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MUA My LTKR journey continues to RTKR<

Good for you on your decision and on your swimming and spending time with your daughter and grand baby. You sound like you are in a good place and I bet you are right about your knee getting looser. Mine felt like I bent quite a bit more at PT today but I'm kind of glad they didn't measure me. I hate that that little number can often dictate my mood.


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I bet two weeks from now you are going to be so glad you did the MUA! Just remember it has to be treated very gently just like a tkr.
 
Hello from what I continue to call Punxsutawney land, this is week 7 of my right knee and week 17 for the left. On Monday I shared that I refused the MUA for this Wednesday and agreed to an August 9 date if I don't have the bend I need. Of course I also said I didn't think I would need it cause I could do it in these two weeks.

Well the optimism is still there but the reality is I am not making much progress. I have been in the water every day since he released me and still doing PT twice a week. The water does help and I have more of a bend in the water....but out here where I live not so much... she swells up terribly bad even when I exercise in the water. I realize I just creat a viscous cycle for myself here.

The only reason I will have to consider a MUA at 9 weeks is due to my work obligations. I have been off work since my left replacement in March. I do have excellent benefits but in Sept they are gone. That's six months off with pay so I can't complain but unfortunately my difficult knee was my second one done!

On a more positive note I started driving two days ago! I decided I needed to take back some of my independence. Two night ago my DH threw me his keys and told me to drive home. I figured if I could fold my long legs with these knees into his little convertible I could certainly drive my Ford Fusion. I did fine so I have a little freedom.

Because my energy level was getting back to more normal my mind told me I could clean, shop, help my daughter take care of her new baby and on and on. My knee quickly screamed she was only 7 weeks old and she had had enough. I did go out with my daughters and we went to Target. I really thought I was ready to do the entire store. I was so excited to look around. After about 20 minutes she (the knee, aka Beatrice) revolted and I retreated to Starbucks and treated her to a Chai Tea. My ego took a beating that I wasn't up to more but again I have to remind myself that even though the left knee is well on her way the right is more of a baby.

Speaking of a baby I am attaching a sweet picture of Harper from this week. Momma and baby are doing well and getting adjusted. This Honey is so happy that I am getting to spend a lot of time with them!:yes!:
 

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Oh my goodness, I could just cover her with kisses, she so sweet!

Driving is a huge step! And you did it! You did a whole lot going to Target on a new knee. No wonder is hollered at you!
 
oh my goodness ~ your baby granddaughter is beautiful, such a blessing. i think grandma needs to get some uninterrupted days of rest in order to heal. i remember those days of helping my daughter, and my sisters with their newborn babies; although precious memories, it was draining and tiring and probably moreso for you recovering from surgery. you're also taking advantage of your improved energy level and taking back your chores. i know how that is. since taking back my chores, now it seems it's expected of me and i want to say "i'm still recovering, please pamper me more" lol! we're also back to our grandparenting duties, (since chloe's indian grandparents went back to india after visiting for a month) looking after our 7 y.o. granddaughter, taking her to swim lessons, etc. i notice that all these chores accumulating contribute to our energy drain.

hope you can find some "me" time and rest up.:flwrysmile:
 
Becky, you're right about water exercise being a vicious cycle. Although it creates less weight bearing, water does create resistance which may be creating more swelling in your knee.
 
Oh my goodness! What an adorable grand baby! Congrats on the driving. I'm not feeling a lot of progress these days either so I get where you are coming from completely. I also understand the vicious cycle with the swelling from water exercise. I always think my issue is swelling more so than scar tissue so when they talk MUA to me I'm not sure how that would help at all if the issue is swelling. Ugh, such a hard thing to think about and decide. Let that beautiful new baby keep your mind off of your knee and enjoy!


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What a cutie Harper is! And you're such a happy, involved grandma. It does sound like your issue is swelling rather than scar tissue, but who's to say? If you can't afford to be patient, there's a decision to be made, and no guarantee that an MUA will resolve the issue. I'm crossing my fingers you get more ROM before your two weeks are out. Until then, slow down, relax, and enjoy your wonderful family. :smile2:
 
Such a lovely photo!
Can understand that you want to spend lots of time with your newest grandchild and I bet your daughter is happy to have moments of respite. But also take good care of you so you'll be ok next year to play "ring around the rosie" with her!
 
Becky, what a precious little doll Harper is! Just adorable! I'm so glad you've been able to spend this special time with her and Tara. [emoji4]

As for the knee, perhaps you should just rest as much as possible for the next two weeks so the swelling can recede? You really have been doing a lot! Fun stuff, but still, it has a way of biting back; pffft!




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Today I had PT. I haven't been since Monday but have been in the pool every day for a week and a half and very diligent about range of motion in the water as well as PT at home. We decided to measure today. August 9 is when the OS set the date for the MUA and I so wanted to believe that had had accomplished that jump in numbers.

