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TKR KathyH New Knee

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KathyH I did so much yesterday that I am a bit sore today. I am going to do some exercises today but not too much, I don't want to irritate my knee. I am at 7 weeks now and I still have lots of swelling, so I really don't think we should be getting too crazy. Thats just my thought!
 
At 7/8 weeks I was convinced I'd never walk again and surgeon had made a dreadful mistake! You are all doing great...it just doesn't feel like it....yet
 
Kathy you are doing so well now, cannot believe how much you have achieved in a week.
Nanners you are so right I am at 9 weeks, and week to week I go up and down according to what I have or have not done , but do feel I have finally turned that corner I just need to remember not to overdo it or get too confident but it will all come right in the end hopefully !!! :gaa. do not even like to say it as tempting providence but swelling is mostly to a minimum.
 
Little steps here and there really add up! Congrats Kathy! It must feel good to be doing a few things to make you feel like you again!

Be well,

Dawn
 
Yes Gail, Linda and Dawn. It's so easy to get carried away when you start to do more. I learnt that yesterday with two walks plus doing little jobs around the house. My knee was rather on the stiff side last night. But this morning was okay.

I have never had trouble sleeping and boasted on here how I sleep well of a night after my surgery. However, the last week has not been good. When I do sleep I have really unpleasant dreams. But it takes me ages and ages to get off to sleep, sometimes hours - as in last night. I doubt I got to sleep before 4 am. Could this be because I have cut down on the pain meds? Although I have to admit I have a lot on my mind at the moment, apart from my knee, and when I go to bed my mind just does not stop racing. It's going over everything. So this in turn is making me very emotional during the day and I am snapping at Ray - not good.

And Nancy, you are so right, I certainly don't feel great at the moment. Though as my physiotherapist said, as my physio didn't start until I was 7 weeks, I have to work that bit (or rather a lot) harder now. I have just ordered myself an elliptical trainer/exercise bike from eBay and that should be with me by the end of the week. I am looking forward to using that for more progress, hopefully - fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed and anything else that will cross :heehee:
 
KathyH I love the recumbent bikes. On my 2nd PT I got to ride a one and got around no problem and rode for 10 min. First thought was, I like this, I wish I could get one for home. A lady in the class said she found one for $25 at a thrift store. Maybe I will get as lucky as her!

KathyH I also have Xanax (lowest dose), that I use on those types of nights and it helps to quiet my mind and let me sleep. Maybe something to discuss with doc. Hugs!
 
Hi Kathy, I just wanted to let you know that when I was weaning off my pain meds I was getting the most bazaar dreams too. Even while semi awake with my eyes closed I would get these flashes of very strange visions, which were very disturbing and made my mind race in all different direction. I am normally a very good sleeper too.
I spoke to one of my sisters in Florida and she said she experienced such dreams and such herself as well.
Since I've been off the pain meds I no longer get those dream, thank god!
Since a good nights sleep was not had I would snap at Norm too, and you're right not good! I wish I would have known back then about the connection of the drugs, bad dreams and too little sleep I would have been able to tell Norm that it was all due to the drugs and it won't last. Then I wouldn't have felt like I was an ingrateful bi-ch!

So my dear, it too shall pass, hang in there!:friends:
 
Thank you so much for your kind and supportive words, Jacky. Means the world to me :flwrysmile:

I slept better last night. Ray went to bed before me last night and then I actually fell asleep on the sofa for a while. But I still felt very tired when I got ready for bed and don't remember it taking that long to get to sleep.
 
KathyH said:
I have never had trouble sleeping and boasted on here how I sleep well of a night after my surgery. However, the last week has not been good. When I do sleep I have really unpleasant dreams. But it takes me ages and ages to get off to sleep, sometimes hours - as in last night. I doubt I got to sleep before 4 am. Could this be because I have cut down on the pain meds? Although I have to admit I have a lot on my mind at the moment, apart from my knee, and when I go to bed my mind just does not stop racing. It's going over everything. :
Click to expand...

Kathy, I can't speak to the change in pain meds but I to often have trouble falling asleep. One thing I have started doing is some light stretches, upper body, lower body, etc. before bed and I have also switched my meditation from the morning to the evening. In particular, when I stretch I incorporate some progressive relaxation. I have found that with this surgery and tensing up against the pain or discomfort that I experience in the knee that other parts of my body are carrying a lot of tension. If I can get rid of some of that before I try and sleep it helps a lot. Just an idea to try.
 
Hi Kathy,

I am back from my travels and wanted to find out how you were. It all sounds a bit traumatic, but also as if you are going in the right direction.
Keep up the good work, and I hope you avoid the MUA.:whistle:
 
Hi Kathy,

Every now and then I have a problem falling asleep. I try to stay on a fairly regular schedule of going to bed and getting up around the same time each day, but if I stay up late one night, it does throw me off. I hope the sleep issue resolves for you soon!

How is the knee feeling since you started pt?

Do stay in touch when you can and I hope the other issues you mentioned are getting better. All good wishes for peace and comfort!

Dawn
 
So glad you are starting to get about a bit more Kathy - have been thinking of you. Coming up to my 20 weeks now ... can't believe it. Even with an uncomplicated/straightforward recovery like mine it all still feels very odd, just got to put that feeling aside & press on! By the way I am crossing my eyes for you! x
 
Hi everyone, thank you as always for your kind words and thoughts. You are always such a great inspiriation :thumb:

Josephine thank you for asking about my flexion. I have been having physio for exactly two weeks now. At the first session I measured 40 degrees. Last week she got me to 70. Today I started off at less than 70 and we were both greatly disappointed (especially as I honestly felt like my bend had improved enormously). But at the end, I got to 75. My extension last week was 10 and today was -6 (not really understanding the minus and plus signs).

I bought the exercise bike and have been pushing backwards on it, although obviously not able to do full rotation at the moment. My physio said to stop using it until I get a 90 bend. So that was disappointing to hear as I thought the bike would be a great help in getting more bend.

She wants me to push my exercises now to the point where I say "oh god" as I did this morning with her and do them three or four times a day. Felt on a high last week, but down again this week, sometimes feels like this road is leading nowhere :sad:
 
KathyH I can get my bend to improve, but my flexion is back to -10 so I have to work on that. Keep working on it, it will come. Big hugs!
 
Fight on, fight on, petal! You will get there. Don't forget to ice lots afterwards.
 
I forgot to add this - an explanation about ROM and the numbers - hope it helps. Just note the red and blue flags .....

[Bonesmart.org] KathyH New Knee
 
Ahh, hang on Kathy girl.. Does your physio ever do massage on your leg before your sessions? If not, then you take a heating pad and put it on,the thigh, then behind the leg, and on the calf muscle before she gets there for your session. You need to relax and stretch those muscles before each session.

I wish I could make it better for you sweetie. I would do it in a heartbeat. :friends:
 
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