Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
@SarahJane - are you a Dr Who fan?
TKR Sarah Jane's Summer Journey and Fall Frolic
- Thread starter SarahJane
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PolarBear60
Former BoneSmart staff member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2015
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- 66
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- Central Texas
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- Female
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United States
Oh, dear. They say pets live up (or down) to their names, but I wouldn't have expected that. On the other hand, I named a rescued feral kitten Pretty Boy Floyd, and he had to be put down at two years for serious urinary tract problems. (I've made a Note to Self not to name cats after gangsters. Thankfully, his sisters are doing well.)
OP
OP
SarahJane
supremo
Yes, @Josephine, I am somewhat of a Whovian. Looking forward to September 19, when the second season of the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, starts. I was introduced to it when our local PBS station ran episodes in the mid-1970's, but missed the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Doctors the first time round -- got busy with demanding academic program so TV watching was practically nil.
I read both of your recovery journals, Josephine. So sorry you had such trouble with the second knee. Hope things have settled down for you by now.
@PolarBear60, it's very sad having to put down a pet, especially one so young, but I bet you gave Pretty Boy Floyd a much better life than he would have had on the streets. I "cat-napped" my current cat from life as a stray who hung out with other seemingly abandoned cats near the Bakersfield train station. She wasn't feral, but is not one for cuddles and lap-sitting, sadly. Her name is Rose of Sharon. Since I found her near trains and buses bringing people to the agricultural Central Valley of California, she's named after an "Okie" Dust Bowl refugee in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.
I *loved* Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, @Legan. Glad you loved it, too. It was the perfect antidote for too much Shakespeare forced down the throats of modern-day American school children. I grew to love and appreciate his work later on in life, but I sure enjoyed the send-up of the Bard in Stoppard's work.
I spent a lot of time icing and elevating yesterday. One 10-15 minute walk, no exercises. Today my knee isn't as painful, but it's a bit swollen and a bit stiff. I've done a handful of knee bends and heel glides. A little pain along the outside of the knee -- muscles? tendons? -- so I took 500 mg of coated Tylenol. Let's hope they do the trick! I'm going to give them a few minutes to take effect, and then take another brief walk.
I read both of your recovery journals, Josephine. So sorry you had such trouble with the second knee. Hope things have settled down for you by now.
@PolarBear60, it's very sad having to put down a pet, especially one so young, but I bet you gave Pretty Boy Floyd a much better life than he would have had on the streets. I "cat-napped" my current cat from life as a stray who hung out with other seemingly abandoned cats near the Bakersfield train station. She wasn't feral, but is not one for cuddles and lap-sitting, sadly. Her name is Rose of Sharon. Since I found her near trains and buses bringing people to the agricultural Central Valley of California, she's named after an "Okie" Dust Bowl refugee in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.
I *loved* Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, @Legan. Glad you loved it, too. It was the perfect antidote for too much Shakespeare forced down the throats of modern-day American school children. I grew to love and appreciate his work later on in life, but I sure enjoyed the send-up of the Bard in Stoppard's work.
I spent a lot of time icing and elevating yesterday. One 10-15 minute walk, no exercises. Today my knee isn't as painful, but it's a bit swollen and a bit stiff. I've done a handful of knee bends and heel glides. A little pain along the outside of the knee -- muscles? tendons? -- so I took 500 mg of coated Tylenol. Let's hope they do the trick! I'm going to give them a few minutes to take effect, and then take another brief walk.
cairistiona60
senior
Glad there are fellow Whovians here! I was lucky enough to meet Karen Gillan in March. She was lovely. Also looking forward to next Capaldi season.
Slainte
post-grad
You asked me in Braunzie's thread if I get drowsy at work. I don't take painkillers during the day, but do sometimes take a percocet to sleep at night. I don't feel drowsy so much as just dead tired. Very much so today, after an entire week. The weekend will rejuvenate me, and I will make it slightly farther next week before my energy is gone. Six weeks until I do my other knee -just about the time I am feeling normal again! I drink a lot of coffee during weekday mornings. Helps a lot.
OP
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SarahJane
supremo
It's been a while since I posted about my recovery ... while, in reality, since Thursday, but it feels like eons. I've been up and down, delighted and discouraged, worried and confident. In other words, a normal couple of days for a post-surgery BoneSmartie.
The highlight was Sunday, when friends brought me to church. A harp piece my friend had composed was being performed for the first time, and they were having a reception to honor our intern minister at the end of her time with us. I spent my time in the social hall, with my operated leg iced and elevated. My friend's piece was wonderful (as if I had any doubt), and it was lovely to see people I hadn't seen for six weeks. Someone else from church was having a hip replacement operation today, and I brought her my 3-in-1 commode, reacher, elastic shoelaces, couple of boxes of baby wipes and a composition journal to use for a pain log. Earlier I'd given her the clothes aide, sock putter-oner, extra long shoehorn, sponge on a long handle, etc., from the "hip kit" I'd purchased.
