It was Tuesday evening, June 17. Mark and I were having dinner out prior to going to see Christopher Kimball (America's Test Kitchen) at the DuPont Theater. It was there that it dawned on me that it was 12 weeks since my surgery. And I started to cry. Mark and I toasted to my recovery, and I toasted him for his never wavering support.
My last PT is tomorrow and I am to wear my uniform pants, boots and duty belt to do the obstacle course. My employer loaned me old equipment and PT set up an obstacle course that included up and down stairs, stepping over differing heights, getting down on my knees, etc. while carrying about 40-50 lbs of equipment. My ROM is 130+ on my right knee and 125-130 on my left knee (it was the worst one). One of my best at home stretches is kneeling on a pillow and sitting as far back on my knees as I comfortably can do.
Where am I truly? I am pain free, and even the spasms at night have gone away (thank GOD!!!). I walk, bike, dance a little, wear low to medium heels, and I return to work on Wednesday, June 25. Full time, full duty. I have ordered knee pads that I will keep in the medication bag to put on when I need to kneel. While the spasms are gone, I still "feel" my knees when I need to turn over in bed. My knees want to bend, then straighten out, bend, straighten out...lol. They just don't want to be in one position for very long. I take Advil every other day or so, usually when I have overdone it. Even though I am doing great, I can still overdue it...I am reminded that full healing takes about a year.
A funny one...I have been on my church's prayer list for several weeks. 2 weeks ago, I surprised many people by kneeling at the altar rail to receive communion. As we were leaving the church, I said to Fr. Chris said "I do believe you can take me off the prayer list now", and he said "I believe we can".
I am grateful for friends and family who have kept me in their thoughts and prayers, who have encouraged me every step of the way. I am grateful and humbled that I have been able to encourage others whether through this forum or at PT. I had several tell me that I was an inspiration to them...but one man in particular had his knee replacement in January and up until 3 weeks ago could not get past 90 degrees in ROM. He said my "cheerleading" and suggestions on how to breathe through the pain helped him over his fear and now he was 130 degrees!!!
I'll be back to let you know how I did on my return to work. I have no doubt I will be exhausted on those first few days back.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
8 Weeks Today
8 weeks ago today I was medicated with a Dilaudid drip due to pain from the surgery.
TODAY I had my second followup appointment with my surgeon. He is very pleased with my progress and again stated I am at the head of the class for his BTKR patients. He gave me a return to work note (June 18) and said "I'll see you in 5 months". What?
Where am I now? Walking normally most of the time, wearing low heels, riding my bike, other assistive devices (the lift over the potty and shower chair) are no longer in use. I still need some help whether by hand or by using the arm of the chair or sofa to pull myself out of low seating.
If I overdo it, my knees tell me at night with a variety of aches/pains. The nurse today told me that the pain at night and the issues sleeping are the last symptoms to go away.
I am continuing PT until I use up all my visits. I have hydrotherapy once a week, and next week they will start "functional" therapy using the equipment I have borrowed from work.
A friend's sister, who has been following my blog, had her BTKR the day before yesterday. After a less than auspicious start (the first attempted surgery resulted in cardiac arrhythmias under anesthesia, so it was discontinued), this surgery was completed and she is on her way! My best wishes to her! The first two weeks are the worst, but each day is better than the day before.
TODAY I had my second followup appointment with my surgeon. He is very pleased with my progress and again stated I am at the head of the class for his BTKR patients. He gave me a return to work note (June 18) and said "I'll see you in 5 months". What?
Where am I now? Walking normally most of the time, wearing low heels, riding my bike, other assistive devices (the lift over the potty and shower chair) are no longer in use. I still need some help whether by hand or by using the arm of the chair or sofa to pull myself out of low seating.
If I overdo it, my knees tell me at night with a variety of aches/pains. The nurse today told me that the pain at night and the issues sleeping are the last symptoms to go away.
I am continuing PT until I use up all my visits. I have hydrotherapy once a week, and next week they will start "functional" therapy using the equipment I have borrowed from work.
A friend's sister, who has been following my blog, had her BTKR the day before yesterday. After a less than auspicious start (the first attempted surgery resulted in cardiac arrhythmias under anesthesia, so it was discontinued), this surgery was completed and she is on her way! My best wishes to her! The first two weeks are the worst, but each day is better than the day before.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
5 weeks....
