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TKR ROM-chatter

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@tiredwife - thank you. Much to my surprise I did go ahead and go through with it and it does seem to be working out right now ( knock on wood. )As I think I stated earlier it's just a different sort of pain , it feels like part of my leg is bruised . The shooting pain is gone!!! I hope that sooner rather than later I can get these pain meds under control so that I'm not getting constipated again. That's been very tricky for me, as I know it has for a lot of people. I've said this before too- I feel so awful for anybody who has chronic pain. I don't think I could handle it. I've been dealing with this for one month and I'm ready to scream! Wishing everyone a restful night sleep. Check in tomorrow.
 
OMG!! My knee is so stiff I can barely bend it at all. Here I was thinking I was moving along after the MUA on Friday!. Maybe it's because it's early I don't know but holy cow is it stiff! I go to outpatient PT today at 12:30 and I'm not going to let them hurt me! Feel like I've had enough. If fact, I may have overdone it myself doing stretches with my legs up on my wall yesterday three times. You do start getting the sense like you should be moving along. At least I do. It seems like a long time has passed. I'm praying for more patience. Has anybody else have an MUA, then felt like there leg was even stiffer a few days later? Uuuhgggg!
 
@bumknees09 Sorry you are so stiff today! Are you elevating enough? Sounds like you have swelling in the joint. You might have overdone it which can set you back some. Sounds like you are trying to force you knee to get better faster and that doesn't work. Baby steps will get you there faster. I know it can be frustrating but you must have patience.
 
@tiredwife - i'm not sure if I'm elevating it enough either. It's one of the things I'm going to ask at PT today. There seems to be a couple schools of thought on how to do it correctly. I was elevating it with three pillows kind of staggered starting under my knee and then gradually going out (away from my knee ) . Now I was told to just put the pillows under my heel! Having them just under my heel I suppose helps with the extension or whatever getting my leg straight? Doesn't feel too good I can tell you that, for any length of time anyway. I guess I'll see what they say today and go from there again. Not really sure who to listen to sometimes.
 
I have followed the Bonesmart philosophy completely and had no issues with recovery. I believe I have read here that having a MUA is like starting over in your recovery. If you do a search on BS you will find how others have fared. But you need to ice, elevate and take your pain meds on schedule. Good luck!
 
I'm looking thru the library and in articles on here and cannot find the proper way to elevate. It's probably here somewhere but I can't find it. @Josephine - can you assist w/where I can find this info please? Thx
 
Sorry Bumknees that I can't direct you more. I use an iPhone not a pc and I am unable to put in links. Will see if I can find out more info tho!
 
@bumknees09 You have to have your feet above the knees, don't support your knees with pillows because (as I was told by the nurse and PT ) that can add to clotting. With the knee higher than the feet, the fluid (swelling) can travel down your leg into your ankle and feet. With 3 pillows, start with them under you feet and taper down to your butt. Toes should be the highest point. Do it as often as you can, and ice while you do it. Make sure the ice isn't making your skin too cold by keeping a dishtowel or something between ice and skin.
 
tiredwife said:
You have to have your feet above the knees, don't support your knees with pillows because (as I was told by the nurse and PT ) that can add to clotting
Click to expand...

The nurse and PT were quite right in one respect - you should not put just one pillow behind your knee, because that could impede the circulation and increase the possibility of blood clots.

However, it's perfectly OK to use pillows to elevate, as long as you do it like this:
[Bonesmart.org] ROM-chatter


@bumknees09 - This article may help to explain:
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
 
Keep up with that rest, ice and elevate--like others have said, this is a bit of a new trauma so you need a little tlc. Fingers crossed for you.
 
THANK YOU, everyone...... Again!! You're awesome. I think I was not "staggering" the pillows correctly, and that was the issue. I just did it exactly as the picture shows and it's perfect. There's really only air behind my knee but it's not hurting like it was w/just my heals and part of my calfs on pillows.
 
bumknees09 said:
I'm looking thru the library and in articles on here and cannot find the proper way to elevate. It's probably here somewhere but I can't find it. @Josephine - can you assist w/where I can find this info please? Thx
Click to expand...
I did tell you that your recovery articles are in post #21 of this thread and that you should go back and read them ALL!
 
So- who else is
a. Not used to asking people for help, and feels somewhat like a burden
b. Feeling a bit depressed
c. Wondering when you can get off the pain meds that you don't feel like this OR
d. All of the above
I'm going with D!
 
@bumknees09 I don't think there are many people on here that like to ask for help, but being a caregiver I can tell you that it isn't that much, and we don't mind doing for those we love. Depression is normal and hits everyone. You are frustrated that you can't do more for yourself and it, along with pain and this TKR slow recovery depresses you. You have to concentrate on your little accomplishments because they add up. Pain meds is an individual thing, with his first knee hubby was off them about week 4, we can see with this knee he will be on them a lot longer, some people are on them for months, it is truly an individual thing. You are being very hard on yourself, stop rushing it, let your knee dictate your recovery, try to do things that get your mind off the knee like talk to a friend, read a book, rent some movies. It is hard, but you will get better and then your life will be much better. Hang in there!
[Bonesmart.org] ROM-chatter
 
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