TKR Turning a Corner Towards Recovery

[skigirl]

Juniper, I am so happy to hear of positive progress!! I think a lot of us underestimate the stress of returning to work early. I understand all too well about economic urgency---however, I think it would benefit many patients to try to stay home until after 10 weeks. Kelly

 

[BJ Mac]

I am glad to hear that your student commented on how well you are doing and in noticing, brought it to your attention. These reminders are so wonderful. I definitely know what you mean about S-L-O-W healing, mine has been there as well. I have thankfully turned a corner and am looking forward to skiing and boarding this winter.

 

[speccybecky]

Jane, sounds like you are getting there! I'm just back from another week in the Canary Islands, this time with my husband....!! I walked and swam, climbed lots of steps, it is a hilly resort. I did feel my knee on the steps but I still did it. I also felt it when I turned certain ways on my sunbed! I surely didn't expect to still be sore after 10 months. If I get a chance at my year check up I am going to suggest that the nurse at the pre op stage stops telling patients that they will be back at work and only taking paracetamol at 6 weeks. I feel This put undue presure on me to perform and made me way behind in my recovery and probably contributed to the depression that followed

 

[juniper]

Nancy, the same thing happened to me--"you'll be back at work in three weeks," my OS told me. Huh? Skigirl is right. Ten weeks is more reasonable. I went back part time at six, full time at seven weeks. Too soon. My husband was laid off when he told his boss he was taking off four weeks to care for me. There were other lay offs, but we think this contributed. So, he's still out of work, and I'm working crazy hours and dealing with pain. Luckily, while looking hard for work, he's cooking dinners and doing most of the housecleaning, all of the leaf raking, outside stuff. I do laundry and food shopping, as well as school prep and now, report writing. Retirement is looking sweet. I think of some people on this site who have had such severe complications and I think, "Challenging, but not impossible." I want some more pain free days this week. A four and half day break is coming--Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[skigirl]

It is a sad statement of our times, when someone is laid off because they want to care for a partner. I have never researched this, but I thought the Family Leave Act would insure that you could take time off and that you could not be terminated. I confess, however, that I have never really investigated.

I think it would be hard to be struggling--have to go to work earlier that you wanted to and then have the additional stress of your husband being laid off. I am sorry to hear about that! It looks like you have a great husband though, who is doing so much of the housework while looking for work. We are retired, although we have to work odd jobs to earn a little extra money. I teach skiing in the winter---art fairs in the summer, also work at a store sometimes, do dog sitting, etc. Odd jobs are odd--but, usually interesting because you only do them now and then! Kelly

 

[speccybecky]

Jane, that's ridiculous! My husband was made redundant some years ago when the children were young teenagers and I remember how difficult it was . I worked 2 part time jobs while reassuring the kids that we'd be fine, after all 'nobody had died!' Here in the UK the retirement age is gradually being increased, instead of retiring at 60 I will now be 66 (at the moment!) when I get a state pension. Seems like a long time from where I'm standing!! You're right , it might not feel like it, but we both came through this op with no major complications

 

[juniper]

Yes, Nancy, that's exactly what I meant. Things are challenging, but not nearly so difficult as the challenges some of the BoneSmart members are dealing with. I wish I hadn't had to change jobs and move from primarily teaching 15 to 18 fifth graders. Now I teach English to 57 fifth and sixth graders. I love reading and writing, I love the kids, but the pace and the schedule are too many new tricks for this old dog. Back to a sore knee every time I walked. Tomorrow it may be fine. Here's hoping. And how are you, my friend? I know you've been dealing with some pain too. How is your work day?

 

[Jamie]

skigirl The Family Medical Leave Act only applies for companies who have 50 or more employees. Sadly, this doesn't apply to a lot of small businesses and their employees can be impacted when a family need arises. It's such a shame that employers are not willing to work with people sometimes.

But...in the case of employers with 50 or more workers, employees are guaranteed up to 12 weeks off for their own or a family's medical needs. This is unpaid leave, of course. But it is something that cannot be denied.

