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The Power of Rest: Some GREAT Strategies to Try on a TKR

Posted , 8 users are following.

CHICO_MARX
CHICO_MARX

Found this GREAT article on NBC News and I thought I'd share it with you.  The author had to recover from an injury and his mental state deteriorated until he took some steps to change the way he approached his situation.  There are some very good tips in the article that everyone recovering from a TKR should try, considering the length of our "journey".

In particular, his recommendation of doing some "journaling" is EXACTLY what we do here on the Forum.  So, if you have ever started a discussion telling everyone what's going on in your life or have responded to a discussion by posting a response, congratulations...you're journaling!!!

Here's the article link...hope it provides some new strategies for you to apply to your recovery...

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/what-physical-injury-taught-me-about-my-mental-health-ncna811166

 

2 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 CHICO_MARX

    Posted

    That's brilliant, I have bookmarked it...well worth being included in the essentials of TKR recovery information! Would be good if all folk had this information before surgery really!

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jenny80029

      Posted

      Because I included an external link, this had to be "moderated".  Glad they ok'ed it.  The guy who wrote it had nowhere near the pain and recovery time that we do but I thought his suggestions were absolutely applicable to a TKR situation.  Social contacts, meditation, journaling and more...all great strategies.  The best of all: Resting IS productive!!!!  Just loved it...

    • jean04276
      jean04276 jenny80029

      Posted

      It would be good if all patients had it after surgery too. A handout of Chico’s experiences and advice should be available in all physio and consultant departments. These, along with other writers experience is an invaluable aid to recovery.

      I think you will agree, Jenny

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jean04276

      Posted

      I've been in computers for 46+ years plus a drummer, guitarist and, for the past 20 years, a blues/rock bassist.  I don't think any medical professional would take any advice from any of us.  They are taught their protocols and follow them...period. 

      Everything I write is based on:

      1. Personal experience (29 ops in the past 18 years)

      2. A lot of deep research as well as asking my docs lots of questions

      3. My ex-wife of 25 years was a phenomenal pharmacist; I learned a lot about the drugs

      4. My current wife of almost 8 years was a psychiatric nurse for 30 years

      5. My cousin Greg was an ER doc for 50 years...now a Patient Advocate for complex cases

      6. The horn section leader of my former band in NJ has Ph.Ds in pharmacy, chemistry and pharmacokinetics (how drugs work)

      7. I ask these resources a lot of questions...well...not the ex...

      8. My brain is like a sponge...I just soak all this in

      You learn a lot about all this stuff over the years and I'm almost 70, still working full time and playing in my band.  And I get to share my thoughts and experiences with a lot of fantastic people on this Forum.  Loving it...no, not McDonald's...ugh...just love doing what I'm doing...

    • jean04276
      jean04276 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      A biographical example of how talent, curiosity and personality is entwined in Chico’s work.
  • robin15577
    robin15577 CHICO_MARX

    Posted

    Chico Thank you so much for the articles. I will refer to them often. You are so right about the mental part of this journey needing to be strong and clear. A new paradigm is exactly what I need to be able to embrace this marathon. 

    Thanks for your invaluable input. 😘

  • robin15577
    robin15577 CHICO_MARX

    Posted

    Actually, Chico I can't open the links?! I don't know why

  • neil33122
    neil33122 CHICO_MARX

    Posted

    Hi Chico Marx

    i read the article and can definitely use some of the suggestions, I’m going to see my physio next week and show them the article as well. We can definitely adapt this for Australians, one issue I’m going to address with my Surgeon is the post operative mental conditioning.

    we all hear what our surgeons / doctors and nurses say about the pain and suffering during recovery, but do we listen!

    this forum puts people together like no other way I’ve experienced,when I wrote of the particular physical and mental issues I’m struggling with after day 9 little did I know that so many have been exactly down my path,and you know that makes me feel as if I’m not alone and not a wuss ( an Australian term for men being weak) 

    so thankyou my freind

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX neil33122

      Posted

      This recovery is mind, body, heart and soul.  Takes strength you never knew you had.  That's why it's important to take your mind off the pain and put it onto something else.  Binge watch Stranger Things on Netflix, kill zombies on your Xbox, read an engrossing novel, take the dog for a long walk.  The WORST thing you can do is just lie there and focus on the pain.

      "Don't do dat." - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

      Do anything else but lie there.  Yeah, it's tough and hard and uncomfortable...but you get to choose physical recovery and mental health ...or not.  During the hardest times, I kept myself busy.  I'm a blues/rock bassist, so taking one of my axes off the wall, plugging it in and playing a little Paranoia by Black Sabbath and singing along with Ozzy pretty much worked for me.  I just set up a playlist of lots of favorites and played along.  You do whatever you have to do.

      I found that article on NBC News...though it had a lot of great ideas in it.

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