2 week update:
Sleep: I'm sleeping very well. I just started being able to roll onto my side with a pillow between my legs. It doesn't last too long, as I get achy but it's nice to be able to do so for a bit. I usually fall asleep easily each night around 11:30 and sleep until around 3 am (good solid sleep). I go to bed hooked up to my ice machine and will unhook myself around 3 am when I wake up. I go to the bathroom (which gives my legs a needed stretch) and will take pain meds. I then sleep solidly again until around 8 am or so. The last two days I've dozed again until around 10 am which is very nice. I haven't been napping regularly anymore during the day, as there's too much going on here with my boys getting ready to go back to school, etc. so I'm very ready to sleep by the time I go to bed at night.
Pain: The pain has changed from sharp, stabbing pains when I lift my legs, move, etc. to a more deep ache. I went a few days without taking pain meds during the day (didn't think I needed them) and paid for it in the early evening with a lot of aching. So, I try to continue to take one hydrocodone pill every 4-6 hours. I still take two at night before I sleep. I have Tramadol as well and usually take just 1-2 as needed in the late afternoons/evenings. I am running out of the pills so will talk to the dr tomorrow to see if he wants me to take the same meds or try something else. My biggest complaint is not so much pain, but a feeling that I need to stretch/bend my legs and I can't - although the achiness is hard too, which is why I now know that I need keep up with the meds, even when I'm feeling a bit better.
PT: My ROM still isn't all that great, but I feel like my swelling is down a bit, and I'm bending a little bit more. My extension today was .3 on one side and .4 on the other side. I had to work hard to get there, my legs naturally like to stay at around 12. She didn't measre my bend - but like I said, I think it's a bit better. This past Friday, I went from 72 to 78 which made me happy (on left leg) but my right leg dropped down to 68 (swelling was bad on that side on Friday). As I was at 90 when I left the hospital, I'm looking forward to getting back to that point soon. Today I did 10 min on the bicycle (just rocking), I used the leg press, did some side steps, marching and some other easier exercises. They are very good at not hurting me and not pushing me too much.
Swelling: I feel like I'm finally on top of it and it's not getting worse, and if anything, it's a bit better. I still spend the majority of my day in my recliner hooked up to my ice machine with my legs elevated on pillows. I try to get my legs up very high on the back of the sofa once or twice a day and do a few ankle pumps. I think this is what really helped me at least reduce a little swelling this past weekend.
Strength: I'm surprise at how strong I feel. I am easily taking steps now without the walker, I'm getting up and down the stairs much quicker (it's not pretty but I get the job done) I shower, dry myself and my hair easily now, can stand on one leg getting dressed, etc. It's nice to not be so reliant on others anymore.
I have my 2 week check up with my OS tomorrow. I got my Coumadin blood draw today so I'll see tomorrow if it needs to be altered. I'm hoping to get off the Coumadin next week (fingers crossed). I'm also silently praying that I can stop wearing these awful TED hose, but something tells me he might make me wait a few more weeks. I will be one happy lady when they can come off. I also should get my staples removed.
@Crow22 Thinking of you........hope you are progressing well.
) You are probably at the worst stage for stiffness. You can have a lot of swelling at this point which is part of the stiffness problem. It will get better.
United States
