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carolinagirl

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Jun 14, 2008
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Southeastern US
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Hi everyone,

Well I got home late yesterday afternoon. I am so glad to be home.
Yesterday I walked 200 feet and did the stairs at therapy. The therapist
had me on the CPM machine at 50 degrees for 2 hours. Then he proceeded to
have me flex my knee. I flexed to 62 degrees then on the last pull, he pushes me to 70! OOOOOOWWWWWW!!!! That was not fun, but necessary. I walked so far it disqualified me for the subacute floor. I am still in my knee immobilizer
as I cannot yet do 10 straight leg raises. I did it one time only in the hospital.
But I was still on the block, and iv pain meds. Did get my leg in the brace by myself this morning though.
I am taking vicodin for pain with naprosyn for inflammation. My emotions were running really high yesterday afternoon, last night and earlier this morning.
My daughter is now here taking care of her mom. My hubby has been so good to me. I love the icing machine. Don't think I could stand it without it.

My home CPM machine should be here later this morning. I should start outpatient tomorrow. Alas, I am not qualified for home therapy as I am walking so far. I am having a problem with nausa. Toast has become a good friend. I am sitting up in my chair icing and I think it is time to take a nap.
I can't get over that there is no pain with the walking. Well, not the pain I had before. But boy, am I bruised all the way to my foot.
I am 5 days post op now, and since I don't have anything to compare it to,
I am hoping I am on the right track. After walking, and then sitting for awhile,
all I want to do is sleep. I have not yet hit the "best thing I did" place yet.
When I slept last night, I slept well. I seem to rest better on my side.
I grew so tired of sleeping on my back. I did not find out until my 3rd night in the hospital, I could sleep on my side. Thanks to all for your prayers and help in answering my questions.
 
If it is any easier, saltine crackers are great for helping with the nausea...You are very early in the recovery so just get lots of sleep, and relax...And to quote the TKR Mantra,
"Don't forget the stool softeners"!
 
Welcome home Carolina. Doug is right, now is the time for basics, PT, pain meds, ice, rest and SS.
 
Welcome back Carolina, sounds as if you are doing well. The bruising is normal, check back on the ols threads you will probably find some ols knee photos. My body pillow is still me best friend for sleeping at night. There may be a period in the future where you will have trouble sleeping and the long pillow works wonders.

Keep us posted with your progress. Sue
 
Congrats!

Take it easy, do your exercises and sleep :)

For about 4-6 weeks I thought I'd never sleep through the night again or be able to sleep on my back comfortably....I was wrong :)

It was at least 4-6 weeks before I got to "glad I had it done" but now (9 weeks) my hubby & I marvel at the fact I can walk straight for the 1st time in years...

Give yourself lots of time, you'll get there :)
 
So glad to hear you are doing so well. I had a solid purple bruise from my mid thigh down to my mid calf. It was horrid! No pain just ugly. It was 4-6 weeks before I felt I'd made the right choice to get the TKR. For the first few weeks I was certain I had made the wrong choice. Now at almost 7 months I am very sure it was the right choice. I have almost no pain now and can do everything I want except for kneeling. It is uncomfortable due to scar tissue, but I can do it.

Hang in there. Be patient. Use this forum for questions, complaints, venting, encouragement and for letting us know how you are doing!

Blessings,
Skeet
 
Welcome home! I think for the first couple of weeks, all you are going to want to do is sleep. The drugs and the anasthesia really take a toll on your body. I just hit three weeks for bilateral TKR and am not yet at the "I'm glad I did this" stage, but after reading your other responses, I trust it will come. My right leg looks like one great big bruise, but the left looks pretty good. I'm also having a problem with the extension. I can't seem to get beyond 7%. That's something I have to work aggressively on at home, though.

Just remember, you not only need PT to heal, but you also need rest, so just let it happen! No guilty over nap attacks here!

I've also noticed that this takes a big emotional toll on you also. I don't know if it's the drugs or the total dependence on everyone else, but I've had days where I just turn into a blubbering cry baby. Then, next day, I'm okay. Just ride the rollercoaster. I think getting outside and getting some fresh air has helped me.

God bless and good luck to you.

Sharon
 
Hi all,
Sharon, I can relate! I am one emotional mess right now. I sat up in my chair for 2 1/2 hours this morning, then took a one hour nap. The CPM was delivered this morning around 10:30 am. I did two hours on it. I had just gotten settled down for icing and another nap, when for some reason I asked my daughter to call the PT clinic and ask if I had been scheduled yet for PT.
All of a sudden I hear her say"TODAY?"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My appointment was at 2 pm and it was now 12:38. I started to get nervous, shaky etc...... Then I told my daughter to just let me lie there with the icing machine. So I did not get up until 1:30 and get ready!! So off to therapy I went looking like ****!!
Dirty hair, ted hose, one tennis shoe on, big brace, etc.........
Today was just the eval, tomorrow at 10 am PT starts. Mentally, I am having a really hard time with this. i don't know why. The anesthesia,all the drugs, is still making me kinda shaky..All this today has left me exhausted. I slept most of the afternoon away, and am now up in the chair. Although I am about to get back in my bed. My PT is a wonderful guy who works only with total knees.
His pep talk today really helped, but when I get this wiped out, I just want to lie in bed and cry like a baby. As he said I am still "fresh out of this" and I understand, but as of this post better days need to soon appear. I am trying to hang tough though...............
 
Hang in there Carolinagirl....The first couple of weeks are really tough but it does get better. Trust us on that! If you are sleepy, then sleep. Your body is telling you it needs the rest. Your therapist is okay with you being disheveled. If he only works with knee patients, then he knows..... And just remember, this recovery has a way of bringing out emotions that you never knew you had. I don't think anyone is prepared for this until you experience it yourself....Brighter times are ahead. Trust me on this.
Take care, Karen
 
She said it - it's true!
 
