TKR Hopefaith's Ups and Downs of Recovery

[Pumpkin]

Hopefaith, Sorry to hear you are going through a rough patch. I think your ROM is fine, as I recall you did a quick run down the stairs recently, you could not have done that if your ROM was not good.
My ROM is up down like a yo yo, depends on pain and swelling, I just do not worry about it and know it will get there when healing is done. I am sure the same is true for you.
Like you I have a brand new bike hanging in the garage , the tires are flat! Hope we can both get back on our bikes after this is over.
Ellejay had a good suggestion for extension exercise in her post you should try it. Go easy though.
Take care someone is always here to listen,

 

[Ellejay]

Hi @hopefaith, my TKR knee is coping brilliantly, thank you for asking. I could never have done all these things this time last year, 5 months on and I really am glad I had it done. Yes, it is still very stiff at times, and it still doesn't really feel part of me, it clunks, but it doesn't hurt, I'm cycling miles, walking for two to three hours and generally enjoying being me again. One thing I am still having difficulty with is drying my TKR foot after a shower, I just can't bend my knee high enough to do that. The left knee is a bit niggly, the cortisone injection has allowed me to be pain free, but it is beginning to wear off, I'm getting that familiar pain on the inside of my knee when I've been walking a lot, but I'm trying to ignore it until I get home, then I get my arthroscopy . Please don't worry about your recovery, at your stage I was also in despair, but it will improve, I promise. By the way - my bike is an electric one, I still need the full bend to be able to peddle, but I do get some assistance from the motor, very helpful on a steep slope xxx

 

[Phil75070]

for getting a straight leg was lying on my bed on my stomach, a weight around my TKR ankle, with just my knees to feet hanging off the bed. It hurts a bit, so don't do it for too long.

They did that my last few PT sessions. They timed it at 3 minutes, no more. I am not sure how much weight was used; it could have been 3 or 4 pounds.

 

[msmechanic58]

They only use 2 pounds when we do this and it is for 6 minutes. We started with three minutes.

 

[cafecortado]

Hey @hopefaith, sorry things are tough :( Talk away, that's what this site is all about and I don't think you can separate out, whatever is happening in your life at the moment matters and affects you. Re worries about your knee progress, both my knees have been different, my latest recovery has had many more problems. At 11wks post op, I'm still on Tramadol, still can't do straight leg raises without an awful pain in my knee, still have massive hamstring problems, still tons of swelling and stiffness and still only have a bend of around 95/100. It's frustrating, but I'm trying to tell myself normal...whatever that means! So in summary, I think you're doing fine. . Good idea to go to your GP about your depression meds, I hope you get heard Much love & blessings Bernie xxx


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

 

[hopefaith]

@chestnc @Jozilla @NightQuilter @DogLoverx3 @dogwheels @JustJeff @Nana moon 27 @Phil75070 @Pumpkln @Quasi @cafecortado @busylizzie @Tamsmom @71Beetle @Judlepip @jbucks @kneeper @Celle @clowny14 Good morning (well late) and Good afternoon to all of you across the pond. I really want to thank you all for your kindnesses shown to me over the past few days . It helps more than you will ever know!
Monday I go in for an Echocardiogram to check my cardiac strength. I have a lot of anxiety over this. My cardiologist gave clearance for the surgery, but not for the additional stressors that have come up. (Really?)
I have a few good friends and I tell them about how much this site means to me. fB has gone by the wayside. It didn't seem supportive. (Please no offense for those of you who use it, I am still on it, just rarely)
I hope for each of you a wonderful or less pain day. Please be compassionate towards yourself and your own process. (Yes, I am talking to me too )

x x x
~~hopefaith

 

[dogwheels]

Hi @hopefaith - gosh a lot has happened since we were last chatting. Given the lack of alerts I had a big old catch up on posts the other day, and read all about your sons wedding. Sorry you had a rush getting there, but I expect you had a lovely day and were so proud of him.

