Situation IS getting better:)

[Brambledog]

Cari - big hug from the Brams for your surgery!! Hope everything goes to plan for you and your surgeon has had his Weetabix this morning.... You're one strong cookie to get off the pain meds before surgery, but well done, and keep going! I have faith in your grit and inner steel  and that sunny disposition will be a great aid to your post-op recovery. We'll be thinking of you down there on the bottom of the world...lol x.

Tez - your ramble posts are so entertaining, don't apologise for them! Sorry you're not sleeping properly, it's hell isn't it. My sleep pattern used to be fine, but has taken a sharp dive recently. I feel like a zombie... Be afraid....be very afraid....!!!! good for you on the positive outlook, we'll keep shoving the good vibes your way. And well done on the blood sugars, that's not easy to do, respecting the Tez...x

W - so glad your surgery has had such a good result thus far, you must be so relieved to be able to turn that corner. Just promise us you won't go mad and join the circus or anything just because you can do some back flips...

Rk4 - that flexion and extension is great! Really pleased for you. As for the pain, unfortunately, because you had so much pain for so long before your op, its going to take a little while for all those jangled nerves and poor bruised tissues to settle back down. Well done with the PT, but I agree with the others, go and find a new one who can help you find your PT mojo again....x

Robin - so you were with Jake in Falmouth, eh?! Does Mr Robin know this?! Lol, hope you managed to get some good rides in. First proper mountain stage in the Tour today, can't wait... I am turning into a massage fiend, had a Swedish one a couple of weeks ago that did my leg no end of good, had a pedicure yesterday and my feet thoroughly enjoyed it - and it didn't set off the crips last night. I'm determined to send my poor husband to get some training in massage so he can do it. I need one every few days I think!!!!

A - hope all going good for you, let us know how things are going soon, and hope you are having a better week with the challenging knee issues  Take care of yourself x

Lottie - well hallooooo to the fox! Sure I'll be texting you anyway  but this is my official KG hello, so hope Reggie is well today and staying in his little box, and that the knees are their usual supportive selves, lol. Have a good day with the gym and the rest of FoxWorld...x

Phew!!!!

Anyone I've forgotten, hope the knees and the lives are doing well!

Slept a little better at last, but still feel like a zombie today.... The number of mistakes I've had to correct in this is not good!!! Saw my pain doc the other day, she was predictably vexing. She confirmed that the crips is now in my toes on my left foot as well in Len the Left, but all she would say on the matter was that I shouldn't worry about it spreading as stress just made things worse. Does it? REALLY?! Honestly, she was so patronising I wanted to swing for her. Upshot is that she thinks I should change my meds in some way. BUT it's up to me whether I up the dosage of the Lyrica to its max, reduce it to see if it helps reduce the zombie head-wooliness symptoms, or come off it altogether. Knowing what happens if i miss a dose, i dont much fancy that as an option. I can add in amitriptyline if I want, or not. I asked about side-effects and she just shrugged and smirked and said it might be worth it. She thought I was stressed out about it, I said of course I was worried about what was going on and what might happen and if I should be doing something different....plus I hadn't been sleeping well and hadn't slept until the birds were singing that night so yes perhaps I was a tad wired! Just kept banging on about being positive and not worrying about it etc. I tried to say that I DO do that every day, but right here and now I was coming to her for advice and help and thought that maybe I didn't have to fake it all with her there and then, in my tiny window of 'professional' time in probably six months.... I don't know. She thinks I'm a nutter now, if she didn't before. There will be a note going over to the psychologist...

Lottie is going to ask her pain doc if I can call him and hopefully make an appointment to see him soon. Cash permitting of course  . The doc is going to refer me to their specialist crips pain doc now, who's been away, so hopefully they might have more ideas, but it's another 6-8 weeks wait, during which I don't know what to do for the best. Too tired to deal with that for now. Need to organise my research into it, and decide what I want, but I'm just too tired and wooly to think properly...

Got tutoring again today, hope the brain functions by then and doesn't welsh out on me again and leave me looking like a fool at some point. Crackingly, I couldn't remember how to do a simple maths exercise the other day, poor girl must have wondered what on earth was going on. I tried to cover it, but my word I was panicked. Horrible when you take a short trip in your brain to info you know is there.....and the door is locked. Scary. Started to wonder if this is really a good idea. Brain seems to be melting away, feel I shouldn't be charging parents if I can't cope with some of the simple stuff. Boo

Anyhoo.....little moan over. Please don't call it a whinge, I try not to do that. Offload is a good word, like I'm putting down a heavy, cumbersome and uncomfortable load. Which I am. Thanks guys.

