TKR Indieknee trying to recover

[indieknee]

Thanks for that @Laurenkate - depressing - but reassuring that it’s not abnormal
I also have hard lumps and bumps - you never know, they might disappear in a few years

 

[sistersinhim]

Are you icing and elevating most all night? Many of us did and that kept our swelling down.

 

[indieknee]

Hi @sistersinhim Yes I do ice and elevate night and day - it usually helps but not this time. I also have an annoying pain at the back of my knee at the side. This has always been lurking about in the background but now it’s much worse. Sorry for moaning, I felt so positive the other day

 

[sistersinhim]

I think it's be a good idea to call your OS and tell him what's happening. It's probably nothing, but you want to be sure.

 

[indieknee]

I will be seeing my os in a couple of weeks, but I will email him.

 

[sistersinhim]

I think that's a wise move.

 

[Celle]

I also have an annoying pain at the back of my knee at the side. This has always been lurking about in the background but now it’s much worse.

Are you icing the back and side of your knee, as well as the front?
Sometimes that helps.

 

[indieknee]

Thanks for the tip, celle - I have not been icing the back of my knee - I did today and it did help.
I have just sent off for a cryo cuff and ice cooler - they had one in the hospital but I never used it, the pt preferred a bag of ice. Which is fine but I think the cryo cuff wraps all round the knee and the ice/water apparently lasts for hours. Downside is that it’s quite expensive.
Hopefully I’ll get a reply from my os tomorrow concerning my pain and swelling. I’ll post an update when he does.

 

[sistersinhim]

You will love the ice machine! I used my every time I sat or laid down for the first 2 months or so. It really kept the swelling and pain level down!

 

[indieknee]

Sistersinhim - I have just received my parcel, so I shall be trying out my cryocuff later - forgot to get the ice ready - will use some yoghurt pots and butter tubs as ice containers.

 

[sistersinhim]

Yay! Let us know how it works for you.

 

[indieknee]

I find the cryo cuff good for nighttime - easy to refill without getting out of bed or disturbing my husband, although I don’t wear it wrapped around my leg. I find it more comfortable just lightly filled and laid across the top of my knee. I can also lay my knee on top of it to ice the back.
I am in much depressing pain this morning I haven’t heard from my os yet.

 

[indieknee]

My son looked at my ice, computer table, pills etc., and said: ‘you soon won’t need that anymore’, I asked what made him think that, he replied ‘well, you’ll soon be better’. I do hope he’s right but i’ve a feeling my family are getting as fed up as I am .
So think positive - I won’t always be like this - or will I ? - no I really won’t always be like this.
At 10 weeks I can do things I couldn’t do a few weeks ago.
I can:
Walk without a crutch indoors.
Get in and out of a car quite well (as a passenger, I can’t drive)
Walk with one crutch outside quite confidently
Walk up and down stairs
Sit in normal chairs for a short time and get out of them.
Get in and out of bed easily
Have a shower on my own
Work at my computer with aid of tray suggested by a kind person on this forum.
I’m sure there are other things, and I can do most of these things even when my knee hurts.
So I would be a really happy bunny if my knee stopped trying to kill me

 

[Celle]

Those are all things you couldn't do just a short while ago. That's progress!

It is hard for family and friends to realise how long this recovery can take - especially if they weren't warned of that beforehand.
Just stick to what you know is right for your knee.

 

[SusieShoes]

It won’t seem so long once you’re through with it. That said, the first few months can be a grind. It helps to find small victories you can feel good about, like having a really nice walk one day or standing longer in the kitchen to prepare a meal. Little things. The big things come immediately (no arthritis pain!) and later, when you realize one day that you just did something and it was easy, not stiff or painful.

I think sometimes family tries to make us feel better by saying things like “you won’t need that soon.” They want us to remain hopeful. Your son sounds quite sweet!

 

[indieknee]

Celle and susieshoes - as always thanks for your wise words - I am much comforted
Not sure whether my son would welcome being called sweet (even though he can be)
More news: my surgeons pa phoned and asked if I could go and see him this afternoon. We have just arrived back. He found no infection, thank goodness, but said I had something called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and has prescribed Gabapentin. I’m seeing him again in 2 weeks. So we’ll see what happens.


#CRPS

 

[indieknee]

Just researched CRPS on this website and in Google - aaargh !!!

 

[Jockette]

Let’s ask @Josephine about:

More news: my surgeons pa phoned and asked if I could go and see him this afternoon. We have just arrived back. He found no infection, thank goodness, but said I had something called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and has prescribed Gabapentin. I’m seeing him again in 2 weeks. So we’ll see what happens.

 

[indieknee]

@Jockette and @Josephine
I am going to see a new physiotherapist on Monday as my os thinks some pt would be good for the CPRS. I’m prepared to try it as long as it doesn’t make it worse. Has anyone in the forums had experience of this?

 

[Jockette]

I have no experience with this so I can’t comment. Let’s see what Josephine says when she comes back online.

I do hope things will improve for you. Remember how early you really are in recovery and that you still have a long way to go for full healing.