TKR I'm home!

[carolinagirl]

Hi Sunshine,
Got my staples out this morning. Glad to get that over and done with. PT went very well. I don't have a tens unit at home. You might want to check with your PT first, as mine was applied at PT and for one time only. Just to be on the safe side. Today I was able to do more kicking out and up exercises, but I still am having a problem doing straight leg raises. I was able to to a tad more than last time on those. I go again for therapy in the morning.
Another big step for me.. I was finally able to get up into our Yukon SUV today! Guess what ya'll.. my right TKR will be 4 years old tomorrow!!! So here I am again on the 4th recovering, but you know what it's my independence day from pain and suffering with OA! Hope all of you have a safe and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

 

[carolinagirl]

Last night I finally slept for more than a couple of hours. I actually made it about 3 1/2 hours! I sure did need it as PT was "busy" today! I was finally able to do a straight leg raise! I am so happy and also so sore! At least I get tomorrow off. I also flexed to 100 degrees on the flexion machine at PT. They have not yet measured me with self flexion. I was so happy to finally do those straight leg raises! This time around has been different in so many ways. I feel lucky that I have not had the nausea like before. Also this time I have not had to deal with the brace, the bruising or the dreaded constipation.
I am still taking the vicodin every 4 hours however, I slept right thru my 5:30 dose this morning. I take 2 before heading out to therapy and 2 at my next dose following PT. But for most of the other doses I have been able to cut it down to one tablet. There were so many other TKR patients at PT this morning. My therapist said there were 7 knees right now. All were left knee replacements except for one. All of us are within one week of each other! I have therapy at 10 am and there were 3 other ladies there at the same time. The place was hopping this morning! Anyway now that I can get up in our SUV I am hoping to be able to ride over to our city park and just sit in the truck and watch the fireworks tomorrow evening. We used to be able to see them from our home, but the trees have grown so now that we can no longer see them. Well, all take care and hope everyone has a good evening!

 

[Pumpkin]

Great report, have a happy 4th, time to relax.

 

[Cflower]

Congratulations Carolina. I was about a week after you. I had 92 before leaving hospital and first therapy only had about 65 I had to talk my doc into ordering cpm for me so I'm only back to 80 with machine and get discouraged because I can't do that on my own. I envy your
second knee and hope to do mine in about three months. I will have to be on blood thinner for a couple of months and after test today have to skip it all together for two days then resume. I sleep like a baby. I just dream of the day I can reach down and stroke a smooth soft leg and not a cardboard rock like leg. --sherry

 

[referee54]

Excellent! You are moving forward! You are really doing great and enjoying the nice "little things" that mean so much! Those straight leg-raises are tough, and you are progressing! Please keep posting these awesome reports!

 

[skigirl]

good work, keep it up. K

 

[Silver]

Keep me posted. I am about 10 days behind u!
Silver

 

[ladyj]

So glad to hear of your progress and positive attitude, Carolinagirl. It must be great to be able to get in the SUV again. I hope you enjoy the fireworks.

 

[carolinagirl]

Hey Ya'll,
Thought I would give a quick update. Therapy is going good. I flexed to 105 today. My extension is 0! I was told I can sleep on my side now as my leg is straight! Steri strips are off and I am finally doing straight leg raises with a 3lb weight!
I am sleeping somewhat better, although I still seem to not be able to sleep more than 2 - 3 hours at a time. I don't hardly nap any during the day as I am not sleepy. I know better sleep will come in time. My scar is itching like crazy, but I know not to put anything on it. I use a cool wet washcloth on it and it seems to help. I still take things very very easy and I listen to my knee. We went over to our son's house Friday night for dinner and I just sat on their couch which reclines and kept an ice pack on my knee. It was so good to get out and be about!They just bought a new golf cart a couple of weeks ago and I can't wait until I can take a ride. My daughter-in-law cooked a wonderful meal and it was just so nice to sit back and enjoy being with the whole family. Our daughter was there with her two boys age 13 and 8. Those two along with our son's little 2 year old girl took great care of their Noni!! I just can't wait to be moving along at normal speed again to spend time with them and enjoy life! Think I am going to go ahead and make our annual reservations up in Gatlinburg for the middle of October. When I had my RTKR in July 2008 I made that annual autumn trip my goal to work towards. Sure worked good last time, so I might as well do it again! Hope everyone has a good Monday!

