Bilateral TKR Tori's done the leap.. err stumble.. errr roll.. just other side...LTKR and RPKR

[bottomshollow]

tori645, I'm guessing that cute, cuddly puppy made all the inconvenience, discomfort, and pain worth the trip there and back in the long run. Keep up the icing and elevating. And don't let the puppy run you ragged.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[denpucc]

So cute! What's her name? Enjoy her!
Hugs,
Denise

 

[tori645]

previous little dogs have all had a golf theme: Birdie, Bogie, Bertha (Big Bertha golf club). This one is Taylor, TaylorMade golf clubs.

Exercise Pedal device arrived today... guess it's time to pedal to nowhere..

 

[tori645]

is it me, or are these knees a Catch-22? you do the stretching, exercises, get the knees sorta mobile, then you gotta ice them to keep the swelling down.. then they stiffen up 'cause of the icing/immobilizing.

 

[tori645]

last day of home PT. start out patient on Monday. finally took off all the steri-strips yesterday. have a bunch of vitamin E gels.. so using them on the scars..

 

[denpucc]

Tori -
I had a puppy named Bogey too! Why is your left knee's scar so raised? Will that come down? Do you get keloids? I get keloids and i'm concerned about how my scars will turn out since i've had 2 knee surgeries 40 years ago and those scars are still very, very visable!

I hope you are doing okay!
Hugs,
Denise

 

[tori645]

left knee was the TKR.. I'm assuming it's so raised because of the way it was stapled. staples were taken out around the 8th and steri-strips put on. i just took them off the other day since they had come totally off yet be themselves. they kept on catching on the sheets/clothing so off they came. you can see the scars from the original surgery in 1980 (vertical) and then one of the last ones to replace the ACL (diagonal below TKR scar) i've never had any issues with previous surgeries no mater the location. there have now been about 11-12 previous surgeries on various parts of the body.

puppy- my brother and neighbors don't like the name Taylor. He thinks Putter and neighbors Snowball and Creampuff - not!

 

[My way]

Hi tori645 My scars looked like yours at first but over time they flattened out nicely with a fine thin line.
Wanda

 

[tori645]

Wanda.. cool.. i assume mine will do the same.. i go back to OS next Thursday.

went to Neurologist today for normal appointment. Drove myself. 2nd trip by myself since surgery. asked her about the numbness in my left foot, outside left calf. she said the nerves were moved out of the way during surgery and should straighten out in time.

was feeling brave so stopped at Lowe's to get plastic fencing to keep puppy from diving off my deck. got to use one of their "hoveround" electric carts.. it was kinda cool to go cruising around the store in it. funny, if you asked me a year ago if i'd be in one of those, i'd laugh my head off. how things change.

made it home without incident. i did do a percocet, ice, elevate afterwards. down to 2-3 per day. usually at 9pm and then i try to make it to 3 am even though i wake up at 1 and 2. i usually get the ice gel packs at those times and try to freeze the pain away for a couple more hrs.

 

[tori645]

took puppy out a 6am this morning. i was still half asleep and have drugged up (4am).. i have 18 stairs to go down. i have a sling around my neck for puppy to ride in. this morning 3/4 way down the stairs, it dawned on me i was sorta of doing them normally.. left down, right down, left down, right down, etc (while holding onto railings on both sides). it was the first time since surgery i've gone down stairs one foot at a time instead of left(TKR) first the right(PKR) on same step... etc.. going up the stairs for the most part i've been doing one foot per step as long as there was something to grab onto on both sides. have to keep reminding myself to step straight with left leg. hip keeps wanting to raise and swing leg out instead of just lifting a little higher and doing it correctly. unconsciously doing self preservation i guess.
after the trip this morning, i've done the steps another 3 times or so, being extremely careful, conscious of possible severe pain and disaster if i step wrong. feels like sloooow motion..

 

[denpucc]

You are doing so well!!! A month out and look what you have achieved! You are inspiration...

