TKR Malamisu's recovery thread^

[Malamisu]

Hi

1. Pain level is about a four right now, it typically drops to about a two when I start moving a bit more. It will spike sometimes at night to about a six when I am laying down.

2. I am taking oxycodone 5mg. I am down to taking one or two each day. I take one as needed at no specific time, obviously with a four hour interval.

3. Swelling is moderate, the calf is still a little sore and swollen and the thigh hurts a bit

4. As of last Wednesday my flexion was 85 and extension was 5

5. I am icing about three times per day, about a half hour each time

6. I am elevating once or twice per day about a half hour each time

7. My activity level includes a good deal of walking (often without a crutch or cane) I have been walking inside and outside my house.

exercise at home include
foot pumps 20 times 10 sets per day
thigh crunches 20 times 10 sets per day
glute crunches 20 times 10 sets per day
bends with an exercise ball 20 times 1-2 per day

I have only had one PT session which last Wednesday, I have a second one this morning. PT session included
heel slides
leg raises
working with the exercise ball
she went fairly easy on me and was satisfied with my progress at the time

 

[Poctdb]

@Malamisu
Hey surgery buddy..report from TX
I have been off pain meds since 4th day after surgery except for PT. Then I take one/two hydrocodone.

No measurement numbers but PT goals were 90/5 by the surgeon visit two weeks from today. My guess is I am already at 90 due to the easier toileting. Still on the walker but for me is is a safety thing.

I have been out of ice maybe 24 hours since I have been home. I sleep with it, alter where it goes constantly (back/front/sides/over quad etc). I told a friend that it maybe 90+ outside....but in my house it is 45 degrees. I look like a mummy in the chair

Elevation is more of an issue for me. I have no “place” to elevate. Recliner is too short and if pillows are used the angle is bad for back and hips. The bed...even worse.... I have ordered another rental chair which should make it easier. It appears Friday.

Swelling is still moderate but only around knee and lower quad. PT showed me how to massage it and I use a rolling pin also. Massage is my favorite part of PT.... the person I drew is awesome also.

I am not doing anything close to you either for exercise or PT. My task (IMO) is to banish as much of the swelling as possible. I wanted to walk more in PT yesterday and her answer was “No...no over doing it yet.”
Did you answer questions Josephine asked you?
You may be doing too much.
(200 glute crunches a day?) I would think that would impact the swelling and pain.
Talk soon.....say “Hello” to your view for me.... green for jealousy.....

 

[Poctdb]

@Malamisu
Are you going to have fireworks to watch with that view on the 4th also?

 

[Malamisu]

Hi there

Glad to see you are making good progress. I am also almost done with oxy, maybe one before bed and that’s about it. I don't have official numbers either, but I would guess about 85 and my extension seems to be almost zero.

I am still struggling with swelling. I can’t seem to calm the knee down. My PT visited yesterday and I agree the massage was amazing. I wish I could find some kind of leg wrap that gently massaged my leg every 20 or so seconds, I bet the swelling would be gone in a day. I am also having a hard time elevating. I can’t find a comfortable position.

I am on my cane 100%, I also walk a lot without it. My PT seems to think that is ok as long as I concentrate heel to toe and straight line when I walk. I find that my foot on my repaired left knee turns out to the left and I don’t want that to be a habit. Does your foot turn one way when you are walking or laying on your back?

Sometimes I get frustrated because I don’t progress as fast as I think I should, but I guess that’s the process. I too think if I could get rid of the swelling the sky’s the limit.

Definitely fireworks tomorrow night, they are all around us. Sometimes seven or eight different cottages next to us will have their own shows. I am blessed to be able to rehab here. Hopefully you are comfortable where you are. BTW, I did answer the questions

 

[Poctdb]

@Malamisu
Good to hear from you.....tag me at poctdb.....not poctbd
The word will turn blue if it is done correctly.

There is a wrap like that but it is expensive. It is called Game Ready and is a combo of icing/compression. This is used by most professional sports teams. Other bonesmart members have used it and have reported success stories of swelling gone within a week. I checked into it, but there was a mess up with the insurance paperwork, so I dropped my pursuit. You can rent it daily for $70/day. I have seen the system on eBay for $1800 or so. New, the system is $3000. Check out the website game ready.com.

I had the PT show me how she did the massage....hand position, force etc. I am doing that massage every 30 minutes or so when I change ice packs. It is not as awesome as hers probably due to the angles she can obtain, but it is working. The heat is going down and all of the dressings are wrinkly. If you are not alone, the person with you might be able to almost duplicate the PT massage feeling.

Re:elevating....what is uncomfortable? The knee, the hip, the height? I was holding my leg too straight when I was elevating. I am using the pillow set up in the elevating article. My bed is just not comfortable. I can hardly wait for Friday when the rental recliner arrives. Reply with where/how it is uncomfortable and maybe we can brainstorm.

For the walking....my feet would hit the ground on the outside of the foot due to the ankles being trained that way because of the severe valgus. For me, my training device was the walker. I aimed for the front wheel of the walker with the foot ensuring that the weight came down on the big toe side and the rolling to the toe to push off. Now according to the PT, my next step is looking straight ahead when I walk....not at my feet to ensure everything is “right”. I am alone so the walker assists in “carrying things” ice machine, laundry, dinner etc. I am not even going to try a cane until the first surgeon visit on the 16th.

For the turn out while on your back, I am not going to worry about that with mine. My knee automatically has done that my whole life as it’s most comfortable position. Your leg will find its new normal....you will be sleeping...

I love puns....and pickleball. My doubles partner told me that I needed to have patience to set the other team up for a shot. My response, “patients are in the hospital.”

With this process, I am learning patience with myself. I am totally Type A, the harder you work, the better it is....the faster you “insert verb here”. To sit and do nothing for 10 hours...yikes! Not in my arsenal...until now.

My one issue is the lack of sleep. I am hopeful the sleep fairy visits tonight...today..in 10 minutes....

Talk soon.... Deanna

 

[Josephine]

BTW, I did answer the questions

So sorry - I missed them!

heel slides
leg raises
working with the exercise ball

Like with the exercises at home, I need to know how many times you do these

 

[kneeper]

You can ice without expensive machines but you need to do it often. It looks like from a previous post you are only icing and elevating a couple of times a day. Most of us find doing the opposite works best.

I iced and elevated most of the day in the first weeks (with breaks). I used a system of pillows and found laying on my bed worked best in the first couple of weeks. Other people use a recliner and add an extra pillow (I did that after a few weeks).