TKR My Shiny Happy New Knees

[fiberlady]

Hi Morgaine, glad to hear that you are getting out and about. Sometimes the best thing is just getting out and doing normal things. I am finally after almost two weeks feeling better and I actually went out to lunch with friends, first time that I have done anything, other than the hardware store with my husband. It felt good to do normal things. My problem is getting the leg straight, they push on it, but the moment it gets too much they back off, I know it needs to be done and I am almost there, I just wonder though if it will get there on its own without all this fuss, same for your flex, I wonder if it will just get there when it gets there.

I understand about the tired feeling, I do something and the next day I just want to sleep and rest. I don't know what I am going to do when I have to go back to work on the 8th. I have already told them, if I get too tired I am leaving.

Hope today is a good day for you.

 

[lavender]

Hi Morgaine 100 degrees to me that still sounds great. At pt she was able to get 82 degrees from my leg but that was after my 45 minutes of pt and after it was pressed back. The first measurement at the massage when laying on my stomach he gently lifted my leg and looked around 50 to 60 degree range flex is till low but managing . I have to pace myself use walker outside and sometimes inside but reach for cane inside without thinking still a little tight but getting better. Have lots of stuff next week have to take car in for checkup go to the family doctor for test results and then massage and take my Mom for visit she burst something in her eye it is a mess and wedding anniversary for my Husband and I Thursday 32 years. My brother asked if i could start getting Mom around again and I did this before my surgery but told him that I would do this one but he will have to help out as I am not ready to take it all on again full force. He likes to do her paper work but is getting fed up didn't realize how much was involved I don't mind but now is not the time. Waiting for me to drive again hoping he could have less responsiblilty told him my parents had five of us and the bulk would have to be shared for a while. Feel bad she is 81 and needs a lot of care but still have healing to do told my Mom that will pace my driving time wanted to relieve the stress off of my husband had very little help. Driving to get us out and help with the cost of cabs .If i feel that I have done too much enough is enough will have to rest it. Hope all is well and wishing you a wonderful weekend .Holly

 

[Morgaine]

First a question. Anyone have any idea how long to wait after the TKR before doing the exercise where a person steps up the stair with the surgical leg, then the other leg? (then repeat). I was 10 weeks out with my RTKR when out-patient had me do it. I am 5 weeks out with my LTKR and wondering if it is too soon. I went to the gym with hubby this morning and did about 10 of them, but it hurt, so I stopped doing them. I tried to get on the semi-recumbant bike, but couldn't get both my feet in the pedals. The treadmill, even at the slowest speed, was too fast. I did a few leg stretches and then just waited for hubby to get done. I felt like crying and even still just feel like a failure.
I am so tired all the time and don't want to do anything except sleep. Hubby says it is almost like I don't want to try doing anything to get better. We had company all weekend and I just wanted to be left alone.
My at home PT will be here tomorrow. Will I ever get a day with nothing to do?

 

[bottomshollow]

Morgaine, you are NOT, and I repeat, are NOT a failure. You are trying to do too much too soon. No two knees recover the same way. I had two done 2 days apart; the left was a jewel, the right was a bad, bad girl for quite some time. They both finally got there.

Please go to post #15 on page 1 of this thread and re-read the articles Josephine posted for you. You will find the answers to all these questions you have right now in those articles. And they will point out to you that you are expecting too much too soon.

The secret to a good recovery is TIME & PATIENCE. You have to have (or find) the PATIENCE to give your knee the TIME it needs to heal and strengthen at its own pace. This recovery is what it is; and it's going to take as long as it's going to take. Please take some very, very deep breaths, slow down and relax---just let yourself go with the slow flow of recovery. Follow the BoneSmart mantra--pain meds on a schedule, lots of rest, elevate operated leg (toes above nose) and ice, ice, and ice some more.

Since it takes 52 weeks at least for a full recovery---recognize that you are ONLY 5/52 of the way there. So you still have a long, long way to go. Don't spend it making yourself miserable---and remind yourself that your hubby (bless his heart) has not had a TKR and really doesn't know what he's talking about.

Now get your chin up off the floor, put a smile on your face, think positive thoughts----and re-read those articles.

Take care, sweetie, and keep us posted. We really do care.

 

[fiberlady]

Morgaine, I am right there with you. I have been working from home since day one, work actually called me in the hospital to ask me a question. I would love to have a day to stay in bed, sleep, maybe read or just do nothing with no one around. I had a horrible PT experience today, my regular PT is on vacation and this new person put me through a lot today, and she kept telling me how bad I was doing, my other PT keeps telling me how good I am doing. I was in so much pain later in the day that I had to take the heavy duty pain meds. My bend is good I just can't get that straight leg. I was feeling pretty good until today. Some days the exercises aren't too bad and other days I can't do any, I just do what ever I can, I did the same thing with my hip and I did just fine. I am tired all the time, there are days when I just sit, I have no idea how I am going to be able to go back to work next . You are not alone in this, I am only five days ahead of you and I am not even riding a bike or walking on a treadmill. I just go for a walk everyday, and not very far, at PT they have me do a machine called the nustep for 10 minutes and then stretch exercises. Do what you can, sounds to me like you are doing a good job.

