Revision TKR My left knee story, revision complete 8/14/12, hopeful

[tarheel]

Dawn,

You already know my story, so I won't repeat it. But I was on a crutch through five months (very frustrating, isn't it? You just want to walk like a normal person and actually carry things in your hands!)

The improvement was painfully slow, seems like each PT session saw either no improvement or maybe one degree - never a big jump.

Keep the faith and do those stretches faithfully. You're going to get there. I'm not done yet, but I can tell you I'm at a point now where I don't actually THINK about my knee 24/7. It's more like 12/7. :rolleyespink:

Have a good weekend!

 

[Josephine]

It's okay - just be patient. Look at all that work you've had done on that knee. Don't be surprised if it turns a bit mule-ish on you! But you've still got time to progress.

 

[Dhare63]

Thanks Tarheel and Jo for the encouragement. I know with all the history of my knee problems, that the joint has been more than traumatized over the years with some many procedures. It's a challenge to find patience when the world around you has moved on and I am still stuck just beyond the starting gate. I do hate the crutch, I really do!! I want to be able to carry things and not have to ask for help, that is so frustrating. I have always been extremely independent, which doesn't work so well when you need help with so many little things.

Again, many thanks for the support!

Dawn

 

[Josephine]

It will come in time ............. truly it will.

 

[Oldknees]

This is for Just13 or anyone else looking for a pillow/device for elevating your leg to assist with pain and swelling reduction. In the library there is a Josephine post titled "elevating your leg to control pain and swelling". One of the illustrations shows a wedge shaped device that appears to be made of foam.

I took that picture to a foam shop in town and asked them to duplicate it for me. It cost $40 and works very well. A small price considering that I will use it for both knee recoveries. Stacking pillows doesn't work as well and does not correctly support the leg. Food for thought......

 

[Retsel]

Dawn,
I don't have any advice but just want to offer some support. I hope you things start getting better real soon. Keep us posted.

 

[Dhare63]

Thanks Carolyn, I appreciate it very much. It's just frustrating to see so little improvement over these nearly 4 months. I know with time, hard work and patience I will get the outcome desired. The competing priorities for my time like my more than full time job and family, leaves me pretty much spent at the end of each day. I have 10 days off over the holidays so I hope I can recharge my batteries and hit the new year with revived eagerly and vigor!

PT at 11am, hoping for a good session!

Thanks again, Dawn

 

[Dhare63]

Feeling vulnerable....

I live in New England and Winter has arrived. With that comes slippery stairs and sidewalks, not crutch or cane friendly. I still need to use one crutch for support and foresee this continuing for several more weeks. The weather is only going to get worse, not better. This week, specifically Wednesday and Thursday, were awful days.

Wednesday afternoon is when it started. When I came home from work, the steps up to the house were really slippery. I very carefully made my way into the house but hate that nervous feeling that I might fall. Hubby had forgotten to get ice/sand for the steps and was very apologetic. We had a storm come through Wednesday night and dumped a small amount of snow and sleet. Thursday morning, there was a very thin layer of ice on the steps to go down to the car, again, no ice/sand on the steps. Lost my cool and was pretty mad that it wasn't taken care of. Arrive at work and the maintenance people had not salted or sanded the parking lot or the sidewalks. I called the person who is in charge of these people and warned her that this is going to be an issue for me and for our clients who are sometimes elderly, that someone was going to fall. She said she would speak with them. Sure enough, Friday morning, I made it into the office fine, but 15 minutes later I had a client fall in the parking lot. I came unglued. Thankfully my client was okay but it left me feeling like I was being ignored and looked at as a whiner, when in reality this is a huge issue of liability and safety. In my first post, you might recall, it was a fall in this same parking lot on black ice that was the final straw in my decision to do the TKR. My knee has been a problem for many years but that fall pushed me over the edge. I did not pursue any claim against the maintenance people or the building owner as I felt I could have been a little more careful and took responsibility for myself. Now, I am super sensitive and feel like everywhere I go, there is a risk of falling. I am scared of making an appointment to see a client at their home as I don't know how accessible their home is. My hubby is going to take care of our icy steps issue at home, love him, but I can't control this issue everywhere. I did buy the YakTrax for my shoes to help with grip and they are good. THey do not help on ice, they actually make it even more slippery. I am thinking about buying some sand and salt mixture and carrying it in my car for the rest of the winter but that seems extreme.

THe other part is that I have some business travel coming up next week and in January. THese are trips that I must take. I dread the idea of driving into Boston and having to navigate through the city streets to get to our office. I also dread the walk to dinner after work with my colleagues, as they routinely walk blocks and blocks with ease. That won't be possible for me. I do have a handicap parking sticker which is great, it helps. It doesn't solve everything.