A friend of mine who is a professor in a local university's chemistry department and has been the pre-med adviser came over and asked about my pain medication. We had a long talk about that and my other medications. She wasn't happy about the Percocet, since the narcotic in it is in the same family as heroin. I'm not happy about it because I'm eager to drive since I'm feeling so isolated and abandoned. Several of my friends are unable to visit because they're watching over elderly and ill relatives; others are off on vacation. Two don't drive at all, so I am always the one who visits. I'm getting really bored with TV reruns, and with the effect of the narcotic, I'm not able to concentrate on reading (or writing) the great American novel, catching up on my filing and paperwork, etc.
My friend explained that the narcotic in Percocet didn't do anything specifically to lessen the pain. Instead, it affected my brain's perception and ability to register the pain. (Forgive me if my non-scientific mind has muddled that explanation up a bit, I hope I got its essence right.) She said my current issue with pain was with pain from inflammation, something which could be better addressed by a different medication than the acetaminophen in the Percocet. I told her that I'd been trying to cut back on the Percocet by taking 500 mg of acetaminophen in the early afternoon instead of another Percocet, but that caused my stomach to have conniptions, even when the acetaminophen was coated. After trying that once or twice, I'd gone back to Percocet as the more comfortable of two evils.
She suggested that I try naproxen instead of acetaminophen. A dose of naproxen lasts longer than a dose of acetaminophen, is better at targeting inflammation, and wears off more slowly. She also suggested that I use ranitidine as an antacid. So I asked my friends to stop at a drug store on the way home, and am trying a different medication protocol: 1/2 Percocet, 1/2 Zofran, 1 Alleve, and 1 Zantac three times a day Plus ice, ice, ice. So far, fairly good. Not perfect, but I've changed a couple of other things, too, so it's a little harder to tell for sure what's responsible for what.
I'm at the 6 week mark, so I can stop taking the 350 mg coated aspirin in the morning (prescribed after the surgery to help prevent blood clots). *That* should make my tummy happier.
I also tried a few different physical therapy exercises tonight and there's some tightness and discomfort along the outside and bottom of the knee. Is that the infamous IT band I hear so much about?
A word of caution before I end this post: Please make sure you talk to your own physicians and pharmacists about what medications -- prescription and OTC -- are best for you, before making any changes. I went over every single medication I was taking, prescription and OTC, with my friend, my doctors, and pharmacists. Then, and only then, did I decide to modify my approach to pain meds.
The highlight was Sunday, when friends brought me to church. A harp piece my friend had composed was being performed for the first time, and they were having a reception to honor our intern minister at the end of her time with us. I spent my time in the social hall, with my operated leg iced and elevated. My friend's piece was wonderful (as if I had any doubt), and it was lovely to see people I hadn't seen for six weeks. Someone else from church was having a hip replacement operation today, and I brought her my 3-in-1 commode, reacher, elastic shoelaces, couple of boxes of baby wipes and a composition journal to use for a pain log. Earlier I'd given her the clothes aide, sock putter-oner, extra long shoehorn, sponge on a long handle, etc., from the "hip kit" I'd purchased.
A friend of mine who is a professor in a local university's chemistry department and has been the pre-med adviser came over and asked about my pain medication. We had a long talk about that and my other medications. She wasn't happy about the Percocet, since the narcotic in it is in the same family as heroin. I'm not happy about it because I'm eager to drive since I'm feeling so isolated and abandoned. Several of my friends are unable to visit because they're watching over elderly and ill relatives; others are off on vacation. Two don't drive at all, so I am always the one who visits. I'm getting really bored with TV reruns, and with the effect of the narcotic, I'm not able to concentrate on reading (or writing) the great American novel, catching up on my filing and paperwork, etc.
My friend explained that the narcotic in Percocet didn't do anything specifically to lessen the pain. Instead, it affected my brain's perception and ability to register the pain. (Forgive me if my non-scientific mind has muddled that explanation up a bit, I hope I got its essence right.) She said my current issue with pain was with pain from inflammation, something which could be better addressed by a different medication than the acetaminophen in the Percocet. I told her that I'd been trying to cut back on the Percocet by taking 500 mg of acetaminophen in the early afternoon instead of another Percocet, but that caused my stomach to have conniptions, even when the acetaminophen was coated. After trying that once or twice, I'd gone back to Percocet as the more comfortable of two evils.