Hugs
Denise

 

[tori645]

had my 3rd out patient PT this morning. finished around 11ish.. went home.. grabbed the ice and started icing/elevating(R partial)(L full is ok) even though had it at PT too. well.. now its 3:30.. and i can barely stand on it. called the dr's office, they said "oh, you over did it", ice/elevate/anti-inflammatory call Tuesday if still an issue. AAARGH!!! tried calling the PT, they have left for the holiday weekend.

whenever he got to a point i couldn't stand it, he would back off and rest. guess it's a fine line of what i can stand at the moment and what the knee will disagree with later.
..
went to the dr yesterday for check up/x-ray. he said he was "proud" of me. i asked if it was 'cause i haven't fallen and hurt myself more.. he smiled... he said to make sure to rub the scar area, up down, sideways, circular motion. wish he had said something earlier..

puppy played in some mud

 

[bottomshollow]

tori645, you should only allow the PT to push to discomfort NOT "to the point I can't stand it". DO NOT allow the PT to do this to you. It is counterproductive to healing and recovery. You can just say "NO!". If he's not good with that, get another PT. Remember you are the customer, you are paying, and the PT is working for you---you get to have it your way!

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Bionic woman2]

is it me, or are these knees a Catch-22? you do the stretching, exercises, get the knees sorta mobile, then you gotta ice them to keep the swelling down.. then they stiffen up 'cause of the icing/immobilizing.

It's NOT you! lol It happens all day long, you ice, you elevate, you're stiff... you stretch, you ice, you sit, you 're stiff... you stand, you walk, you ice, you elevate, you got it... you're stiff again. :rolleyes: My original thread title was something like, "When will Groundhog day be over with?" After the movie where a man keeps reliving the same day.

It does get better with time, as I'm sure you know by now. Seems like you're definitely not letting that stop you. Cute puppy by the way.

 

[tori645]

The PT guy is really nice.. i might have over stepped "couldn't stand it".. i let him get to the point of.. ow..ow...OK enough.. let me straighten/rest..we haven't really gotten to the point of "OW!! STOP!!"

when i had my ACL replace and the leg was immobilized for 6 weeks, i was sliding on the table away from the PT. i slid as far as the wall, then my neck was cranked around 90 degrees(least it seemed that way) to get away from the pain. the current PT is not like that at all.

 

[tori645]

well.. after 4 rounds of the 5mg percocets last night/early morning... 4 sets of icings during the same period.. the right knee was usable today. note to self: don't go quite as far in PT the next time..

 

[tori645]

had PT again today.. so far so good.. took a perc before and a safe period afterwards. halfway through session my guy had to go interview a new patient and a girl took over for him. i was able to peddle in complete circles instead of just back and forth. i used my little peddle exercise thing that i can put in frond of any chair ahead of time. think this helped to warm things up. they added the "total gym" today. a slide on an inclined you just go up and down on (over grown one that Chuck Norris sells on TV). they wanted me to 'squat' as far as i could and hold for 30 secs. i could only hold for 20. guess that's better then 15.

we'll see how the day progresses..

oh yeah.. latest pics of the gams..

 

[Bionic woman2]

i used my little peddle exercise thing that i can put in frond of any chair ahead of time.

How's that working for you. I'm about to order one from Amazon.com since it's in my budget. Would love to have a real bike, but I'd also like to have real working knees while we're making a wishlist. lol

 

[tori645]

it works fine.. i use a tall chair, like a bar chair, since i'm so tall. a normal chair would require too much bending of the knees and too low to sit in. although, if i have to, i can sorta do it now. getting out is a chore.
i have a few shoe laces tied to it and running up to the arms of the chair so i can start with it at a distance where i can peddle comfortably, then i shorten the string to pull it in closer as the knees permit. once i use that for about 10 min, i try switch to my sister in laws exercise bike. i have the seat as high as it will go and still have issues with going fully around.

just came back from dinner and attempting to play poker. RTKR is sore, not as bad as left was last week, and RPKR is a little sore. Back is killing. have ice on knees and taken meds. will hit heat for back when i get in bed.

 

[Bionic woman2]

Thanks, make some money at the table and get some rest. Enjoy that heat. I had a stiff neck all day and sometimes wake up w/back pain from all the combative sleeping I've been doing. Sleeping after knee placement ought to be a new martial art.