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TKR Onwards and upwards - my journey continues

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It was the lifts i wasnt doing properly. I could lift my heel off the bed really well quite high and no pain. Until she said i was lliftng from the hip not the knee. when she put a rolled towell under my knee i could see the difference. I am suposed to do them 3 times a day, with the heel slides and pressing my knee into the matress and holding. so nothing too strenuous but after i did the lifts correctly its made my knee really swollen today.@ josephine
 
Thanks for the link. I will look at that now. Make a change from flippin television. The novelty of lying on the bed and taking it easy is wearing very thin. :gaah:
 
Josephine said:
A continuous passive movement machine (which is much the same thing as constant but that's the official name as per the manufacturers!)
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I didn't think it sounded quite right, but knew the idea was right!
 
Resting yesterday did me good. Today i did a few exercises, walked around my bedromm for the first time without crutches, went out for a meal with my two daughters who have been so good to me these last 3 weeks. What a difference from yesterday. Stick to the bonesmart guidance and it does work. Slow is good:yes!:
 
:) Josephine - morning quick meds question. My doctor gave me a prescription for iburofen taken with lansoprazole 30mg. The iburofen is 400mg strength and she said take one 3 times a day with my 30/500 co codamol. While i was in hospital i was taking two 400 iburofen 3 times a day. Im feeling the one iburofen is not quite enough but am i doing harm taking 2x400 iburofen 3 times a day. thanks :)
 
It's within normal prescription dosages so certainly.
 
OK so im three weeks post op today. All the chocolates have been eaten, the flowers have all died and my lovely Get Well cards taken down and put away. And so it seems has peoples interest in my op. Very few phone calls now to say "How are you, how are you coping" I was even asked by someone today Hey now youre better do you want to come to Liverpool and do some christmas shopping !!!!!!! Are they real !!!!!! Its 3 weeks people and I have only just converted to one crutch indoors but still using two when i go out on the very rare occasion i go out. How am I going to cope with this very long recovery if people think im over it now. Its there when i wake up from a very restless sleep and its still there when i go to bed at night but everyone seems to have lost interest. Dont get me wrong my family have been great I have six kids and they have been really worried and concerned about me but i didnt think they would get bored with it so quickly. Thank the Lord for Bonesmart where I can come and rant and rave and smile sweetly when they walk out the room leaving my crutches at the other side of the room but are confused when i dont follow. Do you think Ive just had a bad day today. Yeah well maybe but i wouldnt be surprised if they all expect me to do the sunday roast tomorrow on my own with a rose between mt teeth. Goodnite all. Glad youre here:gaah::groan::sos:
 
I always say, I'm doing great for (x time) but it takes at least a year, which shocks them a little. I don't let the longevity of this get over looked. I think after a while, there's nothing new to ask about us. But at three weeks, they just haven't gotten it yet. We know! We understand!
 
robynhood said:
OK so im three weeks post op today. All the chocolates have been eaten, the flowers have all died and my lovely Get Well cards taken down and put away. And so it seems has peoples interest in my op.
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I love your description above, I had many bouquets post surgery and during the week following, then they started wilting, so I started combining and making new smaller bouquets. By 3 weeks, yep, they were toast. I did have very lovely neighbors who continued to cook an extra meal at dinner time and bring it by for me and that was much appreciated.

I equate people thinking we should be better by 3 weeks to the recovery time length of most surgeries. And I, myself, before I had the operation thought I 'd be doing a lot better at 3 weeks. If you have abdominal surgery, gallbladder, appendix or something similar, most are laparoscopic and by 3 weeks you are healed and back at normal living.

When I started equating it to having a broken leg, or surgery on a broken leg, thennnn people began understanding it was a much longer time period for the healing.

And rant away, someone here will have been through what you are going through, advice to offer or an ear to listen!
:cheers:
 
Hi Patricia,

Boy do I know how you feel. It is so frustrating when the world thinks you are healed when in truth you have only just begun. I found that it was as important to manage other peoples expectations as it was my own. You might remind them the arthritis developed over time and that surgery is just the beginning to getting well. That it will take months, perhaps a year or more to get to a better place. You will hear story after story of these miraculous recoveries where they were playing golf at 3 months, were playing tennis at 6 months, etc. while this may be possible for some people, it's not the norm. Do not let anyone make you feel guilty for not being further along in recovery. You are unique with specific physiology that will play a major role in how quickly you mend.

This site is for support, where you will find cheering for success and empathy for hard times. So rant, rave, scream and celebrate, you always have kind words waiting for you!

