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[nensi]

@VW54 where should I measure on my knee to follow swelling?


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[VW54]

Ah yes... forgot to reply. I believe that the measurements were done as part of some doctors studies? In any case, they (the interns) measured at the top of the knee, just above the patella.

 

[Pheebs52]

VW54, ugh! I expect your lousy night was a combination of all those factors. I wish you could have a DOR today, but I see you are heading out to celebrate a friend's birthday instead. Crossing all digits for you to remain comfortable!

 

[knit2tog]

Have fun at your friend's celebration!

 

[becticu]

Just getting caught up with your thread since I was out for a few days! Wow, making revolutions on the bike!! I'm jealous but thrilled for you.And the plus of DH vacuuming. That deserves a double wow! Lots of celebrations going on for you to enjoy. The spa sounds amazing with the hot springs!

 

[nensi]

Thanks, VW54, I started measuring today. Hope you had a nice evening out!

 

[VW54]

Physiotherapist is back from holidays and came by this noon. Of course she noticed I am limping and wanted to know why, despite all other progress I've made. Going up steps foot over foot ( holding on) is good as is flexion 115-120 and extension -3. Did 15 bike revolutions. She wants me to try this 3x a day, (...Um... ok) and increase til I can do 5 minutes.
I can do squats...sort of, but she said she's surprised that although I can do that, I can't do steps down foot over foot but thinks in 2 or 3 weeks I might be able to, and should continue to try on my training box every day.
At my request I got down on the floor ( first time since the beach last year this time and on my non op knee I managed to kneel shortly with little pain) and got up again, using the butt in the air method. She laughed but said "anything that works"
And so am now writing w knee elevated and iced because it got hot after all that.
Anyone care to comment or guess why I can do all those things but walking normal is still somewhat painful near the patella?
Got the xrays finally. Hope uploading works.
I wonder what that gap on the lower shelf (plastic part) is about. Second photo side view.

 

[Pheebs52]

VW54, this is a fantastic progress report in spite of some limping; hurrah! Now, about that limping....does it hurt when you walk? If not, is just your old habit and perhaps you haven't placed all your trust in the new knee yet? If it does still hurt when walking, have you mentioned this to your OS? With all you can do, especially going up the stairs (I'm assuming without pain?) and the cycling (also pain-free?) it does seem a bit odd to limp while walking, but....old habits die hard. Very hard! One more question: Are you wearing new shoes when walking? If yes, great. If not, get some.

 

[VW54]

Hi there!
Yes as the day progresses it hurts more and more to walk be it barefoot/socks or sandals or shoes (including new ones)
I did tell OS two days ago because he too noticed limp. I told him it was also to avoid that horrid clonk with every lift I make. He said as I reported 2 days ago that half his patients complain about the same and it tends to get better as muscles surrounding knee / patella get stronger. Half a year? 8 months? is his take. He did verify that my knee clonks. He could feel it! My DH was a witness. Physiotherapist also noticed and today she even said it feels creepy... So it's not just my imagination. In short because it hurts I walk w stiff knee and that's not what I have expected by this point in time. That part disappoints me.
That part keeps me from even more recovery progress thus far. It's a negative thing to say on this forum but it is, for me, a fact.

 

[sistersinhim]

Your knee is only 7 weeks old. It's not even 1/6 of the way of at least a year's recovery. Pain even at 4-5 months is normal, so you are worrying way too much. You're still in the angry tissue stage. All your knee needs is TLC, just like the new baby it is. Spend as much time icing, elevating and taking pain meds as needed. I don't think I have heard anyone write that they were painfree at 7 weeks. Please give your knee the time it needs to heal.

 

[liam2015]

just to show how everyone is different...your flexion at 8 weeks is much better than mine at 12 weeks, yet you can do a full rotation on the bike whereas i cannot. you can go up the stairs alternate feet but not downstairs alternate feet, yet i can go upstairs alternate feet and downstairs, although gingerly downstairs alternate feet with less of a flexion. your physiotherapist thought your clonk was "creepy", yet mine was happy to hear a bit of a clink when she was flexing my knee (i don't feel or hear the clink).

i don't know why you're limping a little ~ i can't remember now what i was doing at 8 weeks but i do have to walk mindfully or else i could fall into a limp. that was a lot of bike revolutions you did ~ 15 ~ i'm impressed you could do that and jealous but maybe that has caused some extra swelling and pain. you mentioned in a previous post that the bike revolution was "somewhat forced". i wonder if you hurt yourself a little and your knee is still recovering? i think you're doing great and hope you can figure out what to do to cut down on the pain and walk more normally.

