I have been recuperating from a total knee replacement...here are some of my thoughts and progress!
Saturday June 4 , 2011
slight cold, sinus pain, low temp and a scratchy throat. Babysitting kids from the recliner.
Sunday
lunch canceled with the other grandkids, they have chicken pox
Need to calls Doctor's office if I can still have surgery.
Tuesday June 7
to the hospital 6:30 am, lots of blood work, IV started after two trys.
Don't remember much more till in recovery. Very cold, warming me up with blankets, hearing voices that they need to get my temp up. Anesthesiologist looking at ultra sound for the femoral block. Woke up in my room , nurses looking for Steve who was still in Home Depot thought he had more time.
Day1
The Cryo/Cuff on my knee feels like 20 lbs. It continuously keeps my knee cool, when the nurses remember to keep it full of ice.
Two compression cuffs on my legs, catheter, and IV. I'm hooked up to 5 things in the bed.
My dressing is very bloody and I don't want to see the incision or the dreaded "STAPLES".
my right hip hurts a lot.
Day2
Lots of visitors Pastor John, Wendy, s-i-l Debby, Ben and Amber, Mitch Heather and the boys.
received a smiley balloon, diet pepsi, and a bouquet of Lupines.
trying to figure out my pain control, don't like the fuzzy head feeling. Femoral block wore off!
Dr says leg will swell more and bruise more. Use walker for at least 10 days..my whole leg in the next few days turns purple.
Day3
Blood pressure too low for the pain meds, received another IV. bad head ache
Day4
Going home this after noon. Keep dressing dry, staples out in a week. Physical Therapy in the hospital walking the corridor and climbing small steps, good foot up bad foot down continue PT in your home.
My view for the next 6 weeks..Camp is perfect for the recuperation, two stairs to enter , step in shower, commode beside the bed, hand rails in bathroom, and a raised toilet seat.
Day5
Steve is great at keeping track of the medicine, making meals, cleaning up and emptying ..
Met with out patient PT evaluator, will start PT on Monday. Making myself useful on the couch going through buckets of family photos 20 years worth and putting them in chronological order.
Day6
Very sore seems like all I do is pee, very bruised, tired of the couch, feeling restless.
Day7
Medicine causing strange dreams. Trying to stay focused mentally can't focus on a book so trying to set up July calendar. Mom out for a few days, She's had both her knees done.
Week2
Meet Debby my in home PT great lady makes me cry then says that's enough for today
Very encouraging and knowledgeable. Feel like I've been hit by a truck, one step forward 2 steps backward. Great family visits and friends stopping by.
More pain as I do more and stretch more. I take the walker into the shower with me, Steve has a chair ready after wards and helps me dry off and changes the bandage. I still have no desire to see the incision. How can I bend it and move the way PT wants if I see what holds it together?
Putting together a puzzle, cool rainy weather, bored. Starting to have lots of muscle spasms in my thigh, very uncomfortable. nauseated in the mornings, klunky feeling behind the knee.. really questioning if this was all worth it feeling down. Got to get out side...
Walking on the deck and doing my marching exercises.
feels so much better to be out side for a bit.
Sat at the table for my meals. Got my knee to bend 101 deg.Sat on the deck visiting with friends for several hours icing my knee. Out and about the yard with the walker. Trimmed some evergreen trees. Sat in the back of church with 2 chairs and lots of pillows . Iced my knee on the way back to camp in the car. Still lots of pain and aches and bruising. These are a few of my cheer leaders and always ask about my knee.
Week3
Got the staples out of my knee, all 13.They were smaller than paper staples! I was thinking electrical staples, a little patient education before surgery might have helped. Klunking should pass as knee gets stronger.
BEFORE
AFTER
Last week of in home PT soon to be going to Foothills in Cornish. Slept 8 hours without narcotics.Walked down to the beach and back with Deb the PT, very shaky. Sat out on the deck and hulled strawberries.
Lots of naps in the afternoons. Reading again,my head is less fuzzy. Discouraged I can't do more. Doing exercises in bed before getting up. 4-5 hours between pain meds. Only taking narcotics at night. Gave up the walker.
Week4
Vicky and twins arrive for 10 days , a good diversion. Small projects, painting chairs, out side a lot, great weather.PT at Cornish less pain more movement. Swelling going down, Walking to the light house , and to July street. Using the chaise lounge on the deck with pillows and my "blankie"
Walking more. Lots of muscle spasms at night and very achy at the end of the day. Told to drink more water.Keeping the knee and thigh wrapped in blanket seems to help. Lots of activity with the 4th of July weekend.
1Month post op
feeling better, more confident, and seeing progress. Great encouragement from PT.Having family and friends in and out, meals, flowers, games together, really help. Took a day trip, first long trip in the car to Moxie days where Steve was a food judge.
PT says I'm doing great and ahead of the game.
I will have swelling for several more months give it a full year to recover, My goals were so unrealistic, that was the reason for my for my discouragement . TIME. Out and about each day, down to the beach , up to the Eastmans. Still can tolerate the grocery store with hard floors and cold AC. Gave up the cane and toilet seat booster. feeling human.Swimming in the lake, sweeping , cleaning, and trying to be productive. Took care of Grandson for the weekend.
Week6 Sleeping through the night. More family arriving.
Walking the "loop". swimming with out a noodle.Saw the Dr again, He was surprised at how well I was doing, still klunking behind the knee, lower leg still feels bruised. Driving the car locally. Walked July street "loop". too hot , sleeping on the living room floor, no problem getting up and down from so low.
Week7 Last week in Maine. Can see my knee cap and defined thigh muscle. Picking blueberries with the boys.
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