PKR Taking it steady

[patriciad]

Good for you. A treat is exactly what you need right now and sounds very positive for you. Hopefully your doctor will be able to review your “ big picture” medically and answer all your questions. I need to take a list of questions whenever I see a doctor as otherwise I forget the ones I really wanted the answers for ! Here we are back to solo unaccompanied medical visits so down to yours truly only! Glad you are feeling more positive today. Sending a healing hug.

 

[Carol Anna]

@patriciad Thank you for your wonderful support - will indeed write a list to make sure I don't miss anything

 

[Pumpkin]

Glad to hear from your PE, and your knee is feeling better from the rest. Hope you find some answers in your appointment with your doctor.

 

[Carol Anna]

I was put forward for clinical support after using A & E and the lady who called me was wonderful. We talked about all my illnesses not just the PE it was great to off load, understand why the PE might have happened and get some answers to the many questions I have about the way forward. She did of course say that I should ask my consultant to confirm the information we shared about recovery from the PE but it felt great to have some support. This is apparantly a new service being trialed in the areas that I live in the uk. It is to help people to approach their illness in the right way and you can be referred for other support if necessary. She suggested I look at something called Pacing which teaches you how to work round any current health problems by planning our week out including rest as well as excercise etc. Its kinda what I have been doing but it was good to put a name to it and I am going to apply a more structured approach for the next few weeks. It will hopefully stop me from revisiting the ODIC and help me to recover from the PE but also from the knee op and manage the chronic migraine. I get to talk to her again in two weeks and I am already looking forward to it. It is so good to be able to ask questions and get some answers and if they don't have the answers they will go away and find them or refer you to where you can get the answers. They accept that a 10 minute appointment with a GP is just not enough but I am told they will help you to maximise on that 10 minutes by helping you to focus on what you need. They also prepare you for consulatants appointments so that you get the best from the appointment.
Today I am going to a biginners class for yoga followed by a yoga relaxation class. All approved by my consultant - apparantly yoga will help with recovery. Tomorrow I get to go to the lovely wine shop we found just before my knee op to choose some special wines for the weekend and we will also have lunch out. The sun is shining today and life is looking good.

 

[Sara61]

I'm so happy and relieved for you @Carol Anna what a fabulous service, its so wonderful to have such a supportive team behind you, you sound so positive, this will help you enormously in your recovery from all your problems.
Go girl, yoga wow...I tried it once, prior to any of my surgeries, definitely not my thing, I couldn't get into half the poses and getting off the ground was not elegant at all, now with two replacements, I doubt I would even try, .. it's going to be a trial and error getting off the sand on the beach this Summer ...

 

[Carol Anna]

Hi @Sara61 - the lady who called me yesterday who was lovely was Portugese! I guess that's why she was so lovely
Just got back from yoga and it was a very gentle session the teacher who has just moved back to the area tailored the session to accomodate my current limitations. She is just starting up again after moving back to Scarborough from Wales. Classes are still small and she does not intend to make them too big and she does not do power yoga. I don't know if I will ever be able to stand on one leg in the prayer position but I will give it a good go! I have had a dabble before and never really liked it but I know I need to do some excercise and this is like a relaxation class rather than sweaty breathless excercise and I am hoping I can stick with it as today was really good and I think if you like the teacher you are halfway there! Knee is not protesting so that's also a good sign.

I must admit I have wondered about even walking on the sand on the beach but as it will be while before it is warm enough here for me to venture onto the sand I am hoping I will be ok - its so nice to have a paddle and stroll along the beach.

 

[Carol Anna]

Ok I need to know from any of you who do yoga. I had my first yoga beginners session yesterday and the wondeful teacher tailored it to my limitations. I want to know from other what I can expect from my new partial knee in terms of flexiblity. Will I be able to sit cross legged with both knees or is this something I should avoid? Will I be able to kneel - I can't remember the last time I knelt so I am not sure if my reluctance is psycological or warranted. Should I avoid any movement that twists or moves my knee sideways or will this be ok when I am recovered? I know I am only 13 weeks out and I can't expect to do everything but just wondered how far I might be able to go.

 

[Jaycey]

@Carol Anna Unfortunately there is no predicting whether you can sit cross legged or kneel. And only your knee can tell you if you twist wrong. It's all a bit of trial and error.