I hate being the one that has to be accommodated and special arrangements made for. I hate having to depend on other people for my safety. I am scared to death to fall and injure myself. I hate asking for help and feel dependent, its very challenging for me.

My knee is still stiff and painful, the extension is not coming as I had hoped after the MUA and I am at the end of my rope. I have to work, I have to move about, and can't sit at home in my bubble. I see my OS or his PA on 12/21 for follow up after the MUA. No idea what will be suggested at that point. I have complete confidence in my OS, he and his team are terrific, its my physiology that is causing this.

So, here I am on a Saturday morning, dreading having to go out to shop, which I love to do, dreading having to go to Boston, which I love to do, feeling lost. I feel guilty even writing about this. Sorry to dump this rant on the site. It's just so incredibly frustrating to be in this position. I know many of you have had similar experiences, so I know I am in no way unique.

So, I will do what I always do, pull myself together and head into it. Thanks for the release valve.

Dawn

 

[Pumpkin]

Dawn, I just purchased some Due North traction Aids, they use spikes, which may be better on ice. DueNorthProducts.com.
No snow here yet so I don't how well they work.
Stay standing,
Chris

 

[editor98]

Dawn,
Just want you to know that I'm thinking of you and all that you are going through with your knee. I have been feeling discouraged myself, so I know how hard it is to try to be patient hoping that with time things will progress and get better, when in the back of your mind you're wondering--what if this is it? At least that is my fear. I just keep reminding myself of all of those who have posted about gaining ROM over very extended periods of time. I know that swelling is still an issue for me, and I'm sure it is for you too with having had the MUA not too long ago. Only time will take care of it.

This recovery--it is HARD! But we can do it! (I'm not sure if that pep talk was more for me or for you! :th_heehee Just know I'm thinking of you! Niki

 

[grabbit97]

Recovery is indeed hard, but do get those traction thingys to put on your shoes when you go out... they are removable, so when you get where you are going, you can take them off, and give you peace of mind while you are walking somewhere.
I myself and coming along .. Aug 4 RTKR, and if you read my thread, talk about complainers.. that is me, very impatient, 4 months, and pain... not bad, but there, but it is slowly going away, NEW PT person is wonderful, working on strenghtening those muscles that are not cooperating, so keep the faith, JO and JAMIE have been wonderful and supportive, as well as LOTS of Bonesmarties who have been thru this too, it's true it's a LONG haul, but it will happen, smiles will come our way.... and gladness will abound, after the hurt and defeat, will be shining smiles...
;)

 

[kneeper]

I'm afraid of ice too, but luckily I'm further out so my new knee is in better condition to deal with it this year than last. I figure I'll take it slow and easy and who cares if I look like an old lady. :wink1:

It's good that you're looking out for clients as well as yourself, Dhare, re the ice & salting. sometimes someone has to be the squeaky wheel. Places of business should be proactive on this if nothing else to avoid lawsuits.

 

[Dhare63]

Thanks everyone for your support and suggestions. Just knowing that we all have these thoughts racing around in our heads is comfort for me. I have faith that ROM will indeed get better. I just truly have to put myself first and dedicate time to my recovery. I have about 2 weeks off over the holidays and I plan to use it to work on things I just don't have a lot of time for. I also plan to explore a new swim center that has an exercise class specifically for joint replacement patients. I am almost always optimistic, but last week just got me down to a low point. THere was a full moon and a lunar eclipse, maybe I should blame it on that!!

Here's to flexion and pain free knees for all!!

Dawn

 

[carlene]

Hi Dawn, I am sorry you are having such a hard time. I live in Virginia, so luckily not much snow or ice here, but I'm always afraid of falling. I can't imagine having to deal with that weather all the time. I understand your dread of situations that would normally give you pleasure. I am pretty much boycotting Christmas. Normally by the day after Thanksgiving, my house is lit up like the Griswolds, but this year I couldn't care less. My daughter came over the other day and pretty much forced the issue, and helped me put up some decorations, but I just don't care about it this year. I'm hoping this will pass, because I have always just loved the holidays. I have an appt with my OS on Wedsnesday, wondering what he will say about the lack of flexion in my rt knee. This is like the nightmare you just can't wake up from!

 

[Jamie]

Dawn, I was not aware that YakTrax didn't work well on ice. That's supposed to be the whole POINT of them! I suggest you purchase something with cleats to go on your shoes. Here is a link to Amazon or you can Google "ice cleats" to find many other brands.
https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Snow-Ice-Cleats-XL/dp/B000Y00D0S/?tag=ate362da-20

Listen, hon....this is not the time to feel guilty about not being 100% back to normal! You are still in recovery and will be throughout the winter. If you must go to work, you need to take whatever precautions are needed to keep yourself safe and functioning. If that means keeping ice melt and sand in your car, do it!