Be well,

Dawn
 
:) Thank you 1ELISEA and DAWN. Its good to have a good old rant sometimes isnt it and Im so glad I found this site to do that. As we speak the family are preparing a lovely meal so I will put the rose away for now thankfully. Have a happy and peaceful day everyone.:)
 
:iagree:
I have been talking to friends about how long a really bad break takes to heal when people chat with me and I think they understand more.... I did suggest to one "tell me all the details" friend the best way to know is to google the 10 minute youtube video.... very graphic... not for the squimish. It stopped the barrage of tedious questions. Her comment was "looks more like a construction project than surgery!" Yes it is.... One of my daughters and I watched the video and she has been great! My daughter also had a spiral fracture of her fibia (falling off her platform shoes) at her ankle and was screwed and plated at the time. She has a much better understanding of it all. Most people do not understand... You should have seen the look on my General Managers face when I told him my date and how long I would be off... OS said - standing 8 hours on concrete floor- 4 months... GMs mouth hit the floor.... :shocked:I still think he thought I was exagerating and was having arthoscopic when I said knee replacement when I told him I was on the waiting list. :doh:
As a good friend said to me when our kids were little and she had a fun thing to do instead of the housework I had planned.... Relax the housework and dishes will still be there tomorrow... don't worry about it!:flwrysmile: You are doing great!
 
It'll be 5 weeks for me on Monday. I had TKR right knee and after having my left hip pinned together due to a hip fracture in 2005, I've decided hips are easier..haha. Lots of tears and some frustration...alright lots of frustration! I've come to terms with the fact that we heal and progress at our own pace. This site is an inspiration, the forums, postings and information available has taken a huge load off my shoulders and is moving me forward knowing there will be a positive outcome and an end to the pain. All that I am experiencing is normal, I'm doing Ok and am learning that pushing myself to hard is not the solution. I am bending at 80 degrees and am gaining strength daily. Some days I progress more than others BUT I am learning too that even a little progress is OK.

Thanks for this site..VERY encouraging. LETS GO everyone!!!
 
Thank you Joy You have to keep your sense of humour dont you. My daughter did exactly the same thing and fractured her ankle. Dangerous things those platform shoes. Dont think i will be wearing them for a while :scratch: How are you progressing. I am down to one crutch mainly indoors going out i still prefer the two. Going up and down the stairs has never been a problem. Not like physio. Not doing too well on that but not worrying about it. Be nice to hear how you are. Take care:martini:
 
Hi Brig. Yes its all swings and roundabouts this TKR business If i hadnt come on this site i dont know how i would have coped. In the UK you get very little information on what and what not to do once you get home. The hospital did say phone if you have any probelms but you cant be phoning the hospital every other day with general questions. Theres always someone here who has gone thru what you are going thru and its a comfort to now its here. So welcome and its nice to have you on board. LETS GET HEALING:martini:
 
Your welcome Pat... I am getting along better than expected... I guess my surgeon did an outstanding job and my body is cooperating. My pt says I am 2-3 weeks ahead of the norm... I don't know why. I feel best with my cane... I am concentrating on not limping when I walk so, walking is a slow affair. It will be so nice when I don't have to think about how I am walking.... :dancy: I have only gone out for Dr and pt appointments and one short walk up my driveway and back... 100 to 200 feet. (Oh and meat draw... ) The rest of the time it is short forrays around the house to get my own lunch or pick up my breakfast kept warm in the kitchen when hubby goes to work. I can go 10 to 15 minutes before ice and elevating. I am able to help out sorting our eggs for sale as long as Rob washes them and I perch on a stool so knee is not stressed and I can fold laundry on the bed etc. then Rob or Shauna have to put it away. Gives me something to do and takes a bit of the burden off Rob. My daughter Shauna works shift work 2days 2nights and 4 off which lets her chauffer me to pt and when she is working my other daughter fills in. I feel very spoiled.
Today is Sunday and our local Royal Canadian Legion #109 is having our Sunday Meat Draw. It is a Pub / service club and we fundraise for our community and to help our Veterans. I have not missed a meat draw. The sunday after my surgery (got home thurs) I took my ice machine and walker and hobbled in the handicap door to enjoy a cup of tea and all my friends. It was a real morale booster. One friend my age had her knee done 2 years ago and still does not quite have the ROM I am getting... She had several complications and I think a second surgery. Three others have had their knees done , 4 months ago, 3 weeks before me and 1 week after me. It is interesting to see how everyone deals with things..... I think I may even have a glass of wine:cheers: as I am taking fewer pain killers.
Take care and don't do too much.... I am off for a shower.... It takes so much longer to do anything!!! Later:flwrysmile:
 
skigirl; could you please advise me how to stop receving e-mails whenever i get an alert. Its a family email address and ts choking it up a bit. Many thanks
 
robynhood said:
Hi Brig. Yes its all swings and roundabouts this TKR business If i hadnt come on this site i dont know how i would have coped. In the UK you get very little information on what and what not to do once you get home. The hospital did say phone if you have any probelms but you cant be phoning the hospital every other day with general questions. Theres always someone here who has gone thru what you are going thru and its a comfort to now its here. So welcome and its nice to have you on board. LETS GET HEALING:martini:
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Hi Robynhood,

Thanks for the reply, this is very exciting! So nice to communicate with people who've been through the same thing. PT, \Doctors and even the surgeons performing the surgery don't really know, they are walking with 2 perfectly fine legs! I look forward to hearing about your progress and I'll keep my progress updated as well. I had surgery Oct 01st. with complications my first week needing 2 blood transfusions and in the hospital for 7 days. HAPPY HEALING:yay:
 
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