TKR Twinkletoes' Recovery

[Twinkletoes]

Thank you Judy (bottomshollow), Margaret (Campervan) and Tim C (referee54)!

I am practically in tears...Today was one of the worst days ever! I have listened to all your wonderful advice and tried to follow it. I've been much gentler with my exercises and nicer to my angry knee. As Tim said, "Take it easy, do gentle exercises, ice/elevate/rest! AND REPEAT!"

It has been raining since Saturday night and rained all day today. I don't know if this contributes to my pain, but it's been very cold and rainy here in Los Angeles...


Tomorrow, Monday, March 26, 2012 will be 7 weeks since my RTKR surgery. I went downstairs (thank goodness we have an elevator in our three story house!) to the dance studio as I was attempting to do some gentle bending exercises but felt like a steel band was across my knee (or that I have a steel rod in my leg) and then I had severe pain below my knee. I stopped immediately and went to lay down with my foot above my heart and iced my knee. Then, after a while, I tried to stand and the pain below my knee was awful. Someone somewhere mentioned pain below the knee, but I can’t remember where I read it and what to do for it. Also, and I believe that this is also true…some days are good, others are terrible and it roller-coasters like that. So to sum it up, today was one of those awful days.

My husband is going to take me very early for my PT appointment since I am afraid that the pain will prevent me from driving myself.

Thank you for listening to me...Twinkletoes aka Miss Cranky Pants:cry4:

P.S. Some friends call me Twink and that's fine with me too.

 

[Jamie]

Twink......are you still taking your pain meds on a set schedule? And are you using some type of aid when you're walking (walker, crutches, cane)? You mentioned driving and it might actually be a bit soon for that.

Please try to be patient. I know it's difficult when you want so much to get back to normal. But this recovery can take some time and you are smack dab in the middle of the phase where your tissues can get really angry at you if you push a bit too hard.

So, rest....ice.....elevate (toes above the nose)....and let see if we can get you back in those Happy Pants!

 

[Sparkinak]

Read read read, I made the mistake of just listening to doctor instead of taking the time to read the great info here. I pushed myself hard because I was told that I wouldn't have pain after a 3 months and after 2 over the counter meds will be only thing needed. Well I'm at 10 weeks tomorrow and still paying for my aggressive recovery. I read last night about getting new shoes after surgery so today got a new pair and instantly felt a difference in discomfort. I still need pain meds but only when I am physically busy or prolonged sitting in a chair from stiffness. My knee still gets stiff in short time no matter the position and I still have a hard time sleeping. Every day it gets better and honestly if you can keep that in the back of your head in no time you'll be back on that dance floor!!!! Go slow and don't push yourself it only makes things worse. I learned this the hard way. Good luck and above all don't hesitate to ask questions no matter how silly you think it is there are great people on this site that will answer pretty quickly!!

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thank you Jamie and Sparkinak!

I am sitting at a computer in my husband's office and he will take me shortly for my PT appointment. I want to print out what you've said - all of you in fact, to show to the therapist. I do believe that they think like my surgeon - "no pain, no gain, and worse...PUSH through the pain! Be a trooper!" :hate-shocked:

If I don't stop feeling sorry for myself and EATING like I've been doing this past year (before surgery and even more so after surgery), I won't fit into my Happy Pants!!!

Sparkinak - what did you mean about getting new shoes? What kind of shoes are you talking about? I hate sneakers and only wear them when working out or going for PT. Otherwise, I like pretty shoes and dance shoes!

I'll be home and on my own computer as soon as I can!:cry4:

 

[Twinkletoes]

I'm not sure that I'm in the right place, but I went into User Control Panel and clicked on Edit Signature. I added signature: Twinkletoes and an emoticon with dancers and my surgery date, but nothing is showing up in my posts. What did I do wrong?:rolleyespink:

 

[Twinkletoes]

Now I'm embarrassed...I see that my signature is in place. Have I mentioned that I'm the Technologically Challenged Blonde?

 

[Twinkletoes]

OK...enough about my signature. I finally have it almost the way I want it.

I do have some questions, and am sure the answers are in here somewhere, but sometimes I get lost and can't find my place again.

I am at 7 weeks and 1 day post surgery. I am still at 78 degrees and feel very down in the dumps. Everyone I've talked to who either had the TKR was at 90 degrees by week 6. Since joining this forum, I realize that I am not a failure, but it still bothers me. I've been through the 'comparisons' to others and know that everyone is different so I try not to listen to their stories of success when I know that they are definitely comparing me to them! I have started taking my pain meds more regularly, but so far, I haven't noticed much difference. Any advice here?

