Bilateral TKR I did it!

[Travlingirl04]

Hi Jesse, How great you have a Grandma to help and nurture right now! I've only cried a few times, but think that may be because I was barfing instead shortly after I got home. Tomorrow is my 2 week anniversary on my new knee...I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I thought I'd be sitting on my Patio, reading the books I picked up at the library before surgery, with my leg elevated and icing...LOL! With having to spend 2 hours am and PM on the CPM machine, a sheet of exercises to do 2x daily, therapy 3x per week in town and meds to monitor to get on schedule....who has time to rest! Ok enough whining from me.. I can really tell I'm beginning to make progress and I hope you will see that also this week. Take care.
Joyce

 

[daughter stalker]

Hi Jessie,

I've been thinking of you today and hope you are doing better.

Take care

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Yesterday my bend was 94 and 102 for little L1 and L2 respectively...Today, I am barely making 90 on both and the swelling seems to be making a home in my knees.

DON'T WORRY. You are only days out, either of those figures is excellent, yes you will get more swelling as your body reacts to surgery, please just take it easy and relax.

 

[Jesse for the Fight]

Dear Sleep, I miss you.
Sincerely Jesse

Has anyone with bilateral knee replacements been able to sleep in any other position than belly up? I miss sleeping on my side.
Was given Percocet... Not really cutting it. Got Demerol ....can't decide if I notice much differences in night time pain levels...pain at least seems worse at night. Watched the original version of 'Hairspray' today sitting up in my wheelchair, which was an accomplishment.
Today was Sunday Sundays at rehab. I got my butt out of bed for that! Tomorrow is rib and strawberry social. Having friends and these culinary distractions helps. It is an amazing relief to have meals brought to me on a tray, To not have to worry about nutrition or cleaning or shopping. There is a little indoor garden that the residents at this retirement home started and a library where everyone shares books and DVDs. I have to admit, it was pretty heartwarming watching the more capable seniors feeding the less capable Sundays. I would move in here for an entire month if I could! But I still have almost 2 full sweet weeks of rest left.

I am so tired. The chair yoga ( upper body) and stretches help a bit but my muscles seem to go back to their cranky state not five minutes after finishing, then experience remissions with a will of their own. It seems the only way through this is waiting. So I'm pretty sure distraction is going to be my best friend.

I'm happy to say that I was able to figure out the bathroom thing with only mild difficulty. I am short, so if my toilet seat was set too high my knees dangled uncomfortably close to 90°... Also, I would like to note that magnesium citrate has been my new best friend. It not only acts as an amazing stool softener but is also giving vitamins your muscles and nerves need! Double bonus.

In my hospital wardroom there was a man who one year after having his knee replaced, got an infection, a mild infection, which spread to the knee and he had to have it explanted. Another lady experienced metal toxicity and had to have hers removed.... I try not to think about how disheartening this must be. And try to remind myself they were coming to my surgeon to have their problems fixed.

Up at midnight watching tv. I now remember why I choose not to buy cable at home. There is nothing on. Nothing.
My personal support worker will be around at 8:30 AM with my oatmeal. I will hopefully be asleep.
They all now know that I sleep with not one but two stuffed animals. They help. Not only for snuggles, they also make excellent neck pillows.

 

[daughter stalker]

Sweetie, it doesn't matter whether you have one or a both knees done. It is difficult to sleep any position other than your back at first. And then it is still difficult for most to sleep for a while. You are doing fine! Many of us are up at all times of the night and day. I hope you have a good day!

Take care

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Jesse, it's hard isn't it? But it strikes me that you are taking exactly the correct approach of *sigh* relax and let it take its course.

Sleep was the toughest thing for me, too. It takes some weeks to get used to it

The rest in the rehab centre sounds absolutely perfect.

 

[robynhood]

Jesse you are doing so well for BTKR. Sleep is a luxury we dont have for many weeks. Also I was having really vivid dreams with the medication I was taking. Im glad you like the rehab facility. Its something Ive never heard of here in the UK. When youve had both knees done Im sure it must be reassuring. Sending you hugs from the UK and will be watching your progress with interest. Youre so young to have had this operation. So well done and take care.

 

[Bionic woman2]

Jesse, I don't have any words of wisdom on sleeping, but I got one word/name for you when you finally get home.... Netflix!

It's my new BFF or until $7.99 becomes too much for my disability pay budget. (I don't have cable either.) They have a great variety of movies, documentaries and TV programs from all over the world. I love foreign films/shows. That's how I go on vacation and learn about different cultures. I watch it till I fall asleep. actually I fight sleep to watch it, like a 2 yr old. It's still uncomfortable to sleep w/one knee down, can't imagine two. I wake up a LOT to go to the bathroom which "pisses" me off... see what I did there. I can usually go right back to sleep, but find that anything other the back sleep leaves me with an assortment of different leg pains the morning after, but back sleep sometimes gives me a sore back. No matter what, I wake up my customary tree trunk knee pain. This is getting OLD, but enough about meeeeee.

Sorry you can't sleep, but hopefully you were able to sleep through the oatmeal. lol Maybe she can put it in a cookie, a muffin, or something! I love oatmeal lace cookies, and loathe oatmeal, must be a texture thing.

