TKR TS’s lopsided recovery'

[traceys]

Aw @Teecup thanks (hobbles over and offers a squishy hug)

I’ll fill you in on my life philosophy:

If I wake up in the morning in my bed listening to sleet hit my windows and pull on wrinkled clothes to go eat a cold bowl of cereal before a hard physio. ... I already have it better than someone battling death, or homelessness, or poverty or starving. I have nothing to be bitter about so take whatever that day gives me as a gift.

 

[Teecup]

Such a beautiful perspective!

 

[traceys]

When your physio sees your knee and says “what the did you do to it??” It’s going to be a looooong session.

 

[Teecup]

Roh-roh! Dr Lounge, ice, and good drugs will welcome you home!

 

[traceys]

Lol @Teecup

I got read the riot act 3 times in an hour. Pt was stunned how swollen and red my whole knee was. And the fact it would barely bend surprised no one. Then of course who walked in but... OS to say hi.

Of all the days. Needless to say I am now restricted to 1 hr in the morning of activity and then 1 hour later in the day. He cannot figure out why my knee is reacting so extremely to the smallest stressors but says that just seems to be how it’s going to go.
Then my massage therapist gasped when she got a look and said “did you fall?”

She tried to be gentle and just did some fascia work on my quads and ITB but even that was so uncomfortable.

The weird thing was I really wasn’t in PAIN like I expected. Just that tight band below the knee again. Hubby and I did date night out still and I was fine using cane and even got leg bent under table still to about a 60-70 so it wasn’t sticking out.

Needless to say - lesson learned for now.

 

[sistersinhim]

Oh boy. Your surgeon had to show up at the same time! He is being very reasonable with your recovery activity the next few weeks. Thank God you're not in that much extra pain, but remember, swelling is pain, too. You know the routine!

 

[traceys]

@sistersinhim

Yes ma’am
One errand today and home to rest ice elevate.

Today actually just stiff and teensy but swollen I got lucky wasn't worse.

 

[Teecup]

It's wonderful that you have such an awesome care team!

If you weren't a patient person before, this recovery is bringing a whole new meaning to the word!

 

[traceys]

Hmmmm. So bonesmarties I could use your thoughts -
Today I was out for about an hour running some errands and cane only. These errands could NOT be put off.
By the end of the hour my knee was soooo tight it would not bend at all and I felt really unstable.
I put 2 gel packs on with a tension wrap for almost 2 hrs cuz I fell asleep because it felt instantly better but still no bendy.

Even with the ice off and trying to elevate on my LD it is so hot to the touch and tight. And internally it is really burning and tingling.
Did I just really overdo it?

The pessimist in me keeps wondering if I’m having an allergic reaction to the metal being I have a day or two where the swelling and tightness is down and then wham! 3mnths and the swelling is still my biggest concern.

 

[sistersinhim]

Did I just really overdo it?

You should have rested your knee for at least 3 or 4 days before going on another outing so soon after your big day earlier in the week. Your knee never recovered from that and you added today's trauma on top of that. You need to do nothing but rest, ice and elevate until that swelling comes down. If you don't you are just setting your recovery that much farther back. Please treat this poor baby knee like it needs to be treated!

 

[kmak81230]

I don't have much wisdom on this as I am two months behind you. I can say that my leg was tight, swollen and warm today - I think I reach my limit with working halftime and today, instead of resting I went to a moving sale which involved a lot of standing around, I went to the grocery store, I was standing in one place making Christmas cookies, and went to an event tonight that involved a lot of sitting - I'm paying for it now. I think if I am working I need to be a couch potato on the weekends. Tomorrow it is definitely lounge doctor and ice. It may be that you just overdid it again. Did you do a lot of standing in one place -- that really aggravates my knee?

 

[Teecup]

Does the swelling, etc. happen ONLY when you've done more than usual? You used only a cane, which was much more of a challenge on your knee than the walker (aside from banging into it ).

I don't know anything about metal allergies, but it seems like if that was the case, it would happen regardless of what you'd done. I think I'd talk with my OS or get a referral for a specialist, if there is such a thing.

I know it's frustrating not being able to do what used to be no big deal, and now when you do it, your knee plumps up and hurts.

