OP
OP
kmak81230
post-grad
United StatesHappy 4th of July to all of you. Today is my 8 week left “kneeversary” and the last three weeks since I joined the forum have been the best of the recovery so far. I can’t believe it’s only been three weeks since you all joined me in my recovery. Thank you all for your courage, wisdom, humor, honesty, perseverance, and friendship. What have I learned in the last eight weeks?
1. Recovery is like line dancing – 2 steps forward, 1 step back and some weeks 1 step forward and 2 steps back – every now and then there is a side step, or plateau, thrown in for good measure.
2. We are all individuals – no two people recover the same – heck, no two knees in the same person recover the same (who knew?) – yet we all have a common need to vent, to seek (and give) advice and support, to laugh, cry, to share the story of our journey.
3. I have lots to be grateful for – my recovery, while slower than I might have imagined or desired, has been free of complications thus far and I have a tremendous support system with my spouse, friends, co-workers, PT, and all of the “smarties” who inspire and encourage me every day.
At the risk of boring you all, my post is fairly long. With another TKR in my future at some point and a memory like Dory I wanted to record my eight week progress in a little more detail.
Three weeks ago, after finding this forum by chance, I was overworking with a spreadsheet full of exercises that were keeping my knee inflamed and swollen; I was depressed, worried, and crying often, as my ROM seemed to be getting worse with each miserable day. I was in that dark place where I questioned why I did this to myself and would I ever be “normal” again.
As of today, I have cut out almost all exercises, except for spinning on the stationary bike for a short time 2-3 times a day, walking, a few heel slides when my knee feels good, and a few other stretches (primarily hamstrings and calves). This was a terribly hard transition for this worker bee – I still have a color-coded spreadsheet with probably too many exercises on it but have written “day off” on it the last four days and hope to let go of it for good this week.
My ROM seems to be slowly improving – being somewhat obsessive I have to refrain from regular measuring.
Most of all, I am much happier, easier to live with, and not worried quite as much (for a compulsive worrier that’s saying something!).
I see the OS in four weeks and am hopeful that with additional improvement by then he will not mention MUA (he did at the six week visit). Even if he does I am confident that I can politely decline, as I now believe I am getting better.
Sometimes, these weeks seem like months and we fail to recognize the little improvements we are making – maybe not in ROM but certainly in our ADLs and other activities that we add to our routine, and also in mood.
My focus over the past week has been on walking correctly. It is definitely not automatic as I have to repeat the mantra “heel, toe, push off the toe and drive the leg forward” but I am noticing great improvement this week with the intentional focus.
I can go upstairs foot over foot without the railing and am working on downstairs with a railing – not very confident with the down steps though it provides a good stretch.
I use the cane for longer walks to ensure proper gait and to be there for the inevitable “wobble” that my knee likes to do without warning.
Swelling is still an issue, so elevation and ice are necessary, but I have longer periods of the day with less swelling. I’m very stiff in the mornings and warming up the quad and hamstrings along with long stride heel to toe walking helps loosen things up.
Fortunately my pain is minimal during the day – I get achy in the shin and ankle on the operative leg, have the occasional stingy sensation, and have a bit of a naggy spot on the outside lower quadrant of the new knee.
The knee is not as painful as it was prior to surgery which makes me hopeful that over time the pain and achiness will subside.
Taking one 675 mg Tylenol during the day if needed and a Tylenol PM at nighttime (it is not as effective as Advil PM for drowsiness for me).
I still go to PT twice a week, as I find it helpful for working on balance, functional movement and overall confidence. The clinic is also a great social atmosphere with a big therapy area where I am sure to see other folks I know - we all support each other.
My PT is wonderful – as uptight/Type A as I am he is laid back; he has only measured twice in 8 weeks – day 1 and at 4 weeks and he really doesn’t seem to care what the numbers are. He patiently answers all of my worrisome questions and alternates movement exercises with massage or whatever I am interested in working on. The other advantage of continuing with PT is that this clinic has a zero gravity treadmill (Alter G) which we can use anytime free of charge as clients. I go in once or twice a week and walk for about 20 minutes at 40% of my body weight. When I started at 25% of body weight it was like walking on clouds. I highly recommend it if you can find one in your community. They have cameras set up so we can watch our gait.
