TKR Second TKR Done, but still not very patient

[NetballKnees]

Hi Fellow Bonesmarties ... I have to confess I am lost. I do not know where to go or where to turn. I have been following the mantra - resting, elevating, icing, icing, icing - and doing not much at all. Actually if I was to do any less they would be feeling my pulse every five minutes to make sure I till had one.

My little bit of ROM decreased last week and has not recovered since. I read some posts on here and took a kneecation except for basic heel slides, leg raises, muscle flexing and pushing the skateboard back and forth - knee didn't like that - became very stiff. So I thought if it didn't like that, I would use it more. So, went to the shop each day and walked around (ex husband drove me), did more work around the house etc etc. Didn't like that either. Elastic band got really tight and knee became almost impossible to bend. I repeat .

Don't get me wrong - there have been some signs of positivity. My son and his fiance took me to a large shopping centre yesterday. I went in a wheelchair and Matthew pushed me. The positive was that it was the longest time (over 3 hours) that I had kept my leg down without severe pain. Came home and iced and iced and elevated.

I so dearly want my independence back and be able to drive myself, but I am as far away from driving as I was when I left hospital. I repeat

I will be 9 weeks post-op this week and I cannot continue to just lie around the place like the lady of the manor. I can't. I am bored with TV, bored with movies, bored with reading, even bored with doing my cryptic crosswords and I love doing them.

My legs are worse in bed now than they have ever been and it is so painful to roll over and change sides. I might add that I could sleep on my side from about the 3rd night in hospital, now I can't. Once again

I am trying hard to think on the positives, like yesterday and having my leg down without a lot of pain, but being 9 weeks nearly post-op and a ROM of 70degrees at best, is just doing my head in.

I hope all other Bonesmarties are finding their journeys somewhat less frustrating and have a lovely week ahead of them.

Take Care All ...
Ellen :xmas-kitty:

 

[Josephine]

Ellen, I noticed that not once in that post did you mention taking your pain meds ..... ?

 

[NetballKnees]

Ummm ... because I don't Josephine except for Panadol Osteo (paracetemol 665mg) when I get up and when I go to bed. I will also have a dose during the day when the "tightness" is really bad. Can only take it 3 times per day. I am hampered by the MCL injury to the non-surgical leg, which is extremely painful and has really limited movement as well e.g it doesn't bend easily and is difficult to lift. I am just being a big sook I think, but am so frustrated.

 

[Josephine]

Do you not understand that the 'tightness' is actually pain and needs to be medicated? And that what you are taking is woefully inadequate? You are only 9 weeks out and should be on prescription pain meds for a few more weeks yet. Paracetamol just isn't enough.

And this also explains the reason why your ROM is so low - because your knee is hampered by pain and swelling - what you are calling "the tightness". Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it? You're nevergoing to get anywhere until you get some better pain relief.

 

[patient 99]

The old rubber band feeling around the leg today feels like someone put a stick in the band and twisted it (like a tourniquet)

@rah2435 more proof of how common the tight band is. Carol

Ellen, rah2435 and I have been discussing the value of an elasticated support around the knee to help ease the tight band feeling. How about you? do you wear anything round the knee. My support is an elasticated tube that sits just above the knee and extends to just below it. I don't wear it all the time, as I don't want to become dependent on it, but when the tight band becomes a tourniquet I put it on and it really does help. Carol

 

[NetballKnees]

Hi Carol .. thanks for the suggestion. Because of the size of my legs, and therefore knees and including extra swelling, I have had difficulty in getting one of those elasticised supports, but will keep looking. Something to help alleviate the tightness would be a big help.

I would also like to wish all Bonesmarties a very happy Christmas and a terrific, happy, healthy and safe 2014. I have appreciated all the input from others to my thread and it really helps to get rid of the "I'm all on my own in this" feeling. Thanks for much.