She suggested that I try naproxen instead of acetaminophen. A dose of naproxen lasts longer than a dose of acetaminophen, is better at targeting inflammation, and wears off more slowly. She also suggested that I use ranitidine as an antacid. So I asked my friends to stop at a drug store on the way home, and am trying a different medication protocol: 1/2 Percocet, 1/2 Zofran, 1 Alleve, and 1 Zantac three times a day Plus ice, ice, ice. So far, fairly good. Not perfect, but I've changed a couple of other things, too, so it's a little harder to tell for sure what's responsible for what.
I'm at the 6 week mark, so I can stop taking the 350 mg coated aspirin in the morning (prescribed after the surgery to help prevent blood clots). *That* should make my tummy happier.
I also tried a few different physical therapy exercises tonight and there's some tightness and discomfort along the outside and bottom of the knee. Is that the infamous IT band I hear so much about?
A word of caution before I end this post: Please make sure you talk to your own physicians and pharmacists about what medications -- prescription and OTC -- are best for you, before making any changes. I went over every single medication I was taking, prescription and OTC, with my friend, my doctors, and pharmacists. Then, and only then, did I decide to modify my approach to pain meds.
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cairistiona60
senior
Sounds like a wonderful outing. It feels so good to get out of the house. I'm even beginning to enjoy my physio days because I get out. Pain meds are so different for everyone. I hope your new regimen works. I long to get off the narcotic meds so that I can concentrate again. My brain is turning to jelly
CATSMUM
post-grad
Yep, I'd say that you are experiencing the ITB band problem. Lots of us suffer from that. I take naproxen and omezrapole for my tummy, my GP said that ranitidine wasn't as good, however, if you're ok with that then take it.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time out.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time out.
OP
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SarahJane
supremo
Thanks for your comments and support! The first day with the new medication went well. In the evening, I did some exercises aiming at getting that 10 down to 0. Not many, and not forced. Then I wrapped an ice pack (in the fabric and velcro sleeve it came with) around my knee and went to sleep. This morning, though, I woke up with a very arthritic and grumpy feeling operated knee. You know how it can feel like there are some sand granules in there that make it a bit -- I'm trying to come up with a different word than arthritic but I'm coming up with a blank. So I took a full Percocet and Zofran in the morning. And I took a Alleve and a Zantac around 2 in the afternoon. I'll try half a Perc and half a Zofran when I go to sleep. And an Alleve and Zantac around 9.t
I have my next physical therapy appointment tomorrow. I agree with you, @cairistiona60, going to a PT appointment is *wonderful* after being stuck at home, almost as good as a day off from school. The friend who's driving me there has agreed to two small stores to pick up some stuff I need along the way. Definitely a school holiday.
@CATSMUM, so it *is* the ITB band, then? I hope the physical therapist has some words of wisdom, and maybe even something to do about it. I'm glad you have a good relationship with your GP. I'm not sure how much of a difference there is between omezrapole and ranitidine, and since I already have the latter, I'll keep on using it.
A friend came over with a loan of his daughter's skateboard to use for @Roy Gardiner's physical therapy exercises. I've tried it out, and am really happy with how it works. I am able to get a little more of a bend without forcing my leg. Let's hope I get some good numbers tomorrow.
I have my next physical therapy appointment tomorrow. I agree with you, @cairistiona60, going to a PT appointment is *wonderful* after being stuck at home, almost as good as a day off from school. The friend who's driving me there has agreed to two small stores to pick up some stuff I need along the way. Definitely a school holiday.
@CATSMUM, so it *is* the ITB band, then? I hope the physical therapist has some words of wisdom, and maybe even something to do about it. I'm glad you have a good relationship with your GP. I'm not sure how much of a difference there is between omezrapole and ranitidine, and since I already have the latter, I'll keep on using it.
A friend came over with a loan of his daughter's skateboard to use for @Roy Gardiner's physical therapy exercises. I've tried it out, and am really happy with how it works. I am able to get a little more of a bend without forcing my leg. Let's hope I get some good numbers tomorrow.
CATSMUM
post-grad
My Physio told me to massage the itb band with a tennis ball, it helped but was quite sore. Hopefully, your Physio will use a little bit of massage to loosen it up. Mine was quite painful last night but is a lot easier this morning.
OP
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SarahJane
supremo
Your friend may understand chemistry, but not post surgical pain from tkr. Don't let her get you thinking you're going to be a druggie.
That said, if it works for you to start going off the percocet, great. Many of us are easing off the narcotics at 6 weeks anyway. Usually we do it by extending the time between doses and/or going with a less strong narcotic.
