TKR Twinkletoes' Recovery

[Twinkletoes]

Lori ~ I didn't sit in our reserved seats in the 3rd row,

but asked to be seated in the 'handicap' area. There is a railing all around and they brought us two chairs (very hard ones) so I didn't have to worry about sitting without leg room and/or someone accidentally tripping on my surgery knee! I was petrified of that!

An usher helped me down the long ramp to our seats and even came back for me at intermission to escort me to the handicap restroom. What service, but boy, did I feel old! We do have tickets for other shows, but hopefully by then, I can sit in our reserved seats. Or, at least give it a good try! I have to disagree with you on the TKR surgery being somewhat like pregnancy. We've had two sons, all grown up now with children of their own and although I only vaguely remember the pains of childbirth, to me this is nothing like that! My life now resembles nothing like my life before. OK, I admit that I was in pain for many months prior to the surgery, but it was a different kind of pain. And yes, it did limit me from my favorite things...ballroom dancing, going out shopping and lunches and a few other things, but now my entire life is my knee! I am hopeful that in a few more months, my attitude will change.

Bev ~ Thanks for the compliments on my 'faces'!

I am addicted to emoticons, graphics and smiley faces.

Physical Therapists and doctors do not have a clue what our pains feel like. None of them have experienced it...... yet. Yes, this pain must stop! I can't remember not having pain since my surgery. And, since I'm such a baby about pain, I'm really a mess. I went for acupuncture

yesterday (Thursday) and came home with MORE pain!

I quickly emailed him and asked if it was because the treatment brought out the pain and then I'll be better? He responded that if it was from the treatment, then I should feel better after today (Friday). I do hope that I'll sleep better tonight because last night was a disaster!!! He also cautioned me not to do any exercises for 48 hours after acupuncture. I didn't know that. Of course, I've never had TKR before either...

Di ~ Thank you for the belated birthday wishes! I do hear a few cracks from my non-surgery knee now and then, but I try to ignore it. I am still lovingly talking to my left knee and massaging it and telling it that it must last me forever! I know someone here at Bonesmart told me never to say never, but at this moment, I do not think I would survive another TKR!!!

 

[Twinkletoes]

Hi again!

I think I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!

I didn't know that I had entered the tunnel, but everyone here kept telling me that I was IN it. I've been on a wild roller coaster ride and thought it would never end.

I'm still not certain that it will end, but I am now hopeful. After going for the MUA and still not doing really well, I began going for acupuncture

That first treatment had me in tears for almost two full days because it seemed that my pain was back at the very beginning.

After two days, it did calm down a bit. I had another treatment yesterday and I went home thinking I may have another reaction, but it wasn't too bad. And, the best part is that I was able to sleep for three straight hours without interruption!

I'm now at three months but still not happy that I had the TKR. I'm told that that feeling will stay for another three months...or more.

I couldnt' resist this...here's my humor for today:

 

[Pumpkin]

LOL, here is some virtual :choc: for you!

 

[speccybecky]

I'm with you Twink. Struggling with stiffness, pain and sleepless nights. I CAN see some improvement but still not at the point where I'm glad I had it done. Keep going and well get there I'm sure.

 

[kneeper]

I think I was pretty patient in the first couple of months, but in month 3 & 4 I felt like it was taking a looong time.

 

[Twinkletoes]

to all the mothers here!!!

Thank you Pumkln, Speccybecky, and Kneeper!

Sorry I've been missing

but our guests from the U.K. arrived and it's been a mad whirl!

We enjoyed their visit so much and ran around town trying to pack in everything in the short time they were here. When we went to the Getty Museum, they offered to push me around in a wheelchair but I didn't want to do that. I did use my cane [walking stick] but each evening when we came back to the house, I had to ice and elevate. We sat around talking until we couldn't keep our eyes open. We didn't want to miss a moment of their time with us. On Saturday afternoon, we took them to the pier to catch the ship that was taking them on a cruise.

This was the cruise that we were on the wait list for, but I think it was meant that we didn't go, because I don't think my knee is ready for that kind of adventure yet. Maybe we'll go next spring.

