Updating my "Hitting the wall" post from the other forum.

[Kimgrif]

I saw my OS this morning. the first thing they did was remove the staples, which I wasn't prepared for (I thought it would be next week). The assistant who did this was less than gentle, especially when mashing the still very tender incision. :(

When the surgeon came in, I didn't get a chance to tell him about my setback over the weekend, how it had affected everything from my ROM right down to my ability to bear weight.

He began manipulating my leg which sent me into orbit, and I had taken two Percoset 5/325 prior to the appointment. He then YELLED at me, told me I wasn't working hard enough, that my flexion should be at least 90 by now (11 days postop) and then filled me in on the horrors of surgical manipulation.

I've been working SO hard. On my home exercises, my husband has gotten angry with me because I push myself to tears working on flexion, etc. He says I over do it. Then the surgeon yells at me telling me I'm not working hard enough. During my PT appointments, my muscles go so crazy that they twitch uncontrollably cuz I'm working so hard, yet I'm not working hard enough.

I'm very down right now.

The OS did give me a script for 45 more Percoset tablets, so that's something.

 

[Linda2]

Your surgeon sounds like a jerk--although he may be a wonderful surgeon. They often deal best with unconscious people. If you have a good primary care doc, consult with him/her. There are other medications that may help you. Remember, I'm just a fellow kneesie, not a doc. I found that muscle relaxants were a huge help for me. The twitching and all could be muscle spasms, and those can really hold you back and cause a great deal of pain. Another thing that could help is short-acting anti-anxiety drug like xanax. I only mention that particular one because it is the one I take. It can help the pain reliever work better, and you not to have not as much anxiety about PT. Hey, it's worth a try. I'll be thinking of you.

 

[ship4]

I agree with Linda. I continue to take an old fashioned prescription called Visteral which was the precurser to Benedryl. It is a muscle relaxant and pain reliever in one.
I also continue to take 10 weeks post op, a 2 mg Delaudid in the AM and PM along with the Visteral and a Celebrex for inflammation.
Hopefully if they give you some type of muscle relaxant it will help you quite a bit.
Best,
Crystal

 

[Simon]

Kim

People are right, your OS is a jerk. There is no way you will get the range of motion you need if you are having that level of pain. Call your primary care doctor ASAP and follow the other posts suggestions.

I spent 11 days post op on the acute rehab floor and without that I don't think I would have hit 95. I managed to get to 110/105 about 6 weeks post op and then was just stuck no matter what I did. The PT thought that was pretty good as you usually get what you have pre op and maybe a bit more considering how bad the knees were before. He thought at that time since we did not seem to be going forward that we would go to 2 appointments a week. Well then I saw the OS and he really would like to see 120 and told the PT to get more aggressive. I am back at 3x a week and we are now at 112/110 with some pushing. I don't have a problem with pain but with muscle tightness especially the hamstrings. I am thinking about muscle relaxants. I also bought a good exercise bike that should be here this week, I figured the knees were more important than the new washing machine.

You are doing what you are suppose to be doing, it is the OS who is not doing his job.

I how you get some better pain relief and muscle relxation.

Take it easy.

Someone on the forum mentioned the book Total Knee Replacement & Rehab by Daniel Brugioni and Jeff Falkel. I wished I had got it early as it has alot of good info and a wide selection of exercise.

Simon

 

[JackieS]

Your surgeon might one day need bilateral TKRs. Wouldn't that be a shame?

Everyone is right. I myself didn't get to 90 degrees until a good three or four weeks in due to a few complications. While your OS offers stronger meds (the strongest I got after leaving the hospital was Vicodin), at least mine knows listening and encouragement go a long way. Don't let him get you down. Keep up your PT and exercise, but don't overdo things. Keep up with your pain meds. From reading the boards and my own personal experience, I think that those with 90 degrees bend eleven days out of surgery are more rare than those who haven't gained that much.

Hang in there. You're smack dab in the most painful and emotional part of this. It WILL get better!