 

[Morgaine]

Judy bottomshollow and Cindy fiberlady thanks for the support and understanding. Even though hubby has planned things, including company for the rest of the week, I think I am just going to be rude, stay in bed one day, read and watch Netflix. I need it.

 

[lavender]

Hi Morgaine I hope you are feeling better. You are in good company and you are not a failure you are doing really good. I know how you feel this whole processs is difficult and not as expected. After surgery it seems that all you do is go to places connected with recovery try to keep your mind off of it but it is part of most of what you do. All I wanted to do is sleep and hurt too much to do the things we were trying to do. I have good and bad days and just when I think it is not going to hurt anymore it starts up again. Today I am very sore leg stiff and tired. My husband is very supportive and knows that I am doing the best I can. Some days and there are more now I have a lot less pain just uncomfortable but today it is throbbing trying to use cane more but use walker when really sore today is one of those days. Our car was due for a checkup today so we had an appointment to have the oil changed and brakes checked. I drove out expecting to drive back well I think they overbooked so the dealer brought us home had to load walker into car and back out now waiting to go back out and then back into our car and come home. Wasn't ready for this much running around and my leg is saying no more . Thought after the car checkup we would go to Mary Maxim just for a look around needed some floss just a little bit of fun but will not have car back in time. My husband is frustrated wanted to pick something up maybe for our anniversary for me. It is hard to not get upset and hard to stay positive but you have so many of us who will support and help and we all have and still have feelings of frustration. Feeling very tired the last week and don't know why maybe the lack of sleep is catching up. You are strong Morgaine and survived the first leg so you are made of good stuff. Hope things for you go better and will kep in touch Holly

 

[Morgaine]

PT just left. Must admit, she does make me feel better. I am going to miss her visits when she stops coming next week. All she had me do today was transition to my cane (did good), get in and out of the shower, walk to the car to get in and out of it, then measure my flex, 103. She told me I was doing very good and then said to just go to the gym to encourage hubby and not even try any of the equipment for at least another month.
My sister needs to go shopping tomorrow, I guess I will ride along, but just rest, read, and relax in the back seat. Let hubby drive.

 

[Morgaine]

Holly lavender

 

[lavender]

Hi Morgaine Nice to hear you have had such a positive and happy day everybody needs some encouragement. Are you now finished with pt. It is nice your pt had you doing everyday things that you will need to help you get around and help you feel more independant. Our day ended up working really nice went to pick up ourcar and had a really nice driver shuttling us to the dealership and then Micheals had a 15 percent off coupon for complete purchase my husband went in to purchase something and picked me up floss needed for cross stitch.All worked out just fine. I will have my leg massage Thursday and know it will be a step to helping me bend better but for now making out ok. Happy you are doing better and hope all just keeps getting easier and better for you Holly

 

[Morgaine]

Just expressing a thought here. During the day, I take ibuprofen and Tylenol, alternating them every three hours. I keep a record of how much and when I take them to be sure I don't go over the recomended amount of either. This generally keeps my pain under control, along with elevation and icing, even though I have been doing too much, become fatigued and cry far too much. There is a 5 hour break in the evening in my ibuprofen/tylenol just before I go to bed, but as long as I ice, it sn't too uncomfortable. At night I take ONE Lorcet 10 (hydrocodon 10-acetaminophn 650), because it helps me to sleep for about 5 to 6 hours without dscomfort. It takes about 30 minutes, then I just want to sleep. If I don't take it, then my knees hurt, get stiff, jerk, and all kinds of strange odd things.
A few nights ago, I told my hubby that the Lorcet made me feel like I was on a sleepy cloud. Now he thinks I should stop takng it because I am "addicted". I told him if I was addicted that I would crave it all the time. I sent him links to the articles here on addiction. My Dr didn't have a problem with the way I was doing my medication and controlling my pain. My PT seems pleased with my pain control and progress.
So what is the problem with taking ONE Lorcet 10 per day so I can at least sleep more than a couple hours at a time?
As I said just expressing a thought.

Morgaine

 

[bottomshollow]

Morgaine, not a thing wrong with taking your one Lorcet 10 before going to bed. I took pain meds regularly all day for the first 6 weeks, and then tapered off of them over the next 6 weeks--both with my hip and my knees. And the Lorcet is supposed to make you feel like you're on a sleepy cloud, otherwise what would be the point of taking it?

Hubbies usually mean well, but the truth is they haven't had joint replacement and don't have a clue about how you really feel. And if you look like you're well, they just figure that you ARE well and that should be it! Just pat him on the head and say, "Yes, dear," and then go and take your Lorcet without mentioning it to him.