Last week I measured 100 with a lot of pushing. Today I did get to 100 on my own with no discomfort. I know that is progress, but slow. Because I do have to have better flexion than this to return to work I have made the decision that I will do the MUA on August 9. Now if a miracle happens between now and then I will definitely take it!! I wish I had time to allow months for this to improve but I don't. This is one of the drawbacks on doing staged knees 10 weeks apart. I still know that next year I will be thrilled I got them both done and it's behind me. As so many of us have said, during PT on my left knee there were things they wanted me to do that my old knee just wouldn't allow me to do. Now the world will be back open again. This time next year I will be able to be back out there hiking and climbing on the mountain. That has always been therapy for me to get out there!

I have 19 PT visits left and we decided to stop them until the MUA. My OS wants PT for 10 days straight after the manipulation. This will save 9 for visits after that. My therapist told me today that after the MUA she wants to make sure that we keep bending the knee but everything needs to be very gentle. She said no cranking or forcing. That made me feel a little better knowing she won't expect that coming out.

I have a week and a half left and I decided that I'm going to enjoy these days. No matter how hard I push it won't change things and I won't get that flexion in these days. In fact I end up behind again with swelling and pain....hmmm something to be said about the bone smart way. I'm going to enjoy baby Harper, try to play with my flowers and do some things I enjoy and forget about my progress. I'm actually drinking a glass of wine right now!:cheers: We need a wine glass instead of the beer mugs!
 
Sounds like you made a good decision for yourself Becky - along with a good plan to save your PT visits until after the MUA. Enjoy this time with your family and your flowers and the wine! :martini:
 
Great decision Becky! Will a martini glass do? :martini: LOL!
 
Harper is beautiful! If you are at peace with your MUA decision, then it was the right decision for you.
 
Thanks everyone for the confirmation y'all aka you all have been giving me. I know a MUA is a hard personal choice. I rather feel I don't have a lot of choice given the length of my recovery from both knees.

I know, I know we aren't supposed to compare but it's hard not to. This dreadful right knee causes me much consternation! So many of you are practically off your pain meds and I'm pretty much on a 6 hour schedule. Granted I am off the higher narcotics but I am still on Loritab. Occasionally I will forget a dose but not often. I was on Tylenol only by this time on the left. I also had practically no swelling with the left by now. The right one continues to swell with any activity.

I probably am doing too much and being up too much but my daughter with the new baby so needs her Momma right now. We all bare our souls about our knees on here much of the time so I'm getting ready in a different way. They waited a while before they got pregnant. They have traveled a lot, totally remodeled their home and been pretty care free. She never had anxiety or depression before but has postpartum depression really bad. Her husband is back at work of course and Tara really isn't really able to handle being alone with the baby. It's been a surprise to all of us and especially her. She did get on some medication this week but that will take a bit to get in her system. Everyone is really good about helping but they all work and right now I don't. I know it's not best for my knees but it's so hard to see her like this. This Momma has to be there for her.

Harper is breast fed and they poop a lot, I mean a lot. Her poor little bottom is raw and even bleeding. It is constant care as we are going thru 25 or so diapers a day. It's like she oozes poop. We've had her to the Dr twice and trying everything. She is really pretty good, she cries a lot but if my bottom was like hers I would scream 24/7. Because of this it is up and down constantly. If you think about it say some prayers for Tara and Harper.

I feel like all I do is whine and complain now. This really isn't who I am. I read your posts when I have time and I'm jealous that somehow I can't find funny, light things to say anymore. I've totally failed at being any type of "rock star" or encourager. I do love reading all your fun posts and don't want to be a complainer. @Pheebs52 you always make me smile. If I start naming names I'll never finish but everyone is special in their way of encouragement or humor. This time next year I WILL be a rock star and this will be a foggy memory I hope! :roseshwr:
 
Becky, you are a great encourager, and don't complain any more than the rest of us. You just have a lot of demands on your energy right now .

Poor Harper! In her case, the Poop Fairy needs to move on for a while.
 
((hugs for you, Harper, and Tara)) - you all are facing tremendous challenges now and I'm glad Tara and Harper have you to support them. Hopefully today will be a better day and they will turn a corner soon. This site is here to support all of us in our positive moments and in our dark times. No apologies on BS! I recall when I first got on here your posts regarding your rock star lefty gave me a lot of hope for my recovery - my lefty is more like your righty unfortunately. Let's look forward to when these difficult times will be a foggy memory as you say. :flwrysmile:
 
Sending Big Bostonian-style (bear-like) hugs to (((Tara, Harper and you Becky!))) All of you are under so much stress right now; egads! I'm so glad you have this time with Tara and Harper. You wouldn't if your second knee had been a *RockStar*, you'd be back at work. So just think about that for a moment...does *silver lining* come to mind? It does for me. :SUNsmile:

I think you forget just how much encouragement, hope, and laughter your provided for everyone here with Knee#One! Your warmth and humor have left a positive imprint on all of us and will continue to do so as you navigate these tricky waters. I enjoy your posts no matter what they contain, so keep us updated and just be who you are right now. That's all any of us can do, eh?:loveshwr:
 
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