So in to week 6 and feeling like a sloth of healing!!
Had my follow up on June 6 and my Dr said I was on track ... see you in 4 months. So I guess I'm good.
Still have quite a bit of bruising and swelling at 2 spots directly on my knee cap. Which makes sense now that I've had the follow up because the Dr explained the pulling of the skin and the cutting but seems a bit excessive to me now that I am 5 weeks out.
My Dr used dissolving stitches and I found out at the post op I have a second cut and set of stitches on the inside part of my knee! Well that explains a lot about what has been going on there. Those stitches do not dissolve until around 8 weeks.... wish I had known this right after the surgery. X-rays were interesting and found out I have part of my own knee cap left. This made me ridiculously happy for some reason and I then discovered that I hold feelings of anger about having gotten the knee replacement done... or having to have had it done which I will have to process.
Very frustrated at what I see as my lack of progress but in reality it gets a bit stronger every day. There has as of yet been no corner turning for me, just slow steady progress.
Got a prescription for physical therapy and have found a place that sounds like it will be a good fit for me. I am electing to do PT because I don't have a lot of time off from work left and the leg is obviously quite weak. I feel that from information I have from Bonesmart I will be very in control of the process.
Love my surgeon, he has a very slow steady approach to healing, no pushing. Was at 105 flexion cold at the Dr visit. I'd like to get to 135 to 150 - but the Dr says not over 115 --- ??? too much wear on the new joint over time.
Also added back in some Tramadol at night to help sleep was just using Tylenol and Advil every day when I went back along with Gabapentin at night. He suggested more Tramadol for daily pain management which would help at night and guess what... he was right.
So OK a bit of Tramadol still and now using Celebrex instead of Advil, as he says it will be better with the PT. We shall see. My scar is looking good at the lower part but on the upper part it's been very red and irritated. Not sure how to make it happy. Vitamin E oil has helped a lot in the lower area as well as massage but wondering if that is also irritating the top part? Any suggestions?
Also going to look at ideas on leg propping/icing when seated. The back of my leg starts to hurt in this position... too straight??