 

[fiberlady]

Morgaine, every night I take a hydrocodone before I go to bed, it not only helps me sleep, but I don't have such a stiff knee in the morning. Nothing wrong with giving ourselves a little break. I had a bad experience on Monday at PT, my regular PT is on vacation, she hurt my leg so bad that I called today and said I was not coming in, it felt good to be in control, my knee felt good all day and I spent a little me time. After what we have been through we deserve to be good to ourselves. I hope you get to have a little time for yourself. Have a good holiday.

 

[Morgaine]

Judy, bottomshollow love that picture of a magic pill. I took my bottle of Lorcet and put it in my box of other pills that I take at night, so I end up takng it at bedtime instead of the 15 min before as I had been doing. Hubby hasn't mentioned it again. Even though this is my second TKR and I know what to expect, some of those moody days come out of the woodwork and bite me, so I come here and whine.
Am off the walker (except at night), using a quad cane now.
One more week of in-home PT, then off to out patient PT. I sure will miss my in-home therapist (tried to bribe her with fudge to keep coming ). I have been going to the gym with hubby, more for moral support for him though. My therapist told me to stay off most of the equipment for at least another 6-10 weeks. I do easy stretches, then sit and relax with a book. Okay, I admit that every so often I walk over to where he is working out on some machine, tell him that looks hard, and offer him water. I also do mention that my book sure is good!
Cindy fiberlady I agree, being in control feels great!

 

[bottomshollow]

Okay, I admit that every so often I walk over to where he is working out on some machine, tell him that looks hard, and offer him water. I also do mention that my book sure is good!

If he only knew! Glad we're here for you when you need us. Even if you've been through this before---it's still tough to go through---why I'm so glad I got mine done 2 days apart and got it all over with one time around.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[lavender]

Hi Morgaine Just reading some of the posts and wondering how you are doing. Hope all is well and you have you pain stuff working so you are not in pain. I am doing better and hope this whole thing ends up nice. Holly

 

[Morgaine]

Hi Holly lavender thanks for asking about me. Sounds like things are going pretty good for you.
Today it has been 6 weeks since my LTKR and I am doing great. ROM is at extenstion 0, flex 105. My in-home PT therapist came today. Her last day visiting is Thursday. She asked me about out-patient PT, told her I wasn't going to go, but going to the gym instead. She got upset and told me I would lose ROM. I just smiled and said that with my RTKR the therapy caused me to lose ROM (went from 110 to 97), because it was too aggressive. I didn't mention that I didn't like the therapy plan at the places I had "interviewed". My RTKR was 5 1/2 months ago and it is doing ok, just waiting for that "rubber band" feeling to stop.
Hubby asked when I think I am going to feel recovered enough to do some ironing. I tell him that when I feel well enough I will. I am thinking maybe sometime in 2034?

 

[Morgaine]

Ok now! I have finally met one of those rare people who have marvolous no pain recoveries! At a family reunion, I was talking to someone who had both knees replaced at the same time. He informed me he was back at work 12 hours a day 4 weeks after his surgery. I told him he was very blessed. About that time his wife walked up, laughed and said 4 weeks? Don't you mean 14 months? At that point I thought it best to wander off.

 

[fiberlady]

Morgaine, it sounds like you are doing really well. I envy anyone that can get their extension to 0, I am struggling, not to mention i am not fond of the therapy to try and make it flat. I only have 3 PT sessions left and will be glad they will be done, I too think we will be just fine.

Great story about the no pain recovery gave me a chuckle, I do have one question for you what is an iron? rotfl:

 

[lavender]

Hi Morgaine Nice to hear you are doing well. It is great that you are bending better and this must make you a little less worried. I am finding that the walking is helping come home from the park or just out driving and sometime it is sore but getting out for a bit and not going out only for appointments is a nice feeling. I am at 10 weeks and starting to see what everyone said it is becoming less painful.I still get times when it really hurts but no where near the way it did. I know what you mean about ironing. I used to iron everything when we were first married and didn't mind it but now too much trouble to get out ironing board and set it up don't mind ironing just set up. The most I use my iron at this time is to press my cross stitch linen before I frame it. I like your story about the person that had such an easy time with their recovery. Hard to believe how some have a hard time relating to the actual way it happened most people are really kind about the frustration and pain that takes place when this surgery has slowed us down but only one member of my family has comments and tells me how they sprung back so quick stopped using the walker right away thinks their is something wrong with me didn't have any pain pills but the funny thing is that I was their caregiver and driver and up till Christmas time travelled with them they most places in wheelchair needed help walking and never stopped talking about it that was after ten months. Why do people (not bonesmart people) have trouble admitting and sharing the way it actually went don't they realize it is kind and helps others to feel less strange and incapable. This is sometimes why people having this surgery feel that they are not progressing fast enough. I have been so lucky my husband is the one that has been there and helped all along is the one that never makes me feel anything but good about myself. Really nice to hear from you Morgaine.Hope you have a wonderful day. Holly