Hugs to all, comforting little pats to the poorly knees, and hopes for the best for us all.

Brams 

[CariG]

THANK YOU guys n dolls for the support and encouraging messages.....though we do consider ourselves the top of the world down here!! lol
Just had a shower and feel a bit more human and less of a beast to be around...though the entire household has hidden away for the night and left me to myself!! Party poopers!!
Been feasting out on KFC & Chinese today, and about to have an Up & Go energy drink to give me that really full feeling.
Nerves haven't kicked in, think the pain has kept them away so far. Enjoyed my pedicure yesterday morning...before everything wore off!! Got a funky, fluro orange to do my toes with on Friday....Man said it looks like High Vis polish....might even stop me from landing crutch on my own feet?

Tez ~ GREAT NEWS on the blood levels....still keeping everything crossed for you. I'm sure the positive fairies will be on your side too!!!

Great to hear how each and every one of you are doing.....you give me hope that regardless, there is light at the end of the tunnel. 12 and a half hours to go before need to be at the hospital....will hopefully post again before heading out....oh who am I kidding, I know myself too well, I'll be up before the birds with pure nervous energy....which means I can change the sheets on the bed and clean the bottom of the shower before I head to the car and off to be turned into a deli meat!!

SWEET DREAMS EVERYONE!!

[seerobinbike]

Cari...Hey girl.  I, too, wanted to wish you the best of luck and send along some positive vibes for your upcoming surgery.  You will do awesome!  

I promise to be back later today to write.  Jake and I have a cycling date in a minutes so I've gotta run.

Big hugs, Robin  xx

[CariG]

Oh Robin!!! Thank you!! The support from everyone on here has been amazing....sorry, am a bit emotional tonight. The pain is now at a place where it's tolerable, but annoying. I think my body has adjusted to the worst of it...for now....but I still have the night to get through. As long as my surgeon gets a good sleep, possibly some loving from his wife, enough coffee and a decent breakfast, everything will be fine!!! 
Enjoy your bike ride!! I'm soooo jealous!!! But, that'll be me in a few weeks/months!!

BIG HUGS!!!!! 

[Rknees4]

Hey Gang,
Brams you are just telling it like it is. Nothing wrong with that Girl. Hang in there you will get it all sorted and undercontrol..
Thinking of you Cari.
W. have a good one.
Hey to the  rest of the group.
Rk4

[kcknee]

Hopefully the new title will bring everyone some much needed luck.

Cari- Good luck with your surgery today.
RK4 and W - I hope the good recoveries continue and the pain starts going down. (My PT used to have me doing modified straight leg raises at first to engage quads. Put towel roll under knee then tighten quad and raise lower leg while keeping back of knee resting on towel - you might be way past that already.)
Tez- I guess you're the next one to have a successful surgery.

Kristin

[Rknees4]

Thanks for the thoughts Kristin, but past that point. Can do SLR with 5 lbs of weight.
The only thing I can say about being a big girl is that my muscle strength is significant in that it lugs more weight all the time and does take me shorter time to do SLR than the norm.. Even after all the surgeries i have never lost the ability to do them. Still have a wobble leg but can do SLR.


Hope you are OK Cari and the pain isn't to nasty.

Hey W,
Hope you are having a good day.
Rk4

[seerobinbike]

Hey Folks,

Sorry about my lack of posts lately.  I tried last night but had a killer migraine.  It is still lingering; I hoped that the bike ride would put the dang thing to rest!  It was a great ride, nevertheless.
 
W…Yoo Hoo.  Hope you are doing well W.  I’m guessing that you are one busy chick who’s doing lots of PT.  I truly hope that the knee is continuing it’s less painful days.  How are you doing?  Anything new in the neighborhood?  Any good skinny lattes for you?

Rk…I had to laugh when I read A. and your post about having an amputation party.  At the height of my pain, I had times when the thought of cutting the dang knee off crossed my mind.  Your flexion seems good so soon after surgery but I know that flexion doesn’t tell the whole story.  I could *almost* touch my bad knee to my butt before the replacement but the freaking thing still killed.  I agree with the masses that you look for a new PT. 

Brams…LOL.  Jake is quite handsome and did get lots of second looks while we were out cycling.  Ssshhh.  Mr. Robin doesn’t have to know a thing!  The vacation was nice even though we ended up coming home a day early.  Our petsitter called and said she hadn’t seen Baker in two days.  (He is the skittish one.)  I asked if she’d checked under the couch but she couldn’t see him so we figured we’d feel better if we just came home.  (I’m soooo glad that we never had kids; I’d be the mother waiting at the bus stop for my 18 year old!)  Anyway, I’m sorry that you are having pain along with fuzzy brain.  Any decisions on the amitriptyline?  I do believe this is what my mom took for trigeminal neuralgia.  It did help her as I recall.  Good for you on the massages too, BTW!