I had my one month check in with my OS last Thursday. He pronounced me "in the top 5% of his bilateral TKR patients". I am one of those who think I should always be doing better than I am; that I should be working harder, striving for more. Yet, what I am doing now is more than enough. I just have to recognize it. For those of you who have followed me from the beginning, you will remember my biggest stressor is being able to return to work between 6/17 and 25, or I lose my job. I don't want to jinx my recovery by saying I know I'll get there, or anything else. But so far, so good.
AND yesterday was 5 weeks from the day of surgery! I will readily admit you think you will never get to "point B" or you are forever wondering when "X" will happen or in some cases, go away. However, in public I am walking with a cane, around the house I try to walk without a cane, I am driving, hydrotherapy is now an option and will start in a week or so, sleeping on my side is now possible for a few hours at a time (how many of us find THAT simple accomplishment a blessed relief?), I started cooking some meals again (short and sweet, not hours on my feet), and so much more. Simple movements, positions, accomplishments that only we or our SO recognize.
Fatigue and intolerance (lol) still haunt me and it took numerous experiences for me to realize that after late afternoon, I am just not up to company, or going out. I am hoping after 6 weeks or thereabouts, that starts to disappear.
And starting Thursday afternoon, I will be completely on my own. I had Lynn when I first came home, and my mother, who has been here for 2 weeks, will leave tomorrow. I haven't really needed much of my mom's assistance, but the fresh fruit plate while in bed will be missed in the morning...lol.
AND yesterday was 5 weeks from the day of surgery! I will readily admit you think you will never get to "point B" or you are forever wondering when "X" will happen or in some cases, go away. However, in public I am walking with a cane, around the house I try to walk without a cane, I am driving, hydrotherapy is now an option and will start in a week or so, sleeping on my side is now possible for a few hours at a time (how many of us find THAT simple accomplishment a blessed relief?), I started cooking some meals again (short and sweet, not hours on my feet), and so much more. Simple movements, positions, accomplishments that only we or our SO recognize.
Fatigue and intolerance (lol) still haunt me and it took numerous experiences for me to realize that after late afternoon, I am just not up to company, or going out. I am hoping after 6 weeks or thereabouts, that starts to disappear.
And starting Thursday afternoon, I will be completely on my own. I had Lynn when I first came home, and my mother, who has been here for 2 weeks, will leave tomorrow. I haven't really needed much of my mom's assistance, but the fresh fruit plate while in bed will be missed in the morning...lol.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
11 days, not yet 2 weeks...But NOW it's 3 weeks (or 23 days)
Saturday, April 5
I am psyched about today...Mark is on his way to pick me up since I have been discharged from rehab! w00p! w00p! It's hard to believe it's only been 11 days as it feels like much longer. And because it's only been 11 days, my progress is considered fantastic!
Thursday, April 17
Confused? Sorry...I had started the above entry but never finished it because Mark walked in the door to take me home.
It's been 23 days since the surgery. The first few days at home were a little tough. I went through some depression, found myself overwhelmed when around too many people, so I found myself avoiding our veranda and just staying inside. Lynn was here during the day to help me down the stairs in the morning, keep food and water nearby and generally watch over me. Sometimes at the end of the day I would find myself in tears...so tired, and feeling so limited. I'm pretty sure most of the depression was due to the lack of sleep.
In the beginning I was up and down all night and couldn't get comfortable. That is slowly changing, thank god, and I am getting 4-5 hours of sleep at a time. I am now able to sleep on my side but it takes a great amount of effort to get there, and I can't stay in the same position all night. I've really cut back on my meds, only taking something an hour before therapy and at night to encourage sleep.
Going up and down the stairs has become easier, and I have started trying to go up the stairs, one foot over the other, rather than one step at a time. I have also found myself abandoning my walker while in the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom. It's not a graceful walk, but I walk nonetheless.
Every day is an improvement...I see it, Mark sees it, the physical therapist sees it. In fact today will be my last in home PT, and I start outpatient tomorrow at 9 a.m. Not missing a beat here!
As to the wounds themselves...my right knee looks so different than my left. A little neater if I had to define it, and the vast majority of scabbing is gone. The left knee still has a lot of scabbing and just looks a little angry (there is NO infection). Two different teams must have closed the incisions. I'll ask when I have my follow up appointment. I've had little swelling and the bruising is nearly all gone. While the left leg is stronger, the knee is tighter; and it's the opposite on the right...good range of motion on the right, but not as strong. "Not as strong" is really a "brain/muscle" connection. I was going to the gym and working before surgery, so none of my muscles were atrophied and were stronger than most. But it's a case of the brain and muscle connecting with each other again. The muscles, ligaments, tendons were all traumatized during surgery and so went into "hiding"...lol.