Certainly at only 13 weeks out your knee isn't ready for any of this. But with a bit of time and patience you'll get there.

Glad you enjoyed your yoga class!

 

[hawk2go]

Just got back from yoga and it was a very gentle session the teacher who has just moved back to the area tailored the session to accommodate my current limitations.

This is great. Any instructor worth their salt will help you tailor the poses to your capabilities. My instructor always reminded us "if your body permits". What is certain is as you continue to practice, your body will permit more. Even gentle yoga, maybe especially gentle yoga, has great impacts to muscle tone and flexibility.

As to the yoga questions: I have been able to sit cross legged and in bound angle pose for a couple months. Kneeling still doesn't feel so good on either knee, not necessarily pain but unnatural. I find that a quick twist is much worse than a slow twist. Your mileage may vary but always stay in your lane - lol. Sorry got carried away with the driving analogies. As always, listen to your body.

 

[Carol Anna]

Just got back from yoga and it was a very gentle session the teacher who has just moved back to the area tailored the session to accommodate my current limitations.

This is great. Any instructor worth their salt will help you tailor the poses to your capabilities. My instructor always reminded us "if your body permits". What is certain is as you continue to practice, your body will permit more. Even gentle yoga, maybe especially gentle yoga, has great impacts to muscle tone and flexibility.

As to the yoga questions: I have been able to sit cross legged and in bound angle pose for a couple months. Kneeling still doesn't feel so good on either knee, not necessarily pain but unnatural. I find that a quick twist is much worse than a slow twist. Your mileage may vary but always stay in your lane - lol. Sorry got carried away with the driving analogies. As always, listen to your body.

Great advice @hawk2go. As long as I know that I might be able to do this I won't worry that I will cause damage. I will just be guided by what my knee wants to do. I have always found sitting crossed legged or in what, thanks to you, I now know is called the bound angle pose very comfortable and hoped that I might get there again. I have never done yoga but a lot of the poses have been something that I naturally did prior to my knee problem. I will stay in my lane and put the brake on when necessary

 

[Carol Anna]

Didn't listen to my own promise to put the brakes on. The trouble is that when I feel ok I don't always stop to think about what I am doing and I am now on the ODIC bench. I walked to chemist on Wednesday up a hill and back down with only a cane and hubby's hand for balance, it was about a mile in total. I was please I had done it but my knee knew but appeared to recover quickly and there was no swelling.

Then on Thursday I went to yoga, did one hour beginners followed by one hour relaxation. Now I did this last week no problem but this week I got a bit cocky and tried to push it and I knew that I was on my feet stood in one place for far too long but didn't say anything till it went beyond far too long. Result is that both knees let me know and I am now having to rest.

I am really quite cross with myself as I was enjoying doing everyday things in the kitchen without having to think about my knee and now I am struggling. Rested yesterday apart from cycle for 5 minutes and a trip in the car to the fishmongers on the harbour where I only had to walk 10 yards and today I will cycle for 7 minutes and apart from daily activity I will rest. I also had neck ache which when added to the knee problem it made me quite miserable.

You would think that the knee and recovery from the recent PE would make me think more about what I am doing but of course we are superhuman and can do anything ......can't we??? Back out tomorrow to church - lets hope I am let out of ODIC and find it as easy as I did last week.

 

[Jaycey]

@Carol Anna Sorry you joined the ODIC! Yes, it is easy to try and push ahead when you are feeling better. But that knee is in charge now. Hope you are resting today so that your journey tomorrow will be enjoyable.

 

[sistersinhim]

Don't beat yourself up, @Carol Anna, we've all been there. You've learned from your mistake. That's what counts!

 

[Catalien45]

I guess it’s timely that I am reading your post, @Carol Anna. I’m at that point that I feel like I can tackle So much.... and then keep tackling more than I should! Even though my husband keeps gently cautioning me, “ you’re going to find yourself in the ODIC corner if you’re not careful.” It’s not that my knee hurts so much, but I keep getting back aches. There are far worse things, for sure, but, very unpleasant, and, they do slow me down... I’m like you, I really am enjoying doing normal things, especially cooking. So it is easy to push yourself too hard....isn’t it amazing how creative we can be in that area, & then realize too late! Your yoga class sounds great! Enjoy! And take care of yourself.
Well, once again, I started this yesterday, & am just now finishing it. I’ve been cleaning out & organizing a small cabinet where I keep spices, bouillon, that sort of thing. It turned out to be a rather major job, & I’m now Bushed! But glad to get it done, I couldn’t find anything! Now to rest. I hope you’ve had a good day, & rested some. Do take care....

