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TKR My Shiny Happy New Knees

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Cindy fiberlady I wish I knew what to suggest to help you get your extenstion to 0. It has never been a problem for me. I had extenstion of 0 even pre-surgery. I guess I am just one of those blessed with it. My problem has been flex. Always the therapist want more flex, and I have these fat legs that don't want to cooperate, and show it by swellng and complaining. I have now taken the attitude that I can do a LOT more now than I could before, so those numbers aren't so important. One of the biggest and most important things I can do is walk. After 2 1/2 years or so of using either a manual wheelchair or an electric scooter to do almost everything (other than a few duck steps in the house holding on to counters or furniture and struggling up the four steps into the house), I am thrilled with my surgery.
 
[Bonesmart.org] My Shiny Happy New Knees
Morgaine, I am thrilled for you. Such a great outlook---and you know that things will continue to slowly get better and better as you just live your life. ENJOY EVERYTHING!

Take care and keep us posted. We care.
 
Rainy, stormy day here today. I ached most of the night (still do). Woke up with a stuffed up nose. PT (her last day) will be here in about an hour. I just want to crawl back in bed. Hubby wants to go to visit some friends later. I told him I was tired. He said I am always tired. Sigh!
I didn't do it, but wanted to yell and scream at him "what do you expect? I have had TWO major surgeries in less than six months and for the past 10 days gotten up early, gone somewhere and spent most of the day doing it! All I want to do is be left alone to sleep." but I didn't say it. Not going to go, nope, no way. He can go if he wants, but my big bottom is going back to bed!
Okay roller coaster bad day rant over.
 
Interesting day today. Did have to go to the pharmacy to get some prescriptions filled. My insurance refused to pay for one (Acetaminophen butalbital 360-50) that I have been taking for the past 5 months. Called them and was told it was the because I also had a prescription for Lorcet and if I took them together that the total of the Acetaminophen would total 1,000 mg and that was too much at one time. After trying to explain a few things, such as total single dosage and total daily dosage, plus how often each was taken, they said they would try to do an over ride on it. Then, after holding for 22 minutes, was told they had to contact the Dr's office, because two different Dr's had written the prescriptions (one was my regular Dr, the other was my OS). I guess I can see their point, since a lot of people do not pay attention to the amount of Acetaminophen they take. I can do without the Acetaminophen butalbital 360-50 but it means I might end up taking Lorcet when I need something stronger than Ibuprofen/Tylenol. :hairpulling:
Last day of in-home physical therapy. After a few streching exercises, she told me if I could get a 110 flex that she wouldn't make me do any more exercises. I laughed because Tuesday with real effort I was able to get 105. But thought what the heck, first try, she said nope not good enough, second try, still not good enough, third try was 108. She sighed and said okay, standing exercises. I asked for one more chance and got the 110. I was like no, you are kidding. She showed me the giometer (spelling).
Then I rested the rest of the day.
 
Two steps forward, one step back. :groan: Hate when that happens. Yesterday I decided to do laundry. This was after I was attacked by a pile of dirty clothes, with fangs and teeth I think! So, I proceeded to do 9 loads, including hanging or folding and putting them away. Sometime about 8:30 pm, the pain started. So, I iced. Helped some. Finally took my Lorcet and went to bed. Woke up several times hurting, finally as soon as time allowed, I took another Lorcet. Finally managed to get 3 consecutive hours of sleep.
This morning, still hurting and decided to use my walker. Hubby commented on it. Told him I was hurting too much for the cane, so he said ok and set up the ice machine. Better a bit now.
But at least the laundry is done.
 
Hi Morgaine :kittykiss: You did 9 loads of laundry that is a lot of work. You must have been tired no wonder you are sore. Sometimes it doesn't hurt much and then all of a sudden seems to start throbbing. I hope you arae doing well . Are you finished with your pt now, I am finding it nice to just go for walks not under to much pressure and then go to my leg massage on Thursdays. Going to have a visit with the surgeon who did my knee on Wednesday hope he has me continue on the way I am. I am learning differentthings at the massage he explains how my muscles work and different things and seems to have a respect for managing the pain level when he is working on my leg not sure if it will continue he is not sure that he can get much more movement maybe just keep walking. Hoope you have a nice week Holly
 
:cry: Holly, so glad that your massage therapist is considerate of your pain level. I would love to just go for walks, but where I live, in July, the temptrature is in the upper 90's F (@37 C), with the humidity making it worse. I do laps around my living room though regularly. My in-home PT is finished. I have been going to the gym with hubby and doing some stretching exercises there, but can't use most of the equipment there, so it looks like I am going to end up going to out-patient PT. :cry: I wasn't able to find one I thought would be non-aggressive, but have learned that I can say no and refuse any exercise. I mainly want to go for the semi-recumbant cross country trainer. I can sit on my butt and step like I am walking to build up enough strength to maybe walk at least as fast as the slow speed on the treadmill.

