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jbucks said:
My 5th week and I am kinda stagnant.
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Do not worry--we do reach these plateaus from time to time---remember---recovery is not linear.

jbucks said:
I have been having problems with IT band.
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Again, an all-too-common occurrence---do those IT Band stretches as well as use an ice massage if you can---the ice massage can be very, very effective after the stretches.
 
jbucks said:
he says too much pain is not good. He is having me do some stretches and is taking it slow while working on my IT band around the area of my new knee.
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He is dead right!
 
I am all but nine weeks out and I think there is something about the five/six week range. We get a slow it down pain. Mine was really sore muscles about my knee. Our body must heal something during that time frame. I went back to resting with a bit of frustration. It will pass and you will be surprised. You will march on and enjoy you did it. And me--I will face it all again this fall/late summer and fix my right leg!
 
I mentioned an ice massage---here is what you do:

1. Take a few Dixie Cups and fill them with water and put them in the freezer.
2. After you are done exercising and stretching the IT Band, put the ice in the cup directly on the IT Band area that is causing you the most grief.
3. As the ice melts, simply peel the Dixie Cup away.
[Bonesmart.org] New to the world of TKR

I have found this to be quite helpful in getting some of those issues resolved.
 
@referee54 thanks I will do that. that sounds like an easy method to keep the ice on. all my friends are going to the golf tournament here Murfield jack niklaus so bummed this year that I am unable to make but next year I will be back and hopefully Tiger will be also.
 
@waitingtogarden thanks for the words of encouragement. I hope all continues to go well and you stay on track for replacement in the fall.
@referee54 used your ice method last night and it kinda worked I got a bit of relief.
 
I had my appointment with my family doc today to follow up on my blood work since they thought I might be anemic. more bloodwork. I probably am now that I had that done. we talked about my Tylenol/Benadryl concoction at bedtime to sleep and he more than agreed this is the way to go and to try to stay away from the ambien.
As for my progress in PT. I was 113 and -1. PT very happy. he believes if I did not have the IT band issues I would be over 115 on my way to 120, but he said that more than 3/4 patients have this after tkr, however, many PTs don't treat it and let patients work rough it. meh said they have really been trained to work on this early so that PT is pain free. now not that there is no discomfort but he really takes it slow,and easy which I am great full
have a great day everyone
 
Be careful when you rub ice on your skin. The ice numbs it slightly and the ice can develop sharp edges - results? Lots of scratches and abrasions.
 
Scary anecdote: Many, many years ago (in the mid 60s) we had an otherwise healthy 40yr old admitted with a serious case of tetanus (lockjaw) which was reputedly caused by a scratch from a rose thorn and he, being an avid gardener, was in the habit of using horse manure from the local riding stables on them.

The medical team looking after him decided that they needed to bring down his astronomically high temperature and since he was in a coma and intubated with a breathing machine, the anaesthetist was required to assist so naturally he had to have his anaesthetic tech and I went along to help. The scary scheme they came up with was to get him in the bath, fill it with water and mountains of ice. We ended up rubbing the ice all over him in an effort to reduce the body temperature more quickly and prevent brain damage. We were unsuccessful and he died later that day.

But by the time he managed to get him back onto his bed - he was a big chap so it took some time - his surface skin was returning to room temperature and all these scratches began to show up. I'm not kidding, he ended up looking like a steak ready for the BBQ! It hadn't occurred to any of us that broken ice can be like just broken glass. :doh:
 
Having a pity party for myself this weekend and I surely hope the party ends soon. I am six weeks out tomorrow. My body is doing well and I should not complain but I am not walking without a limp and that area around the outside of my knee really hurts when I bend my knee. I continue to wake everyday very stiff and it is frustrating.

I keep telling myself this will all go away, but I know that in 6 weeks I have to go back to work and at this point I am not ready.

My mind tells me that I can do this, but my emotions continue to get the best of me. Any ideas to help. I know that everyone is different. I sure wish I could jump to the other side and feel a bit more normal.
 
No you are not ready at 6 weeks, it's much too early. As an occupational health nurse, I never allow knee patients to return to work before 12 weeks has elapsed and even then it's on a Phased return to work.

On reading back through this thread, I also noted that you are taking the Tramadol and paracetamol separately which is not the best way. Try this way

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I also hope you are not trying to cut back on them as that also is too soon. I had my worst pain in weeks 6-8 and actually increased the Tramadol to 150 a couple of times a day (on Dr's advice, of course!)!
 
thanks @Josephine i whole heatedly agree on the more pain at six weeks. everything hurts. I went to pt yesterday and my PT said those people that walk without a limp after three week are very much outliers in the healing process. I am working on my quad strength with gentle exercises. as for the pain meds I have not cut down at all. in fact I am taking more through the night to get the rest.
As for work, I go back at twelve and I am taking the approach you suggested. At ten weeks I will go back on thurs and fri for 4 hours. then I go on a vacation for a week. going to the lake with family always a fun trip. and the following week I will ease into it at 4hours per day. the 13week I will do 2half days and 2whole days and take Friday off, and continue to ease in. I don't plan on being at work extended time until I am fully ready. I am thinking end of July begining August. does that sound reasonable. thanks for all the advice I do appreciate it .
 
I had a BTKR, and I had a slight limp for months! It is aggravating, but do not fret about it---the pieces of the puzzle will all come together in due time.

It sounds like you have a great plan for a phased-in return to work! You should handle that quite well! Where is the lake that you folks go to?

just remember that, even when you return to work, you can---and should---ice and elevate when needed. Ice can be a very close friend for some time, and eventually, you will not need it anymore; but do not be afraid to use it to help out with the aches, pain, and perhaps some minor swelling.
 
we are going to north Carolina lake Norman in July and up to lake Erie in August. we have a boat on Catawba however, it is a family boat that my husband and his siblings inherited, and they primarily use this 28ft sleeps six boat for fishing so I don't like to go out on it because it has just fishing gear in it. but we do go up. the problem is we do not have a house up there so we usually do not stay and the drive is a bit far for an all day affair so we are reluctant to use it more often. are you close to lake erie
 
jbucks said:
we have a boat on Catawba
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jbucks said:
are you close to lake erie
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I am about an hour from Catawba---i was just there this past Sunday, as my brother-in-law has a cottage there.
I love the Port Clinton Catawba area as it is not normally as crowded as the Sandusky side of things---we take my BIL's boat to Put-In Bay or Kelley's Island from time to time, but I normally like to go up there and just relax.

I was watching the rather large boats this past Sunday---I find them quite fascinating.
 
jbucks said:
I am working on my quad strength with gentle exercises.
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Do remember that your quads are NOT weak, they are injured. BIG difference. They just need time to heal, time for swelling and pain to settle and time to heal. Exercise as in strength training is counter-productive and does more harm than good. Normal mobility and stretches are the key to success.
jbucks said:
as for the pain meds I have not cut down at all. in fact I am taking more through the night to get the rest.
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Excellent!
jbucks said:
As for work, I go back at twelve and I am taking the approach you suggested. At ten weeks I will go back on thurs and fri for 4 hours.
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Even more excellent! You are my star player! :ok:
 
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