 

[Carol Anna]

I had a good time at church and I must have recovered from overdoing it on Thursday as knee was good. I know what you mean about other problems I have had neck ache for a few days and my right hip and thigh keeps going numb and gets worse when I sleep on that side which is annoying as I had only just started to be able to sleep on my side.. Emailed GP last thursday for appointment detailing problem to be told that this is considered ok for a routine appointment which will be in 2 - 3 weeks!! Oh well its a good job I have private healthcare that includes a 24/7 GP service. I do not consider it urgent but 2 - 3 weeks is just ridiculous. I also want to check that I am ok to take some supplements like magnesium and vitamin B12 whilst on the anticoagulants because now that they have taken me off HRT I need to find something that helps.
We are clearing out our garage today in readyness for having it removed and replaced with a garden room - need to get rid of more stuff. I have mapped out some time for this and will not be actually doing the clearing I will be deciding with hubby what needs to go, but I will be up and about so I think I need to limit time - let's see if I take any notice of myself Its like your small spice cupboard, I think its a small job but I bet its bigger than I think. Hope you have a good week and your backache goes away.

 

[Catalien45]

Hi, @Carol Anna ! Tuesday morning here, and I’m having my first cup of coffee . Yesterday was busy... I grocery shopped totally on my own, even driving myself there, for the first time... what a wonderful feeling! (Since it was icy last week when I made my first shopping trip, my husband drove me & picked me up.). Thankfully, the ice is going away, so we were even able to walk. I was so happy to see that you had a good recovery from your ODIC experience! I had that same experience- yesterday morning my upper back was fine, and the rest of the day. I always have stiffness & pain in my lower back when I first get up, but that’s from osteoarthritis that is there, and probably from being 77 . But it generally goes away once I’m up & moving.
Your garage project sounds exciting! We’re looking forward to some backyard projects when the days are warm again, especially in our backyard. It sounds like you have a good plan, you sitting & participating that way while your husband does the hard stuff. Saturday, I had wanted to hang a small quilt that my great-niece in Texas had made, & insisted that my sister sent to me.... “ it has lots of teddy bears, Aunt Charlie Loves teddy bears! “. ( I do). Anyway, a “ simple project “. It wound up requiring moving our hutch, the top having to be lifted off ( my husband did this)... and, of course, everything removed & cleaned. Much-needed dusting. It took us much of the day to get it all done.... but, looks Wonderful, & really lifted our spirits, a lot of memories there, as the hutch was my Mother in law, a very dear, sweet lady.and lots of little things that I keep there.
Well, here it is, evening, & I’m finally finishing this post! I broke to get our breakfast going, then finished up my grocery shopping at a different store. They had moved a lot of things, so I spent a lot of time getting re-aquatinted with the store! Still, it feels good to get out some. We are still being super careful, there is still a lot of Covid here, & we just don’t want to risk it until things settle down a little more.
I missed a few days reading posts, & had some how missed yours re: the service that you have with the lady helping you to coordinate & advise your care team ( for lack of a better term). That sounds so very helpful! I’ve often thought that it would be nice if Drs had a nutritionist on their staff. There are always questions with medications... interactions, timing, etc. but the idea particularly in aftercare for replacements, ( and especially when you have a “surprise... like your embolism, Or an infection or hardware problem)... or really, any surgery, of having someone to help you as to direction, questions, etc, to maximize any appointments, just seems to make So much sense! Maybe someday, we’ll have something like that here. I’m glad you have this in your situation, I know it must have been unsettling, to say the least. So I’m so glad you are doing well and have that service.
Well, I should go & get us a little supper going. But I wanted to finish this post....and actually Send it! have a lovely evening, and keep us posted on your project.. it sounds exciting!