I survived my first PT session yesterday. Lots of soreness afterwards though.
My apointment time is 10 am each session which is better for me. Then after
I get home and rest awhile, I get on the CPM for my 2 hours. Yesterday, my youngest grandson snuggled up to me while I was on the machine and we both took a nap! Got up to 60 on the machine. However at therapy, I self-flexed up to 62. My PT tells me to not compare myself to others as each person is different. He said I was a "fresh" knee still and for being only 6 days
out I was doing really well.
 
OOPS! I hit the wrong button and sent the post. Anyway, as I was saying,
he was really pleased with my extension progress. The gentleman on the table next to me is 2 months post-op we chatted during therapy. He told me he knew exactly where I am at and to just hang in there. There were 3 of us
"knees" there so it was interesting to see the different stages each were in.
Like the PT said, there is such a large turnover each week, before I knew it,
I would no longer be the "fresh knee". I am one week post op today.
Last night was a rough one. I did not sleep well at all and had to take more pain meds. The night before I did really well, took one Vicodin at 8:30 pm slept until 3 am, got up to go to potty then back to bed. Did not take another pain med until I got ready to leave for therapy. I am realizing that I will have good days and bad days. Last night and early this morning were bad times. I am feeling better now. I did my home exercises just before posting and it seems to make me feel better. I have not had a problem with swelling my knee, but since yesterday my ankle has been swollen. I keep my icing machine on. It really really helps!!!
 
Your PT is right. The numbers are interesting and a guage but we all get stuck with them sometimes. Just keep moving i think is what is important. For pete sake doug is still getting ROM 9 months out. Right doug? We probably all are if we measured and kept moving. Glad to hear how well you are doing and that you have good company for napping, soon it will be playing and walking too.
 
Sounds great. I am 17 days post surgery and every day is a little better. The big bruise is now gone, they are transitioning me from the walker to the cane this week and yes, sleeping on the side the only position I am comfortable in. I guess I slept good last night since my wife said it was the first night that I snored. :) I also put a pillow down along my good leg and let the new knee rest on the pillow for support. It does work. You will probably be tired for a while. I know that just a shower takes everything out of me. The couch and the bed are your best friends. Take care and keep us up to date on how things go.

Dale
 
Close Jen, I'm six months out. And yes, it surprises me how I can now do things with the knee and not even think about it.
One little "reward" is not adjusting my gait as I approach a curb or step up. I used to stop or adjust so I could step up with my good knee. Now I just walk up it without thinking about it.
You do have to really concentrate on the ROM those first few months. It needs to occupy your waking moments. Stick with it and you'll be rewarded.
 
Carolinagirl,
I am impressed that you can get to therapy by 10. I am a almost 5 week post hippy and still so tired!!..Getting my butt out the door at 10 would be a miracle.
Sounds like you are doing great. I like the picture in my head of your napping buddy!!!

Judy
 
Close Jen, I'm six months out. And yes, it surprises me how I can now do things with the knee and not even think about it.
One little "reward" is not adjusting my gait as I approach a curb or step up. I used to stop or adjust so I could step up with my good knee. Now I just walk up it without thinking about it.
You do have to really concentrate on the ROM those first few months. It needs to occupy your waking moments. Stick with it and you'll be rewarded.

OOOpppsss! I thought you were a Nov. join date. And yes I see curbs with a smile these days.
 
My 9 month old knee is holding its own and taking up the slack for my 1 month old knee. I do still have a lot of crackling in the older knee though. Is yours still making a lot of funny sounds Doug? It's mainly when I get up from a chair.
 
How far post op were most of ya'll when you ventured outside just to sit and
enjoy the fresh air?
I am finding that I am looking forward to my therapy days as it gets me out of the house for awhile.
I drink in every minute outside going to the car.
SORRY, BUT IT IS PITY PARTY TIME FOR A MINUTE.
I am begining to get a little stir crazy. My daughter keeps me busy, talking about her new monogram business, and everything else. I don't know how people go thru this alone. I really don't. My poor hubby works a full day then comes home and cooks dinner and tends to me.
I will be so glad to be able to get up and down by myself. I am still in the knee brace due to the fact that I cannot yet do a straight leg raise. The PT has given me a goal of trying to be rid of it next week. I go to my OS next
Thursday. I am working hard at it, but for some reason, I just cannot do it yet. I know I am only one week out, but I am starting to worry.
I get down in the dumps so easily. I know better days are coming, but for right now all is see is that I cannot hardly move, need help getting up and down and am spending all my time lying in bed or sitting in my chair. Sorry about the pity party, but I just can't help it. I do my exercises daily, use the machine daily, but I feel like I am spinning my wheels. Due to the way my insurance is I will only have the CPM machine for 14 more days. I am almost scared to turn over from side to side when I sleep. I am so afraid of doing something to my knee to cause a setback. It is so funny how much your brain can play with you. I guess these feelings are what you guys refer to as a "bad day" huh? Weird thing is, in a couple of hours I will be fine, no problem.
I guess you could say I am like a teenager right now. You know, I have on side blinders, and can only see 5 minutes ahead of right this minute!
All will be fine, all the other knees at PT yesterday told me the first two weeks were the toughest. Well I am one week down, so ONE TO GO!!!
Thanks to everyone for letting me bend your ear. I really needed to.
 
You will be amazed by what you can do in a week. I am doing things this week that I could not last week. Like leg lifts. It just takes time. I am getting more strength back each day and can see improvements pretty much on a daily basis with my exercises. I even had my PT increase the presssure on one of my exercises yesterday because I could not feel the burn and felt it was too easy. I went from a 1 to a 4 and she was impressed. So just hang in there and take it ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Dale
 
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