All in all, I would say I am doing quite well (knock on wood). I hope to be able to fully abandon the walker in another week or so, and trade it off for a "pimped out" cane...lol.
I am psyched about today...Mark is on his way to pick me up since I have been discharged from rehab! w00p! w00p! It's hard to believe it's only been 11 days as it feels like much longer. And because it's only been 11 days, my progress is considered fantastic!
Thursday, April 17
Confused? Sorry...I had started the above entry but never finished it because Mark walked in the door to take me home.
It's been 23 days since the surgery. The first few days at home were a little tough. I went through some depression, found myself overwhelmed when around too many people, so I found myself avoiding our veranda and just staying inside. Lynn was here during the day to help me down the stairs in the morning, keep food and water nearby and generally watch over me. Sometimes at the end of the day I would find myself in tears...so tired, and feeling so limited. I'm pretty sure most of the depression was due to the lack of sleep.
In the beginning I was up and down all night and couldn't get comfortable. That is slowly changing, thank god, and I am getting 4-5 hours of sleep at a time. I am now able to sleep on my side but it takes a great amount of effort to get there, and I can't stay in the same position all night. I've really cut back on my meds, only taking something an hour before therapy and at night to encourage sleep.
Going up and down the stairs has become easier, and I have started trying to go up the stairs, one foot over the other, rather than one step at a time. I have also found myself abandoning my walker while in the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom. It's not a graceful walk, but I walk nonetheless.
Every day is an improvement...I see it, Mark sees it, the physical therapist sees it. In fact today will be my last in home PT, and I start outpatient tomorrow at 9 a.m. Not missing a beat here!
As to the wounds themselves...my right knee looks so different than my left. A little neater if I had to define it, and the vast majority of scabbing is gone. The left knee still has a lot of scabbing and just looks a little angry (there is NO infection). Two different teams must have closed the incisions. I'll ask when I have my follow up appointment. I've had little swelling and the bruising is nearly all gone. While the left leg is stronger, the knee is tighter; and it's the opposite on the right...good range of motion on the right, but not as strong. "Not as strong" is really a "brain/muscle" connection. I was going to the gym and working before surgery, so none of my muscles were atrophied and were stronger than most. But it's a case of the brain and muscle connecting with each other again. The muscles, ligaments, tendons were all traumatized during surgery and so went into "hiding"...lol.
All in all, I would say I am doing quite well (knock on wood). I hope to be able to fully abandon the walker in another week or so, and trade it off for a "pimped out" cane...lol.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
P.S.
The staff no longer has to transfer my legs for me...I'm pretty much doing everything myself! Well, me, my walker and I!
Second Week
One week ago at this time I was done with surgery. I remember waking up crying, and not knowing why. I still don't know why...lol. The arthritic pain is definitely gone, but of course, it is replaced by the surgical pain but instead of getting worse, this will continue to get better.
I started writing this one Tuesday morning...it's Thursday morning now...lol. I'm generally pretty active, but if you give me a little oxy, I'm down for the count. Oh well.
PT is enjoyable; I won't say FUN, because there are many other things I would choose to do, but I don't mind going and I look forward to seeing what ROM (Range of Motion) is being accomplished. Right now I am 0/95 on both legs. This is good.
I have yet to "second guess" choosing to have this surgery. I do wish I could get a better night's sleep though. Pain meds kicking in......
I started writing this one Tuesday morning...it's Thursday morning now...lol. I'm generally pretty active, but if you give me a little oxy, I'm down for the count. Oh well.
PT is enjoyable; I won't say FUN, because there are many other things I would choose to do, but I don't mind going and I look forward to seeing what ROM (Range of Motion) is being accomplished. Right now I am 0/95 on both legs. This is good.
I have yet to "second guess" choosing to have this surgery. I do wish I could get a better night's sleep though. Pain meds kicking in......
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Gentle vs Aggressive
Although I thought today was starting off "bad", it actually hasn't been too bad. I asked PT if there was "gentle" approach that we could use today. She said there was and while it wasn't completely discomfort free, I didn't need to sleep it off when I returned to my room AND I wasn't too sore for the afternoon session and so could put my all into it as well. I also iced more often today, before and after PT and a couple more times just on my own. My ROM is 90-3/4 on both legs. Straight leg lifts or partial leg lifts continue to be quite painful and near impossible. I am confident I will be much improved over this week. Interesting how different therapy encourages a different outlook.
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