Hugs to you
 
Hi Morgaine:) Nice to receive your post. I wish that the pt were as good as the massage guy. He really moves and works my leg with me laying down on my back or stomach but is always making sure that it is not hurting and tells me to tell him when it becomes uncomfortable says should not be painful stop him. I find a difference because the pt always wanted me to push harder just a bit more but by the time I said enough it was past the point of pain.He warms my leg up with a large pillow which is heated and stays with me pt used to leave sometimes 3 of us on the go at once. Feel like I am being repected understands that this was major surgery and tells me this leg has been through alot. I feel a little sore through the day after the massage but it is something that I don't dread I look forward to it as it seems to be making a positive difference. Best wishes for a nice week Morgaine Holly :happydance:
 
So here I am whining again, when I am doing much better than most. My knee is still hurting, on the inside of my leg. I know I must have pulled something because there is a small bruise and it is tender to the touch. Hurts when I first stand up too. :groan: Still back to using my walker, and took a Lorcet when I first got up this morning. Sigh, and the laundry wasn't that important either.
 
Today was a WOW day! First day of out-patient physical therapy. Before going, Hubby suggested getting a new pair of athletic shoes, instead of just wearing my tready socks and sandels. At the shoe store they had New Balance shoes on SALE! They even had them in my size. They felt wonderful. Did get purple elastic shoe laces and put them in, so I don't even have to worry about them coming untied, just slip them on and off.
I wore my new shoes into the PT clinic, but dreading the idea of the pain and torture I was going to receive. To my surprise, the physical therapy was awesome, very gentle, non-aggressive and the therapist was as sweet as anything. She told me she wasn't going to hurt me if she could help it, because all that did was to make the leg swell up and cause problems. Since the inside of my knee is still tender, she was very careful not to aggrevate it. The difference between the therapy I received today and the therapy for my other knee was like night and day. I wish I had gone to this clinic with the first knee. After the exercises, she told me it was ice time. At the other clinic they thought using ice was a waste of time.
bottomshollow would you be so kind as to change my thread name to My Shiny Happy New Knees. Thank you.
So great new GOOD shoes and a GOOD session of physical therapy. Only thing that could make this day better is pancakes for supper! :happydance:
 
Hi Morgaine:kittykiss: I really like your new thread title. You are doing so really well with your knee and how nice to get a new pair of shoes. I am happy that you have a new pt and that she is not into the aggressive methods. It makes going something that you might look more forward to and like you said about your other pt not using ice. my pt used heat not ice. Warmed my leg up with warm moist heat pad and she said it helped with relaxing my leg I actually liked it. I love pancakes too. Used to make them every Sunday morning with a banana but not so much now. I had them this week when we went out to our restaurant for breakfast and love them. Hope you enjoy your new shoes I found a pair of athletic shoes on the shopping channel they are Tony Llittle brand and the shoes are very light they are called barefoot trainers very comfortable fit great and really light make me walk easier. They are made for heel to toe walking and I love them. Well it is wonderful to hear that you are doing great and hope all just keeps getting better for you Have a great week Holly :friends: :flwrysmile:
 
Hi everyone! About 9 weeks out on my left knee and 6 months on the right. Things get better, then worse, then better, dog gone it! I get so frustrated at times that I just sit down and cry. Doesn't help, but I still do it. On Thursday, I couldn't even manage to get my shoes on without help, and I had been doing just fine. The 20 min of struggling and crying about it didn't help either, hubby finally put them on for me.
My PT is very non-aggressive, but it seems like the sessions last forever (an hour to an hour and a half), three times a week. I am so tired when I am through. For some reason my flex has gone down from the 110. I could barely get 100 on Friday. Before starting the Out-patient PT, I would do exercises three or four times a day for 10 to 15 min at a time. Even when I went to the gym. I wonder if the one long session at the clinic rather than short exercises spaced out during the day is causing problems.
We did have a big storm come through on Friday night, so I blame it for the flex decrease and the reason I went to bed two hours early. I hurt, not like I did pre-surgery though. Usually in the morning, I am all better, but Saturday woke up still hurting when I walked. I did manage to bake a cake for hubby's birthday though. Still aching today too, both knees, the storm is long gone, but the aching is still here (yes, icing, elevating, and meds).
I know that this is a long slow healing process, but, sigh, I wish it would hurry up!

Morgaine
 
Hi Morgaine I understand how you feel sometimes as hard as we try things seem to make us feel that we are not doing good enough. But we are really doing wonderful managed to survive the surgery and look how much we can do now. This surgery is very serious and so many of the things that we used to do at one time are so much harder makes me understand how little children feel learning to do the things that eventually get to be second nature till you are knocked off your feet and struggling to make your way back can be really frustrating. Sometimes you feel like it is great and then just wish that it would get better stop hurting and let you get back to what you did before. You are doing great even at 100 degrees this whole process can sometimes seem like such a struggle. I think that the pt for that long each day would be hard. My pts lasted from 30 minutes to 45 minutes 3 times a week and after that amount of time I was sore how are you managing to do yours for that long must be very sore when you leave. Sometimes I think that the only support I have other then bonesmart is my husband. He has been wonderful and really supportive. I also have friends that have shown so much encouraging support but no like my husband has and I am also so very grateful to my bonesmart friends. I come from a large family thought they would understand were at one time very close they are more concerned about how long I will be out and they will have to help driving my Mom they have lives. People sometimes have the idea that this surgery is quite simple take out the damaged parts and replace them with new ones how could that cause pain. My brother told me that he has a friend that said after his surgery he was no longer in any pain and so easy. This is the type of thing that makes it harder. I think you have done really well. You are made of good stuff and will come out of this with flying colours. Holly :flwrysmile: :friends:
 