I'm sure that I walked too much and now I'm suffering for it.

I am going for acupuncture

tomorrow and hope that will give me some much needed relief. Tomorrow is week 15 and I'm not a happy camper. Before our friends arrived, I was beginning to think that I was going to survive this, but not feeling anywhere near being 'normal' yet. It's really exasperating.

I still haven't found the Patience that I need. Anyone out there know where to find it???

I'll wait right here and have another cookie

 

[Campervan]

Hi Twinkletoes, week 15 is still early. I'm 5 months today and still have a few issues. But I don't regret the surgery. Hang in there, it does get better.

 

[Ditzzeechick]

When is better more like " normal"?? Waaaaaaaaaaa! I've no patience for these knees today, either!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I am at just over 5 months and it's normal. Bits of clicking but no pain, just like knees.

Actually, supernormal. I can go up stairs 2 at a time, come down without using the banister. Couldn't do that before.

 

[Jamie]

Twink....I know you are frustrated, but more patience is required. When you overdo things like you have done with your visitors, you do set yourself back a bit. Things will improve, but just know that those times of super activity come with a price. You won't hurt your implant or anything, but you might require a week or so to get back to where you were.

 

[Ditzzeechick]

Roy-
My knees feel like my own, my thighs ache and everything is still stiff. I am hoping that in the upcoming 8 weeks to be on your side of the page. I'll keep doing the PT and working toward a better result. More patience today!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Roy-
My knees feel like my own, my thighs ache and everything is still stiff. I am hoping that in the upcoming 8 weeks to be on your side of the page. I'll keep doing the PT and working toward a better result. More patience today!

No reason why you shouldn't be. I did NOTHING for two months apart from a bit of stretching, and the only exercise really since then has been riding my bike, with care to avoid doing too much and swelling those knees.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Hi everybody!

I have been logging in and read some posts and then get disconnected.

It's been going on for a few days now and finally my husband noticed that it was happening to him as well, so we have someone coming this afternoon from Time Warner to do the repairs for both our computers and the laptop.

Margaret ~ I'm not quite at Week 15 yet, but even though it may still be early in the TKR recovery, it certainly doesn't SEEM that way to me! I suppose that I'm still 'on course' because my internist who had done my pre-op work up, told me that the first two months I'd be cursing at everyone and very cranky. And, by three months, I'd still have pain, but begin to feel a little better. I'm at 3 months and still quite cranky!

Bev ~ I can definitely relate to your "Waaaaaaaaaaa!" How's this?

If I didn't have my sense of humor, I'd really be a mess. Well, more of a mess than I actually am.

Roy ~ My knee still doesn't feel like it belongs to me. How long do you think it might be until that changes?

Jamie ~ Having our friends from the U.K. visiting was such a happy time, that even though I knew that I'd have to 'pay' for that, it still took me by surprise that it would hurt so much.

Does that make sense?

Bev ~ I am still in awe of you, having both knees done one week apart!

Roy ~ When you say, "only exercise really since then has been riding your bike..."

Do you mean a stationary bike or an outdoor bike? I can only shift (or rock) back and forth and still cannot do a full rotation!

 

[Dianne]

hey Twink..I know how you feel and I to am so ready to be eid of the pain..between the knee,the back and the stomach I am a walking time bombsurely it has to get better for us soon..hang in there

Di

 

[referee54]

Hang in there! I was at a party on Mother's Day and a friend of my brother, who i have known for 40 years, was also there---he is a PA and has assisted with TKR's. H even said that he was aware of how long some take to recover---he openly admitted that recovery for some can be very, very frustrating; he also said that, with time, things do get better.

He said that his perspective took a big change when he assisted in the OR and saw what was done to the knee---and then he realized why the length of recovery could be so agonizingly long!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Roy ~ My knee still doesn't feel like it belongs to me. How long do you think it might be until that changes?

Not sure I can help you there; I have had odd feelings of 'there's an alien in there' but only isolated. Of late - last month or so - these knees are really me, no bother.