 

[VW54]

Thanks.
I just have to be more patient.
Not even sure if the constant pain I have since Monday is due to OS manipulation or the bike. It hurts like the arthritic pain before the operation. That is new. It hurts more when I walk than 2 weeks ago.
I know it's not a continuous improvement recovery. ...and yet, why this constant pain even when I do nothing? Acetomenaphen helps a little.
The 3 half tablets of Naprobene (12 ,4, 8 p.m.)help keep swelling down as does icing and elevating.
Yep I am truly an impatient patient. Thanks for letting me vent e ery so often.

 

[Pheebs52]

So, when you walk, you hear and feel the *clonk* and it hurts? This is why you are limping? I can feel (but not hear) a click/clunk when I shift my leg from side to side, mostly when in bed, but....it doesn't hurt; phew! It's just odd. PT tells me if he didn't hear the clunking and clicking, he'd be worried. He says it's a good sign, but again, it doesn't equate to pain for me. He also said it will diminish over time as my muscles around the knee get stronger and more healing takes place.

I think perhaps you or the OS overstressed your knee, perhaps on the bike, stairs or just in his office? Maybe a week with just ADL's would be helpful? It certainly can't hurt, right?

I do agree with Liam. We all heal differently and have different capabilities (or lack of) at any given point in time. We all have a marked tendency to note what we can or cannot do by the week, but I don't think it's really a good measure of anything. After all, we're humans, not programmed machines, so expecting "X result by Week 7," is really just a pipe dream of sorts. I think we can all expect to feel relatively *normal* in 6 months to a year. But, how we get there is a very custom journey.

 

[Pheebs52]

What is Naprobene, an anti-inflammatory?

 

[liam2015]

VW54...vent here anytime ~ we can all learn from each other. please let us know when the pain subsides and if you think the Naprobene helps with the swelling. i would love to know because i still have this stubborn swelling which might be what's holding back my r.o.m. feel better soon.

 

[VW54]

Hi Pheebs
Naprobene or Naproxen is a variation? of ibuprofen but supposedly better for reducing inflammation after operations or so said nurse and GP post op.
It doesn't work well with opioid meds so important to note that.
My upgraded knee clonks with every lift a d shift. It doesn't hurt when it clonks it's just so noticeable it makes me "tense" < can't explain it better.
The pain right now*, when I walk, is more at the patella, specifically just below it. This OS said is due to muscles being mangled or atrophied? and must heal and build up.
*2 weeks ago the pain was just behind the knee.
Have hardly walked or exercised since Monday. Can't be good for building muscles eh? I'm in a quandary. I exercise a bit, some ADL and then I hurt.
Rest ice elevate...same as in week 3! Rinse repeat. Grumble.

 

[Pheebs52]

Aaarggh, how annoying and frustrating VW54! I too have found pain to be a "moving target," though lately, if I experience it, (not often, phew) it always seems to go back to a small spot in the medial area or top of tibia. I had a lot of tibial degeneration, so I suppose this is to be expected now and then.

Here's to a less *clonky* day!

 

[VW54]

My favourite reading glasses broke and DH needed a screen protector for his phone and he needs a new pillow, and we need a new mini cooler and maybe a collapsible cane so we decided to "go shopping" at a local mall and I got 1 km walking done...maybe more with an icecream parlour stop half way. Pity ice cream coolness didn't reach knee.
It was my first shopping expedition since my knee operation.
Glasses check. Pillow check. No coolers in the size we need. No screen foils for his phone model. Cane too big and a bit too expensive.
Must turn to Amazon again. Alas.
Knee was achy when I got home but DH said I was walking ok. Guess I limp more without walking aid. Hmmm. Something to think about.

 

[sistersinhim]

Wow, you sure had a busy day for your first shopping outing. I hope your knee won't fuss about it tonight.

What would we do without Amazon? At least once a week I'm buying something from them.

 

[kmak81230]

Hi VW54 -- Until this week (end of week 10, start of week 11) I have had pain just below the patella when walking - and also in a small area on the outside of the knee. It felt like my old arthritis pain - though my PT assures me it is not. This week is was more intermittent and I have not had it at all the past two days -- I figured it was still part of the healing process - so perhaps the same will happen for you? I still limp - I think primarily due to my relatively poor extension. I really have to concentrate on the walking - sometimes I don't think I am actually limping but it feels like I am because the knee feels so different. The cane helps keep me in better walking form I think.