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Getting a New Knee After Africa Trip

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by jerrymildred, Jul 29, 2021.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Oy vey...
     
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  2. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Yeah me too. I thought I wanted some retreading down there, but hobbling around on OEM suddenly seems very attractive.

    But congratulations to the brave one and sincere wishes for good recovery.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i used to roll mrs. b's achilles with a frozen water bottle, and the whole back of her leg with a rolling pin
     
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  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    That's a good idea. I tried using the knee wrap and ice water machine for the ankle. It didn't seem to help. Achilles feels better today, though.

    This morning, the whole leg is feeling better. It's like it's improving, but as it improves, the effort in stretching it increases and that keeps pain during & after therapy at about the same intensity. But yesterday, after my last workout-induced icing, I was comfortable pretty much all afternoon and evening. So it's not constant pain ... but like any pain, when it hurts, you feel like it always has and always will hurt. Then it goes away and it's gone a while before you realize it. :LOL:

    The PT (pushy therapist) will be here pretty soon, so the present feeling of comfort will soon be gone for a while. But then again, it's nice to see how much more I can do each day.
     
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  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Thanks. For anyone getting a knee replaced, having someone at home who loves you makes all the difference in the world. I would never want to try this if I was single.
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. we were in a class with single people before surgery, it was very difficult for them. pretty much helpless except when help was there.

    it is interesting in modern medicine, how doctors differ in opinion of recovery protocol.
    mrs. b had no ice machine, no exercise machine. just ice packs sent home with her from the hospital. p/t started the next day at the remote center. she had to get out on crutches, get in and out of the car and etc., and was given exercises to do after each session. her surgeon believed that was good for recovery.
    but we have friends whose protocol was more like yours. keep the faith jerry!
     
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  7. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I decided to try to keep an activity log today to track how I'm spending my time now, 12 days post-op. I'll post it tomorrow if I get to it. The short version so far is that caring for the knee is almost all I do. But those of you who have experienced this already knew that, right?

    Right now, I'm checking the web with the laptop after using the cpm machine and the ice. PT is due here in 30 minutes or so. Last time, she had me walking outside. Nice to be out in the sun again. Pain level still fluctuates between zero and nine. Sometimes, it's obvious why it hurts and sometimes it's a little mysterious.
     
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    PT had a new one for me yesterday. Too hot to walk outside. She had me walk about 35 feet through the hall, living room, and kitchen, and then back ... without the walker. Said I did fine, but gave me a very strong warning to only do that if she's here. It's finally starting to really feel like I'm making progress. (y)

    Here's the sort of log that I made yesterday. I may have missed a few events. Does this seem familiar, @edthefox5 or @bisco?
    Screen Shot 2021-10-12 at 9.34.05 AM.png
     
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  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Your making incredible progress. So much further than I was. Good job Jerry.
     
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  10. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    This is true, always.
    It just SEEMS more apparent at times, especially when you marry UP.

    BTDT.

    “A man with a good wife is the luckiest of God's creatures, and one without must be among the most miserable, I think, the only true blessing of their lives that they don't know how poorly off they are.”

    One of the few things that Stephen Edwin King (probably re-)said that I completely concur with.....

    Keep healing!
    Prayers sent.

    A former co-worker just had his knee replaced.
    The doctor advised him to push as hard as he can.
    "....You ain't gonna hurt THIS knee, but it's gonna hurt YOU while it heals."
     
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i hate to admit, but i cannot remember, and neither can mrs. b. but that is also good news :cool:

    fwiw, i think you are doing great. it can seem interminable at times, mrs b remembers that!
     
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  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    And that's just what I did! (y)

    It does that from time to time.

    Today, they took off the bandage for the last time. It's a day or two late, but that's because of the Plavix. Looks completely closed now and the stretching is slightly easier without the bandage fighting me.
     
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  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did you get staples, and when do the take them out?
     
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  14. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    No staples. All the stitching is internal and then they glued the surface. The scar should just be a straight line.

    PT was just here and was pleased. She gave me more things to do.

    Today, it's feeling so much better that I'm planning to reduce the Percocet at my next dose from 3/4 of a pill to half a pill. Last night, I skipped the midnight Tylenol with no ill effects. Also, I just now was finally able to get my chilled water circulation stuff set up for icing the knee without any help. Most times, now, when I need something, I just go get it rather than ask for it. The knee seems to be getting better quicker over the past couple days.
     
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you're supposed to keep asking for help, and pretending you can't do it. what kind of marriage are you running there?:cool:
    i hope mrs. b doesn't read this thread :oops:
     
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  16. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Scratch that idea!! It really got to aching. Went back to 3/4 of a pill last night after supper. Better again today.

    ROFLOL!!
     
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  17. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Just finished the 3 times/week visits from PT. I get 2 per week for the next two weeks, then one per week for the next four weeks, which takes me through November. After that I can to go outpatient and use their equipment. Still progressing well except extension is becoming the bottleneck. Can't quite get the knee straight just by squeezing the quads. It needs help from other forces, so I have some extra-excruciating things to do now.

    Mostly, it's in the background now. Only hurts during therapy or in the trough at about pain pill time. Skipping my mid morning Tylenol today didn't help so I'm giving it an extra ice session right now.

    All in all, it's surprisingly close to what I'd anticipated.
     
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  18. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Great progress reports!

    Keep 'em coming.
     
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  19. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Here comes another update. Exactly three weeks post op.

    I had a couple kind of disheartening days due to an apparent lack of progress. But the past couple days have been great. I can already get the knee almost straight. Not sure of the degrees I can flex it, but it's way way more than 90. Still lots of swelling in the way, though.

    I reduced the two nighttime pain meds from 3/4 of a pill to half a pill. The two daytime doses are still at 3/4 of a pill so I can better torture myself. And I'm skipping the two nighttime Tylenol doses. I'm able to do a lot more stretching in between my three periods of exercise. And I think last night I got my best sleep yet. No need for a nap today and that's a first since the operation.

    PT was here today and seemed genuinely impressed. She tried pushing me around again to check my balance. Pushed a lot harder than the other time. The walker is now optional when in the house. But I'm still a little wobbly sometimes.
     
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  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    excellent jerry, keep the faith!(y)
     
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