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There is a light to be seen!!

Posted , 14 users are following.

Need1knee
Need1knee

Hi everyone in my TKR family.  I can't begin to thank you all enough for your support and encouragement throughout this journey.  Three months of sitting in a recliner in my bedroom...alone.  But not really alone because I had all of you.  I just wanted to share my update and maybe encourage someone in a similar situation.  After 11 weeks post op, after many tears and worries about my ROM, I had to return to work in my classroom filled with fourth graders.  I was at -8 (straightening) for a long time so I had to wear a brace which helped me get to a -6.  For over a month I was hovering around a -5/6.  But within two weeks of returning to work, today at pt, I was a -2 straighten and 126 bend.  I really think my improvement is related to moving, walking, standing, working, thinking of other things besides my ROM, and joining life again.  Yes, I'm really tired and achy at the end of the day, but I'm not limping any more!  YAHOO!!  Stepping out of that dark tunnel of recovery, is actually helping my recovery!  So don't despair if you are still sitting in your recliner...you are not alone.  And once you are well enough to step back into your life, I'm hoping you will see a light at the end of your tunnel, too!

8 likes, 20 replies

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  • janet59360
    janet59360 Need1knee

    Posted

    Good luck to you and may it be onwards and upwards.  You have given me hope - I am 2 weeks post TKR and in total agony, I thought it would get a little better each day, but no luck.   Nice to hear some good news at last. Regards. J
    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 janet59360

      Posted

      There is a lot of good news here, as long as people remember to share their longer term progress! ☺
    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 janet59360

      Posted

      For the majority of people a knee replacement results in improved quality of life...in the end! But fear and anxiety are real killers in the early days when the mind goes a bit bonkers in response to the trauma of surgery. We are challenged on all fronts, possibly in a way we have never experienced before. It takes energy and determination with patience and faith. But there is a way, and you will and can take yourself through it.

      Take a look at my profile and skim through my blog if it helps. It was written to convey the need for patience, something our cultures in the western world are not really geared up to! It has a lot of useful suggestions and information. Everyones journey is very different but it can be reassuring to read of others trials and tribulations, as well as see progress made...at its own pace, unique to the individual.

      Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • cherry75260
      cherry75260 janet59360

      Posted

      I am 5 days post op tkr and want to say I am also in total agony.  But as I continue to following everyone on this forum, I have hope.   Somehow I believe patience must be our guidance to progress...let's keep our faith Janet.

    • dark_crystal
      dark_crystal janet59360

      Posted

      Janet I'm only 7 weeks after op .And like you I was in agony and kept thinking how was I going to get through it .But I joined this site and it gives you hope and advise and I've found them all to be a great help .Just take your time and things will come together soon .good luck with your recovery .

  • sue33011
    sue33011 Need1knee

    Posted

    A positive mental attitude cannot be emphasised enough when recovering from a tkr and your post puts claim to that very statement. It's very easy to get caught up in the negatives when pain and swelling effects our abilty to conquer the most mundane daily activities, often giving cause to depressive thoughts, then seemingly becoming twofold when we tackle the journey alone. Your post gives hope to others who find themselves caught up in the often never ending tkr rollercoaster of emotions. Yes-its a tough road but one where a never say die attitude will see you charging forward. Find a positive in each day-whether its in what we say, do or think. Small steps, big outcomes.

    Well done need1knee-your post rings of positiveness.

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 sue33011

      Posted

      Yes, so well expressed! Quite a joy to read the positives too...to know someone is reaping the rewards of the surgery, which is in essence a wonderful thing, with potential to give someone their life back. 😊

    • sue33011
      sue33011 jenny80029

      Posted

      It's important for those in the early stage of tkr recovery (and those contemplating a tkr ) to know -positive outcomes are in the majority (not minority) of tkr parients, which is why it's important for those who seemingly "breeze" through their recovery, relay that information (not forgetting to mention the odd little setback) through feedback forums such as this. People sometimes just need to know-they're not alone- and what they're experiencing is part and parcel of a tkr recovery and that someone "out there" gets it.

  • tricia1954
    tricia1954 Need1knee

    Posted

    Great achievement well done. Yes as Janet says you give us hope. I am 2 months pas t a partial knee and although gave good rom (125 and straight) after 15 minutes of walking I am very very sore and start to limp again. It must be just more time needed. Fingers crossed.
  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 Need1knee

    Posted

    Wonderful! Thank you for sharing! I love the way you have communicated the mental step of "stepping out of that dark tunnel of recovery". We get so used to thinking about our knee. ..and there comes a point when while we need to notice how it is, we don't need to have our life revolve around it!

    Thank you again for sharing! Having posts on all phases of recovery is really helpful and helps keep the forum wide with a range of experiences. I would encourage anyone else reading the posts and in earlier stages of recovery to make a mental note try and post later on down the line also...its always a lovely thing to see someone reap the rewards of their surgery!

  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 Need1knee

    Posted

    SO GLAD to hear that YOU MADE IT!!!😄 I'm sure your fourth graders were excited to have you back!

    My surgeries were done AFTER I retired from teaching, so I could use my own sweet time getting back to normal again. I admire your tenacity in getting back to your classroom again in just three months!🎉😄🎉

    I think you have a really good point when you say that getting back into your life again, moving and thinking about other things helps recovery. I can only imagine how challenging it has been to know that you must WAIT to take that NAP! (I found that at your stage of recovery after busying myself with some project or being out shopping or working in the yard that when I needed to rest I needed to STOP right then! It was like my batteries lost their charge suddenly. I had the luxury of just STOPPING. For you, you had to WAIT until break time or after school was over for the day.)

    My hat is off to you!

    You are a SUPER STAR in my book!

    🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

  • j21370
    j21370 Need1knee

    Posted

    Congratulations!  I am so happy that you are back at work and have progress so much. I remember your very first post. I told you that it will get better with the exercise and time.  I am still struggling with my bend, but I will also get there. I also used the brace that you used, but it did not work for me. My surgeon order another kind of brace so I can reach 120 bend. I exercise everyday and continue  to have a positive attitude. This is a great group and someone will always answer when people have questions. Best wishes - J-21370
  • victoria11426
    victoria11426 Need1knee

    Posted

    Hi its so good to hear you'r doing well and back at work seem's to be helping,my story is i got TKR 28th feb age 55 i struggled with bend would nit go past 55 after trying with p.t. for what seemed like for ever i was offered a manipulation which i had on the 18th july it's only in past two weeks i feel small changes every day, my bend 80 but with exercise and pt twice a week im feeling positive il get there,my walking not brilliant but it's getting there i go back to work tomorrow 4 hours a day first week 5 hours second wk and on third week i do two day's the off on holiday for two weeks for some sunshinebiggrin and im hoping to go back full time once im back hol's with my job i'm on feet all day but my work been good so i can sit if i have to or cut back hours but with not much wages through most of this im hoping to be back full timesad so there is a light at end of tunnel will take time but we will get there im still on that journey but feeling more positive recently as i have in along time.good luck to everyone and keep posting x

  • redjanet
    redjanet Need1knee

    Posted

    Oh.... I so needed to hear that. I'm almost 4 month out and so stiff. I have great extension but only 110 degree bend and that is with my PT pushingsad he says I am not plateaued but it sure feels like it.

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