrified if he read those words. :D) When I read your description of getting up your stairs, I just fell ouch! Why does these knees take SO long to heal? I don't get it. (I have read the articles.) It is just SO frustrating at times. How is your fatigue? I have been concerned about you. Is it resolving some? That is a frustrating symptom. I had read a lot about the "energy drain" and hadn't felt it too bad until the past few days. Hmmmmm. Is that because I have tried a few things? Do the pain meds help with stiffness? I so want to decrease the amount I am taking.... I hope for you a fairly pain free day. Take very good care.
~hopefaith~

 

[RestAssured]

@hopefaith,

Good Morning!

The energy drain definitely gets worse the more you do. Your body is still healing on the inside from all the surgery, taking up a lot of energy that you don't even think about. Then, you add in work, exercise, housework, PT or anything else and the body is looking for reserves of energy to compensate. Early on, there are no reserves. That's why you hear, Rest, Ice, and Elevate. The body is amazing! It will heal, but it takes time. No one can rush their healing. "If they could, I would have been first in line for the secret!"