 

[Carol Anna]

@Catalien45 great to hear that you did a solo trip for shopping and in the car!!! Its great to just do normal things. I have unfortunately been slowed down by the PE as I have had to accept that I get tired easily and a bit short of breath and chest discomfort but of course I try to rise above it and carry on. I did have a little trip to Aldi yesterday with hubby and I now know that I am the guilty party when it comes to the spend on shopping. We appear to have saved a small fortune while hubby has been shopping. The trick is he sticks to the shopping list whereas I see things and can't resist Another garageclearing hour today but I am leaving it to hubby whilst I write the intercessionary prayer for next Sunday's service this morning and this afternoon my call with the clinical support lady. This service is being trialed in my area and I do hope that they find it beneficial and don't stop it due to funding. I am waiting for a call from my GP to ask about the numbness that appeared in my right hip and thigh and at times a little on the right side of my face and as the text response told me this could take 2 - 3 weeks I can now fortunately discuss with my clinical supporter to put my mind at rest. I also want to ask her about taking supplements at same time as anticoagulants. I should also have an appointment with the specialist as a follow about my recovery from the PE. All in all I think I am being very well care for. I think we might have access to nutrionists which I might take advantage of sometime. Hubby has been great and yesterday cooked an amazing Polish meat loaf under minimum of instruction using my recipe, which tends to change each time I make it. He is now making my breakfast which I still have in bed! Lunches are down to me. I love the sound of your hutch and the quilt gift from your great neice!!! Hope you have a lovely day today - the sun is shining here but its still cold.

A question for all my bonesmart friends - my knee is not visibly swollen and I only have pain when I twist too far or poke which of course I avoid but my knee sometimes still feels a little hot and looks red. It does not take much to cool it down, just exposing it to the air some times and I have stopped icing, but I want to know if this is normal almost 4 months after op or should I be concerned? Having had the PE has made me a bit paranoid about all things health connected.

 

[Sara61]

@Carol Anna - When it is cooled down is it still red ?
Being warm to touch is the normal process of healing but redness rings alarm bells, I would personally get this checked as you do not need an infection on your knee.

 

[Carol Anna]

@Carol Anna - When it is cooled down is it still red ?
Being warm to touch is the normal process of healing but redness rings alarm bells, I would personally get this checked as you do not need an infection on your knee.

When it cools down it is not red . I did think that heat was part of the healing process so maybe I am overreacting. I might mention it to my PE specialist as they usually know about this sort of thing.

 

[Catalien45]

Hi again@Carol Anna..... your meat loaf sounds delicious! Our daughter & her husband got us several months of Blue Apron, when nothing appealed to me . We’ve had some really interesting meals, all of them Really good, & things I would not have thought of. ( I learned most of our favorite recipes from my Mom & Mother in law, both very wonderful cooks & from Texas... and, my grandmother, from Louisiana.... lots of good southern cooking). Interestingly enough, one of our meals coming tomorrow is a pork meatloaf, with Calabrian chilies! We’re excited to try that one, meatloaf being a real favorite here, and, like you, it isn’t always the same. I’m impressed that your husband is making it! I’m doing more & more cooking now, & enjoying it! But, my husband Still make the Best old fashioned oatmeal & an 8-grain that we both love, so, one or two times a week, he makes that.. Btw, when I was reading some of your post to him last night, he commented, “ he sounds like a really nice guy!”

You talked about your knee being warm to the touch... that’s something I’ve noticed too. I’m a little like you, since my infection, anything that seems a little “ different “, or suspicious, I can find myself a little anxious. My husband pointed out that the warm knee probably means that there is still healing going on, which makes sense. I’ll be interested to see what others have said in response to your question on that. We have a little gadget he got several years ago, when we had A/C installed in our home. We were having some challenges in the upstairs, particularly, a skylight & the attic fan ( which we no longer use). The gadget will register the temperature of the area you point it to. It helped immensely in locating problem spots. So he dug it out the other night, & we checked both knees.... my right ( TKR) knee showed 5 degrees warmer than my left knee!. But, no pain or redness, it is progressing well, I’m doing well, so, we figure it is just still healing. I still have a ways to go as to ROM and extension, but, it will come. I’m seeing my surgeon on the 18th of this month, so we’ll be interested in what he says.

Btw, you mentioned how you spend more on shopping. Regarding shopping, we find the same.... I love to browse, look at things, compare, etc. my husband takes the list & it’s a Mission: go, complete the list, check out, leave. Very efficient. He sums it up this way: “ women SHOP. Men GO GET”.

OK, I will wrap this up...as you can see, I began it yesterday, just finishing it this morning. Do have a lovely day, take care of yourself, rest, and continue healing.