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TKR Out with the new; In with the newer!

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So a little drama last night/early morning. Was about to go to bed, and noticed a red "streak" extending from my knee down about halfway to my ankle on the top of my leg. It was warm (about as warm as the knee is) and rather tender. I immediately worried about an infection. So DH and I entered the wonderful world of post-midnight A & E (emergency room). There were a few "characters" there, accompanied by their police officers. Quite a few hours later, I had a blood test--luckily negative, but got some antibiotics just in case, and got home around 5:00 AM.

Saw my OS early this afternoon. Good news is I got my Steri Strips removed; all that annoying pinching feeling is now gone! My orders are to take it easy this weekend, lots of icing and elevating. No exercising!

So @RedRider , I had a chance to ask about the old knee- looks like it's placement was not right, forcing my lateral side out of alignment, which had become seriously arthritic in the intervening 18 months. But, as he said, "You may have noticed that your leg is straight now". I told him it was the first thing I noticed after the op!

So after a lot of cat napping (in the recliner with at least one cat helping), it's back to what I hope continues to be a boring recovery!
 
Hi @sandbar525 ! Thanks! Back to fairly boring. First trip to PT tomorrow. Hope it is uneventful as well.

So far, the only new irritation is that my OS prescribed a sleep/ muscle relaxant for me, which the pharmacy at the bottom of the building won't fill as it's on the wrong type prescription pad! GRRRRZ! well, hope to straighten it all out tomorrow! :banghead:
 
@LondonLady Wrong type prescription pad...and, of course, on the weekend. How annoying, arrgh! Sure you will get it straightened out but for heavens sake. Glad everything else can be classified as "boring". In the context of our recovery, I'll take boring any day! :) Have a good one.
 
Hi @LondonLady, I hope your recovery is still boring - boring is good. I enjoyed your comparisons between general and spinal anaesthetics. I don't do well after generals, I am physically sick for hours, I shake uncontrollably, shiver, and then spend days feeling fuzzy, so I would go for a spinal every time, and hopefully I will be offered one for my second tkr in two weeks time. I remember hearing hammering and other noises during my first TKR (with a spinal) and I just couldn't work out why they would allow builders in the room whilst I was having my op :rotfl:.
I totally agree with you re the card bed pans. The one they gave me collapsed under me - so embarrassing (& rather messy! :censored:).
 
Another milestone--first PT day. This is outpatient at a nearby hospital. This was a long session, gathering background info and general assessment as well as trying some exercises. So far so good-- my bend and extension are pretty good this short out--not much different than where they were pre op. I can walk unaided for a short period, but still prefer using my bright green stick for support. Afterwards, was told to go home, elevate, ice and relax! So that's what I'm now up to now. I had forgotten how exhausting a small amount of activity can be! My assignment is a 10-20 min walk twice a day.

Also, got my sleeping pill prescription filled at the hospital pharmacy. Seems there wasn't a problem with the forms afterall. Hmmm:banghead:.

Ah, well, in the world of things that can go wrong, this was fairly minor. Now, will try one and see if I can snooze past 4:00!
 
Slept a little better last night, but all the muscles in my leg are protesting over PT yesterday! Knee area itself not much different from before, but thighs, calf and even ankle area not too happy! So back to taking it easier and hooked up to the ice machine all day!:bricks:
 
Hi LondonLady - did the red streak and warmness go away? Did your OS have any idea what it could be?

I've never had to use a bedpan before, I honestly don't even understand the physics of it. I'm praying I don't have to use one after my TKR...:praying:
 
Hi @lunula
Yes, it's pretty much gone now. The OS wasn't sure--said it might have been the beginning of an infection. Cellulitis?
Re: the bedpan-- strange experience all in all, but luckily it's a short time frame-- they usually have you up and either using the regular bathroom or a portable chair potty within a day or so.
 
Hi All,
Another small victory yesterday. Was at the OS for a brief checkup. His office is in the outpatient dept of a hospital, and there are about 5-6 steps to go from ground level to the reception area. So I was feeling good, had my cane with me, AND WENT UP THE STEPS NORMALLY! NO DOUBLE-STEP SHUFFLE! :yahoo::wow: I honestly can't remeber how long it has been since I could do this!!!

Of course, since I was doing well, I over did it and generally walked around too much. Paid for it yesterday afternoon/evening, but that's OK! Hard to sleep, so up at some very early hour, managed to get a late morning nap!
 
@LondonLady, it sounds as if you have become a fully paid up member of ODIC (the I've Overdone It Club). We feel we want to push ourselves and get back to normal, but our Knees are in charge, and certainly let us know when we have done too much. I hope you are resting and icing a lot this weekend, you will feel much better for it.
 
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Great news about the stairs! Just take it little by little to avoid the ODIC and pretty soon stairs will not put you on ice, so to speak. :ice:
 
Hi All,
So far so good-- the knee is feeling pretty OK-- it's the rest of the limb that's driving me crazy! When I had my PTR (about a year and a half ago), it changed the alignment of my leg ( wasn't supposed to!). Anyways, I had a lot of IT band issues and bursitis in the hip as a result. Now, my leg has been re-aligned again, and the poor tissues are having to re-adjust to normal. The past couple of days they have been really protesting!

So I found last night my "baked Alaska" technique helped: ice pak on the knee itself, rest of leg wrappped up in an electric blanket set on high. Was albe to sleep better last night, and this morning it's not as bad as it was. Have also been doing some of the point massages on the band. Ain't recovery fun??:wink:
 
Yesterady another minor milestone-- there's a little cafe at the bottom of our building; DH and I had lunch there. First episode of "eating out" since the op (i don't consider hospital meals as eating out!)

Leg started to get that "I'm tired of being bent-- need to stretch out NOW" feeling towards the end of lunch, but did feel nice to have a change of scenery! :yahoo:
 
Yup its like being on.day release. In hospital I got to front door when caught by nurse

Legin THR Sep 14
 
@LondonLady you are doing well and big girl steps too!

I like the baked Alaska idea. Haven't got an electric blanket but might try a couple of hot water bottles.

I'm hoping to get a pass out this week too. Mr P said he'd drive me to Bolton Abbey, local beauty spot and I can hobble into the cafe. Oh the excitement! But it will be a step forward.

Have a restful day
 
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