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kneeworn made it to the other side

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Ok pacing meds a little different at home but one thing is for sure I still need the same amount of 2 tabs with my excersizes. I am taking hydrocodone/apap 10mg/325mg 1-2 tabs every 4-6 hours. Cutting dose to one tab at most times and taking every six hours instead of four hours. I also took regular dose of two tabs for bedtime. Getting the leg to relax at night is hardest. Thanks for the reminder to elevate brs0660. I did forget yesterday and paid for it. I just find so much to get in to and forget to rest at home.

It is so frustrating to work on flexion then be stiff the next day but I still have swelling. I just don't want to end up needing a manipulation.

I would like to wish all the bonesmarties a very blessed merry Christmas. I do not know what or how I could have dealt with this without all your support, knowledge, and caring ways!
 
kneeworn, you don't get adhesions by not doing exercises. It's something people are prone to.

So think about this - one day you "work on flexion" and the next day it's too stiff to do any more exercises - do you see the connection?

You are doing too much! Cut back on the exercises; do about half of what you have been doing and then you'll find yourself able to do the other half the next day! See? It's all quite logical really.

Do please read this thread in the Library MUA (manipulation under anaesthetic) and adhesions but leave it a few hours as I am about to update it a bit.
 
With my last two scopes I had difficulty with adhesions and flexion. On the first scope after several weeks the therapist finally gave it a hard push and broke it up. Hurt like stink. Similar story second time. I really have been careful not to do too many reps and omit things if I feel its really hurting. I just don't want to have it happen again this time. I sometimes wonder if I failed in the past by doing to little when it was uncomfortable.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
Honey, I said before - it's not your fault! If you are prone to it then that's bad luck but you don't cause it. Sometimes you can set it up by doing too much and causing inflammation. Adhesions are a funny thing - no-one really knows what causes them to develop.

I think it would be helpful if you would add those surgeries to your signature.
 
When I go for my first outpatient visit on Monday I am going to tell them about my past issues of swelling and flexion with my other scopes. Even before my last surgery one little twist or one hard impact on that foot would cause swelling. Maybe we can come up with a plan for progress that would take that into consideration.

I will continue to work on heel slides, leg raises, quad stretches, and quad sets in the meantime tempering with ice, rest and elevation. Right now I think I think I need a nap with some elevation.

Thanks Josephine for your response.
 
I am still trying to find the right dosing pattern for my pain meds. I am varying between 4-6 hours but really it all seems to boil down how active I am. Still concentrating on the flexion and quad strenthening but trying to avoid causing swelling.

We had a wonderful Christmas breakfast here and opened presents with my family. My brother and Ray were the chefs with me contributing help assembling the breakfast pizza.

After everyone left I took a 4 hour nap. Funny how this knee lets you know when it is lights out. My two white kitties have been competing for who gets to nap with me on the couch. Poor Sasha was sound asleep with me yesterday and Meko came up and just plopped right down on top of her. Rude little thing.

Hope everyone had a Merry Chritmas and will continue to enjoy the holidays.
 

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Oh mine do that! Such a shame when you're all nice and snug with one and then the other comes in and spoils it all!

As you are finding out, how much pain med is 'enough' is in constant change. Best we can do is try to keep up with it! Some days you'll get it wrong but most you'll get it right!
 
As Jo says, it's a process. You will learn to listen to your body and heed the warning signs before you do too much. Ask your OS if you can safely add 1 tylenol or alieve when you've done too much. It helps boost mine so I can avoid taking more too soon. Also helps me with the bone pain that I'm experiencing due to the cold and snow. An added advantage they fail to tell you is your new is better than the weatherman in forcasting the temperatures dropping and winter weather.

Take it easy. Hope you can continue without a MUA, but if not don't worry it's not that bad.

Blessings,
 
Went for the first outpatient PT today. Things went well. Flexion is 98 and she said I was doing well. Told her about my history of swelling with my other scopes. She gave me home excersizes to do twice a day that work on quad strength and flexion. Also used tenz stimulator on knee to reduce swelling at end of session. I feel very positive after today.

Then Ray took me for a little retail therapy. We got Pjs, socks and a pepper mill.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
Left knee scope 1982 and 2003
 
Sounds good, Donna. I hope by now you are icing and elevating. You may be surprised how just that little increase in activity makes a difference in your knee.
 
Was sore from Pt yesterday and knee kept me up most of the night. They were easier on me today and so far I'm ok. Have iced 2 more times this evening. The deep tissue message she does helps with the knots. I did not know my calf was so tense as well as the Quads. I go back Friday for more and am to continue home excersizes 2 times a day. She said I could adjust amounts due to swelling. She wants me to work on quads and flexion.

Insurance case manager called today to be sure I had what I needed and adequate pain control. Asked if I felt I got the care and instructions I needed for my care. She will be checking in with a call periodically to be sure I have what I need. I've never had that before. It is nice to know I have a nurse advocate helping me.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
 
Well, I'll say! So many people seem to be tossed out of hospital to fend for themselves!
 
Just got home from PT. Flexion is 95 and I dont quiet have full extension. She said my kneecap will move side to side but is very tight up and down. She did some mobilization massage on kneecap and IT band and on medial side of knee. Said my swelling is very thick and those things are all effecting my flexion.

Sleep is still not wonderful. I wake up with pain, spasms and night sweets. I do ankle pumps and massage to help.

But still I am at least maintaining my flexion mostly in spite of all. I have increased my bedtime dose of pain meds to 2 tablets to help. I then redose every 4-6 hours usually 5 hours.

Happy New Year to all.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
Left knee scope 1982 and 2003
 
It's getting better! Remember Dory in Finding Nemo? She'd say "just keep swimming, just keep swimming .... "!

[Bonesmart.org] kneeworn made it to the other side

 
I think you're doing just fine, Donna!!! I agree with Jo that you just need to keep doin' what you're doin' and you will see improvements. Rest, moderate exercise, ice, elevate, take pain meds on schedule.....repeat all over again!!!
 
Ok yesterday evening after therapy I noticed my leg was pinker from the knee down. A different therapist had taken care of me yesterday. She did two things different. She massaged the kneecap and tried to get it to move more and when I did heel slides she forced it into deeper flexion. By bedtime it was swollen to my toes. I did not wear my TED hose the past two days.

I elevated it all night. This morning the swelling is some better but it is painful still. I am icing it. When I get up I will put my TED hose on again. The color is not as pink. I guess I should only do gentle flexion excersizes today and omit the rest. Also get lots of rest and elevation and ice.

Help. Any thoughts my smarties? My knee has always swelled with surgeries. It swelled easily anyhow before my replacement.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
Left knee scope 1982 and 2003
 
Yes, stop her forcing it quite so much. A little is okay but that sounds like a bit too much.
 
Thanks Josephine. She forced about 5 degrees.

And so for today should I only stretch not strength excersizes?

A second note my cat accidently stuck me with one claw two days ago. I scrubbed it with antibacterial surgical scrub and a washcloth for 5 minutes then poured peroxide in it. Then I applied antibacterial ointment. I called the OS first thing the next morning. They said I did the correct thing and to watch the scratch and my temp and to call OS on call if it looked infected.

It looks fine today. Soft and healing. My temperature was 97.5 F yesterday and 98.4 F first thing on rising this morning before fluids. I don't think this is any problem but wanted to share this information.

Donna
LTKR 12/06/2010
Left knee scope 1982 and 2003
 
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