Hugs ... Ellen
:mer xm:

 

[pakline]

My dear sweet Ellen....I am really sorry you have so much discomfort! I have had a lovely, busy, Christmas & my knee is giving me curry tonight. Like you, my legs are swollen & are big (mine from the lymphedema as well as surgical) so I'm back on the wheelie walker for a few days in the hope of giving the knee a rest. Also icing & elevating. I understand your frustration & I pray the New Year will bring ability & comfort for both of us. With love, Kerry

 

[NetballKnees]

@pakline Thank for your lovely post Kerry. I am so glad you had a nice Christmas, but sorry you have had to pay a price for it. Very wise of you to use the wheelie walker again. It doesn't hurt to go back to it when you need that bit of extra support. I hope it hasn't been too hot for you over Christmas. My house is air conditioned and I do have a pool, but the sad part is that I can't get in it. There are no steps or "walk in" areas and the initial step down to a little shallow area where littlies can go is too deep a step for me to take at the moment. I could always throw myself in backwards I guess, but then I wouldn't be able to get out!!!!!! It looks so nice too sparkling through the lounge room window.

I went out to a really good friend's place tonight, picked up by another really good friend. We do this every year, usually on Boxing Day, but circumstances meant that this year it was the day after Boxing Day. We have a few drinks, chat, laugh a lot and sometimes drink a lot. Anyway, I was sitting on a bench chair with my leg up on a bench opposite and needed to get up and stretch. One of the guys tried to help me up and I don't know what happened, but I ended stumbling and my surgical leg bent right back. Oh, the pain that shot through me I have never felt pain like that. Thank heavens it was not long-lived. "Well", I said "Thanks Wayne, I think you have just accomplished a 90degree bend in my knee". Unfortunately, now that I am home the bend is still the same - about 75degrees. I have 4 weeks to go until I see the OS again at the end of January and if there is no further improvement, I have a funny feeling that manipulation will come up. I have even toyed with the idea of actually asking for one because something has to give some time and with a bend of only 75, there is not a lot of stuff that I can do and I am FRUSTRATED.

Anyway, enough about me. I hope your trip back to the wheelie walker is short-lived Kerry and that the lymphedema and the knee start to improve quicker than previously and the New Year sees you starting to move around more normally and being much more comfortable.

 

[patient 99]

"I'm all on my own in this" feeling.

Hi NBK, thinking you are all on your own in this is horrible. So too is thinking everybody is doing better than me. Something we all think at some stage or another. It must be particularly hard for you given the title of your thread, and the fact that you have a sporty background. The sad thing is that whether you are a patient type or not, the knee rules and the rest of us (including thoughts and feelings)just have to fall into line.

I am hoping that one day I will be able to come onto BS and say despite the long journey I have arrived. The knee is great and I am so so pleased I had the op. One day.................... My one little bit of advice is trying thinking in terms of a year for recovery - it helps stop the impatience. Carol

 

[Josephine]

@NetballKnees since your legs are still grossly swollen, an MUA will not be beneficial as you know from this article Swollen and stiff knee. And the trip will have made things worse because such an accident will cause more swelling. At risk of sounding like the proverbial cracked record (does anyone even remember those things any more?!) you're only 10 weeks out and it's not all that uncommon for there to still be excessive swelling for no apparent reason. I truly hope the new year will bring improvements for you.

 

[leejaa]

Sending you wishes for the new year that this knee starts behaving and bends. :xmas-win::reindeer:

 

[NetballKnees]

It is New Year's Eve here in Queensland - about 50 minutes to go before 2014 arrives (in the Daylight Saving states it is already 2014). I am watching a re-run of The Poseidon Adventure, on my own. I wish all other Bonesmarties a wonderful, safe, healthy and happy 2014. May those of us who are having trouble with our new knees (bend, pain etc.) find that the New Year brings in relief and recovery. I would like to thank those of you who have visited my thread and helped me with support, encouragement and wise words. I am very, very appreciative.

I must admit it is lonely bringing in the New Year by yourself and it is a feeling I hope will not be around next December 31.