--Jackie

 

[kath]

Wow, jerk is being nice...Jackie is right, one day he will go through something and someone will not be so kind to him.
I would consider finding another doctor myself, bed side manner means alot to some, I know it does to me.
It took me awhile to get to 115 which is really the best it has been for me on a regular basis and I have had both knees done, one Jan and one March. Considering the fact that I was in pain all the time prior this is pretty darn good I think and I am happy with it. I wasn't planning on becoming a gymnist after all this anyway....cheer up, don't push yourself to tears, just keep at it and it will get better. I still have concerns with my last knee and it has been 5.5 months but yet slowly but surely it gets better each day.

 

[Kimgrif]

I asked about muscle relaxers and the OS refused to prescribe anything. I was in Vistaril (sp?) in the hospital, however.

I'm going to have my PT measure my ROM for my left leg today (no surgery there) and see what it is. I know my ROM is bad for both legs, but I don't have "pain" in my left knee like I had in my right knee, prompting the RTKR.

I spent time in the CPM machine last night, the last hour had my flexion going to 80 degrees. I'm going to get back in it this morning before my PT appointment to try to loosen things up. Hopefully it will help.

I did try to sleep in my bed again last night, using the leg immobilizer this time, and again, pure failure. I couldn't take the pain and ended up back in the recliner. My OS had ordered me to sleep in my bed with the immobilizer. He seems to feel the recliner may be too comfortable for me. *sigh* I really am getting depressed at my failure to overcome, but will keep on keeping on here.

 

[JudyS]

Hippie here. I am now really mad at your surgeon. Please realize he is more than a jerk and take the advice of your fellow knee people here. Stay in the recliner if it is more comfortable and you can get some sleep.
I hope your pt is a much better person than your surgeon.

Happy healing thoughts to you from socal
Judy

 

[kath]

Kim, I spent many nights on my sofa, because I could not sleep in my bed. How the heck is your body to heal if you are exhausted. Ask Doug he has experience we used to be up all night walking the floor trying to get comfortable, it is common. You need to sleep when you can and however you can. PT hurts and is uncomfortable and necessary but you don't have to be tortured 24/7.
I really think you need to follow your own common sense and heart with this. You can't be a whimp, but asking you to suffer all night is out of line in my opinion.

Good luck, and go get another surgeons opinion if you still feel unhappy. It is your right to do so.

 

[Kimgrif]

I'm home from my physical therapy appointment. Can I just say that for the horrid behavior of my surgeon, I have the best PT on the planet? He was completely understanding, very supportive, told me to sleep in the recliner if that's what I needed to do. He said that while I couldn't work as hard over the weekend as I had wanted to do due to the setbacks I'd suffered, at least I didn't LOSE ground and for that he was grateful. (Still at 12 degrees extension and 75 degrees flexion.)

He gave me a good workout, a big pep talk, and sent me on my way. I'm now home icing and relaxing. Hopefully I will get a nap. Now if we can just get him to let me move from crutches to a cane... There's always Friday!

Thank you for letting me whine and for the supportive words. They have helped ever so much. I don't see the OS again for two weeks, so plenty of time to try to make some bigger improvements so he'll be happy.

 

[Josephine]

my thoughts on the surgeon .... guess his wife must have burned the toast that morning! (what we OR nurses always said when a surgeon was grumpy or temperamental!)

 

[kath]

Kim,Glad to hear someone is in your corner, makes all the difference in the world. Hope you sleep well tonight in your comfy chair or bed or sofa or wherever feels good.
Don't worry it will get better, much better.

 

[Rowdy66]

Kath, Doctors are rather like mechanics in my mind, there is no way I would allow one to yell at me, I would fire him. Unfortunately I can be a meanie I guess, most people would never dream of yelling back. Everyone here is absolutely telling you right and as for the OS he should be ashamed of himself for yelling and for the whole visit. At your stage 45 percocets were nothing for me, I was taking 5 every three hours plus my regular mucsle relaxers, regular pain meds and Tylenol three times a day. I honestly think that the level of pain meds I got was instrumental in my quick recovery. I will keep you in my prayers. Rowdy