 

[bottomshollow]

What a great update, carolinagirl. Great ROM!

The sleep will come--won't be as long as it has been.

And getting out of the house and hanging with family---and somebody else doing the cooking always lifts the spirits. Grandkids just make it that much better. Gosh don't you want to invite me to Gatlinburg in October? That will just be wonderful.


Take care, keep up the good work.

 

[carolinagirl]

Well here I am again! It's 1 am and sleep is once again eluding me.I was up all night last night until about 5:30 am this morning. I fell asleep and slept good until 9:30 am. No nap all day as I am just not sleepy. I lie there and lie there until I finally give up. At least there were some good movies on last night. I watched War Games with Matthew Brodrick. (spelling).
I am really getting tired. I do believe this is the most annoying thing of all. When I do doze off it is only for about 30 minutes or so. Oh well, this too shall pass! So I guess I will head off to bed and see how it goes. I have therapy at 10 am in the morning so I really need to rest. I have no clue as to why my best and only sleep comes from dawn til mid morning!

 

[1ELISEA]

Carolinagirl, as you can tell from my posting, I am right there with you.

Though it is getting better. I am on crutches again per Dr's. order and because of it I can't seem to get enough activity during the day so I can sleep well at night. Hoping that it all passes soon and I'll be more out and about.

Enjoy those movies!!

 

[carolinagirl]

I flexed to 103 degrees on my own this morning at PT. On the "bend and hold for 5 minutes" machine I got to 120 degrees! I go back to see my OS on 7/31 so I am hoping to be able to crank a few more degrees by then!
My PT was really happy! At the beginning I was not to sure about him, but he has turned out to be really great and so supportive! I am 4 weeks post op now. I am using my cane but from time to time I actually forget it and am walking pretty good. My extension is 0 so they don't have to push on my leg and boy am I thankful for that! I have been getting stronger each day. My sleep is still so-so but I know it will come in time. Just wanted to give an update.

 

[kneeper]

Awesome!

 

[bottomshollow]

 

[carolinagirl]

My OS gave me the okay to start back to work Monday the 23rd! I work from home. I am very lucky to have a boss who works with me. I set my own hours so I can work when I feel up to it. When I had my RTKR 4 years ago, I went back at 6 weeks. Then I had to go up to the hospital and to my office. It took awhile to get my stamina built back up. I feel so lucky as now I just have to walk down the hall when I need to elevate and ice!I know to not push myself and I plan on only working about 1-2 hours at a time. I actually slept 4 hours straight last night! What a blessing! Gonna try driving again over the weekend as hubby has jury duty starting Monday. My son has volunteered to take me to therapy Monday morning, but I may need to drive myself the other days! It feels so good to have somewhat of a normal life again!!! Hope all have a great weekend!!

 

[carolinagirl]

I am a little over 6 weeks post op for my LTKR (6/18/12). I went to my OS yesterday and he was so pleased! My extension is 0 and my flexion is 125 degrees! He told me to finish what PT has me scheduled for and that's it. His EXACT words were "Girl, you are one for the record books!" So my last PT session is 8/10/12! I am now walking without my cane. I went back to work 7/23 and am working myself back up to 40 hours per week. I am averaging about 5 hours a day right now. I work from home so that is a real blessing! I have worked soooo hard to get to where I am! I do my home exercises on days I don't go to therapy. I stopped the vicodin this past Saturday and have just been on extra strength tylenol. So far so good. I am finally sleeping better and I don't overdo and listen to my body. To tell you the truth, this time around my surgery and recovery has gone so smoothly it has been scary! I learned with the RTKR 7/3/08 to listen to my body and only do what I feel like. I was in therapy for almost 3 months back then. Things have changed since then. They had me doing more, quicker. I was a little leary at first, but am very happy with my therapist and my results! Just want to say thanks to all you bonesmarties for your support and advise. I am gonna say so long for now. All of you will be in my prayers for speedy recoveries! Josephine I wish you all the best on your new knee! Take care everyone!

 

[bottomshollow]

report Carolina Girl. And it will be such an inspiration to others on the forum. We'll want an update further down the recovery road. In the meantime, take care of yourself. We care.