TKR Vickie's Knee Recovery

[Beachmomdk]

Hi,
Vickie you will be able to travel I bet you see a huge difference not doing 2 1/2 of therapy! My PT would never say that! They are there to help you and you pay them so if it is too much don't let them do it! I don't like to travel very much so if I don't feel good it will be miserable. ESP with the heat and humidity at that time of year.
Cathy

 

[gami]

Hi Vicki
I'm sorry to read about all the trouble you are having with your PT...honestly two and a half hours of pain what sort of monster are you paying...that's not what you need. I don't understand why there is such a huge gap between real life recoveries and the text book training of physios. so many just seem to get it so wrong..and so many get so unhappy when we challenge them on their mindset. but if they get unhappy it's better them than us...we are the ones who have had the surgery...and we are the ones in recovery.
Surely real life experience of the many thousands of people from all over the World must have some value.

My initial physio(and only one) held all the catch phrases close to is heart...his weakest comment was...you are not trying hard enough...take more pain meds so you can work harder...it was never going to work ...I wasn't going to do that one week post-op...and I didn't. Even yesterday talking to the rehab guy at the gym...he agreed about the 'window of opportunity to gain ROM post -op....darn come to this forum read real life stories from real people...we are all different it takes time sometimes a long time ...but it will come. But not because of pain and hurt and over medicating so you can push through it

The future well we will do whatever we want to do...we will travel...we will be active and be able to put a lot more living into our lives. One of the most inspiring things that i heard from a friend after I knew i had to have a RTKR was a little story about an acquaintance of my friend who is older than me and within a year post-op she walked the Machu Picchu trail and had a wonderful time. You will do whatever you set your heart to do...the timetable may have to be flexible but you will do it.

hugs Gami

 

[referee54]

owever, when you are hearing the PT say that you can't move onto the next exercise until you reach the ROM that she wants, it just feels like I can't make it thru this.

It is time to find a new PT...PT's work for you---they also are supposed to help you psychologically, as well as physiologically. If this one is not meeting your needs and he is hurting you in a variety of methods and manners; it is time to find one who will help you! You are in charge; not the PT.

Please don't misunderstand, I am motivated to exercise and get my knee healed.

I would have a problem going to this PT, as well; I am sure that we all would feel the same way as you do.

I know that I'm going to get thru all of this

Yes, you certainly will! And, you certainly should be able to travel this summer---and enjoy it. This "bump in the road" needs to be smoothed out for you so that you can continue to recover---and so that you can continue to feel good about your recovery!

 

[SissyG]

Gami, what a great post...I loved it and Referee54 I agree with you completely:iagree: Gami, I found the little story about Machu Pichu especially interesting...I'm a bit older than you but I am going to keep the faith and think positive thoughts on the possibility of getting to see it someday!

 

[Lauramacky]

Hi Vickie Did I read you correctly that you had 2-1/2 hours of PT???? OMG! Even I, who has a lot of PT, have not had that much. Mine last about 1 hour 15 minutes or so. I dunno hun, that might be way too much right now. Everyone is different too, so if you're feeling it's too much, then it probably is! I haven't had a bath yet. We have a vacation home up in the mountains and we're going up there this weekend. It has a nice jacuzzi and I thought I'd set the temp on not too hot and see how it feels. I'm looking forward to it!

Trust me Vickie...I was so down in the dumps it was horrible. My first two months were pretty miserable. It *will* get better! hugs!!

 

[Poof]

Recovery update: The OS's nurse has talked with my therapist. I don't know what the conversation was, but I talked with the PT for a little while and told her that I wasn't going to push the bend anymore to tears. I will try as hard as I can, but I'm going to listen to my body and stop when I know it's enough. She said that I probably won't make it to the desired ROM, but I'm prepared to deal with that. I hope that I don't need a MUA in the future. I just don't see how crying thru therapy and doing exercises for 2-1/2 hours can be beneficial to my knee. ROM was only 96 today. It was 105 on Friday. That was also discouraging....

Thanks for all of your encouraging comments. I haven't felt this down and depressed since the surgery. Maybe all of the pain and therapy has just worn me down. If I still feel like this next Tuesday when I go back for an office visit, then I will ask to change to a new PT.

Thanks for all of your encouragement!