Tez…Yes…keep rambling my friend!  We don’t mind at all.  I’m so happy to read that your numbers have come down.  I know that diet and exercise is a great way of combating diabetes but I wonder if you are able to do any kind of exercise right now.  (I’m trying to think like a personal trainer.)  If you can’t walk due to knee pain, could you find some time to do a bit of stationary cycling?  Could you heave a few light weights around?  Any muscle that you build will help!

Lottie…I’m sorry that you feeling a bit under the weather as well.  How goes the new job and the exercise routine?  I hope that Lucas has gotten his poor eyeball straightened out!   What a wack job the vet was!  So Wimbleton is officially over.  I didn’t get to watch much of it but wow…some of the clips were pretty exciting. Now on to the Olympics.  I wish I was in London!
 
A…You had better make that beer a stout or a porter pre choppage!  Glad that you had a good time at your reunion!  Did you get out on the bike at all or are you in the extreme heat belt still?  Crazy ass weather.  We really do have it made in Mass.; it was stifling hot over the weekend even around here but the Cape was perfection. 

Snowy…Glad to see that summer has finally gotten to Vancouver.  How’s the biking going? 

Nick…I hope that this note finds you doing o.k.  Once again, I’m sorry about your brother-in-law.  I hope your sister is hanging in there.
 
KC…Hey, hope you are doing well.  That was nice of you to check in!

Cari…I have no idea what time it is in the land down under but I do hope that you are out of surgery and coming along nicely.  Check in when you can.

Super…How are you doing?  Did you have surgery yet?  Why can’t I remember these things?! 

Umm, ummm, ummmm.  Phew.  You do have to have a good chunk of time to do these updates now that the board has picked up new posters!  Me and my knee are doing pretty good.  I’m still trying to finish my personal training course but it’s been hard to do when all I want to do is sit outside and enjoy the nice warm summer nights.  I did one of the hardest bike rides that I’ve done since my replacement this morning and the knee isn’t feeling awful!  I still can’t really walk up or down stairs normally but I think the knee is getting stronger.  It’s dang hard to build muscle at this age.  I’m really trying to focus on working the new knee more when cycling or doing squats.  The stronger left just wants to take right on over and I can already tell that it is causing problems.  Well, I guess that’s a story for my post op diary!  Good day fellow geeks!  Big hugs to all.

Robin  xx

[FMRCathelete]

Tez- Great news on the blood levels (I think as I'm not sure what you mean by 5.5, but lower is good!)  Hope you are getting some R&R time before the big day.  Any word on the change in plan?

Brams -Don't sweat the brain fog, as you start doing more tutoring it will get better.  There aren't any drug-drug interactions with Lyrica & amitriptyline, but since both sedating you could see increase in that (may be good or bad).  I would take the amitriptyline at bedtime if you start taking again -might help w/sleep and that would be nice.  I'm sorry your pain doc was so patronizing -think she needs to find a new specialty -I burst out in tears on mine a few months ago & then she proceeded to tell me how well I was handling all this  Have you spent anytime with Edward?  Sounds like you could use some music.  

RK4 - No housework yet, right?  I'm sorry the pain not getting better, but you should be thrilled with your ROM.  When do you see surgeon again?  Take it easy and sending hugs & positive vibes to you.  It is going to get better

Lottie -Hope work is going well and not bothering Reggie too much.  

W- Haven't heard much so I assume you're doing pretty well.  How is PT going?

Well, I saw accupuncturist today.  He is also rehab MD & used to be OS.  He is skeptical that accupuncture will help at this point, thinks I need to do MORE quad sets, told me to use brace more, & then contradicted himself saying that the more I use my brace the less my muscles will respond  And he thinks I should have a TK.  This makes J very mad and I don't even feel like I can discuss it with him  I think he (& I) are just worried that it wouldn't work.  I take his thoughts on the TK a bit more seriously than I would from OS as he will not benefit in any way from it, but not sure I'm ready to make that move.  I'm not even 40 yet....that & everyone says the medial & lateral aspects of the knee are just fine.  ARGGHHH.  I just want to walk without thinking about every step, take 2 stairs at a time & do some hiking!  I think I will continue to avoid the thought of the future a bit longer.  I can't stomach seeing OS again just to hear I don't know what to do for you. & I'm NOT trying a steroid inj and that is all he is suggesting right now.  Well there's my rant...  I stopped at Starbucks after visit for a Mocha frappucino -YUMM!  I was good and got the light version, still yummy and not as guilt inspiring.  Then went for groceries & had to park way out as they had part of the lot closed -I usually don't go without J but we took motorcycle in on Sunday and that really limited what we could pick up, but was worth it

