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The Bumpy Road To Recovery Part Deux

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northman22

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Hi Guys,

I need to whine/vent a bit today. Tried to talk to wife at work (too busy) etc.
It makes me feel better knowing you guys are here and have the sense of understanding that only comes with experience.

Last Thursday I hit 100 ROM in both knees. 108/100. YEA! Friday I went off of DAYPRO (anti-inflam). My PT said we'll see how it goes. Monday I'm at 104/96. She said in light of not taking DAYPRO, not bad. I am taking 800mg Ibuprofen 3 times a day. So Tuesday 106/98.....Wednesday I went out with one of my co-workers (secretly) for about 3 hours to see how it would go. We had to pick up a 250 gallon propane tank. I live in Homer Alaska and the weather this week is rainy and windy and mid 30's at night and mid 40's during the day. Well the tank was about 100 feet from the drive in the woods and it was muddy and slick. Just getting in and out of the truck was a struggle and walking in the mud on uneven ground was difficult. I insisted on carrying the tool bag so I could see how I did. I ended up driving the truck and pulling the tank while my buddy wrestled it around trees and such. We got it close and got the boom on it and job done.

I know I am not able to wrestle the tank yet. It probably had 200lbs of propane in it and the tank weighs a couple of hundred too. When I got home I was exhausted, and my knees were stiff and slightly swollen. My boss needs me back at work, but when I suggested he let me use the delivery truck with the automatic transmission, instead of the 6 speed manual I normally drive, he declined. I also told him my PT does not want me working more than 4 hours a day and he basically said that was not an option. He would work with me so I would not have to go full out, but if I was released back to work it would have to be unconditional. This is probably company policy and not his rule.

I went to PT today and I'm back at 104/98. Extention was better -5 and -8, so my PT felt that the progress is still OK. A new PT suggested trying more frequent home workouts with extended length of holding the flexion, but not to the point I am causing aggrevation and swelling. He feels that this will get me over the hump. At this point I'm willing to try anything.

I live about 250 miles from my OS. I've been trying to get ahold of them for the last 2 days. Surgery all day yesterday and no response today. I haven't seen him since APR. 8th. I really need for them to communicate with my PT and give me some idea of where I am/going. I may insist on an appointment next week to have them get first hand knowledge of where I am. Do I need manipulation, etc.

All in all I see the big picture and realize there is improvement. My pain levels are almost never above a 3 or 4, my left quad is getting feeling back inch by inch, and one thing I really noticed Wednesday was even though it was difficult, there was no pain in every step like before the BTKR.

Well thanks ahead of time for listening.........Steve
 
Isn't it glorious Steve? No pain when we step. And we've done them both, so less to do later. Just keep calling the os. I can't remember how many weeks you are, but please be careful pushing and pulling. K?
 
Wow, Steve....your "outing" was definitely a push! It sounds to me like your surgeon needs to put some of your restrictions in writing so that you can show it to your boss. I'm thinking maybe he/she doesn't understand the severity of the surgery you just had. From what you wrote, it doesn't seem like your boss is trying very hard to work with you. With a BTKR, I would think the automatic truck would allow you to come back to work sooner and be more productive. You didn't mention how far out from surgery you are, though. Would your boss let you stay off work a little longer until you could perform the way he/she wants you to? Whatever happens, you must take care of yourself!!! That is number one! And you always have friends here who understand what you are going through and will help you. So whine away!!!!
 
I'm 10 weeks out tomorrow. Surgery was 2/29/08. My boss has no choice when I come back. I have to have a doctors release. I work for a major national company. As far as working with me, I wish he would or could. I'd love to go back and be able to help out some.
I finally spoke to my OS and he won't release me until June 2nd. He said it is almost always 3 months with a "blue collar" job. I have no problem with that except that he told me 2 months before my surgery, and that's what I told my employer. I am also going back on Daypro for a couple of weeks.
 
Northman, you and I share the SAME surgery date, only I just had my right knee done. It sounds like you do have things under control. I'm sure it's frustrating to you to want to work in some capacity, but try and be patient with what the doctor wants you to do. You put your trust in him this far and need to go with what he recommends. Just keep focusing on what awesome knees you are going to have once the healing is done! You'll be a superman!!!
 
Hi Steve, Glad to hear you are doing so incredibly well. Your ROM is coming on well. I only have 94 after 18 weeks due to a lot of constant swelling, may need an MUA late June- July.

I thought we were restricted to lifting only 40lbs in weight with our new knees. Please check that out if you are returning to work soon, you don't want to damage your knees.

