TKR I have a new knee!

[Jacky48]

Hi Nyland, so glad you're feeling better! Keep that guard dog close by and train him to nip at her knees if she gets too bullish with your knee, that way she'll learn how to respect your knee and what it's been through!

That newfound respect you now have for everyone post-op now also includes you on that list! So my dear respect yourself enough to take it easy, go slow and follow the BoneSmart mantra, rest, ice and elevate and then rest some more!

Welcome to the otherside, the recovery side and the wild side! Stay well and here's wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[Nyland]

Hi Jacky,
Had a BAD day. Having a bad night.
The PT may get the boot tomorrow. She came in here today acting like my pain didn't matter, only what she wanted and expected.
My hair is falling out in handfuls. Is that normal? It's probably in the library, but my brain isn't working anymore.
How are you?
Thanks for the support and friendship.

 

[bottomshollow]

Nyland, do you have your pain under control? If not, please get in touch with your OS and get it taken care of. And you've been on this forum long enough to know that you can do without PT for the first 2 to 3 weeks. All you have to do is leg raises, heel slides, ankle pumps, and walking around the house in the beginning. Give your knee time to do some serious healing.

Get in your or on your or

---your spot of choice---elevate

and ice, ice, ice,

while you rest, rest, rest! Watch mind numbing

, catnap

, watch more mind numbing

, catnap

some more. And all the while taking your pain meds on a schedule.

You have plenty of time for PT and additional exercise when the swelling has gone way, way down and the pain has lessened to something you can reasonably deal with without a lot of meds.

Take care of yourself and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Nyland]

Thanks, Judy.

 

[Janet2012]

Nyland, I didn't officially welcome you to the post op side, so welcome! I think the first day of PT is the worst because they take measurements. Thank goodness they don't do that often. I hope you get the meds worked out, it's horrible in the early days sorting it out, but those bad days are soon over, and then it's more tolerable and you can start to see your way through it!

 

[Nyland]

Thanks, Janet. You are right, the PT took measurements and tsked her tongue at me. My bend is 45 degrees and extension is -10 degrees. She was beyond disappointed.

 

[bottomshollow]

Nyland, I am so amazed at people who come into your home whose purported job is to help you and then are rather dismissive of you because you don't meet some arbitrary standard they have set in their mind.

Please do not be influenced by this person to do things you have no business doing at this time. Why should she be disappointed---it's not her knee. She should have been upbeat and positive about helping you improve those numbers slowly and easily over the next few weeks. Did she even notice how swollen your knee is?

I was so, so lucky with the PTs who came to my home. They were very professional, but kind and caring and warm. I enjoyed their company when they were here, and they never ever attempted to push beyond discomfort. They were always encouraging and supportive. This is what every TKRer deserves to get from their PT.

Take care of yourself and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Nyland]

I agree, Judy. The nurse is coming at noon today, and the PT at 4:30. I still don't have the pmc (or is it cpm??) machine. Once I get that, things may get better a little bit at a time.
I can't believe that pre-surgery, I was concerned about toe nail paint!!!!!!!!!! Oh my!!!!

 

[bottomshollow]

Well, this surgery changes our perspective on a lot of things. But as hard as things are right now, I can assure you that it really will get better. It may take a little---but you follow the BoneSmart mantra and I can almost guarantee that your recovery will be smoother and easier once you get past the next couple of weeks. Easy for me to say at 9 months post op!

 

[Jacky48]

Hi Nyland, I am so sorry you ran into "Broom-Hilda"!

I hope she doesn't hang long or she changes her attitude. Judy is surely the wise woman to listen to so tell Broom-Hilda to take a walk for a few weeks.

As for loosing your hair, do you by any chance have thyroid desease? I ask because a few years back I was loosing my hair by the handfuls as well and come to find out, my thyroid medication was too high a dose all of a sudden, body chemistry change or something. So it took a while to get the dose right and stop the hair lose. Come to find out you can have too little or too much thyroid function in order to loose your hair. I would call my GP to have blood work done to check your thyroid function. Stress will also cause hair lose. I hope it stops soon, and as to your question "is that normal?" I don't believe it's normal to knee replacement patients. Please get your blood work done asap, Having gone through the hair lose thing, I know, the sooner you stop it the better! Best of luck my friend and please let us know how you make out with that as well as your knee recovery. We all care!

