Recovering a knee - from one who knows!

[zjrog]

For those of you who are a fairly active kinds of people, I'm going to give you the best advice I can. Slow down, relax. You are not in charge. Your knee is. I was chomping at the bit too, to get on with life and things I wanted to do. I had a couple friends kept all but holding me down when I wanted to get out and do what they were doing. Lucky for me, I did my knee over the winter, so I didn't have lots of nice weather tempting me. I also had sleep issues for the first month and a half or so. Some was I just couldn't get comfortable on the couch and I tried my waterbed way too soon ... but by 8 weeks, I was in the waterbed and sleeping all night.

No other way to say it, but you shouldn't be standing for long periods of time. Yet. You will have that stiffness for some time. I'm 8 months post-op and doing rather well, but I can still make it stiff and swollen. Really, no pain no gain is a BAD attitude to have for the next few months. Since I'm certain you will be doing therapy, don't push through the pain. It won't help you at all. Medicate for pain, Ice and Elevate for swelling. Rest for you... SLOW DOWN... Swelling is normal. Remember that you just had your leg cut apart and the bones drilled into. Muscles were cut, pulled and stretched while the new parts were hammered into place. EVERYTHING in there is very upset and takes time to forgive you.:hissyfit: So don't make it any angrier than it is...

For the extension, with my leg straight, I flexed the quads. That pulls the kneecap up, and with it, straightens the leg out some. If you are sitting in a recliner or just using a footrest, that won't help get you straight. I sat on the floor and had a gallon jug of water frozen, that I rested on my knee. Being on the flat floor, and with a little weight helped. I have to say getting to 0* was harder for me than the flex.

Elevation is the key to controlling pain and swelling

Brother, I work out in the desert. And I prefer to think I'm a jack of all trades. I hate sitting in my office/cubicle (at least I have a window!), but can easily spend 4 or more hours a day looking through a windshield. I'm on and in heavy equipment, and climbing towers and stairs. I frequently have to move heavy materials loading and unloading trucks and containers. Not to mention walking about the desert terrain and rocks. Like I said, I can still get it to swell and be angry at me. But I'm not too worried about it any more.

So there is light at the end of the tunnel. I just can't tell you how long that tunnel is. Nobody can. My results are mine, your results may vary, some settling may occur in shipping, shipped by weight not volume, some specifications subject to change without notice (I think that covers most things)... Its a long haul, enjoy the ride.

You can do this. Time and Patience. :yes 4:

 

[mbitney]

Hello everyone & welcome aboard the BoneSmart excursion! It's not a short jaunt, it's a long cruise. One that's made much more tolerable, if not enjoyable, by having found & donned your BoneSmart (or BS as we like to call it) life jacket. .

An analogy that I've found helpful is that you've just begun a long marathon with many hills to climb (some of which are long & steep.) To finish this race you've got to pace yourself; be patient; and stay positive. Eventually the hills flatten out and the course becomes much easier to run.

Here are a few more myth busters:

- No pain=no gain. Hogwash. When you're in pain your body (specifically with knee pain, your hamstring and/or your quad) tightens up and won't let you or your knee go there. Don't be stupid like I was and try to fight through the pain or "gut it out!" Trust me, it's a battle you won't win.

- Your PT is in charge. Nope. You are, or more correctly, your knee is. Listen to it, not him/her. If your PT pressures you to do things that cause you pain, it's time to get another one.

-Your Family/Friends will be there for you every step of the way. At first this is true. But as the weeks & months pass, waiting on you will get old. And you will eventually feel guilty asking for help too. So do what you can as soon as you can and don't be afraid to ask for help with the rest. And never foget that your BS'er friends will be here whenever you need them.

- Timetables & ROM numbers are important. More nonsense. Each one of us is unique and different. Don't compare yourself, your ROM, or your progress or lack thereof to anyone else's. From one who has been there & foolishly done that, I know that it only leads to frustration & despair. Your ROM and return of function will come with time.

- Life is Fair. We know better. Life can be difficult and even cruel sometimes. Life is short. Life is what you make of it. Try to make the most out of everyday. And stop and smell the roses along the way. Ironically, I've found that's easier to do if you just slow down a bit, relax and be patient. Wish I'd learned that sooner.

All my best. JMB