Good luck. Keep us posted...... Sue
 
Gee, Sue.....no one ever told me of a weight lifting limit, but that certainly makes sense. Thanks for putting that information out there!!
 
northman, I would suggest this - preferably with your surgeon and/or PT's input, write a letter to your ultimate boss and lay out the following ...

- You had a knee replacement on 2/29/08 and while your recovery has been progressing well, you are still in the relatively early stages. You could return to work provided the following temporary adjustments were made to your working environment.

- List temporary adjustments you think appropriate and reasonable

- Then state that in the absence of these adjustments it is entirely possible that your progress could be set back with a need for additional sickness absence in consequence. In this instance, it would be therefore be counterproductive for the company NOT to help in this area as they would then be liable for any problems ensuing. The only other alternative would be an extension to your present period of sickness absence.

Of course, I don't know how Health and Safety works in the US but here in the UK making such a statement in writing puts the onus upon the company to ensure your working conditions are not going to cause you harm.

Something to think about. Might also be a good idea to research the H&S rules regarding "returning to work after prolonged sickness absence".
 
northman, did you go out on FMLA? If so, that holds your job for 12 weeks. Legally, you can request that now if you have not done so, but they can make it harder for you to get it. Agreeing with Josephine, you need paperwork from your OS, keep a copy and give one to your boss. As to the work itsself, I went back to work at 10 weeks, but I manage a landscape department so I didn't HAVE to do the physical stuff right away. I'm somewhere around 19-20 weeks now and back to regular stuff. I'm not the medical expert, but I think you'll be tell what you can and can't do without being scared of tearing something up, just understand that like all of us, you may pay for getting close to the 'line'.
 
Thanks for the input guys, First I want to clarify that I was pulling the tank with the truck, the only thing I was pushing was the gas pedal.

Secondly I got full approval for my absense from our HR department. We have a disability management company handling my absense. I get 50% pay for 25 weeks. So there is no chance of me losing my job. Yesterday the management company contacted my doctor and then notified our HR dept. of his findings. Just from a liability standpoint they dont WANT me back until I'm ready. My boss will not hold any grudges either. He is just in a bind right now, but he caused it himself. There have 6 of us in our area and I went out, then he allowed another driver to have a hip replacement about 3 weeks ago, he approved a weeks vacation for another next week , and one more has a mother inlaw that is on her deaths bed, and will lose him at any time. So next week could be just 1 driver and the boss. So he was just in panic mode yesterday.

Josephine and Gatiger.....and everyone else, I really want to thank you for your concern and input. I'm better today. It just takes time to sink in. Jamie, I guess we're TKR twins!
It is a bumpy road and today I'm flying over the bumps.

P.S. Just to end my day yesterday, I was walking on the beach last night and came across a dead sea otter pup. It was a nice walk until then. Good walking on uneven ground. Called authorities this morning and they picked it up for a necropsy.


Steve
 
North.....long ago when I was a kid, I lived in Anchorage for 3 1/2 years. Loved it!!! Haven't been back to Alaska since 1958, but certainly would like to visit again. It was so beautiful. Do you like living there?
 
I love living in Alaska. I grew up in Anchorage and moved to Homer in 1995. I love to fish and boat and just enjoy the beauty. Homer is a seaside town on one of the most beautiful bays in Alaska. We have mild weather for Alaska too. It rarely gets into the single digits in the winter and not much above 70 in the summer. It is also light until midnight in June and now sunrise is at 5:30 am and sunset is at 10:30 pm.We like to beachcomb and clam dig too. We're still close enough to Anchorage (220 miles or so) to get top medical attention and shopping etc. You can see some of the bay from the sites below.

Steve

www.justalaska.net/webcams/webcams.html
www.hallobay.com/Web_Cam.htm
 
North...enjoyed the web sites and saved the one that had places to stay in Anchorage.....maybe someday we'll get there. Thanks!!!
 
North, is that your evry day view some where? Home, work. So pretty. When I first looked last nigh in was 3 am your time, so it was dark. Glad I rechecked. How far is all this and you from fairbanks? That's where my people are around.
 
Yes that's my everyday view! It's really better from our deck. We can see the "spit" to the west and glaciers across the bay to the east. I think it may be one of the most beautiful places on earth if the weather is right. It's also a quick run in the boat to great salmon and halibut fishing. There is so much wildlife too. We have sandhill cranes all around the house in the summer. You can see moose almost every day and more than you want in the winter. The snow drives them down from the mountains and they are all over the place, roads included. We can sometime see bears up on the hills with their cubs in the spring before things grow up too much. Pheasants were released by private citizens several years ago and they are now all over the place too.

As for Fairbanks, we are on the southcentral coast and Fairbanks is in the interior. Roadwise it's about 550 miles north of us.
 
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