PKR The Hiker's Knee Story

[Bustario]

Thanks leejaa. I have planned out all of my meals and have very little else on the calendar. In addition, after I wrote that post earlier, I reached out to my massage therapist who I went to the day before my surgery to help me get ready. I am now seeing him tomorrow after i finish up work. It was the best way to take care of myself I could think of.

I went to PT this morning and my therapist said something has changed and my knee is so far ahead of where it was last week. She got me walking without the brace there and suspects I will either get a modified one later this week or ditch it all together. She (and I) was thrilled. Hopefully, I will sleep tonight and not get all stressed during the night in anticipation of my return to work. Wish me luck.

 

[skigirl]

Be sure to let us know how it goes. Try to take it easy when you get home---more movies on the couch!!

 

[Bustario]

First day done. I am exhausted but managed all I had to do. I need to get the ice to my office so I can keep the swelling down. Hopefully my ice circulator will arrive shortly.

 

[leejaa]

Congratulations on surviving 5d. If you ice circulator does not arrive you might want to purchase some of those squeeze ice packs they sell for sports injuries. Fantastic news. A massage sounded wonderful. Lee

 

[Bustario]

Well, here I am up in the middle of the night, feeling sorry for myself. Why? Not really sure. I went back to work this week and have experienced more swelling and discomfort since then. But in addition, my scar and the entire area around my knee is itching me terribly and having a pant leg on it only makes it worse. I am lying here at nearly 4 in the morning NYC time and feeling terrible, emotionally and physically. I feel stupid to feel this way. I am not in great pain and not even taking any meds except around PT days with the exception of a little Tylenol now and again. But I just feel like I have had a set back. Or maybe just a rock in the road. The itching is driving me mad and keeping me up. Icing seems to help but I can't sleep with the ice machine running. So I guess I am just here to vent and to see if anyone is up and can offer some itch relief (and blues relief) or know how long this stage might last. Thanks to all of you for your continuing support.

 

[skigirl]

We have all spent some time up in the middle of the night---no need to beat up on yourself, it happens to nearly all of us. You are extra tired from working--and, it is harder to sleep when you are extra tired---or, at least, that is my own experience.

I buy unscented Aspercream from drug stores and that seems to help with the itching and swelling. I put it on at night and sometimes in the am before skiing. I like it that it does not smell like menthol.

Some folks keep Benedryl around the house to use on nights when sleep won't come. I have some extra Tramadol from the knee surgery and it also works to bring sleep back into the picture. So does TV--it puts me to sleep right away. most sleep experts advise it is not good to just lie there feeling helpless. Better to get up, read for a while or do something that is low stress. Sleep often comes when we stop obsessing about not sleeping!!

Seriously though, don't try to fight the sleeplessness--just try to roll with it---okay, brain I am awake now, but I am going to do x, y or z to go back to sleep. If the itchiness continues you could call you OS office and ask them about it or try some cordisone cream from the drugstore and see if that helps, it is recommended for itching. Maybe too, your skin is just dry from all of the surgery, etc and some simple lotion will help. I use Eucerin Calming Cream on my leg---it is also unscented.

You have a vacation day this week on Thursday, so unless you are traveling to family, you will have an extra day to take it easy and get more relaxation in your life. I think that some of this is just the return to work and the blues after the weeks of caring for yourself and your knee. You have done something major in your life and most people don't care at all about it. I just came back from a two week trip to Germany---at lunch my friends told me to tell them "all about it". But, after one sentence, they jumped in to talk about their trips. That is just the way life is---we are mostly thinking about our own lives all the time.

My answer to this? Volunteer somewhere that gives you pleasure---kids? homeless? food supplier" somewhere that makes you feel good and makes your day seem important to you. It is fulfilling, even if it is tiring, but somehow my knee hurts less after hours of standing in a community kitchen to make dinner than it does after a day of going about my usual.

I know all about feeling sorry for myself---no one understands what I have gone through, etc. See above for my solution to that too. Seriously, it is time for some fun and good stuff in your life. You have been hampered by the knee long enough. Make a list of some things you have not done for a while because of the knee and then, go for it!! Kelly

 

[Bustario]

Thanks so much skigirl for the advice. Slept better last night and i am seeing my OS today for my 7 week recheck. I will ask her about the itching and the general state of my knee. MY PT told me I really overdid it this weekend but still with that and the swelling my ROM was up to 121. But she told me was my walking and climbing some steps one over the other instead of taking one step with the good leg and then pulling my operated leg up behind was a no no. I had no idea. Oh well. Live and learn.

 

[skigirl]

Sometimes I wonder how trains the PT's! Why is walking up one foot over the other a no-no. I was certainly doing that at your stage!!! I was so happy the day I ran up the stairs without even thinking. But, it you still have swelling, then you are still rehabbing that knee and no so much strengthening it.