Everything else is ok.  We are hopefully getting together with friend for dinner & then hours of conversation over coffee.  I'm really looking forward to it, it's been about 2 months since we've seen them.  Too long.  We will go to TX Roadhouse & I will be bad & get ribs & a sweet potato as I love them both & haven't yet learned the art of making great ribs at home.  Friends we are going out with are from southern US & keep saying they will show us how, but we can never get our schedules to match up for it.

Hope everyone is good, that CariG is doing well and that all the joints are behaving.  

[emergRN]

Good Luck Cari!!!

Tez...5.5 is a perfectly normal fasting blood glucose level.  They use a different measuring system in the states, so our numbers would seem REALLY low to them!  Most excellent!  I don't think you have any worries!  

Brams...Off load any time!  OMG...I hate patronizing docs.  This one doesn't seem to understand the ramifications of your CRPS.  "Relax...don't stress out"...yeah right!!  I think if you are able, you should go see Lottie's guy until you can get into the CRPS guy you are being referred to.  Am I right to think time is of the essence with this stuff?

Hey Kristin!  Glad you dropped by.  I have been reading your Graston journey.  It sounds like it is really helping you.  Well, I cannot do SLR's yet, and we are having to be very careful with the modified ones as well.  I am OK if I do them "gently".  I did do the stationary bike today at a resistance of 3, and that was fine as well.  My quads are grossly deconditioned in my Rt. Knee.  My PT today told me he wants me to start walking.  So, what do I do?  I drive to the national park with a friend, and we do one of the relatively flat trails.  It was 4km, and I did fine with that.  It is flatter than anywhere around here.  The only problem is that it is too far to drive every day.  Physio almost had a hemorrhage when I told him where I went, but when I told him the point that we turned around at, he was OK.  I think he though that I climbed a mountain or something...lol!

That was the last trail that I walked last September(it was the one where I stepped on a rock, and my knee slid out).  It is funny that it happened to be the first one I went on now.  I guess you can say that I went on a mini hike..lol!

Well, I really must go get something for supper!

Oh...RK4!  Why would you think that I would be at all interested in borrowing your pain?  I wouldn't wish that on anyone!  I hope yours is improving.

W

[Brambledog]

Thanks Robin , A and W, you smashing gals, you....

Crappy evening here, I'm feeling crap. Lol. Knee has been kicking off, red hot for a long while, now going clammy and cold. Worst though, is my jaw. I've had a problem for years where one of my back molars is slightly proud to the others on that side, and if I clench my teeth the pressure all goes on the one tooth, the tissues then get inflamed and it hurts. I've had it checked by my dentist loads of times and he says there's nothing wrong with the tooth, it's me doing the clenching.... The problem is that for some reason I really can't think of right now (yeah right...) I seem to be doing it quite often, and for about a week now it's been all jangly. I hate anything to do with teeth, have had a major phobia since childhood horror dentist experiences, and it took years of a very patient dentist to get me to the point where I could have anything done without them putting me to sleep first. So any toothy pain and I get very anxious. Viscous circle, anyone?

Just a bit more offloading, don't panic, but some nights I really don't think I can do this thing for the rest of my natural.... Of course tomorrow morning, the bouncing Brams will be back, impatient for the off and champing at the bit, and will probably come and delete this post, lol.

A, Edward and I are spending time to together at every opportunity. Most weeks find us pressed together several times a day. When husband is at work, obviously. He and I are on p.20 of the book already. He is my solace.... I'd say he is better than the meds, but I would be lying quite hugely. My left hand aches from trying to get the finger spacing right though, think its going to take a while to be able to do more than five or ten minutes at once. Bless.

Hugs to all out there, but especially the amigos.  Thank you. Feel a bit less stressy now, see what great therapy this is? Obviously the pain doc hasn't got any friends or she would know that talking to people who care a bit and understand is worth a hundred patronising comments. Silly cow.

hope all out there sleep well, eat well, live well and laugh well. Take care of yourselves.

Brams 

[tez27]

Evening all Brams from the looks of the wee clock at the side your doing a stupid o'clock post tonight too I'm so sorry you'r having such a hard time, and the pain Doc sounds like the whole bed side manner class was missed out on when she was at medical school, i think your natural positive attitude is amazing but its only natural to have those wee dark moments and if coming on here and having a vent helps you move past them then you go girl, I really hope the sleep thing improves things are really easier to deal with if you've had a decent sleep, sending (((hugs))) your way.

