TKR Sarah Jane's Summer Journey and Fall Frolic

[KarriB]

That's a lot of stairs! Good for you!

 

[SarahJane]

Well, @Thesoutherncook, I ended up joining the funny dance move club today. I count myself lucky that I *didn't* join the Break [the joint you just had replaced] Dance Club. LOL.

I was looking at some sign-up papers on a table in the patio at church, and someone who'd left me a phone message last night came over from the left and was standing at the corner of the table. Without fully turning around 90 degrees, I started moving towards her. I didn't see that I was about to bump into the base of a large, free-standing umbrella with my left foot as I headed her way. ... Of course, I bumped into it sideways and started to fall over. Luckily, my friend started reaching out to me as I fell, so the force of the fall was blunted somehow. I'm also lucky that I hit the stand with my left foot, so my non-operated leg was the one that hit the ground.

I wish that she'd been there at your house, @Pescara, when you took that tumble down the stairs!

People came rushing over to see how I was. I stayed sitting on the ground for about 30 seconds, just assessing *how* my knee felt. I actually felt pretty much OK, so I got up under my own steam.

My knee was still a little swollen from the stair-climbing adventure of Friday, so I took an ice pack out of the refrigerator, and iced and elevated for the next couple of hours. And I'm icing now. The knee is just a little achy -- maybe 1 or 2 on a scale of 10 -- at the end of a long day. I hope it calms down enough by Thursday, so I'm able to make my long-anticipated Day of the Dead art exhibition and museum jaunt.

Other than that, things have been going along OK.

Hope you all had great Halloweens (if that's part of your culture) and that you will have great Guy Fawkes Days (if that's part of your culture).

 

[KarriB]

Oh boy! That dance is the one that leaves makes heart beat go crazy. I'm glad you're ok. Did you land on your behind?

 

[Thesoutherncook]

Welcome to the "Dance til You Drop Club" ! Sorry you had the experience, but now you know you can get off the floor! Take care of that baby so that you can go on your culture crawl later this week! I'm off to help hang an art show today. I expect that I will be on ice this afternoon, too!
Hugs, my friend!

 

[Pescara]

I'm so glad you didn't hurt your knee and someone was there to help. Yes I remember my fall ! It's scary. I hope you rested and got a good sleep. Enjoy your day on Thursday.

 

[SarahJane]

It all happened so fast, @KarriB, so the exact details of my fall are a little hazy, but I'm pretty sure my left posterior hit the ground. Luckily. I am very well padded! LOL, @Thesoutherncook. Dance 'Til You Drop Club. I *love* that name. If these things are going to happen to us, then it's good to have a little sense of humor.

I'm not sure I want to go back to that club anytime soon, @Pescara. I think it might be best if we sit the next one out. LOL. I did have to take an Aleve, but I slept soundly once I got to sleep. The knee is feeling quite cranky this morning. I think it's going to be an Aleve day or two.

 

[Slainte]

Wow, that must have been so scary. So glad you came through relatively unscathed.

 

[KarriB]

I've fallen twice since my TKR. First time was in my basement, about 6 months afterwards. I tripped over a pair over something, went down in slow motion and was able to fall on my left side. Then I scooted (on my butt) to the stairs to boost myself up. Second time was this August, I fell out of my chair at school (it toppled over when I was bending over in it). That was much harder to get up from, but the fall itself wasn't as painful.
I'm not known for my grace.

 

[Legin]

Just saw about your Leginesque type stumble. Sheeesh woman take care. I fall but make sure head lands first nought to damage there.......
Art walking dead sounds good. BTW my name is down for an extra in a film being made in scotland, as a zombie of course

Legin THR Sep 14

 

[Raffs]

Falling has been one of my biggest fears during recovery - I find myself walking so slowly if I am scared of falling. So glad you are ok though.

 

[cairistiona60]

Falling is scary! So don't do that!

 

[wberry]

I fell about 6 days after my initial TKR, landed on my back then butt. I was bruised and sore for weeks in that area, but knee was untouched. Glad you survived yours.


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[SarahJane]

Just a quick note to say that I didn't have any trouble with my knee on Thursday. We only went to one gallery, however. We had to run an errand on the way to the first one, and then my friend, who was driving, started getting worried about being caught up in Los Angeles' rush hour if we went to the second one. I was a little disappointed, but understood.

 

[Thesoutherncook]

Sorry that you didn't get to the second gallery, but that gives you somewhere else to go! Yeah! Your knee cooperated! That's a BIG improvement!

 

[SarahJane]

Cobwebs, caftans, and housework are a dangerous combination.

I was relaxing the other evening wearing a comfy long caftan when I spotted a spiderweb on the hallway ceiling. Since it's well past Halloween, I decided to do something about it. So I grabbed a broom to brush it down from the ceiling. I started at one end of the cobweb, and looking up at the ceiling, took a couple of steps forward and to the right to get the rest of it. I was still wearing my long, comfortable, spacious, roomy, flowing, billowing caftan. Did I mention that it was a *long* caftan? And that I was in a hallway?

