Shewolf38
junior member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2019
- Messages
- 64
- Age
- 59
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
Checked into the hospital at 7:30 am on 8/29/19. I was scared, nervous and excited about finally getting the first TKR done on my right knee. My summer consisted of one local baseball game where I had to sit in the bottom row of seats because I can’t climb stairs, going to the racetrack but not being able to walk around, even to the bathroom because of the pain. Went to look at Lake Michigan but couldn’t walk to or on the beach, so We sat in the car. I would go to work and come directly home to ice my knee and either take pain meds or have a few drinks. I remember getting the spinal in the operating room and the doctor telling me to lie down quickly. After that I was waking up in recovery. I was still numb but I was so happy that my healing journey had begun. When I was able to move my legs and had most of the feeling back, I was sent to my room. I was helped to bed, my vitals were taken and I asked for lunch. I was starving! My nurse called down to the cafeteria and they sent me a turkey sandwich with a fruit cup! My husband and son were brought to my room and they surprised me with fries and some bacon. I added the bacon to my sandwich and it was the best tasting thing that I’ve eaten in months. LOL. I called for help to go to the bathroom. As the nurse was helping me up, I started peeing all over. I couldn’t hold it in! I wasn’t expecting that but the nurses were very kind and told me that it very common when patients have a spinal and no catheter. My husband helped me get cleaned up and get my shorts on, and then back to bed. Later PT came in to check my range of motion. The rest of the night was spent watching tv, getting vitals taken, taking medication and trying to sleep.
8/30. Didn’t sleep much at all. Stomach is upset from the medication so I asked for some crackers. I ate about 1/3 of my breakfast. Before I was done eating, PT came in to take me for a walk down the hall to the PT room for training on the walker and stretching exercises. She said that I passed the PT part and that occupational therapy would be in for some more training and if I pass that, I would be discharged. As soon as we got back to my room, OT was there. Another walk to the OT room where I was trained to use my walker to get into the house, how to get in/out of the shower and up/down from the toilet. I graduated therapy and my doctor came in to talk to me. I was told that I could go home around 11 so I should arrange for my ride to be there at 10:45. Needless to say, I didn’t get out until about 3. Got home and set up with my ice machine and everything I needed nearby. That day finished with dinner, tv, meds and vet little sleep.
8/31. Lots of swelling, pain level rising. I can barely lift my leg and I shuffle when I walk to the bathroom. Craving sweets. Pain meds every 3.5 -4 hours. Day consisted of tv, meds, lots of water and very little sleep.
9/1. Extreme pain. Swelling not too bad but the pain is totally out of control. I’m wondering to myself what the hell did I do to myself? I break down crying from frustration and exhaustion. Husband is so supportive. I wouldn’t have been able to get through this without him and our son. The dogs know that something isn’t right and are being really good and careful around me. Day spent taking meds, tv, FB games, reading and no sleep.
9/2. Woke up with very little pain. I’m so happy about that. I decided to try to make coffee myself since I’ve been getting up around 4 am and son doesn’t get up until later. I was so happy to be able to make my own coffee and carry it to my nesting area without a spill. Day spent with tv, FB games, binge watching Netflix with my husband and very little sleep.
9/3. Woke up in major pain. Was supposed to start OP PT today but appointment changed until tomorrow. Day spent with meds, sleep, tv and FB games.
9/4. First PT appointment. I was very scared that I was going to be put through a bunch of pain. I took a Percocet before the appointment. My son drove me to the PT office. We had to walk quite a ways to get inside and my knee was swollen when I walked in. My PT walked me back and I told him that I wouldn’t be able to do much because I was so swelled up. He was so understanding and gentle. I asked him to please not hurt me. He assured me that he wouldn’t. We filled out a bunch of paperwork and he did some stretching on my knee. It was a bit uncomfortable at times but he didn’t hurt me. Then ROM measurements were taken. 88/0. He said that I was doing great for being less than a week out of surgery. I will be going to see him twice a week. My son drove me home and I immediately put ice on my knee and heat on my thigh. It felt wonderful. The rest of my day was tv, FB and I finally slept 4 hours straight!
