TKR Twinkletoes' Recovery

[karmigirl]

Twink,

Sorry sorry for all the losses you are having lately. I am sure it makes recovery all that much more difficult. Will be sending thoughts and prayers your way.

And please take care of yourself (first) as nt to set yoursef back. Remember YOUR recovery is most important.

 

[Janet2012]

I'm so sorry for all these terrible turn of events! I hope your mother is soon comfortable and healing, and that you get some relief, emotionally and physically, yourself!

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thank you all for your kindnesses!

I remember reading somewhere about doing too much, pushing too hard, etc. and then suffering and/or 'paying' for it and setting myself back in my recovery. Boy oh boy, is that ever true! Our cousins who lost their son May 12th, came for the long holiday weekend and although I was certainly glad that they turned to us for comfort and distraction, I was exhausted and in pain when they left. I went for acupuncture and although I am sure that it's helping me, I was very achy afterwards.

Just this evening, the nurse called who is going to fit me for the Dynasplint.
broken link removed: https://www.dynasplint.com/uploads/pages/34_original.jpg She is coming tomorrow afternoon to get me into this torture device. She must be one of those people who enjoys seeing someone else in pain. Just kidding. I don't even know her. Has anyone had to wear the Dynasplint? Did it hurt? How many days, weeks, etc. did you have to wear it? How long did you have to wear it each day? Did it help?

 

[bottomshollow]

The following is just my opinion: I would take 2 years of reasonable stretching and bending to achieve a reasonable ROM before I would let anyone put me in one of those things!

I fail to see how anything that does not allow "normal" movement of the knee is going to aid in obtaining greater range of motion. Maybe I have missed something here.

My gut feeling is that this is going to make you unhappier than you already are. But this is your call to make and not mine; so I do hope that it helps you and you get good results.

Take care of yourself and keep us posted. We care.

 

[PooShay]

Twink! I've seen a number of people mention the dynasplint; I'm sure someone will tell you about the experience.

Sorry about the loss of people close to you, your Mom's accident, and the slow progress in your recovery. We can hope that something good is around the corner, though.

 

[PooShay]

Judy: doesn't the splint help stretch the areas above and below the joint? Hopefully, that stretch will be to the point of discomfort (which should get farther away every week) and not to the point of pain.

 

[bottomshollow]

It is my understanding that the splint is either for flexion or extension and is used when you are resting. The few people I am aquainted with who have used such devices generally complain about them and don't use them as they are instructed. But it is possible to do the stretching yourself without this expensive system---but it does take time, effort, and dedication plus being sure that you do not overstress the knee.

 

[Jamie]

I feel as Judy does. The people who have used them and posted here don't report much luck with them. Time and gentle exercise is a better option, in my opinion. My guess is the DynaSplint is going to be uncomfortable at best.

Remember that you always have the option of requesting to do things differently. If you find this is too uncomfortable or is not working, you should discuss it with your surgeon.

I'll be interested to see if you find the Dynasplint beneficial. Do let us know....

 

[Campervan]

Hi Twink, so sorry to hear what you've gone through this past month. I wasn't able to be at my Mother in Laws funeral in the UK as I was having a small op on my hand in NZ the same day. I was the only family member missing and was tearing myself apart over it and threatening to cancel my surgery and just get on a plane. I was staying with friends, one of whom is a priest. So he sorted me out by telling me that she'd know that I was there in spirit. You're friend will know. Turned out for me I couldn't go anyway as my passport was at home 1600km away.

Dynasplint - why put yourself through that? I believe you'll just be adding to your misery. Did they explain exactly why they want you to wear one? I've read of somebody sleeping with one on to keep their leg straight and I can sort of understand that as I find it painful to straighten my knee during the night after I've slept with it bent. I'm now 5.5 months post op and it is all getting less and less painful. I had 95 flex when I left hospital, had 105 3 weeks later and then drifted back to around 102 and got stuck there. I now have 107 but I know I can do much much more than I could at 3 months.

Prayers with you.