 

[Lauramacky]

Yeah Vickie...you are still so fresh from surgery. I can't even imagine 2-1/2 hours. It's okay to take a day off too. Every day does not have to be filled with exercise. One or two days off won't make or break your recovery. Also, the pain meds really contribute to depression and crying. That's what I finally found out. I had a two-hour crying episode one night. It was horrible! I know you feel depressed and I can hear it in your words. There were times I literally did not want to be here anymore. You WILL get better. it's just a disgustingly slow process. Hugs

 

[Beachmomdk]

Vickie,
Your PT sounds like a jerk! You probably only got to 96 because your knee is swollen and over worked.,I do maybe 15 min to 30 min a day but on and off all
Day bend and straighten my knee and I was at 118 when I first got there and 122 when I left. I do far less exercise than you. I think this is a time where less is better. I would defiantly switch PT people! Don't be depressed but think of healing getting better and finding a positive PT in your life. How rude to say you will not make it! You will make it she is just not helping it and probably her fault you are not farther along! I told him today sometimes I can do 10 reps sometimes not and he said listen to your knee if it is saying no then stop because you will set yourself back by having it so swollen you can't do anything for 2 days. Hang in there it will get better!
Cathy

 

[Beachmomdk]

Laura you are so right on the pain. The doctor increased my pain med and OMG what a difference I do not have the crying and depressed spells I was having. I am so much happier!
Cathy

 

[referee54]

I called my doctors office this morning and talked to them about the excessive amount of time that I am at PT. (2-1/2 hours on Friday).

Honestly, there were battles fought in the American Civil War that took less time than your therapy session, and with much less agony, too!! There is no way that you should be in therapy for 2 1/2 hours---that is absolutely ridiculous and counter-productive!

I was in PT two sessions a week---and only for an hour each time. I would stay and ice my knees afterward, but I only did the exercises for an hour---even less, when you considered that I would ride a bike for ten minutes to warm up the muscles and the knee joints.

What is this PT hoping to accomplish by subjecting you to a 2 1/2 hour ordeal---other than causing you to regress? It is time to find a kinder, gentler (I know that the phrase has been used somewhere before) PT who will help you to make progress.

I do believe that 2 1/2 hours of PT violates some of the Geneva Convention protocol---somewhere, somehow!!

 

[SissyG]

Totally agree with everyone, I have never had 2 1/2 hour PT sessions, never ever! ..that is true Physical Terrorism....There is no shame to asking your OS to refer you to another PT. Hard to believe that the PT would tell you that you will not make your ROM ....what a negative nellie, they should be much more supportive and encouraging.
Just like in all walks of life, there are good and bad people and I am sure there are good and bad physical therapists....I think you need to talk to your OS about making a change.

 

[Poof]

Hi Tim,
I just read your response out loud to my husband! Thank you for making me laugh for the first time in about 3 days! I really needed that.
Vickie

 

[Beachmomdk]

So on a different note my son who is on Az I am in Ca has been having ankle, foot issues even before he left to do a fire,crew job for the summer. It started because the crew that hired him said they do a 18 mile run at the end of two week training in elevation. Having been a runner for years (and look where it got me ugh) so he got all paranoid and went from running 3 miles to 8 the next day. And the problem starts so now he is in another state with doctors I have no clue about. After here gets there they said well me might run 11 but it doesn't sound like everyone does. The job is hiking through hills not running. Anyway now he is looking for a doc. He makes an appt with one sends me his bio and it was mostly how he does replacements. So I said no that is not the one you want. He found another one sports medicine specializes in ankles etc. so he calls and cancels the first appt. he says the lady was really rude. Then he tells me she asked why I was canceling amd I told her I found a better doctor and she hung up on me. Lol I just let it go even though I wanted to explain that probably wasn't the best answer. He is only 21 he will learn. Anyway it gave me a chuckle.
Vickie I sure hope you are feeling better this evening I am laying here with ice!
Cathy

 

[SadKnee]

I called my doctors office this morning and talked to them about the excessive amount of time that I am at PT. (2-1/2 hours on Friday). The reason I actually called though was to see if I needed stronger pain meds to make it thru the bending exercise that I do at PT. I cry thru the entire thing and it feels awful. The nurse said that they were more concerned about me getting my knee straight at this point and my ROM of 105 is fine for now. She asked me to get the PT to call her to talk about the exercises. Now I figure that the therapist is going to be upset that someone has challenged her way of doing things. I may have to end up switching to a different place. I'm praying that it all works out.

Vickie

It really is time for you to either tell this PT that this is unacceptable or find a new one. This should not be happening to you! If you and her cannot work as a team then find a new one. I feel bad for you. She sounds crazed. Hang in there! Take care!