Roy ~ When you say, "only exercise really since then has been riding your bike..."

Do you mean a stationary bike or an outdoor bike? I can only shift (or rock) back and forth and still cannot do a full rotation!

Road cycling; indoor bike makes me die of boredom. 500 miles in April, just returned to competition yesterday.

But don't forget that by normal standards I am a big-time cyclist. I commuted to work for almost 30 years, riding 6,000+ miles per year, spending £15,000+ on bicycles during that time -- and saving maybe £25,000 in tube fares.

The only advice I can offer is my usual story; if the knee is swollen or painful, back off. Don't do anything that hurts, don't do anything that causes swelling in the following 24 hours. Do stretches for flexion and extension.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thank you all for your encouragement!

I haven't been around lately because of extenuating circumstances. I think that the physical struggle to get through the TKR recovery can be intensified by the emotional events that one has no control over. I'll try to make a long story short:
(1) A long time friend went into cardiac arrest, put in a medically induced coma, suffered multiple strokes and finally after a week, I spoke to her husband and they pulled the plugs. I was waiting for someone to call me with an update but didn't hear from anyone. I Googled my friend and called the cemetery and found that they had had the memorial the day before I called. I couldn't believe that no one called me. I was stunned and haven't had the chance to say goodbye.
(2) My cousins who we are very close to and see often, have a son (33 years old) and he was addicted to alcohol and drugs most of his adult life. He was in and out of rehab and half-way houses, but then it seemed he had made a turn for the better and went into carpentry. He built our little home office last year. He started drinking again, got a DUI and ended up in jail for a day. Went home and got so depressed that he crushed some pills (speed) and snorted them. He ended up in the hospital. Kidney failure and gangrene in both hands and both feet. Had he lived, he would have had both hands and both feet amputated. They discussed every option and had to pull the plugs. His memorial was last Sunday (the day before his 34th birthday). It was a long and painful ride out to their house, but we had to be there.
(3) My 96 year old mother lives in Summerhill Villa Senior Living only minutes away from our younger son, but 30 miles from us. She has been somewhat independent. Tuesday in the middle of the night, she took her walker and a flashlight to go to the bathroom. On her way back to bed, she dropped her flashlight and went to pick it up and fell on her right shoulder! She wears one of those senior alert buttons on her neck. We got the call at 3:00 a.m. and my husband went out there (it's a 30 minute ride) and met our son at the emergency room. She was x-rayed but it wasn't clear if she has a dislocated shoulder or a fracture of the upper right arm. They put her in a sling. My husband arranged for 24/7 care givers to tend to her.

I went to see the surgeon on Tuesday morning and although I finally reached 90 degrees,

he is having a nurse come to the house and fit me with a Dynasplint. I will have to wear this every day for one and a half hours...can you say 'pain and torture'??? I don't think I'm going to like this.

I believe that the acupuncture is helping me with the pain and swelling and allowing me to get the flexion I need. If I have trouble with the Dynasplint,

I'm going to stop using it and just continue with acupuncture.

Have any of you had to use the Dynasplint? And if so, how did it work? Did it hurt?

Oh, and I have a cold and fever

probably from being so run down. The fever finally broke this evening. Our cousins who lost their son, called to ask if our invitation to spend the weekend was still open. I explained that I have a cold, but I said that of course we want them to come. We don't have to 'entertain' them; we're that comfortable with them. They just need to get away (even though it's only an hour drive away) but they want to be with us.

My whole life since surgery has been about my knee...This certainly is NOT what I would have thought to distract me from my knee!

 

[Pumpkin]

My condolences on your losses. Hope you and your Mom are doing better.

 

[kneeper]

(((twinkletoes)))

 

[Lindawalms]

Twink,
I follow you from time to time,
I'm so so sorry about all of the very sad struggles you and your family are going through right now - I cannot imagine how difficult they are...I am praying for you all.

As far as your surgery and your healing - just my opinion but you are early in recovery - for me it takes at least a year - 52 weeks - not 17...

xoxo,
Linda.