Knee Replacement? Please share your experiences.

[sourland]

B 12 levels are essential for optimum mental and physical health. Good update.

 

[donrae]

Showers are

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Showers are  

It's something that's taken for granted until it's taken away. Showers are one of life's greatest pleasures aren't they. So refreshing.

 

[csneill]

Thanks for the update- glad you're moving along. I was just thinking you're about 10 days out or so and was hoping you were getting along ok! Keep up the good work! Yay for showers!

 

[donrae]

When I was in the hospital for so long at a stretch, I took recreational showers. I figured hey, it wasn't my hot water, so why not? Funny thing was, the nurses were so concerned about everyone showering every day. I took 3 on some days!

 

[lazy gardener]

When I was in the hospital for so long at a stretch, I took recreational showers. I figured hey, it wasn't my hot water, so why not? Funny thing was, the nurses were so concerned about everyone showering every day. I took 3 on some days!

I love it!!!!!! Looking at it from a care giver position.... Scary stuff... patient being in the shower for so long. She could fall down, slip on a bar of soap, pass out from the heat!!!!

 

[csneill]

Well, how are things going these days oldhen?

 

[sourland]

Yes, it's time for an update.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well it's been rough. I was finally cleared to take some ibuprofen, which has helped dramatically, which has allowed me to greatly reduce the narcotic pain pills. I had become a weepy depressive mess on them. It wasn't fun.

I had slacked off a bit on my stretching and exercises during this past weekend, feeling too confident. At therapy yesterday it was discovered that my getting my leg straightened out had slipped a bit as I was focusing on bending. Needless to say the therapist spent a bit of time pushing my leg straight into the table, and I spent last night in tears from the pain. Today I have worked hard on my stretches. I never want that again.

I am walking mostly unassisted, but take my cane outside just in case. I can do most of my work again at a slower pace and even can carry some water.

My leg still remains twice as big as the other and I wonder if that's how it's going to be. I get my staples out tomorrow, which I'm not looking forward to. Today is my last day of my injectable blood thinner. As a type 1 diabetic I am not happy about taking another shot, especially when it burns afterwards, so I will be happy to be done with that.

Sorry I haven't been updating, as I've said I really got depressed and hopeless feeling, but now can maybe see some relief in the future.

I do hate having to sleep only on my back and spending time sitting as my low back hurts from it. I have started to do more walking, and hope to get some strength back. I think I will keep using the shower chair for another week just because it feels luxurious to take a seat for a while.

This has been way harder than I expected and I hope it's worth it in the end. The thought of doing the other leg terrifies me, so we shall see when that happens.

 

[tinakevin]

I'm glad things are going better. As far as the swelling it takes a while to go down. I know from experience. Trust me it's like being pregnant. It hurts like hell at the beginning but then we do it again lol. I will have my other one done when it comes time even though I know how it will feel at first. But when the pain is gone it's great.