 

[traceys]

You should have rested your knee for at least 3 or 4 days before going on another outing so soon after your big day earlier in the week.

Sadly today’s errands couldn’t be put of or delegated. I wanted to do nothing today and tomorrow but fate had other plans. And tomorrow has something I have tried to put off or assign to someone else but can’t

Did you do a lot of standing in one place -- that really aggravates my knee?

No. It was a fair amount of walking tho as we had to go to a butcher shop and market. I’d say I was walking about 30-45min. It wasn’t bad at first but by the end of it....
.

Does the swelling, etc. happen ONLY when you've done more than usual? You used only a cane, which was much more of a challenge on your knee than the walker (aside from banging into it

The swelling has been since the day I had the surgery albeit to varying degrees. I’ve never had a day it wasn’t tight or even felt easy to move. I rarely use the walker. Just switched from crutches to cane and it is SO much harder to walk. I find I really tighten up my leg on the cane rather than let it swing.

I know I’ve done too much in the last 3 days. In my heart I know it. I already called today and cancelled pt Monday. I’ve proven when I do nothing for 3 days it bends easier but life just keeps coming at me right now. Between a disabled mom I take care of, a son’s big bday, the holidays, and some work return date vs my insurance drama -

I’m just being grumpy now

 

[sistersinhim]

I am so sorry all this has fallen on your shoulders. Just try and get as much rest as you can. Make sure you are delegating jobs where possible.

 

[Teecup]

IMHO Ditch the cane and go back to crutches! Your knee will let you know when she's ready for the cane. That time is obviously not now. This is not a competition. You already have so much to deal with, don't make it worse on yourself by forcing your knee onto the cane when she still needs the support of crutches. Be kind to your knee! She has been through a lot!

 

[traceys]

Well today was an improvement. The tightness still present but not raging swollen and unbendable. And I woke this am to find myself on my stomach with my leg out to the side bent at knee about 70 and comfy. Walked 10 min and it tightened up so its apparent it wants some rest. And it will be getting lots starting tonight finally. I was on my feet a lot today and while it’s a bit cranky right now - it’s totally bearable. On my LD with lots of for a few days. No more errands or tasks until Wednesday.

Aaannnnndddd ... I got some MAJOR news that now gives me a real motivation and a deadline to be fully functional by with this knee.
In June I have a major photography assignment I just landed and then another even bigger one in November that will involve a lot of travel and hours upon hours on my feet shooting!

I am soooooo excited and yet a tiny part in the back of my mind keeps saying “what if.....?” Over my knee lack of rom. I know it’s 6months away but now I’m under pressure and these opportunities will never come up again.

Pt cancelled until after Christmas to allow some healing, super gentle stretching and smarter ADL useage.
Please Santa... just bring me some improvement!
:box:

 

[kmak81230]

Congrats on the photo ops!!! Something to look forward to -- I expect you'll be in fine form by summer. Glad to hear you have also recovered some from your outings. When I was at about your stage with my first TKR I went on a trip that involved a lot of walking - several miles a day for 4-5 days. While I was tired and sore each night and had to ice and elevate at the hotel, I generally recovered by the next day. At the end of the trip I spent a few days doing almost nothing - must've built up a need to rest. But I did recover ok. So I guess my point is that while it's fairly easy to join the ODIC at this stage and sometimes our obligations necessitate it, as time goes on we recover from it more quickly. I hope that will be the case for you.

 

[MtnSearcher]

Everyone's recovery is different, but to me, it sounds like you could use two or three days of elevation and ice. Naproxin or ibuprofen is good for swelling, too. Personally, getting off the walker and onto the cane helped me tremendously. I'm walking without assistance now.

When you get tired, sit down somewhere, even if it's a bench im the shoe department of a store, or ducking into a coffee shop when you really don't want the coffee.

I sure hope you feel better. Holidays are hectic enough without all the pain.

 

[Mom2Lucy]

Congratulations on landing those photo assignments, that’s awesome news!

 

[beachy]

Congratulations! You must be a great photographer! Can I get your autograph? LOL
I'm in the same boat as you with major resting when I can and icing on my lounge doc. To say I'm chilled to the bone is an understatement. I'm chilled to my soul.