 

[referee54]

I also agree---the people who have worn them have posted how much they dislike them and have had very little success with them. I cannot remember anybody writing anything positive about them.

 

[Twinkletoes]

I will definitely let you know how this works...or doesn't work for me!
As the minutes tick by,

Nurse Sarah will be coming to fit me into the Dynasplint, the more skeptical I am. When she called last night to arrange to come today, she told me that it's like Yoga or Pilates. Somehow that made me even more doubtful and suspicious.

If I'm uncomfortable when sitting in one position or standing for any length of time, I do not know how I'm going to sit with the Dynasplint for one and a half hours each day... Does that make sense to any of you???

The surgeon ordered it for me because he wants me to have more flexion. And, since Medicare is paying for it, I won't feel too terribly guilty if I put it in the closet along with all the other things from this surgery.

 

[Twinkletoes]

I stand slightly corrected...

but only slightly.

The Dynasplint that was brought to me is for flexion. There is another Dynasplint for extension, but I don't need that. The first time Nurse Sarah put it on me, I was at 110 degrees and it wasn't too uncomfortable. I don't think I would be able to sit with it for very long, and definitely not be able to sleep with it. I turn fairly often while sleeping and have to get up for potty runs (well, more like slow walking to the potty), so that's completely out for me. I did try to do it myself later in the day, and had so much trouble with it because it was folded in half and I could not untangle it! I called Sarah and she tried to walk me through it, but told me that she'd come back this afternoon and make a few minor adjustments. That did help. After the adjustments, I was able to remove it and put it back on without too much hassle. She would like me to use it for an hour at a time, three times a day.

We'll see...

 

[bottomshollow]

Hi! Twink, hope you don't feel we gave you a hard time about the Dynasplint. And I really hope that you will get some benefit from it. But you already sound as if 3 one hour sessions a day is going to be difficult. But I know you'll give it your best shot.

You know we're all on your side and want you to reach the point where you can say that you're glad you had your TKR. So take care of yourself and keep us posted on how things go. We care.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Judy ~ Not to worry...I never thought any of you were giving me a hard time.

I was the skeptical one as I didn't want to go through any more torture. I am not sure that I will use it three times each day, but if I'm not out and doing 'normal' everyday stuff, which I'm trying to get back into, then I may just give it a whirl. I think that is reasonable.

You know we're all on your side and want you to reach the point where you can say that you're glad you had your TKR.

I've been told that it takes six months before I will be saying that I'm glad that I had the TKR... On June 6th I will be at four months, so I'm not there yet.

By the way, the Dynasplint is only rented, but paid for by Medicare. When I'm finished with it, we have to send it back by FedEx. I believe the metal parts are sterilized and used again and the cloth parts are discarded.

 

[Jamie]

I have to say that if your ROM is 110 after your MUA in late April, I'd say you're doing pretty well without the DynaSplint!!

It will be interesting to hear how you think it worked.....or didn't.

I laughed when I read about comparing it to pilates or yoga. Now THAT'S a STRETCH!!!!:th_heehee:

 

[referee54]

I have to say that 110 at this time with what yo have gone through is pretty darn good---please keep us updated as to how this thing-a-ma-bob works!

 

[Ditzzeechick]

Geez, Twink, what's left, locusts?? What a month you've had!

I will be very interested to hear how the dynasplint works for you. I keep whining about my being stuck at 105/110 and my therapist said she would discuss a dynasplint with her supervisor for me. I told her not to bother because I won't use it. Like the CPM, I thought it was great while I was laying in bed like a log but frankly there wasn't any improvement so why bother making myself more uncomfortable. I was stuck at 90 for a long time and expect to be stuck here for just as long. I don't have pain. I have stiffiness, the bands feeling is even subsiding as well as the numbness. I figure in another 3-6 mos I should be in great shape. I discontinued PT and am now using the pool at the gym a few times a week. I find if I do 30 -45 minutes with only normal daily activities every two days that my knees feel almost normal. I'm with Roy, less is more, alot less seems to get us a lot more. Now if only that patience thing would stop bugging the dickens out of us! Good luck, can't wait to hear more :biggrin:

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thanks again! All of you!