I was off percocet after 3 weeks, but on hydrocodone twice a day at 6 weeks. Then just before bed for a few weeks, with tylenol (1,000 mg) in between.
And yes, good that you consulted with your doc.
That said, if it works for you to start going off the percocet, great. Many of us are easing off the narcotics at 6 weeks anyway. Usually we do it by extending the time between doses and/or going with a less strong narcotic.
I was off percocet after 3 weeks, but on hydrocodone twice a day at 6 weeks. Then just before bed for a few weeks, with tylenol (1,000 mg) in between.
And yes, good that you consulted with your doc.
OP
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SarahJane
supremo
Second outpatient physical therapy appointment yesterday. I liked the new therapist better. He's definitely a therapist, not a torturist. The really good news is that I was able to do five minutes backwards and two minutes forward on the recumbent exercise bicycle. Yay! The good news is that my extension is now 5. It been 10. The other good news is that my unforced flexion is 110. It had been 95 (I think). The other really good news is that the therapist did not try to force a bend. The physical torturist had achieved a forced flexion of 120.
Gotta admit I'm a bit worried and concerned about the slow rate of my progress. I *know* we're not supposed to compare ourselves with others, as everyone's recovery is different. But I can worry myself into a small funk by wondering whether I shouldn't have taken such a relaxed attitude about doing physical therapy. The therapist said that he thought, based on his experience, my extension would probably improve to about 1 or 2. I asked whether it'd cause problems if it didn't get back to 0. He said no, that it wouldn't cause a cascade of problems involving my hip, other knee, etc. We talked about the flexion. He said I'd be OK with a gradual slow improvement, as I wasn't an avid gardener who needed a really deep bend to the knee. All the same, I do want to work a little more to improve both the flexion and extension.
He thought that putting my foot on an ottoman and letting gravity work to produce a gradual stretch was all I really needed to do right now to work on the extension. I told him I'd just gotten a skateboard to help with the flexion. He said that was OK, but that I could also do extension exercises by sitting on the edge of a chair and using my non-operated foot to help induce a greater bend for heel slides.
Thoughts, suggestions, advice @skigirl? What about you, @Pumpkln, or you, @Jamie? Who else has useful insight, @kneeper? Am I doing an adequate job of not having run-on tags of people so folks using cellphones won't have issues. @Celle?
Gotta admit I'm a bit worried and concerned about the slow rate of my progress. I *know* we're not supposed to compare ourselves with others, as everyone's recovery is different. But I can worry myself into a small funk by wondering whether I shouldn't have taken such a relaxed attitude about doing physical therapy. The therapist said that he thought, based on his experience, my extension would probably improve to about 1 or 2. I asked whether it'd cause problems if it didn't get back to 0. He said no, that it wouldn't cause a cascade of problems involving my hip, other knee, etc. We talked about the flexion. He said I'd be OK with a gradual slow improvement, as I wasn't an avid gardener who needed a really deep bend to the knee. All the same, I do want to work a little more to improve both the flexion and extension.
He thought that putting my foot on an ottoman and letting gravity work to produce a gradual stretch was all I really needed to do right now to work on the extension. I told him I'd just gotten a skateboard to help with the flexion. He said that was OK, but that I could also do extension exercises by sitting on the edge of a chair and using my non-operated foot to help induce a greater bend for heel slides.
Thoughts, suggestions, advice @skigirl? What about you, @Pumpkln, or you, @Jamie? Who else has useful insight, @kneeper? Am I doing an adequate job of not having run-on tags of people so folks using cellphones won't have issues. @Celle?
I see that your surgery was on July 14th (if that's correct, can you please update your signature?). That's roughly 6 weeks out. You ARE well within the normal ranges for your flex and extension. Please, please don't let yourself think you need to meet some arbitrary schedule for improvement. Slow and steady is best. Your current experience proves that you are making steady progress. Focus on that good news and banish those "gee, I need to be (fill in the blank) by now."
And, thank you....your tags in the previous post are just fine!!! Good job!
And, thank you....your tags in the previous post are just fine!!! Good job!
OP
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SarahJane
supremo
Thank you, @Jamie. I needed someone to talk me down from the edge of worry and self-criticism. I guess I'm in the Gee-I've-Been-A-Good-Little-Patient-And-Been-Patient-For-Weeks-And-Weeks-Now-Can-I-Get-Back-To-My-Normal-Life-Already stage of recovery. You provided me with a very welcome reality check. I know, intellectually, that it's recovery over time. But I'm ready for it to be time, already.
I totally forgot about the signature which I'd set up pre-surgery. All done and fixed now.
I totally forgot about the signature which I'd set up pre-surgery. All done and fixed now.
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