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TKR RTKR December 12

Glad you were able to get out today.
It's wonderful to feel a part of the world again. Sounds like you did well and with a little ice and rest you'll be back to good in no time. :) Best Wishes for PT tomorrow!
@LittleBit
 
Congrats on a successful outing, it’s good to be doing something fun and not just going to dr/pt. I have gone out a few times and about to start calling friends to meet for lunch…..
 
Day 22 - PT today: We're still measuring flex but not focusing on it as much since I am well on target for what my surgeon wants to see at 6 weeks. Therapist showed me today how to massage the scar and okayed me to apply vitamin E oil. I did 8 minutes on the cycle going all the way around with a few rest sessions of rocking back and forth. The usual other exercises that I've been doing, only now adding light ankle weights to some to start strengthening. I'm a bit stalled on walking outside since it irritates my non-surgical knee, which is bone-on-bone and will be getting surgery once this one is healed, if I go more than about 10 minutes. After talking with my therapist, I have decided to order an under-desk cycle that will allow me to replicate what I am doing on the stationary bike on PT days. I really want to build some stamina. All in all, no complaints. I'm starting to feel some anxiety about going back to work (teaching online from home) 1/16. As much as we want predictability on this journey, it's patience that has to rule--and letting the knee be the boss.
 
LittleBit said:
As much as we want predictability on this journey, it's patience that has to rule--and letting the knee be the boss.
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So true!! That is the key element….right there.
Thankfully it’s an online class that prevents the driving, parking, walking into a class, etc. Ordeal.
You sound like you are doing very well.
Many people seems to enjoy using their under the desk pedals.
 
You're doing great!!!!

As one who has herself experienced many athletic (martial arts) injuries and helped peers through theirs, and who is a fan of strength training... I generally caution against weights, even two pounds, before the 6 - 8 weeks it takes sprains and strains to heal.
 
Day 23 - Although I feel I am doing well overall, I have to share that I'm having a "low" day today. It's possible I have done too much the past three days. Monday, I cooked several dishes for the family New Year's Day gathering. Tuesday, I went with hubby to his doctor appointment, then to pharmacy, then out to lunch. Wednesday, I pushed myself at PT. My knee is not visibly swollen, but it's more achy, and I feel very tired. Tomorrow at PT, I'm going to tell my therapist that I need a "lighten up" day. Positivity and optimism are good things, but so are caution and good judgment:no-fin:
 
May I respectfully suggest that you cancel tomorrow's PT and just, after resting today, doing light puttering and stretching tomorrow?

It's definitely time to exercise your Patience muscle and let that baby knee heal. My ortho team wouldn't permit ANY strength PT until 6-8 weeks because of how long it takes muscle to heal.

Please slow down.
 
Uh oh...someone may need a little bitty break. :wink: Sounds like you were a busy bee over the past few days.
I hope a day of rest and ice, if you feel inclined, has you back to where you were. The highs and lows of recovery are real! May tomorrow be a better day! :SUNsmile:
@LittleBit
 
Day 24 - I shared with my PT that I had more pain yesterday, and he noticed that I was limping. He agreed that I may be pushing too hard and need to give the knee some more healing time. So we did only "recovery" moves today with no resistance, just gentle and slow. We didn't measure my flexion, which was already at 121 on my previous visit, but I did ask him to measure my extension, and it was at 0. My surgeon's instructions stressed that extension is more of a concern for him than flexion. PT said that's because full extension is important for my gait. I'm walking without the cane in the house and at the therapy center but using it when I go out to an unfamiliar or more crowded place. I still don't need any pain meds, not even OTC, and sleep well at night. I walked for 10 min. in the house yesterday and felt tired after. I do get up and down frequently to piddle around the house but not for long at a time. I had hoped to be able to walk for 20 min. at a time during week 4 but that seems elusive right now. My unoperated knee gives me some sharp pain when I try to walk too far. I ordered an under-desk peddler, which is due to arrive in about 10 days, thinking it could help me get motion without putting weight on the nonsurgical knee. It's a journey, friends! Thank you for the companionship!
 