If you are not able to comfortably walk distances (like to dinner), make other arrangements. Call a cab or choose to eat elsewhere. You MUST put your needs first. You do no one any good if you push yourself and you just might put your recovery in reverse.

Beef and moan about your office and home if the walkways and parking areas are not kept safe. This is important for others and not just you. At your job, it's a liability issue that you would think someone would be concerned about!

One other trick I have used on ice, is two beach towels. I put one down and walk on it to the end. Then throw the other one down, reach back and pull the first one up and use it for the next steps forward. Not too pretty, but it works....even on icy hills (that's where I used it....at our lake house to go down a glare ice hill to the door).

One other suggestion....get an ice tip for your cane. Here is a link. They also make canes with this same retractable cleat if you need the whole thing.

Stay safe!!!!

 

[Dhare63]

Trip one to Boston: done. Only problem was my GPS took me into the city a different way and I had trouble finding the office. When my GPS said "recalculating", I had visions of being on one of those mayhem commercials where I follow the GPS and it has me turn the wrong way down a one way street! Luckily I called my boss and he directed me in the rest of the way, not so awful. Brought my cane but for some reason I felt pretty strong and didn't have to use it a lot to get around, I was fairly stable, thankfully! Dinner was just a block away so easy walk and caring colleagues made sure I arrived safely!

I appreciate the suggestion of the ice tip, I was wondering about that and considered buying a ski pole, so that would be ideal.

Since my meltdown last week, the sidewalks are clear and ice free at home, and spoke with my boss, who in turn spoke with the facilities people, so as not to have the sidewalk issue trouble me or clients. I still am on guard but thats probably a good thing. It is true the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

In my training yesterday, we talked about competence and the various level of it. It starts with unconscious incompetence, which is where you think you know everything, like going into TKR. I was overly optimistic, and thought it would be initially painful but relatively easy...not quite, right? Then there is conscious incompetence, where you realize you don't know what you are doing and that this recovery is a lot harder than you imagined. Then there is conscious competence, where you start to be able to deal with your recovery and you learn to adapt to you knee{s} and become skilled in your recovery. Then there is unconscious competence, where you have recovered, you get around without thought, and the TKR is a distant memory. I am in the conscious incompetence stage, can hardly wait to get to the next level. Even though the training had nothing to do with my knee, it completely fit the experience! Thought some of you might relate to this, it hit me like a ton of bricks!

Trip two to Boston on Thursday, this one an overnight. Hoping for better navigation and a cooperative knee!

Have a good one,

Dawn

 

[Jamie]

Excellent report, Dawn....you're going to do just fine.

 

[Dhare63]

Here's a question: I used to take glucosamine chondroitin every day before the TKR. I haven't taken any since the surgery and have no current issues with the other knee at present. Is it helpful to start taking again? Also, what combination of over the counter pain meds is suggested when you get past the point of needing heavy duty pain meds?

 

[Pumpkin]

Check the library for a combination of OTC drugs Josephine has posted.
As for the glucosamine chrondroitin, if you need it for other problems it may be helpful.
Keep up the good work,
Chris

 

[Mimi]

Dawn, I love the levels of competency ! I think at the 8 month mark I am at "conscious competence, where you start to be able to deal with your recovery and you learn to adapt to your knee{s} and become skilled in your recovery.

Recovery has so many twists and turns, that one can never imagine them. My recovery was very long and took me on some wild rides. I decided very early on that I had to take this recovery one day at a time. This was my saving grace because it was all I could handle .

. I got an infection six days after surgery and I was then in my worst possible recovery...so I thought. That is when I focused on one day at a time. I did not know then that I would not drive for 4 months, or walk unassisted in 5 months. That was never on the radar screen when I signed up for my TKR:cry4:

This infection and the swelling that followed changed everything in my recovery. I did not find this forum until June when I was working very hard on extension. The knowledge gained here, and the kindness of the people here helped me to move forward.

You are moving forward in your recovery. You are almost at four months and progressing nicely. Take it one day at a time, don't look back, just move forward. Try not to fixate on the numbers. I get crazy when the numbers are thrown around. Each recovery is different and unique. But the ROM numbers are set in stone. There is no room for your unique recovery that will not meet those ROM numbers just when someone thinks they should.

I worked on my walk and did not want to be measured until I had to see the OS. I walk just fine now and I never met the ROM numbers when I should have. My last day of PT I was measured and my ROM was still not great...but my walk was terrific


I took glucosamine chondroitin for ten years. I never saw any difference and when I had my surgery, the OS said that I had no cartilage, totally bone on bone. I had sinvest several times and euflexa and still no cartilage. I think it may work for some, but that expense for all those years did nothing for me. I do know that it does wonders for the family dog:doggieshmooze:

Mimi



Mimi