My PT is moving away at the end of July so I might make a clean break after he leaves – unless he releases me sooner. I was really fortunate to get him as a therapist and I would wish for all of you to find a clinic/therapist with this gentle philosophy. That said, I will wait a few weeks before starting PT when I have my other knee done. With this knee I started outpatient PT the third day after surgery (I had been told it was a necessity to get started early – HA!). No need to start that soon. I have already picked out the person I want for PT the next time as I think she will be as good as my current therapist.
I started back to work during week 4 (just a few hours a day) which was too soon! I have been phasing in, but I was miserable by the end of each of the two days that I worked a full 8 hours. I can reasonably do about six hours now, if I take a break in the middle. I do not have a commute as the office is just a mile from my house but elevating at work is not the same as at home. It helps to go home at lunchtime for about 90 minutes to ice and elevate. I like working (aka workaholic), like my job and my colleagues, and probably have a misguided idea that I am needed at work. I started calling in to meetings during week three – ok full disclosure: I was making phone calls from my hospital bed the day after surgery.
Next time I will try to stay away from the office for at least 6 weeks, then gradually phase in, working from home as long as I can. My brain had energy for work long before my body did.
The area where I am still struggling the most is sleep. I probably have 2-3 good nights in a week. I’ve always been a light sleeper but this is ridiculous. I feel like a rotisserie chicken, rolling around during the night trying to get comfortable, rearranging pillows of all shapes and sizes. All sorts of boring magazines and books on the nightstand, which leave me wide-eyed each night.
To make matters worse there is a skunk in the neighborhood and I think he plants himself right outside my bedroom window each night – peeewww!
All in all, I’m doing reasonably well at the eight week mark. This recovery is not for sissies. . . . I keep telling myself “this too shall pass.”
1. Recovery is like line dancing – 2 steps forward, 1 step back and some weeks 1 step forward and 2 steps back – every now and then there is a side step, or plateau, thrown in for good measure.
2. We are all individuals – no two people recover the same – heck, no two knees in the same person recover the same (who knew?) – yet we all have a common need to vent, to seek (and give) advice and support, to laugh, cry, to share the story of our journey.
3. I have lots to be grateful for – my recovery, while slower than I might have imagined or desired, has been free of complications thus far and I have a tremendous support system with my spouse, friends, co-workers, PT, and all of the “smarties” who inspire and encourage me every day.
At the risk of boring you all, my post is fairly long. With another TKR in my future at some point and a memory like Dory I wanted to record my eight week progress in a little more detail.
Three weeks ago, after finding this forum by chance, I was overworking with a spreadsheet full of exercises that were keeping my knee inflamed and swollen; I was depressed, worried, and crying often, as my ROM seemed to be getting worse with each miserable day. I was in that dark place where I questioned why I did this to myself and would I ever be “normal” again.
As of today, I have cut out almost all exercises, except for spinning on the stationary bike for a short time 2-3 times a day, walking, a few heel slides when my knee feels good, and a few other stretches (primarily hamstrings and calves). This was a terribly hard transition for this worker bee – I still have a color-coded spreadsheet with probably too many exercises on it but have written “day off” on it the last four days and hope to let go of it for good this week.
My ROM seems to be slowly improving – being somewhat obsessive I have to refrain from regular measuring.
Most of all, I am much happier, easier to live with, and not worried quite as much (for a compulsive worrier that’s saying something!).
I see the OS in four weeks and am hopeful that with additional improvement by then he will not mention MUA (he did at the six week visit). Even if he does I am confident that I can politely decline, as I now believe I am getting better.
Sometimes, these weeks seem like months and we fail to recognize the little improvements we are making – maybe not in ROM but certainly in our ADLs and other activities that we add to our routine, and also in mood.
