little red canoe
graduate
In 1971 they took all the medial meniscus out due to a ski accident. I was told that I would suffer from arthritis in ten years but there was nothing that could be done. 45 years later I found myself needing two canes just to walk to the street and in pain all the time like knives. So it was time. I had to go through the hoops of cortisone shots and Synvisc before Medicare would cover TKR.
I was in the hospital 2 days for PT and OT and then home. PT started right away . I have had it in home every day the first week and three days the second week. I have some 20 exercises to do twice a day. None are to hurt. The PT says if it hurts stop. I have 105 degree flexion and complete extension. Before TKR I could only straighten knee to 20 degrees. Next week I get discharged to outpatient PT and a bike (I hope)
I am some 17 days in and use a cane outdoors on uneven surfaces. Inside I work on doing a good heel toe walk at slow speed and usually forget where the cane is. I am working on my gait as my bad knee forced me to limp. The TKR made that leg 1½ inches longer so it matches the other leg
The things that hurt are weighting both legs to get up off the toilet or a low chair (so I try not to yet). I can do small stair with bad leg ahead. But that's not a normal stair rise.
I was prescribed Oxycodone as needed The first week I was nauseous and had no BM. Finally it came. Colace made me have diarrhea. I don't tolerate Smooth Move. I remember that from chemo last year. I can't use Smooth Move ever again.
I am impatient to get going. I usually get out once a day to go to one store for ten minutes or so. Last year was spent in bed suffering from chemotherapy. I can't do that again. I am impatient.
My main gripe is that my gastrocnemius on the bad leg atrophied over the year and these stretches that I must do to regain a gait make it hurt at night. It does feel better stretching it. It's funny to watch me in the morning... .streeetchhhh and then pee.
Also my thigh hurts probably from the tourniquet and my shin feels like its got shin splints
The knee? Doesn't hurt at all at rest. Pain meds? Only 30 min prior to PT and again prior to bed (Tylenol 1000mg). But the upshot is I can't sleep. That muscle has a deep nagging ache. I hate to go back to Oxycodone as it plugged me up and the nausea was worse than any ache.
I try to ice often but the swelling is minimal. When is heat on that stretching muscle a good idea?
I was in the hospital 2 days for PT and OT and then home. PT started right away . I have had it in home every day the first week and three days the second week. I have some 20 exercises to do twice a day. None are to hurt. The PT says if it hurts stop. I have 105 degree flexion and complete extension. Before TKR I could only straighten knee to 20 degrees. Next week I get discharged to outpatient PT and a bike (I hope)
I am some 17 days in and use a cane outdoors on uneven surfaces. Inside I work on doing a good heel toe walk at slow speed and usually forget where the cane is. I am working on my gait as my bad knee forced me to limp. The TKR made that leg 1½ inches longer so it matches the other leg
The things that hurt are weighting both legs to get up off the toilet or a low chair (so I try not to yet). I can do small stair with bad leg ahead. But that's not a normal stair rise.
I was prescribed Oxycodone as needed The first week I was nauseous and had no BM. Finally it came. Colace made me have diarrhea. I don't tolerate Smooth Move. I remember that from chemo last year. I can't use Smooth Move ever again.
I am impatient to get going. I usually get out once a day to go to one store for ten minutes or so. Last year was spent in bed suffering from chemotherapy. I can't do that again. I am impatient.
My main gripe is that my gastrocnemius on the bad leg atrophied over the year and these stretches that I must do to regain a gait make it hurt at night. It does feel better stretching it. It's funny to watch me in the morning... .streeetchhhh and then pee.
Also my thigh hurts probably from the tourniquet and my shin feels like its got shin splints
The knee? Doesn't hurt at all at rest. Pain meds? Only 30 min prior to PT and again prior to bed (Tylenol 1000mg). But the upshot is I can't sleep. That muscle has a deep nagging ache. I hate to go back to Oxycodone as it plugged me up and the nausea was worse than any ache.
I try to ice often but the swelling is minimal. When is heat on that stretching muscle a good idea?