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kneeworn made it to the other side

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Great story Helen. I've had a couple micro moments when I take some normal movements and realize I'm really making progress and I will get there. I can't wait to do the fun things this summer that I will finally feel up to doing.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
Last weekend Ray and I were out shopping and I decided to try to step down off the curb with my operative knee like we were doing in therapy. Well I wear bifocals and it was a deeper step down than I thought. An ouch and a yelp later I stepped down. My knee was sore all weekend. However it was a good thing because Monday my flexion was up to 117. My therapist and I laughed that I must have done a manipulation without anesthesia.

Also last week I trimmed my toenails and Monday I noticed one of the cuticles of my toe on my operative leg was very red and swollen. I went to the doctor and she has me soaking it in Epson salts or hibiclens antibacterial surgical scrub solution several times a day. Although it is more tender the redness and swelling are improving and I have no fever. We just can not be too careful trimming our nails. I am going to leave mine a little longer from now own but have always kept them short from my years in dance. Valuable scary lesson. I think I may have pulled a cuticle when clipping. I have bought a new clipped in case my old one is too dull.

Today is more therapy. Hope I do well.

Donna
LTKR
12/06/2010
 
Oh gosh - that was a nasty tumble! Glad you're all right though.
 
Sorry how I worded that last post. It did sound like I fell. What I meant to say was that it was a deep step down and much bigger step than normal making me bend my knee lots further than I had been when I stepped down. So sorry I confused you guys. So I have edited the wording. Anyway it is doing fine and bending better now.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
Another great day at PT. Still fluctuating on flexion with today max being 115. She did something new today. She had me walk down the room looking left then right and on the way back looking up and down. She said I don't limp when I do that. Sneaky girl. So I need to stop thinking so much about it and just walk it sounds like. Have a great weekend smarties.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
LOL! They do have their ways of finding out, don't they?
 
Last week I got on antibiotics for a swollen red cuticle on a toe on my operative leg. I have also been soaking the foot per doctors orders. Should I be concerned that I now have a low grade fever of about 99F. Normally I run a temp of 97.6F. My knee has been really achy but we have added weights to the leg lifts too. It is always a little warm and still is. However it does not hurt to weight bear. My toe is almost well.

Donna
 
Well, you had antibiotics, didn't you? Therefore nothing to worry about.
 
Thanks Josephine. Your the best forum mother hen! And I worry too much as my own Mom says. My temp is normal again I just rechecked. They did discontinue my hormone replacement post operatively. Guess I get to go through menopause again and all these hot flashes from that. He he. Not fun!

Donna
12/06/2010
 
No it's not! I'm still having them. I've never thought to take my temperature during one though - interesting thought!
 
Donna, I'm glad to hear that your toe is healing. Great news!!!
 
The last two therapy sessions I was able to flex to 117. I have one spot on the medial side that aches still and has since the beginning. The therapists and I feel it still part of the healing. Sometimes it will ease up but most times it is fussy. We decided to continue using the machines because I really feel like they help even though I get achy. This is week 10 for me and I need to be able to return to work by the end of week 12. If I go back at week 12 I can go back for half days the first two weeks. I feel that would help me the most.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
Yesterday we took a 4 hour road trip to and from and it was not well received by the knee. I was able to get out and walk around at half way when we stopped then started our return trip. Anyway at therapy today I had dropped from 117 to 110 on my flexion. Very frustrating for me. It had more swelling. I just wish I could make better progress. Others seem to do so much better and I can't seem to make progress. Tomorrow I am hoping to go walking if the weather permits. The therapists and I were thinking it would be helpful getting me ready to return to work. My job is fast paced with a lot of fast walking and lifting. My leave of absence will soon be up and next week is week 11 of 12.

I also ventured out for a shopping errand this evening. I just have to get my knee used to more activity.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
Donna, I want to caution you that there is nothing you can do to "get your knee used to more activity." The swelling will stop when your knee is healed and not one day sooner. The more you push, the more you'll have pain and swelling.

I know you want to be healed at this point, but many of us just aren't. It's your body and it's different from everyone else's. If you're going to do anything to try and prepare for a stressful job, I would be resting a lot more to let your knee settle down.

What happens if you request additional time off from work?
 
Jamie is right Donna. Right now, your knee has a mind of its own and there is not much you can do about it. Do you have to go back to work full time?
 
I spoke with our human resource department today and they said as long as I am back by March 7 full time we do not need to do anything more like apply for personal leave after my FMLA expires. Week 12 of my FMLA ends on February 27. I really do want to phase in at half days since this helped when I had my last scope. My immediate manager has the final say as far as how long they will hold my job. She had said before surgery that I would have 12 weeks FMLA. I do have to work full time and can not afford part time as I would loose benefits and insurance assistance. I also need my income. After my appointment with my OS next week I plan to go see her and discuss his recommendations. My therapists still feels I will be able to return on time so for now I'm just going to keep trusting her judgement. She says sometimes folks do better when they go back and increase their activity. My OS did my last scope and it took me longer to be able to return with that so he knows my history. He restricted my hours and weight lifting limits with that return. I have faith he will protect me this time too. As for my sick time I have enough hours for a total of 14 weeks. I plan on using some of those hours to help fill in to make my hours equal full time the first two weeks back. If I go back at week 13 and do two weeks of half time that would give me 2 more weeks off before going back half time at first.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
It sounds like you have a good plan, Donna. I understand the need to work. We have to eat, don't we!! Just take things as easy as you can though....we're rootin' for you!!!
 
Good luck Donna in phasing back into your work. You've worked so hard, and praying your knee cooperates with you. I sure do understand your need to get back.

As for the car trips. one of my knees, the one I bummed up, gives me fits on longer car trips. It's really the soft tissue that would get all unhappy. Haven't been on a long one recently so anyway, hope it's better soon.:smile:
 
I was thinking this morning that it took 10 weeks if I remember correctly to get the swelling under control and to be able to return to work after my last scope. Of course it was a knee that had be smoothed out on the surfaces to buy me some time but it was this knee. So really it is on schedule sort of by its history and this is way more trauma than a scope. I just hope this next week or two makes the difference it needs to move forward.

Sometimes I feel the more I rest it the lazier the muscles get making it swell more when I challenge it again. So I plan to plod on as I have been gradually increasing what I do so long as I do not get a significant increase in swelling. Actually this last swelling was due to a long car ride which Jo calls the movie sign and I see that many are having trouble with months out too. One thing is for sure there will be no sitting around at work to risk the movie sign there!:th_heehee:

Baby steps.
 
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