20 minutes non stop walking is indeed a lot of walking to attempt at week 4!
Perspective... If you're walking at 1/4th normal speed, 20 minutes is a quarter of a mile. Best to back off a bit, try again in a couple of weeks when more of the muscle healing has happened.
 
Thanks for the perspective, mendogal! A quarter of a mile does seem a lot more ambitious than 20 min. :) Along with a very gentle PT session yesterday and a lot of rest alternating ice and heat plus really short walks (5 min.), I feel much more comfortable this morning vs. yesterday morning. I think my knee was applying a little tough love Thursday to get my attention.
 
Day 26 - First time back to church since surgery. I woke up feeling good, so decided to try it. After showering, blow-drying hair, putting on a bit of makeup, 30 min. car ride there, walking into church, an hour in church sitting sideways with leg propped on pew, walking to communion rail and back, walking out of church, and 30 min. car ride home, I am wiped! I needed to list all that going to church entailed just to show myself that I'm not actually the wimp that I feel like:sad: I hope all my friends in recovery will have a reasonably comfortable and positive day. Just remember that all the little activities that we may have taken for granted before surgery, each one depletes our energy stores while our bodies are already using lots of energy healing bones, muscles, tendons, soft tissue, nerves, blood vessels, and trying to accommodate a foreign object.
 
LittleBit said:
Just remember that all the little activities that we may have taken for granted before surgery, each one depletes our energy stores while our bodies are already using lots of energy healing bones, muscles, tendons, soft tissue, nerves, blood vessels, and trying to accommodate a foreign object.
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Great points! Especially in regard to the effort / energy it takes just to get you to your desired destination.
We tend to picture ourselves at work, church, grocery store etc, but don't consider the energy it takes leading up to getting there.
I hope you have a peaceful Sunday relaxing and resting....maybe with your friend ice? :ice:
 
Well, here on the north left coast, unmellow folks are sometimes advised to "take a chill pill" so I guess if/when I need my ice machine again it will be Chill Pill :heehee:
 
Definitely feel my ice pad is my friend!

Day 27 - Small milestone to report. This morning as I was waiting for hubby to get ready to take me to PT, I realized I was sitting with my legs crossed--surgical knee crossed over and resting on non-surgical knee, with nonsurgical foot flat on the floor. It didn't hurt but, in fact, felt good. It's the little "normal" things that let us know we are making progress. They've stopped measuring my extension/flexion at PT because they can see from my unassisted gait that I'm doing fine. We added one new exercise to help me toward climbing stairs. I stand beside the table, with a hand on it for support and try to lift the surgical leg up and over a cone. It was challenging at first, but I got better. When I got home, I took the five front stairs reciprocally with the help of a cane on one side and the railing on the other. Now I'm resting with my "friend."
 
LittleBit said:
I was sitting with my legs crossed--surgical knee crossed over and resting on non-surgical knee, with nonsurgical foot flat on the floor. It didn't hurt but, in fact, felt good. It's the little "normal" things that let us know we are making progress.
Click to expand...
Wow! That is amazing for less than 1 month out. Those normal things are so uplifting!
 
I might need to try that cone thing, how tall is it?
 
LittleBit said:
Definitely feel my ice pad is my friend!

.... We added one new exercise to help me toward climbing stairs. I stand beside the table, with a hand on it for support and try to lift the surgical leg up and over a cone. It was challenging at first, but I got better. When I got home, I took the five front stairs reciprocally with the help of a cane on one side and the railing on the other. Now I'm resting with my "friend."
Click to expand...
Great!!!!

My only question: did PT watch closely and ensure you weren't either hitching up your hip or swinging the leg out in order to achieve altitude? Those are REALLY common "workarounds" that imprint poor habits and disrupt structure. If you have a full length mirror to watch yourself in, try to keep the two hips level when stepping up or lifting the leg high.

In other news... The burning... um no... the CHILLING question on everyone's mind is....
What have you NAMED your friend!?!?!
 
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