All the very, very best to everyone.
Ellen

 

[jeano]

happy new year Ellen and best wishes for your recovery. Keep icing and medicating. I overdid a bit yesterday due to holiday visit from in laws and a 12 year old niece who wanted to go for a ride--so I was taking up two horses, riding, and then organizing a meal for 6 people--since my nest is in the bedroom and my guests were here I didnt have much off-my-feet time. Today will be less activity, that's for sure,

 

[NetballKnees]

Okay, now that it is nearly 2014 and I am nearly 11 weeks post-op, I thought I would have a look at results, positive and negative, of having my knee replacement.

Before the knee replacement on 17 October 2013, I had two knees in very bad shape and which limited my activities, especially exercise wise. I did NOT have constant pain as have so many others, but when my knee locked (for want of a better word) and I couldn't move it, then the pain was severe. I could not run (which I hate anyway), I couldn't do the classes at the gym which I love e.g Swissball, Body Combat, Zumba, but I could ride an exercise bike for a long time and took part in Cycle Express classes, RPM classes and could stand and do boxing classes (my favourite). I could also row and do weight training doing upper body weights only. I also walked my two dogs every RDO, Saturday and Sunday for at least 90minutes, sometimes well over 2 hours, in the local reserve and they swam and ran and we all had a great time. (Ex-hubby walked them during the week when I was working).

I had been 'bone-on-bone' for about 6 years and for the last 2 years, the OS was just waiting for me to decide enough was enough. After a particularly severe "locking" episode in the left knee at work (which played up more than the right), when I couldn't lift my leg, bend it or walk, which took nearly 2 hours to resolve, I decided enough was enough and went back to the OS. Surgery scheduled for 17 October. At that time it was 10 weeks away. I kept going to the gym and started doing pre-op exercises. I had previously lost about 18kg (approx. 40lb). The OS was concerned about my weight, but happy with the weight loss and content to do the operation. Although concerned about my weight, he never mentioned that the fact that my legs were so big naturally with fat (I carry all my weight from the hips down) and also swollen from the OA, may mean I would have a harder time with recovery, which, at 11weeks out, I now firmly believe.

So, before LTKR - could go to gym, use exercise bikes, exercise rower, do boxing classes and upper body weight training. After LTKR - 11 weeks out - can't get to gym (cannot yet drive), can't ride a bike (can barely make a half circle), no way I could use a rower, no way I could do a boxing class. Could probably do upper body weight training, but as mentioned before, can't get to gym.

Before LTKR could walk dogs for up to, and sometimes over, 2 hours. After LTKR cannot be on my feet more than 15minutes at most before swelling and tightness force me to sit.

Before LTKR was really working on my positivity, with great results according to friends and loved ones. After LTKR am really struggling with this, but am still trying.

On the plus side, before LTKR was aware of pain in my knees constantly. After LTKR do not have any pain in surgical knee and only feel swollen and tight (which I am told is pain anyway, so is that really a gain?)

Within a fortnight of coming home from hospital, the right knee was tired of becoming the "go to" knee and I suffered a medial collateral ligament strain (now considered a tear as it has not improved and is a constant, burning pain). I do not think this would have happened if I was still "sharing" the load so to speak, but then again it may have.

But what has concerned me the most is that I had planned to go up to the Noosa River Caravan Park from 4 - 10 Jan. Noosa is a beautiful spot on the Sunshine Coast. Very crowded at Christmas/New Year, but the beach is amazing and the caravan park is right on the Noosa River with a lovely park where you can walk straight into the river from a lovely sandy beach. It is very relaxing and beautiful. I don't think I can go, because, believe it or not, I am scared. Scared to be in a different environment - away from the recliner, away from the pillow stack (it would come with me), scared to be sleeping in a different bed - just plain scared. This is an effect that I did not anticipate at all.

