@Josephine, thank you so much for answering. Finally someone understands and now I don't feel like I am crazy. Although I do have to say today was the first time I didn't have the chills or body aches after PT.
I will try to answer all your your questions.
1. Normally my pain levels are around a 1-3. In the past two weeks I have been hit with horrible pain, just out of the blue. I would wake up and could hardly move my leg. Putting any weight on the leg was very painful. I would say it was between 7 and 8. After taking pain meds, except for one time it was under control within an hour. The pain was in the back of the knee. I talked to my OS about this on Tuesday and he thinks that I had blood pooling in the back of my knee. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't happen again.
This is in addition to the normal stiffness and burning that I feel of and on and occasional stabbing pain in the knee cap. I have also had pain on the side of the knee located on the inside of the knee and it hinders my ROM.
2. I have been prescribed 300 mg. Gabapentin (Neurontin), one capsule at night for 30 days.
5mg. Ozycodone, one to two tablets every 4-6 hours. I was trying to cut down my dosage a bit and it
backfired. For the last week, I have been taking 2 tablets, then 1 tablet. Alternating this dosage every 5-6
hours and It seems to be working. Often times when I take the one tablet, I also take 1 Extra Strength
Tylenol or sometimes 2 but I keep track so I make sure not to exceed 4000 mg in 24 hours.
When I am hit with the horrible, pain I keep taking 2 every 4-5 hours until comfortable.
3. I have a polar machine and I ice my knee pretty much all the time. The machine runs cold water through the part I put on my knee so it doesn't get as cold as if it were ice. I find that the incision area is often times warm, so I will put an ice gel pack on it (always having something between the knee and whatever form of icing I use) for 20 minutes, 20 minutes off.
4. My leg is elevated constantly except for when I am walking, exercising, etc. In the recliner I have two pillows under the leg to make it higher than my chest. At night I have an adjustable bed and have the foot of the bed at the highest setting it will go.
5. This past Monday my extension was a 5 and my flexion was around 82. Two weeks ago when I was first measured after leaving the PT from h@$$ I was at 7 and 62.
6. My activity level is low. In addition to PT three times a week, I do light exercising on days off. I might do a few dishes here and there and have done a load or two of laundry, but that's about it. From the first week I have been pretty much alone during the day as my husband works. My neighbor fixed me breakfast the first week. Otherwise, I get myself something to eat, etc. I also take the dog out once a day, just for a short walk to the end of our walk for him to do his business.
7. I go to PT three days a week. My exercises are:
10 minutes on the NuStep, which is a recumbent cross trainer. I do this at my own pace with no resistance
Heel slides, 2 sets of 10, holding each rep for 5 seconds.
With the back of my leg on a cylinder, lift my leg and hold for 5 seconds. 2 sets of 10.
Hamstring stretch - with loop of cord around foot, pull leg straight up and hold for 30 sec., 3 times
Thigh squeezes with towel under knee, 2 sets of 10, hold each for 5 seconds.
Straight leg raises. With opposite leg bent, tighten quad muscle and do 2 sets of 10 raises
Calf stretch- with foot on slanted wood, stand at bar with body straight until you feel stretch. Hold for
30 seconds 3 times.
Prolonged knee stretch. I sit in chair in front of wall with my toes up against the wall. Each time it gets more
comfortable, I scoot up in my seat a little bit to make the bend harder. I do this at my own pace for three
minutes.
Knee straightening stretch. Sit in a chair with my leg extended on a table of same height for 5 minutes.
Sliding knee bends - lay on a table with feet on wall. Slowly slide knee down until I feel stretch. Hold for
5 seconds, 10 times.
All this is in addition to the therapist working on my extension and bending. She pushes for each but stops when it becomes too uncomfortable.
My at homes exercises consist of heel slides, leg raises, thigh squeezes and walking around the house practicing walking heel to toe.
Thanks again, Anne
United States
