Hi
@Mitzi I have just arrived on your thread and wish I had found you sooner but you have such a good outlook it is easy to see how much you are trying. I know you will do fine as you have come such a long way already and looking back you can see how many things you have accomplished. I had my first surgery in April 2013 not having any idea what I would feel like after surgery not knowing what to expect think most of us feel the same way it is all new and feeling our way along as best as we can. Bonesmart has helped me so much to it is where I found the answers that were needed and kindness and support you are not alone we are both in good caring hands here.
I had my surgery and then came home all went well no real amount of pain that could not be managed with the pain medication my pain began when pt came for home pt and then the worries and pain started. I like you did not know I could say no thought as people I talked to that without following all of the instructions exactly the way they showed them I would not walk again. I found out that the worst thing I did was allow the pt to make me feel like enough was not enough so started to push myself more and they pushed to thinking this was the best way.
What they said about needing to push hard was not true causing swelling and more pain and a very unhappy me cried so much so discouraged and before this I had been happy came home and felt positive. I could not take it anymore so uncomfortable that when she would come back she would not be happy and then more crying and more swelling trying to do it right but doing it too much and doing it wrong. I cancelled my pt after 4 weeks no more just too much.
At 6 weeks my surgeon signed me up to the hospital pt at that time I was not comfortable telling him no pt at home now feel very comfortable with him he is great. I was put on a waiting list at hospital took two weeks and in the meantime signed up with pt at his clinic . This pt was even more aggressive and after my 8th week visit my surgeon told me he was suspending pt all pt suggested going for massages these really helped both mentally relaxed and physically and looked forward to them they resulted in my being so relaxed that my movement increased without the force that happened with pt.
I was told at the visit with surgeon that sometimes when left our knees improve on their own. just gentle exercises walking is his choice as the most natural choice as this is what our legs do for us. He offered me two choices leaning towards the second of these. One was that he would take me in and under
anesthetic he would bend my knee the other was prescribing gentle walking and going slow doing it something I enjoy walking. I took the second selection he agreed hoping that would be my choice.
Do not let anyone hurt you force your knee stand up and say no it is your right to protect you and your knee you deserve this . As they say and they are so right do not feel that you cant say no they work for you paid by you just as any service you pay for they are supposed to do what you need but not doing what they want not if it is causing you pain. Just simply say no and not to worry even about what surgeon says if they support aggressive treatment you are the one the matters it is your knee and if your surgeon wonders why you are not doing this pt explain you might be surprised that he is not supportive of aggressive my surgeon does not believe in anything but gentle care on these new knees we have.
I have just had my second knee replacement this time more aware of the things that I would do different such a different surgery outcome. I have had less pain although I did have lots of pain it was due to surgery not to pt. I have felt so much happier less crying feeling more positive and doing the gentle approach my knee is happier to . My surgeon during my 8 week appointment this time mentioned swelling. I did have some or lots even this time but was confused about pt as at my appointment with my surgeon we had discussed before surgery what would not happen this time around this time we agreed no pt not like the past pt and better pain medication.
Two days before my surgery I had a visit at our home for assessment. Then after surgery the same person called she was coming it turned out hospital had send pt. I explained to her that my surgeon did not support the type of pt that I had last time he did not support this and surprised she was coming. She said they did not do this type of pt so kept her for 4 visits she was supportive and knew that anything that would cause the swelling and pain again would not be allowed. I had no problems with this pt till last visit and then when she left how much pain just from a 15 minute visit she explained that they are required to do this as this is what surgeons expect they are supposed to do what ever they need to in order to accomplish the numbers that surgeons expect and needing to report progress do it impress the surgeon that they have managed to get these numbers Now understanding this was her last visit my surgeon at hospital visit found out she had come and he said cancel her no more. I had he reminded me that this time we had agreed no pt and i told him that wondered why the pt came after our talk and he said hospital must have assigned her tell her not to come back not all knees respond the same way he said my knee did not respond to pt made it worse
I hope this helps you have the right to protect yourself not worrying if you offend them as you are very important and you tell them nicely but plainly when they do something to hurt you . I am now walking with my walker outside inside using my cane or nothing . I have very little swelling and not on medication for pain things are going great still working on the bend just by walking and seeing things getting better. They are right here at bonesmart this is the place where my gentle treatment started as learned to decide when too much was too much and thankful they were and still are there. the bend will come my first surgery knee is now bending just needing time not thinking about it and then surprise more bend.
Hoping for you to have gentle care you deserve it so much knee happier just like a baby when given care and treated kindly best outcome and happier you. Spring is coming it will make things easier to get outside and move easier nice to get a change of scenery to and not closed in. I hope this is not too long I write long posts but wanted to visit with you as you were saying the same things that I felt know how hard it can be when trying and things are not moving as fast as you or the people you deal with want them to just makes it frustrating. Although people try not easy to understand what someone going through these surgeries is feeling and unless pt have had this surgery they do not really understand what something they do to you can make your knee feel need to tell them maybe making it easier for them to understand and maybe making the next time easier. You are not alone you are part of this wonderful bonesmart family qreat place to come to with questions or just to talk about how your knee is feeling lots of us who have been through the same surgery same feelings and nice to share.
I found my recovery turned around found bonesmart at 3rd week recovery and my situation changed for the better happy to have found you hoping all goes well you are in good hands here so many wonderful
people who make this pathway a lot smoother. Best wishes for a great recovery you are well on your way and doing great.
Holly
United States