So, here we are, just on 11 weeks out, unable to walk for any length of time or distance; unable to stand for any length of time; in no pain (although people keep telling me that the swelling and tightness IS pain, so I guess that is not really a positive after all); unable to drive; with a bend of only 75degrees at most; unable to get up and down off a toilet seat without using the cistern for leverage; I can stand in the shower now, but they have to be short; unable to walk my dogs; unable to play with my grandson; unable to stand for long enough to water the darn garden even. BUT inside my left knee, it is all bright and shiny, apparently.

 

[NetballKnees]

Thanks for the visit Jean. Rest up after your big day. Make sure you spend a lot of time in your nest and give the knee a bit of a break.

All the best to you and yours ... xoxo

 

[judgar]

one day your going to wake up and you can do new things. once I hit 12 weeks it seems like things have gotten a lot better.I still get the tight feeling once in awhile but not as much and I can walk a lot longer.

 

[Jozilla]

Ellen - I am sending you cyber hugs. You really have had such a difficult time. I certainly hope in this new year you find some relief. I understand totally about fear as I have had panic and anxiety attacks. I had one when I took my first shower after TKR. Could not figure out how to get out of the shower. Nothing seems reasonable but your fears are real. Good thing is they do get better. Remember we are here for you and care. - JoAnne

 

[patient 99]

Hi NBK I thought your post was so well considered. There is obviously nothing wrong with your head, but your impatience shows through your messages. What also comes through in your post is that you are hard on yourself. You are surprised at yourself for feeling scared. It strikes me as the most natural thing ever given what you are going through.

Even if the scales currently come down in favour of your pre surgery situation, remember you couldn't have maintained that. Your knee would have continued to deteriorate. I am starting to come to the conclusion that the worse our knees are prior to the op, the happier we are after the op. I functioned pretty well pre op. So post op the benefits don't seem that great - similar to you.

So, NBK, Auntie Carol wants to know what you are going to do to control your impatience and be less hard on yourself?

 

[NetballKnees]

Thanks so much for your visits judgar, JoAnne and Carol. It is much appreciated. It turns out that my post was a day or too early because something happened yesterday - I drove!!!!!! I tried a couple of weeks ago and could barely get in the car and pushing the clutch in was out of the question. I have been on my own since Boxing Day and my son had dropped in and taken me to the shops for various staples. I decided I would have nachos for dinner and bought the ingredients. When we got home and Matthew had left, I realised I had forgotten the corn chips. And you can't have nachos without corn chips, so I got in the car and tried again. Just down to the local shops, but I did it and with not much trouble at all. At the moment I wouldn't like to drive much further than locally, or in heavy traffic, but at least now I know that if I really need something, I can drive around the area. AND it is a sign of progress. Snuck up on me that one did. I'm not walking any better and the swelling doesn't appear to have gone down and the tightness is still there, but something is improving somewhere.

Fate is laughing at me now. But all it will take is another little step backward for me to be frustrated again.

Carol, you have read me so well. I am extremely hard on myself - always have been. I expect so much more of myself than I would ever do of anyone else. Maybe it is the oldest child syndrome?????? Even pre-op, at the gym, I always expected me to produce efforts equal to younger, fitter and totally healthy members. The first thing I am going to do is conquer my "scaredness" and go up to the caravan park on the river for a few days. Just chill out, sit in the park and walk (for walk, read stagger) into the river for cleansing dunkings and try to work out how to simply appreciate all the little gains I have made instead of the things I cannot yet do. TRY being the operative word.

JoAnne, I can certainly understand a panic attack about having a shower. I had a big one just before the op and having a shower at the hospital was okay, but the first one at home I just stood at the door leaning inside on the shower chair and trying to work out which foot needed to go in first and terrified I would lead with the wrong foot. And you're right - that did get better and I now shower standing up, so another bit of progress.

Thanks Judgar for the little bit of light at the end of the tunnel after 12 weeks.

Thanks again everyone. Hope 2014 has started well for you all.

Ellen ...

 

[Jozilla]

Yes!!! Wonderful progress.