As you see I am at my other house and regularly cursing the number of stairs - but I am managing to do all of them properly most of the time. I'm glad you have enjoyed the pictures, and I guarantee that you would love the place I went shopping today. It is really lovely with lots of nice unusual shops. On Saturday they shut the High Street and there is a big market all day. @Ellejay would like it as it is not full of cheap tatty stuff, but lots of nice stalls, some antiques and lots of locally made things. One stall does really lovely handmade soap that smells divine, and I shouldn't own up to it, but there is a handmade chocolate stall that is really good. She makes white chocolate and pink peppercorn chocs, that are to die for - I am not a lover of white chocolate, but these are grand.
Tomorrow I am taking a walk along the river with my friend for lunch at a waterfront hotel. I'll try and get some pics for you - it is so pretty. As I said before, I would just love it if all my BS friends were here too.

I do hope that all goes well with your Echo on Monday. I know its easy to say, but try not to worry to much.

Hope you enjoy your evening and have a good day tomorrow.

XXX

 

[hopefaith]

@dogwheels you always make me smile when I read your posts. Those shops are causing drooling over here.
Yes please post some more photos if you care to. Always love to see the other side of the world!

 

[msmechanic58]

I have been doing 5 steps, slowly at first, since the day I came home. That was 3 days post surgery.

As far as living alone, that all depends on how you heal. I'm almost at 5 weeks and I think I could manage a day alone if I had frozen, or pre-made foods to heat up.

 

[hopefaith]

@msmechanic58 I am describing living alone indefinitely, not one day here or there. I did that this past 4 days. I also did stairs right away. I have difficulty doing stairs 8-10 times per day, a full set of stairs. Anyway I deleted that post.

 

[Pumpkin]

fB has gone by the wayside. It didn't seem supportive.

I could not agree more, I use FB mostly to look at the cute photos of my "friends" babies and toddlers. The cheer me up.
I posted the day of my surgery, and got lots of positive posts, since then only one or two people have asked how I am doing, and they have stopped. They have no idea unless they have been through TKR or THR.

Hope your echocardiogram goes well, and eases your worries, so you can concentrate on other things.

 

[hopefaith]

@dogwheels I am in awe about doing stairs, not like a two year old, like me. I wonder if that day will come. I think I have taken a few steps,backwards and it is so discouraging. Again I so enjoy your photos. I would love a shopping trip there. I love those small type shops. Is your daughter doing better?

 

[hopefaith]

@Pumpkln Thank you for your very supportive response. I will "visit" you in a bit. Want to catch up on how you are.

 

[hopefaith]

I am going to start each day, on my thread to express one thing I am learning (probably not by choice) in this recovery process. (If you are not the philosophical type, stop reading. )
I want to be more compassionate to people going through things that I don't understand, or that I have never been through. I had NO clue as to what a TKR was like afterward. There are many other things I have no clue about, so I want to be more open to learning about something someone else is dealing with, without pre judgements. So, that's my first "hope that I am learning" entry.

h.f.
<3

 

[Phil75070]

"Clueless" is often a word that is used to describe me!

All kidding aside, good plan!

 

[hopefaith]

Okay so @Phil75070 If you are not philosophical OR clueless.

 

[ironman60]

Hi HF, been watching your posts. Great reading. Very interesting on your idea to be more compassionate.
I think you have that part down already. You seem like a very kind person.
Seems to be a few Colorado people on here. Must be the air. I've spent much time there in most of the mountains & lived West of Golden on Lookout Mountain at 8K feet for a year. I laugh when I think about making it up & down the stairs now as back then I would run the steps at Red Rocks to stay in shape. Where does the time go?
Take Care & keep healing.

 

[hopefaith]

So my entry for today is to realize each day the sun rises in the east. Today was a rough day , but that's all it was a rough day! I get to put courage to the test again tomorrow. I will visit more threads tomorrow...promise!

@ironman60 thanks for your kind words. Yeah, I used to fly up and down stairs with no appreciation ......
h.f.

 

[msmechanic58]

Look - you made it through the rough day! So starting today you are 1 of 1 for surviving the bad days.

 

[71Beetle]

Hi @hopefaith - I think your plan is a good one but I think you are already compassionate. You are here for all of us just like we are here for you. I wish only the best for you. It is unfortunate that you are going through so much but clearly, you are a survivor. You should be proud of all that you have accomplished. Keep smiling