Thanks Holly :thumb:
Yesterday, had to go help a friend with a problem, wasn't able to ice. An hour's drive there, an hour back, then PT. my poor aching knees. I wasn't able to do even half the exercises. :shrug: Told my therapist, oh well! She agreed some days are better than others. Still got 101 on the flex though.
Today, finally a day when I don't have to do something, be it PT, go somewhere, help someone do something! :happydance: So the first thing I did was take my meds, ice my knees, drink my coffee, and sit on my backside in my recliner. I thought about exercises but instead I iced some more, sat some more. Still thinkng of exercises, that is almost as good as doing them isn't it? Early afternoon here, but this lazy day is nice and Surprise! Knee pain seems gone for right now. Read in another thread the term "knee cation" that is what I am doing, giving my knees a little vacation.
PT on Wed, Fri, and Mon, then see my OS on Tues. Not going to ask for more PT, even though hubby says I should. I just want to do my home exercises and go do what is comfortable at the gym. Then I can stop when I want, walk over and annoy hubby and watch the guys that come and work out (whoops did I say that? :blush: ).
 
Hi Morgaine:) Nice for you to have a little break. I think this will make your leg feel better and have a rest before it starts working hard again. I know how you feel with having so many things to do that you really appreciate the days when things slow down a bit. My husband and I were looking at the appointments that we have and the ones that we are taking my Mom to and even with careful planning a couple of them are going to overlap have to reschedule my Mom and my husband and I have eye exams the same day at the same time and in different parts of the city so have to check tomorrow with my Mom on her date and then we can see if we can change ours. My Mom is going in for catarac surgery in the fall and my brother is going to be away so I have told her that we will keep an eye on her and help her with what she needs. I know that she will need to keep the date that she has set and didn't realize when I took her for her exam at the surgeons office that the appointment they gave her was the same as our August appointment. Surgeon and massage guy the same morning 30 minutes apart think we will need to carry a calender in our car. I am happy to hear that you are doing ok and that you no longer need a wheelchair and eventhough this surgery takes a lot of recovery you have come along really wonderful. Hope you have a great week Holly:puppysmooze: :flwrysmile:
 
Hi Holly, sounds like your days are as hectic as mine. I keep track of my schedule in my Ipad, and let hubby put it in his phone calender too. Most of the time that works, but it is still a calendar. Hope your Mom's cataract surgery goes well. My husband had one eye done last year and did very well. He now says that he can see anything anyone is willing to let him look at!
Today is my last day of PT. :yay: Tomorrow I have an appointment with my OS. Not going to ask for more PT,(will go to the gym) but am going to ask for more meds (lorcet). I have been doing well with my being sure to take them on time. I have two alarms set on my phone, one for Ibuprofen, one for Tylenol (or something with Tylenol in it). So every three hours I am taking something. It is time for me to start doing a step down on my Lorcet though. I have been taking the 10's, so I am going to ask for 5's. Most of the time I would only take the Lorcet at night, but occasionally, during the day when I need to. I think though it is time to get off the harder stuff, just don't want to go cold turkey with it. Been there from a medicene that I was given a year before either knee, not a pleasant experience.
I am still using a quad cane, mostly outside though. I do have to concentrate on walking properly though. I spent a lot of time doing the duck waddle, hard habit to break.
How are things going with you now?
Morgaine.
 
Hi Morgaine :friends: It sounds like you have really come along wonderfully. I think it is actually easier since my pt has stopped for now can try to do different things on your own and makes you feel kind of nice when you see even a small improvement. We went out the other day my Mom wanted something from a fruit stand nearby and then ended up at Walmart my husband wanted to go in and pick up a few things from their ad and my Mom decided to go in as well so I went with them parked by the grocery door and looked for a few minutes using a shopping cart for support. My Mom and I got tired and so my husband offered to take both carts through the checkouts and I walked my Mom back to the car. Used to work in the retail business till store closed but forgot how much walking was involved. My leg was sore that night but not as sore as before. No more pt bet you are feeling good about that then you can go to your gym and pace your self with the things that you feel comfortable with different sort of satisfaction doing it the way that you can enjoy more. Today is discount day at mary Maxims 20 percent off to all over 55 so going for the ride about 1 hour and time together and just have fun looking at the cross stitch supplies buy some floss don't know if I will ever get all finished but really enjoy doing it. Well hoping you have a very comfortable painfree day and wishing you the best Holly :flwrysmile: :yes:
 
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