 

[Roy Gardiner]

No surprise: gentle stretching exercises without pain lots of times a day, and flexion and extension will improve.

Don't forget, 7 weeks is as nothing in this game.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thanks Roy!
I really should type up and print all your words of wisdom and put them where I can see them each day. I find myself still stressing over the 'not enough flexion' and the appointment with the surgeon on Friday. I know that he cannot MAKE me have the MUA, but just having that hanging over my head is enough to make me have nightmares! You said somewhere that I will eventually get to the much needed flexion, but in my own time. Is there a point where I will come to and NEVER get the flexion needed??? One of the home care nurses told me that I might never do the Tango and that almost made me jump out of my chair and bomp him one! Of course, if I could jump out of my chair, then I wouldn't be worrying about this, would I?:th_heehee: The physical therapist that I saw yesterday, told me that if I don't reach the 90 degrees by Wednesday (tomorrow) maybe I should postpone the surgeon appointment until another week or so... Any suggestions?

 

[Jamie]

My suggestion would be to print out the things you need to remember and DO post them where you can see them.

You are still early in recovery and it is possible to gain ROM for quite some time yet. The key (as you now know) will be gentle bends and stretches so that you are not causing swelling or pain.

Be sure you are doing plenty of icing and elevation too.

You WILL tango again.....bonk that home care nurse for me, will you!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Is there a point where I will come to and NEVER get the flexion needed???

No.

The prosthetics have no built-in limitations. So it's the same as with a natural knee -- and would one ever say with a natural knee that one's come to the limit? Well maybe -- but not when most people can do what we can't!

 

[Jamie]

The only point where "never" might be a factor is in the rare cases where a person develops adhesions (scar tissue) that is blocking the movement. When this happens, the surgeon performs a manipulation under anesthetic (MUA) and in most cases the problem is resolved.

You have plenty of time to gain ROM and, even if your surgeon suggests an MUA at this point, you can tell him you prefer to wait a bit and work on it on your own.

 

[Pumpkin]

Hi Twinkletoes,
Have you thought about a warm water pool, many people have reported success improving their ROM.
All the best with your recovery.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Jamie ~ Thanks! I'm ready to bonk that home care nurse...

:wink1:

Roy ~ My Left knee also has osteoarthritis, but I talk to it lovingly everyday and tell it that it will have to last forever because I could not go through this again.

Jamie ~ It's the MUA I want to avoid! I do massage the scar every morning to get rid of any build up of scar tissue, and rub it with Mederma to help the scar heal nicely. I think the scar (on the outside) is looking quite well, and I'm not worried about that. I'm not going to enter in a bikini contest!

Pumpkin ~ I'm a shower person, not a tub or pool person, but the therapist did suggest using our Tens unit to help break up pain.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Jamie ~ Thanks! I'm ready to bonk that home care nurse...

:wink1:

Do we have another English/American language division here :th_heehee:

Roy ~ My Left knee also has osteoarthritis, but I talk to it lovingly everyday and tell it that it will have to last forever because I could not go through this again.

One reason I went for both together

Jamie ~ It's the MUA I want to avoid!

I'd carry on with lots of flexion and extension stretches.

 

[Jamie]

Gee, Roy.....I don't know. Did I say something that would be off color in Britain???

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Gee, Roy.....I don't know. Did I say something that would be off color in Britain???

No, but this word is ambiguous. broken link removed: https://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/bonk

 

[Twinkletoes]

Roy ~ Is my face red! I meant to say that I'd want to slap that home care nurse for saying that I might not ever Tango again! I had no other thought in mind :th_heehee: other than being the stubborn person I am and wanting to PROVE him wrong and that I WILL dance again! We'll have to have an English/American dictionary handy from now on...

 

[speccybecky]

Twink, a couple of weeks ago ,at about 7 weeks out, I reached a point where I was convinced I was disabled for life and would never walk again! I spent a couple of days in tears! It seems to be a common occurrence, don't worry. I got over the bad spell and am back to one day at a time and slow progress too. You'll get there eventually. I too am aiming to dance but at my son's wedding in September. That's my goal.

 

[Ditzzeechick]

Twink-

My ROM and extension are all over the place. Last week, my left knee which was replaced 2/27 was very flexible thru PT this week, it won't bend??! I'd continue on not bothering to worry too much about those numbers for quite some time yet. As you read the recovery stories here you realize that those numbers will continue to move over the next year. Good luck with that tango! :wink1: