Three Month Update:
Today is three months since my BTKR. The past three months have been full of ups and downs, and I'm thankful that I've been able to take time off from work, and just concentrate on taking care of myself. I decided to return to work this upcoming Monday. I am a bit worried, but I feel like I need to start returning to my "normal" life and this is the first step. I will be working four hours per day, for a 20 hour a week part-time schedule for three weeks. I work in two schools, but will only be returning to one of the schools, so I won't be traveling between them during the day. If all goes well after three weeks, I will go full-time the first week of December. The good news is after two weeks of full-time, I'll have winter break - and two full weeks off to recover. If I'm not ready, I will do the first two weeks of Dec PT as well, and return to full-time after winter break in January. I'm very lucky that we have a strong short-term disability plan, and I can afford to return to work when I'm ready, and not just due to finance concerns.
I am more active than previously, although I've found that if I have several busy days, it takes me multiple days to recover. But, it is so nice to be able to get out and about. My husband and I are going away next week, and I'm anxiously looking forward to my first night out since my surgery. I'm trying to decide what my first celebratory drink will be........
Here's a bit of an update on how I'm doing at this point-
PT: I am winding down with PT with mixed emotions. Last measured (last week) my ROM was 120 (left) and 114 (right). My extension hasn't been measure in many weeks, and I'm worried it isn't as good as before. I've concentrated so much on flexion, and notice that it's much harder to straighten my legs when I'm walking. I've started working more at home with my extension, doing several exercises the PT showed me to include laying on my stomach with my legs (knees) hanging off the bed (10 min.) and also sitting on a chair with my legs up on another chair in front of me. I put something weighted on my knees and sit for around 10 minutes at a time. I'm trying to do one of these activities three times per day. The reason I have mixed emotions about leaving PT is 1) I've come to rely on her to help me with all my aching musles, spasms, aches and pains. She's great at rubbing, massaging, stretching and fixing all these problems areas, and 2) I like to know where I'm at with my ROM, as it provides me incentives to keep working. I'm down to going to PT once per week this month, and then I am done. I am planning to continue to work with my trainer at the gym, but she is on vacation this week and next week. So far, I haven't been very good at getting there myself. I need to change that and get over there into the pool or in the gym.
Sleep: Other than a few nights on insomnia after stopping my Hydrocodone, I don't have too much problems falling asleep. I still wake up once during the night, and I get up and walk for a minute to stretch my legs. I wake up in pain from having my knees bent and still have terrible spasms when i straighten them. Over the weeks, the severity of pain and discomfort has improved, but sleeping positions are still challenging at times. I still get tired during the day at times, I'm sure due to the fact that I don't always get restful sleep at night. However, I find myself having "moments" where I feel good, and feel like my old self.
Medications: I stopped my Hydrocodone and haven't had the need to take any for probably several weeks. I still take Tramadol, however this week I noticed multiple days where I realize that I hadn't take any for over 8 hours. This "forgetting' to take them is my body's own way of weaning me off of them. I have no desire to stop taking them if I need them, so just let my body decide when it's needed. I tend to take 2-3 per day. I try not to take any if I'm going to be driving, and will supplement with Tylenol or Ibuprofen if needed.
Pain: My knees still get achey at times, and there are moments where out of the blue I will get a stronger pain or twinge. I'm having ankle and hip (hip flexor) pain, which has been a repercussion of the surgery (lack of ROM and weird gait, etc.). My biggest problem has to do with my left leg on the side, where I have assumed it's the IT band. My PT has a theory of the pain, as she notices when I walk and go down stairs my left knee drifts in a bit. She believes that I started walking that way due to pain and now it's just natural, so we are doing strengthening exercises and I am doing my best to concentrate with my gait to correct the issue which hopefully will help the pain. I am so very stiff each day, which is my biggest problem. I stand up from sitting and it take me several steps to straighten my legs and walk "normally". I'm working on stretching more and have been massaging with essential oils, which seems to be helping. I still swell if I do too much, and am still not icing enough.
I feel like I've come so far and on the one hand I know I'm doing well. I'm thankful I haven't had any setbacks and my recovery has been smooth. However, I'm noticing that this is a really tough stage. Personally, I'm just tired of all of this and it gets frustrating to have everything revolve around my know. I'm tired of aching, of feeling stiff and of not being able to bend my legs how and when I want. On another level, it's hard because people expect you to be "better", and want and expect you to do things. I'm lucky that I have great support from family, work and this BS community to help me stay patient and get through this. I know the end is in sight, and I just need to hang in there. I will keep chugging along.
@Crow22, I know you haven't been around a lot lately, which means that you are out and about and enjoying your new knees. I'm so glad it has all gone so well for you.
@rosietosie and
@PuppyLove You two are doing amazing as well, and I continue to learn from you both, even though I am ahead of you. And finally to
@Threads, you are next - and I know you will do GREAT.
Canada![[Bonesmart.org] It's finally time!!](https://bonesmart.org/forum/attachments/image-jpg.27005/ "[Bonesmart.org] It's finally time!!")
Can you tell I'm happy to hear about your "great escape"! Every minute of icing today must feel worth it as you look back on the views, the change of scene and routine, the food, the music and the DANCING! You are my inspiration. Take it easy today and pamper yourself. Slide into work as slowly as you can, I know it will be hard - people always "save" stuff for you to do 