I bet you can guess what happened next.

TRIIIIIIIIP!!! OOPS-A-DAISY!!! KERPLUNK!!!

I fell down. Directly on my operated knee. Yup. Very scary. I just lay there at first. I slowly rolled over and very gingery touched my knee. The artificial kneecap seemed OK. I had skinned it a bit, including a very small patch of my scar. It was immediately swollen. But when I very tenderly traced the outline of the implant, it seemed like it was in place and intact. So, after some of the shock and fear had worn off, I -- very awkwardly -- eased myself up and went to get an ice pack from the freezer.

I also ended up banging my upper left arm and shoulder against a door frame in the hallway on the way down. So I had an uncomfortable night, despite the ice pack and an Aleve.

I've been staying in bed, elevating and icing, this morning. And another Aleve.

I think it will resolve OK without my needing to go to the doctor.

But the timing wasn't great. I'd planned several activities for later on this week -- all of which involve walking. Thursday a friend and I have tickets to see the brand new Broad Art Museum in downtown Los Angeles. -- And I was so looking forward to walking through the galleries on my own two feet. But I may use a wheelchair because I *have* to be fairly mobile for Friday's activities. On Friday, a friend and I are co-hosting a group of people who will tour the lovely Greek Orthodox cathedral, and then have a Greek lunch at a nearby restaurant. I've been on that tour some years ago, so I'm OK with skipping part of it if need be. But I was planning to walk two blocks to the restaurant ahead of our group to place our orders so they'd be ready when the rest of us arrived. It's a good restaurant, but is not formal. You stand in line at a counter to place your order, and it's taken to your table when it's ready. As my friend and I are hosting lunch, it seemed like the most efficient way of handling the ordering for me to put it in for the whole party. My friend's not seen the cathedral tour before, so I'd rather be the one to leave a bit early. Cross your fingers and toes that everything will go smoothly on Friday. Saturday, that same friend will be showing a quilt she made at a local quilt show. More standing, more walking.

So I'll be pacing myself and spending every spare moment between the events elevating and icing.

And yes, even though it is a gorgeous and oh-so-comfortable caftan, the next time I do housework I'm going to be wearing sports protective gear!

Hope you all are well, and staying away from the cobweb-caftan combination.

 

[hawk2go]

So sorry to hear about your fall. I hope everything stays okay and minimally affected.

I have a nice comfy long dress that I intended to wear home from the hospital after getting The Knee. The day after the surgery, I changed my outfit for the same reason that I am sure you, @SarahJane, will not be wearing the comfy and long caftan anytime soon.

 

[SarahJane]

Tripping hazards. They're definitely quite a trip, @hawk2go. LOL. I spent more of my initial recovery in caftans, dresses, and skirts than I did in loose pants or shorts. It was the middle of another global warming summer and I found them more comfortable because they were so loose. I definitely will have second thoughts about doing any more housework in a caftan. Personally, I'm tempted to conclude that housework was the *real* hazard. LOL.

Thanks for your kind thoughts.

It's funny/ironic. My friend the nurse went through my house before the surgery and made sure there were no tripping hazards -- including taking away my door mat and my bathroom mats. I was fine for months and months at home. Guess what, this week I had *just* put the bathroom mats down again. Guess I need to do another look round the house for possible tripping hazards.

 

[Thesoutherncook]

Oh! Sarah Jane! I'm so sorry about your fall, BUT I am rolling on the floor laughing at the mental picture! I'm so very thankful that you were not seriously injured. You and I are definitely leading the pack in the "Dancing til You Drop" club! Glad you were able to get up, too! Now, time for a wardrobe and home make over!
Rest up so that you can enjoy your busy end to the week! I'll volunteer to come out for the Greek meal! I could run interference down the street for you!
Hugs, my friend!

 

[Wanttobebiking]

There is entirely too much falling going on with this group!!!! Glad you are okay and hope the icing and elevating helps bring the swelling under control. I almost had a fall myself today. I was riding a rental bike. I stopped and my feet and pedals got all tangled up and I felt myself falling toward my LTKR. I panicked but I quickly regained control and balance. I was lucky. Let us know how it goes the next few days. And good for you for getting the ice on it right away.

 

[SarahJane]

You *were* lucky, @Wanttobebiking. Yay for balance, control, and poise! I bet your instinctive body memory reacted as if you were on your own bike, not a rental. Good thing you had good reflexes.

@Thesoutherncook, you are so caring and sweet. I wish you could join us for lunch. And Hawk and Biking and everyone else. The restaurant does a big family-style dinner with wine tasting and belly dancing on Thursday nights. You all have a day and a half to get to LA for the party! -- But maybe we should plan it for a year from now so we can all do Greek dancing like Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates in Zorba the Greek. -- Or, at least try to do a modified version which is easier on the knees and hips. I'm not sure I'd want to risk the deep knee forward plunge at the beginning of this clip. .