It sounds like you are doing well and I hope your report is a good one. what did the OS recommend for itching?

 

[Bustario]

Sometimes I wonder how trains the PT's! Why is walking up one foot over the other a no-no.

It sounds like you are doing well and I hope your report is a good one. what did the OS recommend for itching?

skigirl, actually, I trust my pt a great deal. She has pushed me in good ways but completely protected me from moving to fast to achieve what my knee is not ready for. I think Josephine would really like her because she always says to me "Listen to what your knee is telling you. If it swells then you have done either too much or something that you are not ready for". I sort of hear her like Yoda in star wars. "Listen to the force (in your knee), young Skywalker".

My OS was thrilled with my progress. Her actual words were "Beyond thrilled". That made me feel great. As for the itching, it has diminished so much that I forgot to ask.

I am flying to LA today from NYC and taking my ice circulator with me along with an old fashioned ice bag for the long flight. She told me to make sure I walk the aisles at least every 30 min I hope I don't make my seat partner nervous.

 

[Jamie]

Sounds like you have excellent therapist!!! I hope your trip goes well. Just remember what you now know to be "the answer".....listen to your knee!!!

 

[skigirl]

Yes, I also have an excellant pt and he was a big part of my recovery.

 

[Bustario]

Well, how many of us are coming out of the last few days and feeling we have joined the overdoing it club. I flew from NYC to LA and with the crowds and the delays basically was completely worn out when I got there. Then I went ahead and cooked the turkey (cuz mine is just so darn good) and by the end of the day I was totally cooked and done too. Swollen knee and entire body aching, i have also reached the end of my patience for this whole healing thing. I just want to feel done with this. I know it I am less than 2 months out but, come on, body, get the %$^*&^(#@ better.

Are you listening to me?

My OS told me to slow down so I will try to do that. But it continues to be hard.

Hope you all had a good TG.

 

[Bustario]

I have a couple of questions about tightness in my knee. 8 weeks out, I feel like the knee is stiff because of the scar running down the center. You know the feeling? It feels like this scar is constricting my knee and without it I would have much better ROM. Of course, I know it is not possible to will it away. I know it will lessen with time but is this something i can do something about or help to loosen the constriction from it?

Also, Josephine, can you rename my thread The Hiker's Knee Story. Thanks

 

[Josephine]

I feel like the knee is stiff because of the scar running down the center. I know it will lessen with time but is this something i can do something about or help to loosen the constriction from it?

Well you're right but in the wrong way! That scar running down the centre of your leg goes all the way down to the joint. Plus the joint was opened up and bits sawn off and metal parts put in their place! And you are only 8 weeks out. That tight feeling is actually swollen tissues and pain. The solution for that is not exercises but the BoneSmart Mantra - remember that?

- rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist - to do it to you
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer or more painful in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!
- be active as much as you need to be but not more than is necessary, meaning so much that you end up being in pain, exhausted or desperate to sit down or lay down!


And did you also forget this article? Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
And perhaps this one as well How Long Does Healing Take .......

 

[Bustario]

Today I had a major marker in my recovery. I went for a hike. Well, maybe not quite a hike but certainly more than the in-city walks I have been limited to. My partner and I found a relatively flat 2 miler and took a stroll in the woods. I used my hiking sticks just to give me some extra balance since falling was my biggest fear. Lo and behold I survived to tell the tale. And it felt so good to get out and do something physical in the great outdoors. Happy, happy girl. Thanks to @trailspud for the support.

 

[trailspud]

Glad you got to take that walk in the woods today. The fear of falling is a real and it will take time for it to lessen. I am a big advocate of trekking poles. They may not be needed for flat walks, but even on easy terrain especially so soon after surgery they provide a measure of stability. Best wishes and I hope you keep making the natural progress.

 

[skigirl]

On one of my early walks with the dog, I fell flat on my face!! I tripped over a root. It ended my fear of falling quite spectacularly!!

 

[RedRider]

Great info on your recovery, thanks for sharing. Trekking poles have changed my hiking outlook as well; stability, weight loss (you're not hauling the partial weight of two arms around), and needless to say they're amazingly kind to the knees on those downhill trails.

 

[skigirl]

I also use hiking poles with great success. My doc said that when used properly they take 40% of the pressure off your knees.

 

[bottomshollow]

Hope you and yours have had a wonderful Christmas holiday with lots of family fellowship and sharing of gifts and lots of good food to eat.


I’ll be looking for you at the BoneSmart annual New Year’s Party. It’s been a very eventful year for most of us---and will be a very eventful year coming up for others of us looking forward to surgery in the new year.


Remember to bring food and drink to share---and pictures are always appreciated and loads of fun to share.


SEE YOU AT THE PARTY!!!!!

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