Judy ~ I agree with you about taking two years and do the gentle exercising, however my surgeon ordered it and I have to give it a try. So far, I'm not very happy with it. I had to turn down the tension which did make it a little easier, but it's annoying and I have no patience. Where in the world does one find patience???

PooShay ~ my mother is healing and is enjoying all the attention she's getting from her 24/7 care givers.

As for the Dynasplint...no one has come forward yet with their personal experiences with it. Today, I sat with it on as I was sitting at the computer, so that helped to distract me......a little. It isn't a forceful thing, but lets gravity pull the leg back. Anyone here used the Dynasplint for flexion????

Margaret ~ I didn't reach 110 after the MUA. While still on the table, the surgeon took a photo of my leg with my foot bent all the way back to my tush.

He said it was 130 degrees. And, I knew it was MY leg in the photo. After that, I kept going backwards until I wanted to give up altogether!

It was after going for acupuncture that I was able to bend it to 110. But, I didn't know it was that much until Nurse Sarah put me in the Dynasplint and at first, it wasn't too uncomfortable and she said that it was at 110. I have no way of measuring, but I can see that I'm doing better. I just wish I didn't have to do more structured things to get there. And, not add more pain to the mix.

Jamie ~ Now that's a great pun...

I laughed when I read about comparing it to pilates or yoga. Now THAT'S a STRETCH!!!!:th_heehee:

Tim ~ I agree with you wholeheartedly! 110 is fantastic!

I really thought I'd be stuck forever with 90...and to tell you the truth, it seems to have taken me an eternity to get to 90! But, the surgeon wants me to have more flexion!

You call the Dynasplint a thing-a-ma-bob. Funny, I have a different name for it,

but I don't know you well enough to say.

I will certainly let you know how it works for me, or IF it works for me.

Bev ~ Locusts???

I keep looking up at the sky and saying, "Please choose someone else! I can't take anymore!!!" Yes, I know that there is a saying, "G-d wouldn't give you more than you can handle" but must he keep testing ME??????

Oh, and this is a good one too... "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."

You mentioned the numbness, and I cannot recall anyone else talking about it here. I still have some numbness and since I've been having so much trouble with my flexion, I keep forgetting to ask about it. I can FEEL my hand massaging my new knee, but it feels different. I don't know if that is numbness, but I think it is. It is a weird feeling. My cousin had her knee replaced several years ago and said that she still has some numbness...

You say that in another 3 - 6 months you should be in great shape. I keep telling myself that too, but I think I'm thinking of a different kind of 'great shape.' As I said somewhere along the way, I have gained a gazillion pounds and can't seem to think about "healthy and/or sensible" eating until I feel better.

 

[PooShay]

Twink, I have the numbness! And it drives me crazy. It's inside of both knees,, and it feels WEIRD when they touch; so I sleep with a pillow between them.

 

[Twinkletoes]

It's only been a few days since the Dynasplint arrived and I can tell you that I'm not at all thrilled.

I emailed

nurse Sarah and told her that I don't think it's working and that I get more flexion from the acupuncture.

I added that I feel stiff and painful after I take the thing off. She said that of course I feel stiff afterwards and that it means that it's working! I replied that I haven't been this uncomfortable in a while and that it's even affected my sleep, not that I've been able to sleep well since the surgery. Sarah told me to turn down the tension from 6 to 4, but that hasn't helped - or at least I don't notice it feeling any better. She also said that the surgeon recommends that I continue using it. She thinks I'm doing great and I should make them proud. Her words exactly. She told me to stick with it. She added that at 4 months (today) it is crucial time to push through the discomfort and keep stretching.

That's the only way to fix the problem and increase my ROM. Somewhere in these emails, she mentioned that I should not have pain, but discomfort is OK.

She added:

"Dynasplint is discomfort and isn't on long enough to substantiate long term pain."