Hanging legs over edge of bed to regaining ROM?

[ChrisC]

I got my minibike from a UK catalogue shop called Argos. Here is the link so you can see what it looks like:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500000701&langId=-1&searchTerms=minibike&x=19&y=6

I don't know much about comparable US shops but tried Walmart and K Mart but couldn't find the same thing. Don't get this type as I had two and they just broke really quickly:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7680165

The one I have is much more solid and has a display panel where you can see how many revs you have done. As you will see from the picture they have a much smaller turn than a proper exercise bike so much easier to use with limited ROM.

As for a comfortable sleeping position, although you have probably been advised not to put a pillow under your knees, this really only applies if you have a problem with extension. As my extension is okay I use a big foam cushion which is the same length as my calves so my heels just hang over. It's only a couple of inches thick but makes sleeping on my back much more comfortable.

Well done on getting to 95 last week and I will keep my fingers crossed for you to get 100 tomorrow. I was unofficially measured at 95 this morning (ie measured by my partner, not my PT) so am hopeful of getting at least that with the PT next Monday - hopefullly more! On the good news front, I drove the car yesterday for the first time since July and it was quite scary. I spoke to the OS's secretary who said that as long as I could do an emergency stop it was fine to drive. My partner drove me to an empty car park where I drove round in circles practising stopping, then I drove home which was only about a mile but felt like a major achievement.

As for painkillers I try not to take Ibuprofen as it is anti-inflammatory and this can prevent the bone from knitting into the metal in the prosthesis. If I am desperate I do take a couple but this is usually only once or twice a week. The Co-codamol (called Tylenol 3 with Codeine in USA) and Tramadol (called Ultram in USA) are not anti-inflammatory so are okay. I agree with you that they don't seem to do much during therapy, but I could say the same for the morphine I had while in hospital!

During each day I would typically do some quad squeezes (hold for count of 10 and do 10), then 10 bent leg raises, then 5 straight leg raises. After that I usually dangle for 10 minutes, later in the day I might get my partner to push on my legs for about 10 minutes and spend perhaps 10 minutes on the slidey board. Apart from that I do the minibike sessions. I don't know how much of the day that would add up to, but certainly a lot less than you are currently doing. During the night I get up every 2 hours and walk around for 2 or 3 minutes, lifting my legs up to get a good bend on them before I get back into bed. If I skip one I wake up really stiff shortly afterwards.

I hope things go well for you when you go back to work. I am hoping to go back on 7th January which is when my 6 months on full pay runs out. If I have to take a couple of weeks on half pay then I won't starve, but would rather not have to if possible. At the end of February I have to run a training course so need to be fully fit by then. The woman who is covering my work might get kept on for a couple of weeks after I get back so that I can ease myself back in gradually and have time to work through the course materials as they have changed a lot while I have been off. What do you do for a living? (Apologies if you have already said but I can't remember). I think it's disgraceful that your employer only has to hold your job open for 12 weeks, it doesn't work that way in the UK. Going back to work too soon after any injury or illness can spin out your recovery to a much longer time than if you had been at home. I was supposed to be going away for 5 days at New Year, staying in the middle of a forest in Scotland, but not sure now whether we will be going as only 6 people have put their names down and the place holds 11. Fingers crossed that it will happen as I am looking forward to getting away from it all and seeing my friends, as I have missed out on so many social occasions this year.
Bye for now
Chris

[fitnesskitty]

Hi Chris,

Sorry that I have not posted lately.  My apologies.  I actually got 92, not 95, I made a mistake about the Thursday before last.  Then this Tuesday, I got 96, then Thursday I got 102, and yesterday I got 105 (Friday.)  This was with pain, forced ROM by my PT of course but very exciting!  Does your knee feel weird when you walk?  My tendons feel like rubber bands or something!  Very weird elastic feeling.  I am sure it will go away eventually. 

I have essentially been off pain meds for a bit now, just taking the random one here and there a few times per week.  I need to find a sleeping pill that is over the counter that I can take even when I am on vicodin.  I don't sleep well, and think I just need a couple of nights with a med that will help my body back into sleeping better.

I am looking into a mini-bike.  Thank you for the tips.  I wish I could get the Argos one.  The ones here are very expensive.  I will figure it out though.  I decided to try a day without the CPM machine today and I have done pretty well actually.  I warmed up my knee just fine by walking to the bathroom (still on one crutch) and then out to the kitchen (our master suite is on the first floor) to the stairs to gently stretch my knee.  After a few gentle ones, I was able to get to where I was yesterday, and then stretch a little more for one of my ROM stretching sessions.  I think I have done fine without the machine.  I had to make sure I'd be okay without it.  I have one more session to do today.  With a TKR, do you still have the quad tendon and patella tendon attached to the kneecap?  I was curious about how a TKR works. 

Anyway, I am off to do another stretching and strength session.  I will write soon!

Take care!  Hugs!

Sarah

[ChrisC]

Hi Sarah
No problems about not posting, I have been following your progress on the "Need Help - ROM..." thread and was going to muscle in on that instead of continuing this thread so that you wouldn't have to repeat yourself, but didn't get round to it as I've been busy the last few days. If it will make it easier we can ditch this thread, let me know what you think.
Well done on your progress! You sound so much more confident and glad to be going back to work. I drove for the first time this week since July and it's a great feeling. I got 95 degrees last Monday and 98 yesterday but that was with my partner measuring it. I am seeing the PT tomorrow afternoon so hope to get at least 95 for him.
The quad and patella tendons are still attached after a TKR, they just flip the patella out of the way while they are doing the operation. I hope you aren't suffering from withdrawal symptoms from losing your CPM and hope you can get hold of a minibike, however with your fantastic ROM you should be able to get right round on a normal exercise bike and shouldn't need the minibike.
Food's ready, must go.
Best wishes,
Chris

[fitnesskitty]

Hi Chris,

Good job on the range of motion!  I am thinking of you.  I really hope you do great at PT as well!  I am sure you will get at least 95!  I think I am going to order a minibike today.  I can't yet get a real bike all the way around as the 105 is with much pain from my PT.  You need 115 or so on your own for all the way around the bike at my PT's gym.  That is what she thought anyway.  I am glad to hear you are in good spirits and doing well!  If you would like, I would love to have you posting on the "Need Help" thread!  Then the four of us that post regularly; tanyap, shellywell, you and I, will be able to support each other and liten to each other all in one thread.  That sounds like a good idea to me!  I am sure we can all use all of the support we can get.  Please, feel free to jump in on the other thread!  Either way, I want to continue to communicate with you about this stuff, so if you prefer this thread, that is cool too!  In any case, I hope you are having a great weekend!  I start work tomorrow; wish me luck!!!! :-)

Take care!

Sarah

[tanyap]

Chris - do jump in on the other thread, im getting dizzy following both

[ChrisC]

Okay, will do, see you over there. Chris signing off.