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Well, that sounds like a very intensive rehab program! I'll be interested to hear what they'll have you doing for all those days and hours, hopefully, nothing "ouchy." I wonder if this program is unique to Austria?
 
I am also curious. One positive thing on the form I must fill out is that they ask you to write out what's your goal i.e. what would you like to achieve through the rehab. I imagine they will quote whatever I write every time, to motivate me. So I better write something good and general.
Any suggestions?
I know from what the lady at the clinic said, they do gait analysis and corrections, all kinds of massages, water therapy, and gasp! floor exercises for strengthening. But also they teach you relaxation techniques for pain management.
And a lecture or two on weight control/ reduction.
On the 26th I might be able to report more.
I've already told my DH and best FF that if something hurts I won't do it. Both remarked: "surely they won't ask you to do something that hurts"
<grin>
Best FF had a hip replacement end of April and she'll be going inpatient at the same time somewhere else for 3 weeks. (6x a week a few hours in the morning, a few in the afternoon)
She's already worried about her 2 cats and little garden, that is if her husband will care for them well.

Last night I had horrific back pain, the area between my shoulder blades. First time I ever had that. It was so bad, I forgot about my knee pain. I took 15 drops of tramadol and was asleep after 15 minutes. Thank science! I still feel some pain there, but paracetamol is helping.
I have a sore throat too.
Sheesh! Enough illness already!
 
I hope you're feeling better today. Strep throat is going around here in Virginia. It seems like it's always something.

You might have pulled something between your shoulder blades without even realizing it until last night. I hope it has improved.
 
Interesting the spa! Keep us updated !
 
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Tomorrow it'll be 5 weeks post op. "My knee has a mind of its own"...to quote many of you.
It felt ok yesterday morning but at night OMG the pain! Mostly from the muscles? that are attached on the lower thigh snd swing around to the back of the knee. It feels like a ' stretched out about to detach pain'.(had that in my ankle once)
Today I can't even do my funny walk. I can bend it ok ...guestimating 100 ° but lifting leg to step heel then toe hurts due to above.
Went to meet my new GP. (old one of 35 years retired 2 months before my operation) due to continued sore throat. Yes, it it bright red. I'm supposed to gargle w salt water. Thank goodness no antibiotics.
He looked at scar. Said it looked fine, as it should be. That it's warm means healing still going on below. ( knew that already) That I have muscles pain is obvious, he said. Walking 1 km (including at home) is good with rests. :-)
He also said outpatient at the place I'm going to is good. 6 weeks a bit every day ( 4x week) is better than 3 weeks intensive.
Yay. + Ha! Silently I was saying to my sceptical DH "see! told you so!" <snicker>
I'll be updating here next week and after appt w OS on the 17th as there's not much to report other than two steps forward one back.
I'll be going out to restaurant w DH (for our 38th this Friday) and then tada! to a movie.
Will take a fold up little stool w me and put my foot up at both places.
 
4x a week isn't intensive??? Holy Smokes, not sure I've heard of someone going to PT 4x a week.

When you go out to eat try proppping your leg up on a spare chair or if in a booth lean against the side and prop the leg up on the booth seat. Either way would be better than a little stool. At 10-11 weeks post op I went out to dinner and Wicked. The tickets were a Christmas gift because we all thought I'd be just fine to do dinner and a show. By the time I got home I had to peel my trousers off like a banana! Then I had to elevate toes above nose to get the swelling down before I could even go to bed that night.
 
KarriB, it's part of the standard package after TKR here. They name it Rehabilitation. A combination of different things. AFAIK (as far as I know) we're always in groups some are large, 10 people some only 3 or 4...so we take turns. On one day it will be 45 min of gait training, followed by 30 min on a bouncy ball or 40 min water therapy. On another day floor exercises followed by some diet lecture. I assume I won't be "active" the entire time. Some days its 1 unit some days 3.. As I wrote before...maybe it was on another thread? I'll find out more on the 26th. That's then 8 weeks post op for me.
Heard from 2 docs now that it's better this way instead of 4 to 5 units per day, 6 days a week!
The hardest part, at first , will be the 30 min there by car each way.
 
Hmmm....I wonder what you did yesterday that might have brought on such severe night pain? It's almost always our fault, eh? Yeah, it is; pffft! Hopefully you'll loosen up a bit today, but perhaps a day of rest is in order? I think that last is one of things that's most difficult to accept once we are feeling a bit better and becoming more active. For many months, it will still be a requirement; pathetic, but true! Just be kind to your knee today.:SUNsmile:

I have to believe that the spa PT of 4x a week must have a lot of *down time* built into it. Otherwise, I just don't see how anyone could manage without a lot of pain and swelling. Perhaps the exercise days are interspersed with lecture days? For instance, I go to PT 2x a week and each session is only an hour. We don't do anything that hurts, but...I'm still tired, and though looser, definitely a bit sore afterwards. I spend the rest of those days with my sofa, the pillow and the ice. I'll be looking forward to your reports from the inside!:happydance:
 
I'll bet by 8 weeks post-op the 30 minute car ride each way won't be a big deal. Just bring something (a backpack or book?) to rest your OP leg on if you choose to ride in the passenger seat. Not a bad idea to bring some ice along in a cooler as well....just in case!
 
Hehe.. still have to get a cooler. Next Saturday that's on the list as is a folding cane.
Yes I know Amazon has those. Might order from them if nothing suitable can be found at our local mall.
Re rehab: promised self: if it hurts, I won't do it.
There's a beautiful huge park surrounding the venue.
I'll find a bench and nap if too tired to ride home.;-)
Why my knee hurt last night? I think I lifted something too heavy. Yeah it's always our fault Hehehehe.
 
I was so glad they didn't out me on a bouncy ball! I have a terrible and not very graceful habit of falling. That ball would've meant the floor and I becoming very friendly.
 
So glad your throat did not require antibiotics. Your rehabilitation sounds like summer camp - wonder if there will be rehab songs? I think Bonesmart should investigate a summer camp for all of us - we could bring our Lounge Doctors, meds, we could have naptime, smores, campfire , , , , but no top bunks to have to climb into.
 
And no low bunks to have to push up out of!

Sometimes just moving the knee a different way will cause nighttime pain. But, lifting something too heavy will definitely do it. I experienced that myself after buying groceries. I thought I'd be fine carrying them in. Wrong! I suffered for days after that little stupid act! I hope you are better tonight!
 
What they do at your rehab camp sounds interesting, @VW54 . If you happen to strike a day when doing everything just seems too much, for either your knee or your mind, do remember that you can always opt out of that activity. Getting enough rest is still important, even at that stage of recovery.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?

I'm really glad they have sessions about gait. That's one area I feel that the usual brand of PT is often lacking. With the concentration on ROM, people get discharged once they have reached a certain number, when working on gait and balance could still be helpful. (Climbing off my soapbox now! :heehee:)
 
I am fortunate that my PT focuses on gait and balance and not on ROM Celle. Plus, I would probably never get discharged with my slow to come ROM - but my gait is improving daily and my balance is terrific, all things considered. :walking:
 
Ditto what kmak81230 just said about PT. Mine evaluates my gait and balance at every session. Thankfully, I seem to have good balance....the gait, well...not quite as good yet. It's improving though.:SUNsmile:
 
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