Today has been an off day for me. I slept about 45 minutes the night before, so I knew it was going to be a drowsy day! I have modified my pain medication schedule, taking each as prescribed. I alternate taking Oxycodone 7.5/325 and Tramadol 50mg every three hours, still setting my alarm. I do have extra strength Tylenol to use with the Tramadol, but I want to read up on it a bit more to make sure I'm doing it safely. I still feel I could have better pain control, but I'm pleased at this point, mostly because I spoke up for myself. Plus, the pain is also a good sign of whether I'm overdoing anything. And it will get better, whereas my pre-surgical pain was only going to get worse. I did cancel PT today because I just did the exercises on my own and wasn't feeling too great anyway. I really like the bending exercises, quad sets, the assisted "stork" (as I call it, with weight gently transferred to the operative knee), and gait practice. I'm using my best judgment and even with that, I still do plenty of exercises. My knee feels stronger each day.
The incision looks ok, but it is rather alarming for someone who isn't familiar with orthopedic surgery. I'll post a picture soon. I have a lot of tightness surrounding the knee. The PA said that it was probably from the retractors and the tourniquet. It feels like I have a tight ace bandage wrapped around my knee, without the bandage actually being there!! Also have some bruising around the sides and behind the knee, but I expected this!! I did not suspect the tuberosity pain, but my OS didn't think he would have to remove my TTT screws. I use my lovely ice machine 12+ hours a day and my swelling is much reduced. I still have to remind myself that I am only 9 days out!!
Mostly struggling with the blues and some anxiety. Most of you probably know that I live with my parents, which makes me feel worthless enough as it is. I moved back last year from Rockford, Illinois after my husband committed suicide and I found him hanging in our basement. I couldn't stay after that. So, I've been trying to get my life together and on a good path. I had finally found a job in my field (I'm a licensed mental health counselor and addiction therapist), met a wonderful man, and it was getting better. I was active and doing things I'd never done before. I started to have pain in my left ankle around Thanksgiving 2015, but I wasn't able to see my OS, who has known me since I was 13, until February. I was finally diagnosed with a fractured talus and put into Das Boot. If anyone doubted my high pain tolerance, I walked on a broken ankle for 3 months! I had 2 cortisone shots, which I am typically against. I was then scheduled for ankle surgery to repair several things, not realizing that it was as big a deal as it was until after the fact. This was also my first adult surgery without my husband, which was surprisingly profound for me. As I was recovering, really well, I ruptured my Achilles (on the surgical side). Only the internal sutures from the surgery held the tendon together! Lucky me!!
During this entire time, actually since I was 19, I knew that knee replacement was in my future. My current OS was actually the one who said my knees were clinically bad enough then, but it wasn't the right time. So, I lived my life, took care of ortho issues as needed, had a few surgeries, one from a car accident, and started to check around in Illinois for surgeons who would.replace knees in a 35 year old obese person. There weren't any. But, throughout this whole time, my hubby and I knew there would come a day when I would have new knees for us to enjoy. Then, my world fell apart when he died. On my dad's 70th birthday no less.
So I give all that background to explain just how huge this surgery is for me. As it is for most people, it is life-changing and positive, but it also signifies loss, change, and sadness for me. I don't want to further burden my parents who are taking care of me and helping me heal. My mom is so anxious about my health that she loses sleep at night. My dad has anklydosing spondylitis and takes a biologic each week, so he has enough to worry about. I just want to get better!! When I start to get the blues or cabin fever, this is the stuff I tend to think about. Thanks for letting me vent! Being a therapist, it's so much easier to be the listener rather than the talker!! I'm just trying to be aware of the things this surgery brings up for me and address them head on.
I have been spending a lot of time reading the stories here and feeling generally positive about my path. It helps so much! I think that is why I want to be candid about my own recovery just in case it can help someone else. I feel that my age and the fact that I'm obese (two risk factors already) by telling my story, could help show that recovery happens regardless if you take charge of it.
Off to read the new Lenny Dykstra book!! I heard him on Howard Stern several weeks ago and it sounds like it will be a good read!
Hope all my fellow bonesmartians are doing well!!!
Jen
United States
For now, I'm being very careful not to just push through the pain and actually listen to my body and what it can/can't do. This first replacement is a new start for me in more ways than one. Hopefully, I'll actually learn to like myself and see my own value. 
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