Sounds like you do have a lot to keep you busy in the day time, with lots of people watching and daily yummy treats. I like the idea of sleeping w/the stuffed animals. I have a million left over from my kids and teacher gifts, thing I'll put them to good use.

Enjoy the rest of your day.
Wishing you a good night's sleep

Bionic Woman2... We can rebuild her, but it's gonna cost!

 

[My way]

Hi Jesse for the Fight I don't think there is any other way to sleep during the early days except belly up. I would also have to say I napped rather than slept. As time goes on and the pain decreases you invent ways to get more comfortable. There are no less than 6 different size pillows that have found their way to my bed. They are my best friends now and we play a game called switcharoo all night. I do get some sleep between switch time.
It sounds like you are in a wonderful place. I think I'd have to find a way to stay longer.

Take care
Wanda

 

[MissJ]

Jesse
I love your posts - there's a lot of tough stuff happening in these first weeks but you maintain some humor through it. And the facility you're staying at sounds wonderful.

Amen to the others who have confirmed back sleep as the only option for the first few weeks - and sayonara to steady sleep for awhile. For me the most annoying part about not sleeping was just getting through the night w/nothing good on TV, not feeling energetic enough to read, etc.

However, if you can get your hands on more movies, that might be a solution!
j

 

[Diesellily]

Hey Sweetie, belly up is the only option at the moment. If you need endless free films google: viooz ....saved my life....... big HUGS xxx

 

[new knee in June]

Hello Jesse,
I hope you are feeling better every day did you get some good movies ? I just wanted you to
Know I have seen you back at pre-op encouraging others getting ready for surgery.
You my dear are a truly inspirational, joy to have on the forums
Feisty with a dash of humor it doesn't get any better.
Continued success in your recovery.....
Diana

 

[Jsankowski]

I asked the surgical team for straight, symmetrical scars. I was told they measured precisely for me.

I have decided once my knees are fully healed I will get zippers tattooed on them!

 

[Jesse for the Fight]

Well, it's happening again. I'm leaking like a faucet, crying not oozing... I can't seem to stop. Writing helps. Here's what happened: had a great morning. Physiotherapy started. my right leg is stronger so when I do the exercise where a roll is placed under my leg and I lift the leg it does it with little pain, however, my left leg barely gets liftoff.... But today I finally did it! Had a friend come over for lunch in which I sat in the wheelchair bending at 90° for the duration of the lunch. My left leg is definitely weaker and has more pain. Sometimes I get a sharp pain on the inner side of the knee. It is now 11 PM my back is aching... sat up to stretch it and the pain began, stabbing pain, reoccurring on the inner knee. It rears its head every time i sit... makes bathroom breaks a matter of anxiety. I feel warm and achy and frustrated. I know I am to expect pain but not knowing which pain is normal and which pain is scary frightens me.

Googling: pain after knee surgery... too many mixed results... Too tired too sift through...

Breath.
1 hour to next pain pill. In these moments, which have been few, but intense, I count the hours and sometimes minutes until it is time for pain medication again

 

[Jsankowski]

Jesse hope you are sleeping now and today will bring you a new day free of fear and tears. Hang in there girl!

 

[My way]

Good morning Jesse for the Fight For the first week or so after surgery I was counting the seconds till it was time for my meds. I never seemed to get more than 2 hours relief and even then nothing would take the pain go,it just made it bearable. You will have all different kinds of pain for a while but it becomes less constant and more manageable.
By the way my left leg is the one that causes me grief as well. It was lazy and it's still a bit stiffer than my right but it's getting there.
Wanda

 

[Roy Gardiner]

not knowing which pain is normal and which pain is scary frightens me.

All pain is normal, I think. I had different pains every day in my knees, and lots of extra pain as the rest of my body adapted to new knees. It is tough, but almost certainly none of it is long-term or indicative of any damage or surgical error.

Maybe you could get an increased prescription?

 

[daughter stalker]

Jesse for the Fight you are doing well. Keep your chin up. Let the doctor staff know that you are in pain so that they can contact the doctor to up your medication. You shouldn't be in that much pain. I told my RN when I had quite a bit of pain and she contacted the doctor and I got a muscle relaxer at that point (this was in the hospital). When I was at home I called the doctor's office and told them what kind of pain I was in and they gave me stronger pain medication. I know they can do something for you if you tell them. I think about you often and hope you are not in much pain.

Take care!

 

[Jesse for the Fight]

PT to the rescue! Turns out my quad muscle on my left leg is just really weak ( had a hip done on that leg in March) So I just need to work that muscle a bit more so things don't slip around so much. I decided to try a longer walk today, for coffee of course! walked from my room down to the lobby where a handsome man was playing oldies on the violin. A sea of people blocked my way to sweet java bliss. Sweet sorrow! Going to try the trek again at dinner - It will be my first time at that distance without bringing my wheelchair. Hurrah!
All I needed was to know that that sharp pain, which was a 10 by the way, Wasn't going to damage my soft tissue or healing process. Thanks for the confidence Super PT!

... Harrumph :( no emoticon with a super hero cape! Well I never.

 

[Jsankowski]

" ... Harrumph :( no emoticon with a super hero cape! Well I never.