 

[bottomshollow]

Love Broom-Hilda! Very interesting info about hair loss---I did not know this. Will tuck it away for future reference.

 

[Janet2012]

Thanks, Janet. You are right, the PT took measurements and tsked her tongue at me. My bend is 45 degrees and extension is -10 degrees. She was beyond disappointed.

My first measurements after surgery were in the 30's, when I went to rehab from the hospital, they were in the 50's. Next time they were measured in rehab, they were 88 and 100 already! So don't let that 45 worry you.

 

[Janet2012]

I lose hair due to stress. I expect to start noticing it before Christmas. I went through those breast biopsies just the week before knee surgery, not sure if I would have to cancel the knee surgery on the pre op table. That was pretty stressful! How stress works, is that your new hair stops growing, but the old hair continues to naturally shed, so after about six months, you notice yourself going a little bald. It comes back. I feel like I've been losing more hair, but my hair is longer now, so it would seem so. If it is literally coming out in handfuls, I'd go the thyroid route of investigation.

That said, about the stress, I just remembered about my husbands cousin, whose child was killed in an accidental gun fire incident. He lost every hair on his body from the shock of it, and never regained it.

I would ask your GP about it, because I'm sure an OS is not going to concern himself about your hair. Although you could ask if he hears this complaint from other knee patients.

 

[Jacky48]

Love Broom-Hilda! Very interesting info about hair loss---I did not know this. Will tuck it away for future reference.

Unfortunately I've had way too much experience on this one so I don't wish it on anyone.

 

[Lori-M]

Today is a better day! It will be a bit busy, though. PT called all day yesterday and wanted to come. I need the nurse, so she couldn't. My OS has a rule, just one may come in a day. I needed the nurse yesterday, so the pesky PT had to wait until today. She called to ask if she could come. I told her that I wanted my husband to be hear when she came for her initial visit. (I told him that she was not going to bully my knee.) He has to go to a wake at noon and will be home right after. She said that she would be here at 12:30. If she shows up earl, she'll have to hide in the bathroom from my 8 pound, 3 ounce guard dog. He has been guarding my leg since I got home. Everything is better today.

So glad to hear it's better! I like the sound of your guard dog! I have two of my own, though I don't think I've ever had one who weighed in at 8 pounds!

Wow, I should have finished the thread before I posted. I certainly hope things are improving Nyland. Especially with your PT! It sounds like you're willing to let her go if it becomes necessary. Do what's best for you and your healing. Take care.

 

[Nyland]

I appreciate you all so much. It helps so much to know there are people to chat with.
Yes, I decided last night that the PT woman named Denise is never welcome here again. It was so unacceptable that she whispered about me to my husband. I heard her say that he had to make sure I towed the line and followed her advice.
I LOVE Broom Hilda!!!!

 

[Lori-M]

Yes, I decided last night that the PT woman named Denise is never welcome here again.

YAY! Glad to see you gave her the boot! There's a more simpatico PT out there for you when it's time. Remember though what has been said by others - the first few weeks you don't need actual PT, only gentle stretching and normal walking around your house as is comfy. Take care.

 

[Jacky48]

Good for you Nyland! You showed her that this TKR is not for whimps and that YOU are woman and YOU are strong!

Just a side note, you are a better woman than I am, because if I heard my PT whisper to my husband (Make sure she tows the line and follows her advice.), It would take everything in my power not to get up and strike her with a crutch, cane or walker, whatever I could get my hands on would wisp by her head! How insulting can a person be!

 

[Phoenixx29]

Congratulations on your new knee. Sorry to hear you're having a hard time of it. Ref your PT - you should have let your guard dog loose on her. Honestly, it makes me angry when therapists who are supposed to make people feel better take that kind of attitude. I think I would not have let her back into my house after the first time.

On your hair loss issue - I'm with Jacky - get a blood test done. I've lost hair before due to stress, being anemic, and side effect from some medications - there can be any number of reasons. Best to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible.

I do hope you'll be feeling better soon.

 

[Nyland]

Jacky, I was fuming and took it out on my husband. A new PT (Gail) comes today at 4:30. Heaven help her.