My focus over the past week has been on walking correctly. It is definitely not automatic as I have to repeat the mantra “heel, toe, push off the toe and drive the leg forward” but I am noticing great improvement this week with the intentional focus.
I can go upstairs foot over foot without the railing and am working on downstairs with a railing – not very confident with the down steps though it provides a good stretch.
I use the cane for longer walks to ensure proper gait and to be there for the inevitable “wobble” that my knee likes to do without warning.
Swelling is still an issue, so elevation and ice are necessary, but I have longer periods of the day with less swelling. I’m very stiff in the mornings and warming up the quad and hamstrings along with long stride heel to toe walking helps loosen things up.
Fortunately my pain is minimal during the day – I get achy in the shin and ankle on the operative leg, have the occasional stingy sensation, and have a bit of a naggy spot on the outside lower quadrant of the new knee.
The knee is not as painful as it was prior to surgery which makes me hopeful that over time the pain and achiness will subside.
Taking one 675 mg Tylenol during the day if needed and a Tylenol PM at nighttime (it is not as effective as Advil PM for drowsiness for me).
I still go to PT twice a week, as I find it helpful for working on balance, functional movement and overall confidence. The clinic is also a great social atmosphere with a big therapy area where I am sure to see other folks I know - we all support each other.
My PT is wonderful – as uptight/Type A as I am he is laid back; he has only measured twice in 8 weeks – day 1 and at 4 weeks and he really doesn’t seem to care what the numbers are. He patiently answers all of my worrisome questions and alternates movement exercises with massage or whatever I am interested in working on. The other advantage of continuing with PT is that this clinic has a zero gravity treadmill (Alter G) which we can use anytime free of charge as clients. I go in once or twice a week and walk for about 20 minutes at 40% of my body weight. When I started at 25% of body weight it was like walking on clouds. I highly recommend it if you can find one in your community. They have cameras set up so we can watch our gait.
My PT is moving away at the end of July so I might make a clean break after he leaves – unless he releases me sooner. I was really fortunate to get him as a therapist and I would wish for all of you to find a clinic/therapist with this gentle philosophy. That said, I will wait a few weeks before starting PT when I have my other knee done. With this knee I started outpatient PT the third day after surgery (I had been told it was a necessity to get started early – HA!). No need to start that soon. I have already picked out the person I want for PT the next time as I think she will be as good as my current therapist.
I started back to work during week 4 (just a few hours a day) which was too soon! I have been phasing in, but I was miserable by the end of each of the two days that I worked a full 8 hours. I can reasonably do about six hours now, if I take a break in the middle. I do not have a commute as the office is just a mile from my house but elevating at work is not the same as at home. It helps to go home at lunchtime for about 90 minutes to ice and elevate. I like working (aka workaholic), like my job and my colleagues, and probably have a misguided idea that I am needed at work. I started calling in to meetings during week three – ok full disclosure: I was making phone calls from my hospital bed the day after surgery.
Next time I will try to stay away from the office for at least 6 weeks, then gradually phase in, working from home as long as I can. My brain had energy for work long before my body did.
The area where I am still struggling the most is sleep. I probably have 2-3 good nights in a week. I’ve always been a light sleeper but this is ridiculous. I feel like a rotisserie chicken, rolling around during the night trying to get comfortable, rearranging pillows of all shapes and sizes. All sorts of boring magazines and books on the nightstand, which leave me wide-eyed each night.
To make matters worse there is a skunk in the neighborhood and I think he plants himself right outside my bedroom window each night – peeewww!
All in all, I’m doing reasonably well at the eight week mark. This recovery is not for sissies. . . . I keep telling myself “this too shall pass.”
I wonder if Melatonin would be helpful? It's worth a try. I do know what helped me and it was tossing the Oxy. Sounds strange, but the Oxy made my brain *buzzy* and that just wasn't conducive to sleep. Of course, pain wasn't either so I chose the pain-free route the first 4 weeks.