 

[skigirl]

Jamie Thanks for the information. Now that you tell me that, I remember that is how it is. I agree that it is a shameful thing that a company will lay off someone who has a sick or injured spouse. That is so heartless.

 

[Jamie]

I agree!!!

 

[Jebsw]

Hi Juniper,
I've just caught up on your thread. I'm a teacher too, and terribly worried about heading back to work. I'm grateful I've have only minor issues, but I do seem to heal slowly, so what with two knees six months apart and the summer break I between, it will be a year out of the classroom by the time I get back! I know full well how lucky I am to be able to get all that time, especially when rotten things like your husband's layoff happen. I teach high school English, but if you've got any coping tricks for me, I'd love to hear them. I hope you don't mind if I steal your six-word biography idea for my senior writing class. It'll be a great follow-up to their fifty-five word stories!

 

[juniper]

Jebsw, it's been a while since I've been back to the Bonesmart site...work and holidays spent hosting lots of family kept me busy. Once I begin working out again, I immediately want to hear how all of you are doing. Of course you can use the 6 word memoir idea. It's allegedly Ernest Hemingway's baby, but it's a great way for kids to focus in on what matters.

I am doing well, very well some days. It irks me to hear someone (it was my brother, last night) say, "You're still limping. Why?" "Oh, I'm doing great!" I say. And I am...mostly. I do still limp if I don't think about it. Such slow progress....but I am still making progress so I want to focus on that. Am going for a walk today. I can go so much farther than I could in September.

 

[skigirl]

Juniper, I think you are right on---focus on the positive. Negatives and "poor mes" get us no where fast. I always look for the fun or the good in every situation. Good for you.

 

[BJ Mac]

Jane, it is good to hear that you are doing very good some days. Do keep focusing on the positive and try to ignore those that tend to notice the negative.

 

[newbee2]

I am so glad to be off for summer vacation (I'm a teacher) and able to walk and ice/elevate, exercise, all without having to stand on my feet for eight hours. Went on vacation on June 23 for a week with my husband and son. Friends visited. I was able to walk two and a half blocks to the beach, the equivalent of three blocks to the edge of the ocean, and actually went into the ocean (with a little help from my husband, David, and son, Jody) Ah. This was why I had this surgery--so I can go into the ocean, canoe, hike in the mountains. Now I've accomplished my first goal. Soon the others will follow. I am learning patience. Slowly. Slowly. Good luck to everyone else who is healing. Navigating the site these days is a bit tricky for me. Want to contact Speccybeccy and can't seem to do this. Hi, if you happen to see this post.

 

[newbee2]

what is a bonesmart cockail

 

[ElanorG]

newbee2 Bonesmart cocktail is Tylenol and Advil combination throughout the day to combat pain and inflammation. One normally takes this later on in their recovery. Can you put your surgery date and which knee in your signature? It helps with answering questions. I don't remember the exact doses for the BS cocktail but if you search for it in the search capability one of those posts will have that info.

 

[ElanorG]

newbee2 To contact speccybecky directly type the @ sign in front of speccybecky and that will alert her, or go directly to her thread and post on it. I can't remember the name of her thread offhand but it might have drifted down to page two or three.

Here thread is called "Turning the corner at last".

 

[juniper]

Had my best day ever, knee wise, last Friday...at the end of my first week back to school. I could feel that my knee wasn't swollen or painful at all as I walked. Just stiff. I could feel that I have a mechanical knee and it feels odd, but it didn't hurt the way it usually does. It's a long time to wait, nearly a year, but I hope my story gives others the expectation that things will likely keep getting better. This weekend, it isn't quite as pain free. I went to a baby shower for my niece and sat too long. But I fully expect I'll have more and more pain free days. Eager to get out walking, and to be ready to hike in the mountains by the time summer comes.

 

[BJ Mac]

Yay, Jane!!! I am so glad to hear that you had such a great week at school. It sounds like even though you are sore now that things are going well and your hopes for more and more improvement are good. Keep up the good work and remember to slow down and take it easy when you need to. (that part will always be hard for me...the taking it easy...lol))