 

[Sasysusie]

Vickie, remember at about 6 weeks is when my OS pulled me from therapy! He asked that very question, are they pushing the bend to the point of tears, and i answered yes, he said your done your ot going back. My knee was swollen and so inflammed. I have never stopped exercising, but he clearly told me to only do my exercises, bends and stretches to a point of discomfort and stop at that point. He also told me to keep up my walking and exercises and try to relax a bit about the rom and that it would come. I was worried but slow but sure i am getting more. Its taken weeks to get this inflamation out of the knee, i still have it but nothing like i did while i was stil doing thereapy and being brought to tears everytime. Its hard to believe it will come but Im trusting my OS anf is sure if i give it time it will. He does no believe you have to get all your bend in the beginning and my O is a very wise man. Hang in there and trust it will come and try to let it heal. Sounds like your on the right track for sure in telling them you are going to listen to your knee and stop when it tells you to. Stay strong with that your making a very good decision.
Dont ever worry about posting your good days and your rough days, it helps us all since we all have those days, its just the process of healing for this surgery is what im learning.
Hope your day goes well
Susie

 

[SissyG]

I was kind of surprised when I found out that my OS will not send me to PT after surgery..he said that he has seen too many patients who were injured by gung ho PT's....I know this to be true from past experience. I had arthoscopy surgery on a torn meniscus on my L knee and after home PT I was sent to a local PT...they were a PT machine and I was leery from the beginning because they had very young assistants helping you do the exercises..one day I asked to speak to the head PT and guess what...I was told he was golfing that day...WOW...I was already pretty irritated by the attitude of the assistants when they pushed me to what I felt was torture, my knee was swelling and inflammed and did not recover between visits. When I went back to the OS I told him exactly how I felt and also that there was not a PT in the office that day and how my knee felt..he sent me for an MRI and my meniscus was torn again...that is when he told me I had to have a partial knee replacent, after that surgery I refused to go to the first PT and he sent me to anothe office that was 100% opposite in protocol that the first PT..he didn't push me to the point of pain..he let me tell him when it was too much for me to handle ...this was in 2009 and my new doctor now tells me that I need to have a TKR on that knee, this will have to wait until after the first of the year..I am still able to walk ok on it but he said that my doctor used a replacement that is too large for my knee.. After my surgery next week I will be happy to do my exercises at home this time..My husband won't let me sluff off and not do them and he also will not push me beyond my limits.

 

[gami]

Hi Vickie ..I hoping today is a better day for you and you have ditched PT regime that was over the top. Just be reading the posts from fellow forum members you can see there is a gentler way that WILL achieve results for you just as it has for others.

You know I've been having massages of my legs for a few weeks now post-op and at the moment a lot of attention is being paid to the area around my scar to help break up any build up of scar tissue which they explained will also hinder free movement of the knee. It certainly always feels better after all the attention and is just another way of working our way through this sometimes frustrating recovery ride we are on. Try and think back to just after your op...see how far you have come already and each day you are getting just a little bit stronger. The ROM will come ...don't fret my friend...it will come.

hugs Gami

 

[Poof]

Six Weeks Today: There is no way that I can thank all of you for the encouragement that you have given me this week while I have been trying to figure out what to do about PT. By hearing your individual experiences, it makes me know that I'm not alone with this. I felt totally broken down by this and that's just NOT how I normally am. Today I got up early, did some much needed cleaning around the house, did a quick shopping trip and bought myself something new to wear, got my hair highlighted and then picked my husband up for lunch. My knee held up during all of that. It was a little sore by lunch time! I'm home now and heating it up to do some stretching exercises. I think that I'm going to use some of Roy Gardiner's exercises that he has illustrated. They make sense to me and I'm grateful that he has shared them with all of us. (Thanks, Roy!)

So at six weeks, I don't have any statistics to post. It seems like it has taken a while to get here, but everyday I know things will get better. My knee is so much stronger. It is healing on the outside. The swelling looks better. I'm sleeping so much better now than I did before. I will continue to work on the bend. Next Tuesday I will discuss my therapy options with the OS.

Once again, thanks to all of you and please keep posting. All of your posts keep me moving in the right direction!

Vickie

 

[Beachmomdk]

Ok so I was so confuses if we were 6 weeks or 7 weeks lol can we say too many med lol glad you cleared that up with me. My husband and I couldn't decide. Glad to hear you are having a better day. Do you have to finish with your current Pt. maybe you could save the visits for a new one!
I went to gym and decided there are just exercises that need real pain meds to do so have to do them at home. One is with the feet on the wall. Then I came home and looked at my wall where I do these exercises at and there are sliding marks on it. Lol I wear socks so wonder it the weight dragged on it lol. Hope everyone is having a good day.
Cathy

 

[Poof]

Hi Cathy,
I went back out and checked the calendar again. It is definitely 6 weeks today for both of us.

My knee is still reminding me about every 4 or 5 hours that it hurts! Not awful pain, but it does get my attention, especially after exercise. I'm going to take the meds as long as my knee still hurts and my doctor agrees that they are necessary. I tried taking Tylenol and Aleve together to see if that was strong enough, but the pain broke through that. Who knows...in a week everything may be totally different. I no longer have those giant waves of pain that used to come on out of nowhere. In fact, I had truthfully sort of forgotten about them until I was typing this to you. That seems pretty amazing because when we were going through that I was positive that I would never forget. Guess that means that we are already getting a lot better! So those pains were about 7-8 and these are more of a 3-5 range. What do you think?
Vickie