forevergimpy
senior
Oh your projects sound so darling! Please do take pictures when you are done with them to share.
I totally understand about some exercises being so painful. However, I do not do any exercises that cause that much pain (tears) either at home or at PT. You certainly don't want to push too hard and set off the inlfamatory response which will only result in more swelling. My most difficult exercise is also the straight leg raise. It causes very sharp pain around my patella and my PT mentioned that my patellar tendon was irritated and we'll have to watch it. I can generally do a few of them before it gets to be too much and my PT and I have decided not to push it too much - especially since we can target my quad in other exercises that do not cause that pain.
Sorry I didn't answer your question about the heat sooner, I read it in my email, but forgot which thread it was in once I logged on to the laptop, thanks for tagging me again. My PT uses a very warm, moist heat for at least 10 minutes at the beginning of every session. I would caution you to note your swelling before you do this because you don't want to increase it accidentally with the heat. If your knee is still very swollen, you may try to place the heat just around your quad to start. I have been fortunate to not have too much swelling so the PT puts this warm, moist head pad from quad to calf. I really hope it helps you.
I too find that my knee gets very stiff if left in one position for any length of time. My sleep is very disrupted by both my knee stiffening up and my lower back and hip. I have yet slept for more than 2 consecutive hours since my surgery due to this. I now have a muscle relaxer prescription that is helping with the back/hip some and leaving me only the stiff knee to contend with.
I've read many accounts on here of those with sleep troubles (see the library articles as well), and many bonesmarties say this too shall pass. We are in the early stages yet so patience is the name of our game.
Good luck with the heat, please let me know how it works for you. Please take it easy on yourself during those exercises too, no need to further aggravate all that soft tissue that was messed with during surgery. There will be a time for strengthening our muscles where we will have to push ourselves, but as I understand it, these early weeks are for healing and gaining gentle flexibility.
I totally understand about some exercises being so painful. However, I do not do any exercises that cause that much pain (tears) either at home or at PT. You certainly don't want to push too hard and set off the inlfamatory response which will only result in more swelling. My most difficult exercise is also the straight leg raise. It causes very sharp pain around my patella and my PT mentioned that my patellar tendon was irritated and we'll have to watch it. I can generally do a few of them before it gets to be too much and my PT and I have decided not to push it too much - especially since we can target my quad in other exercises that do not cause that pain.
Sorry I didn't answer your question about the heat sooner, I read it in my email, but forgot which thread it was in once I logged on to the laptop, thanks for tagging me again. My PT uses a very warm, moist heat for at least 10 minutes at the beginning of every session. I would caution you to note your swelling before you do this because you don't want to increase it accidentally with the heat. If your knee is still very swollen, you may try to place the heat just around your quad to start. I have been fortunate to not have too much swelling so the PT puts this warm, moist head pad from quad to calf. I really hope it helps you.
I too find that my knee gets very stiff if left in one position for any length of time. My sleep is very disrupted by both my knee stiffening up and my lower back and hip. I have yet slept for more than 2 consecutive hours since my surgery due to this. I now have a muscle relaxer prescription that is helping with the back/hip some and leaving me only the stiff knee to contend with.
I've read many accounts on here of those with sleep troubles (see the library articles as well), and many bonesmarties say this too shall pass. We are in the early stages yet so patience is the name of our game.
Good luck with the heat, please let me know how it works for you. Please take it easy on yourself during those exercises too, no need to further aggravate all that soft tissue that was messed with during surgery. There will be a time for strengthening our muscles where we will have to push ourselves, but as I understand it, these early weeks are for healing and gaining gentle flexibility.
United States
But hey once I get the other knee done this fall that won't be a problem!) and you're knitting must have gone well because I didn't hear any distant screaming 
I don't knit or do any handiwork like that but I love to cook and I can't wait to do that again. I took an early retirement from teaching a few years ago so I don't have to juggle too much. I just manage a household of me, husband, a 5 year old Jack Russell Terrier and an 18 year old cat! 
All this knitting talk has me thinking should I get some wool for my recovery!
This morning after my husband left I actually went to the kitchen, fixed another cup of coffee and carried it back to the family room. And I didn't spill a drop!
