Christmas emotional roller coaster

Hi caz 

I'm just 7 weeks and feeling like i can't cope any more.  Occasionally there is a day wheni  think it's getting better and then I'm back In a world of pain and stiffness. The back of my knee is hurting when i try to bend now . Always something . 

I went out to the shops today  and took so long crossing the road the lights changed and motorists Were  ready to go..... ! 

I'm so fed up right now! 

hi suzi ... 7 weeks is a tricky one.  i can remember it well.  i too was having what felt like a depression to be honest.  the pain was not really getting better, nor was the bend of course.  i was working, going to physio, going to acupuncture (which really helped) and was just exhausted.  all i can say, as trite as is sounds, hang in there.  miraculously, at 8.3 weeks, i had an epiphany and decided that's it!  i want my life back.  this is when i stopped the whole crutches/stick thing - and walked through the pain - and discussed with my physio that i would go in to have my leg mobilized.  

hold on, don't despair.  all of a sudden things get better.  one day. then two days in a row.  i still have bad days but they are now interspersed with lots of good days too.

caz ... so sorry to hear your christmas was messed up by the change of meds.  that is really too bad.  and you were doing so well!  why on earth did your doc change a winning combination?  fingers crossed you will get it sorted today and you can go back to being our super woman, on the bike, walking the dogs, etc.  life will look soooo much better without pain.  hang in there.

Thanks Britta

I was finding that none of the physio for straightening was working. It was really getting me down. Suddenly i had what seems like an epiphany! Lol

i was sitting in my comfy chair starting at the floor and suddenly i wanted to just lay flat out. 

I slid off the chair onto a cushion and then inched across until my head was on the cushion and my body flat on the carpet . Bliss! 

I then started my bends and stretches right there on the floor. 

I realised my op leg calf didn't touch the floor where it wasn't straight enough so concentrated on that - pressing down with my other leg /foot. 

I also maneged some leg lifts and some uncomfortable but promising bends. 

To get up, i rolled over into my good knee(on the cushion)  and then also on to my op knee. It felt ok! Numbness helped. I then got up onto my good leg with the help of the chair of course . 

For about an hour afterwards i found i could walk almost normally! I was ecstatic! 

I'm going to do this twice a day now...... 

Thanks Britta

I was finding that none of the physio for straightening was working. It was really getting me down. Suddenly i had what seems like an epiphany! Lol

i was sitting in my comfy chair starting at the floor and suddenly i wanted to just lay flat out. 

I slid off the chair onto a cushion and then inched across until my head was on the cushion and my body flat on the carpet . Bliss! 

I then started my bends and stretches right there on the floor. 

I realised my op leg calf didn't touch the floor where it wasn't straight enough so concentrated on that - pressing down with my other leg /foot. 

I also maneged some leg lifts and some uncomfortable but promising bends. 

To get up, i rolled over into my good knee(on the cushion)  and then also on to my op knee. It felt ok! Numbness helped. I then got up onto my good leg with the help of the chair of course . 

For about an hour afterwards i found i could walk almost normally! I was ecstatic! 

I'm going to do this twice a day now...... 

well done, suzi!!  wow, you definitely did have an epiphany and a very brave one to boot.  sometimes you have to try things and see if it works and just how much pain a certain thing causes.  sometimes we are surprised, like me walking down stairs.  most are fine but some take my breath away as they are too steep but it is all about trying and building up that battered self-confidence.  so again, well done!!  as your school teacher used to say: "keep up the good work!"

Haha Thankyou! I was so happy i listened to some music and had a little dance - albeit mainly one legged! Haha!  

Wow

well done that sounds a good exercise for anyone who can get down on the floor

i can't ..due to the other knee needing a replacement and having back problems 

but if you think about it all the physio couches are flat just like the floor so it's got to be good for you 

I have a really solid heavy dining table which is quite large when extended...I'm going to try laying on that and exercising 

you have certainly given me an idea 

I'll let you know if it works 

 Jean 

Ah bless you Caz. Hope you doctor can sort you out. It's a shame we can't all meet together . Can you imagine sitting in a big circle like an AA meeting with one leg out straight crutches delicately balanced on the side of the chair all weeping and then laughing. 

You are an amazing artist could you do some art therapy.

lets hope for a better 2015. Xx

Hi Caz

i hope the Doc sorts your painkillers out for you 

my Christmas night was the most painful for a long time...I think it was due to not being able to elevate my leg when needed ..there wasn't any room to do that at my daughter's ....16 people were there so it was like musical chairs and if you got up to go to the loo your chair was taken when you got back

it was the longest 8 hours of my life and Boy  did I suffer that night.

 I can't even go out for a walk as there's snow and Ice here so I'll have a good work out on my pedal machine 

Jean 

 

lol just picturing the AA meeting 

Sitting in a circle saying....my name is Jean and I've had a TKR ....

That sounds like my Christmas too. We had 16 with little people too. I'd normally bounce around with them but I was constantly telling them to mind my knee. When everyone was ready to leave I was standing in the hall way got bumped around a bit by people trying to get by and to everyone's surprise I just burst into tears. I think it's being used to being able to rest and do what's best for the moment and when you're in a situation where you can't do that I almost had a mini panick attack.

Hello Jean my name is Su 5 and half weeks ago I had a TKR :o)

I know I was glad when it was time to go home 

my daughter doesn't live far away so I suggested we walk there but coming back is downhill and it nearly killed me I burst into tears of relief when I got indoors x

i feel a real whimp 

Hi Sue

I'm 16 weeks post op and still struggling 

Jean 

We're not whimps. I've decided we're all very brave as we can actual walk on a leg that's been cut open, pulled apart , had bone sawn off,  nails knocked in, muscles , tissues and nerves cut and displaced, covered with alien substance. Then  all put back together, inside stitches outside staples. Then there is a battle between alien parts and body to be accepted. 