9/5. Woke up with a lot less pain! Did my stretching exercises, started using my cane instead of depending on my walker the entire time. Day spent stretching, tv, FB walking around the house, trying to straighten up the living room. Slept from 11:30 - 7!! No appetite and nausea.
9/6. Woke up with bad swelling and stiffness. Made coffee and iced/elevated knee. Watched the news and made myself a bowl of cereal. I’m celebrating the small successes. Took a nap from noon - 2:45. I’m finally catching up on some sleep. The pain is getting much less. Noticed that I had no pain at one point while watching tv with my leg elevated. I can’t remember the last time that I had zero pain!! If I could do a happy dance I would.
8/30. Didn’t sleep much at all. Stomach is upset from the medication so I asked for some crackers. I ate about 1/3 of my breakfast. Before I was done eating, PT came in to take me for a walk down the hall to the PT room for training on the walker and stretching exercises. She said that I passed the PT part and that occupational therapy would be in for some more training and if I pass that, I would be discharged. As soon as we got back to my room, OT was there. Another walk to the OT room where I was trained to use my walker to get into the house, how to get in/out of the shower and up/down from the toilet. I graduated therapy and my doctor came in to talk to me. I was told that I could go home around 11 so I should arrange for my ride to be there at 10:45. Needless to say, I didn’t get out until about 3. Got home and set up with my ice machine and everything I needed nearby. That day finished with dinner, tv, meds and vet little sleep.
8/31. Lots of swelling, pain level rising. I can barely lift my leg and I shuffle when I walk to the bathroom. Craving sweets. Pain meds every 3.5 -4 hours. Day consisted of tv, meds, lots of water and very little sleep.
9/1. Extreme pain. Swelling not too bad but the pain is totally out of control. I’m wondering to myself what the hell did I do to myself? I break down crying from frustration and exhaustion. Husband is so supportive. I wouldn’t have been able to get through this without him and our son. The dogs know that something isn’t right and are being really good and careful around me. Day spent taking meds, tv, FB games, reading and no sleep.
9/2. Woke up with very little pain. I’m so happy about that. I decided to try to make coffee myself since I’ve been getting up around 4 am and son doesn’t get up until later. I was so happy to be able to make my own coffee and carry it to my nesting area without a spill. Day spent with tv, FB games, binge watching Netflix with my husband and very little sleep.
9/3. Woke up in major pain. Was supposed to start OP PT today but appointment changed until tomorrow. Day spent with meds, sleep, tv and FB games.
9/4. First PT appointment. I was very scared that I was going to be put through a bunch of pain. I took a Percocet before the appointment. My son drove me to the PT office. We had to walk quite a ways to get inside and my knee was swollen when I walked in. My PT walked me back and I told him that I wouldn’t be able to do much because I was so swelled up. He was so understanding and gentle. I asked him to please not hurt me. He assured me that he wouldn’t. We filled out a bunch of paperwork and he did some stretching on my knee. It was a bit uncomfortable at times but he didn’t hurt me. Then ROM measurements were taken. 88/0. He said that I was doing great for being less than a week out of surgery. I will be going to see him twice a week. My son drove me home and I immediately put ice on my knee and heat on my thigh. It felt wonderful. The rest of my day was tv, FB and I finally slept 4 hours straight!
9/5. Woke up with a lot less pain! Did my stretching exercises, started using my cane instead of depending on my walker the entire time. Day spent stretching, tv, FB walking around the house, trying to straighten up the living room. Slept from 11:30 - 7!! No appetite and nausea.
9/6. Woke up with bad swelling and stiffness. Made coffee and iced/elevated knee. Watched the news and made myself a bowl of cereal. I’m celebrating the small successes. Took a nap from noon - 2:45. I’m finally catching up on some sleep. The pain is getting much less. Noticed that I had no pain at one point while watching tv with my leg elevated. I can’t remember the last time that I had zero pain!! If I could do a happy dance I would.