And all the infection warfare battalions sent to that knee leaving the other parts if the body susceptible .

the only way to stop scar tissue ruling the day and giving us funny shaped and angled knees is to go through the pain of having to use the knee the same day onwards as this onslaught is taking place.

i think we should have survivors t shirts.........

heads back under the duvet for another hour

Now that has put everything into perspective 

i may have a Tee shirt printed with 

"Super Nan I'm a survivor of a TKR"

although my grandchildren do call me Bionic Nan ...lol

 

Great idea Jean! 

Just don't fall off! Haha! X

 Fabulous. Do you remember the 6 million dollar man? When he moved really fast they filmed it in slow motion. Well we do that for real!! 

SOCKS t shirts

Survivors Of Crucial Knee Surgery

Hi suzidownunder, I remember 7 weeks. I don't know why, but people seem to get it in their heads that at 6 weeks everything will be hunky dory again. Well, with TKR it isn't!

I am at 14 weeks tomorrow, and suddenly my knee has decided to crunch when I bend it. Always a new trick for us eh?

I don't know why, but our sunshine seems to make it worse not better. We want to be out there enjoying our summer. 

Go and talk to your G P about your pain meds, that's what I'm going to do tomorrow.

Caz x

Hi Soobeedoo, a TKR meeting sounds fun. 

My hubby trod on a nail on Christmas Eve and has been in agony. He had a tetanus jab. We both limp now!

Before this operation I thought I would get a lot of painting done, but I can't get comfy enough. I can't stand at my easel for long and I am getting thigh pain so my drawing board on my lap is out too. I'm really wanting to go to Dr Sketchy's anti art in January.

Happy New Year

Caz x

Oooooh that sounds painful. Hope you can get back to your art. I wonder if it will be different from before your op. Different perspectives.

happy New Year to you too xx

Hi Jean, I know what you mean about going downhill. I struggled for a few months but it has got better now at 23 weeks. So, hang on on there.

I also recognise the Christmas Day stories. I'm a fair bit further on than most of you so can really understand the feeling of wanting to escape and snuggle under the duvet. I found I was so tired - probably after doing all the shopping and preparation beforehand- I actually went to bed for 1/2 an hour in between activities on Christmas Day as I had a headache! I was glad I did and managed to produce dinner afterwards and enjoy some time with the family. I can't say I was sorry though when they went early evening and left my husband and I to have a quiet evening which I spent snoozing in front of the tv! I'm not usually like this. I think doing anything on my feet tires me so much. I sympathise with you, Soobeedo, trying to go to work. There was no way I could have done that at your stage. I start looking after my 11 month old grandson after Christmas for 1 or 2 days a week and am quite apprehensive about it. I plan to get some early nights! 

I've found it quite reassuring to read how others have struggled over Christmas too. I've been feeling a bit of a grump 😊 I've got to prepare for New Year now - got my son and his fiancé and my sister in law and husband coming to stay- so quite a few meals to plan 😊 That duvet is beckoning again 😊 Happy New Year all - and, hopefully, a better one! Jen x

Good to hear about your experiences and how things get better Jennifer . There is a light at the end of the tunnel  happy new year!!

Hi Caz

I remember the surgeon saying I'd  hate him for 6 weeks then I'd appreciate his work..... 

Well, guess what - I'm not appreciating anything yet...! 

I have to register with a new gp before i can get anything. My last one refused me any pain meds at 2 weeks as i couldn't get to the medical centre to visit him! Even though he referred me for the op! 

I eventually got some through pacs - out patient after care and even they tried to contact him and he refused to call them back! 

Nice to know it isn't just the UK that has dysfunctional GPs. Mine once argued about a house visit - apparently you don't need one after being discharged from hospital in another country after having a broken leg nailed back together...

As I've mentioned before ...my GP said I shouldn't still be needing painkillers 3 weeks after TKR ....I rang my surgery to ask for a prescription  and the GP  rang me saying I didn't need painkillers....

i burst into tears and he reluctantly gave me a prescrtion 

hows that for insensitive 

That sounds just like my GP 

You're left to wonder what world they live in. I hear of GPs telling patients with PMR (the arthritis/rheumatism I have) that they will be totally back to normal once they start taking prednisolone. And then try to rush the patient off it in a few months because it is "so dangerous to be on it for long".

If only they had to try it themselves...

And our lives are in their hands ...it's frightening 

The idea of giving them more power as gatekeepers is scary, yes!

Both I and my husband used to visit one of the GPs in the practice in the north of England where we lived and he always asked if we had any other ideas as to what we had wrong with us. And without any trace of irony would say "I never thought of that!"

My GP left me on Prednisolone for 6.5 years.  Weaned myself off it last May as my surgeon refused to operate whilst I was on it.

Think there you have to shop around - I do know of a few surgeons who are happy to do hip replacements providing you are stable on the dose of pred you are at. If I needed either knee or hip done I wouldn't be able to move to do the rehab without pred and there is no choice, nothing else controls the symptoms. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

He had the cheek to suggest he could do it privately!

There are bad doctors /systems everywhere unfortunately. They forget we pay their wages! 

Okaaayyyyy! Hmmm - rat!

I had a similar name for him - in the vein of a fatherless one....!