Robin I hope the migraine is feeling better I used to have terrible ones but lately they seem to have stoped, i wonder if its the whole hormone thing, whatever it is I aint complaining, you are so luck having a proper summer, we are still have rain every day its really getting to me especially cos I havent had a wee trip to Spain so far to recharge my batteries, with any luck and if the knee feels ok I will get out there before I go back to work after the surgery.

Cari by now I think you should be on the other side of your op, I hope it all went well and your not in too much pain, let us all know how your doing as soon as you feel up to it and take care.

W you are amazing practically hiking so soon after your surgery, good for you though please dont over do things cos you seem to be doing so well this time. Thanks for the encouragement on the blood sugar level's I was so chuffed this morning I just hope it stays like that, I will just keep doing what I'm doing and pray that it does, the thought of my op being postponed now is not a pleasant one so I will do whatever it takes.

A no word on what's happening until the morning of the op though I am hopeful Mr B is going to do the revision without the two stage thing, but I will have to wait and go with whatever he suggests. It looks like you've been left with a lot to think about after seeing this new Doc I can understand how scary the thought of having a TKR at your age is, and I don't envy you having to seriously think about it but it all comes down to quality of life and doing everything you want to do without mega pain, it sounds as if J is just scared for you and that's why he wont discuss it but I'm sure he will help you make the right decision whatever that may be.

RK4 I agree with everyone else, get yourself a decent PT who will help you and not make you feel the way this last one has, I think the whole physio thing is such a big part of getting over any knee op, and I would think getting one that actually cares about you and how your doing would make a big difference, I hope the pain is improving even if its just a little at a time to see any kind of improvement would make such a difference to how your feeling.

Lottie how goes thing in Lottieland? I hope  Lucas has recovered from the mad vet and his eye is better soon, apart from that I was pleased to read that you had softened a wee bit toward Andy Murray after the Wimbledon finale, I must admit I had a wee bubble along with him on Sunday after his defeat, but he did Scotland proud.

anyone I have missed I'm sorry put it down to sleep deprivation and a full week with no chocolate

I think I am just about ready to get this knee sorted out once and for all so roll on the 23rd, I have spoken to Paul so my physio is organised, my first appointment in 10 days after surgery and he has agreed to handle it himself so I don't have to go the the not so helpful NHS physios  this time round, so shouldn't have any idiot asking me to hop on the new acl 5 weeks after surgery this time.
Right back to bed for me
Good night lovely people take care
Tez   

[CariG]

  Hi all!!!  Thank you for all the good wishes!
Good news is all the scar tissue from previous injuries and ops has been removed....the bad news (according to OS) is my patella is so badly damaged underneath, more than expected. Mind you the other bones are all perfect, so at least it's localised damage.
When I've healed, and we'll discuss this more when I see him for my first review on the 23rd, I'm undergoing a partial replacement, and see how we go with that. He doesn't want to do the total, as first thought, as the other bones are in such good condition. If the partial doesn't work out (which I expect it will....positive, positive, positive!!) then we'll look at having the total replacement.
He was a real sweetie and gave my wound a local before closing, so I've got at least another 6 hours before that wears off....already PWB, was able to do some heel slides and get at least a fist under the bend, and when sitting upright can do a SLR.
Tomorrow is another day, and I'm sure I'll be nowhere near as human feeling as now, but so glad it's done. The staff at the Mater Private are amazing, the nurses fantastic....overall a great experience so far!!
Thank you again for all the positive energy, and wishes. xoxox

[tez27]

Cari so pleased to hear from you and so pleased your on the other side of your op, the partial is a big step but if its needed then positive thought is the way to go
I hope the pain keeps under control and you keep feeling good
Take care Tez

[Brambledog]

Well done Cari!  Glad you had such a good experience with your surgery - must make a massive difference to get your recovery off to a good start!

Now, as with the bouncy W, no circus joining plans I hope? And stay away from that trampoline for a while....

The PKR option sounds like a good plan with such localised damage - I'd be interested to hear how long your surgeon thinks one should last - my PT said that they were doing them less and less now as they just weren't lasting as long as everyone thought they would. Mind you, that is the NHS talking, and if they can save a bit of cash on ops (but not on manager wages, grr) then they would..... I was told for a while that I wa having one done, then they said only a TKR and as late as possible , mind you that's the good old crips complication!!

Sounds lovely that your surgeon came and talked with you so soon and explained everything - can I borrow him next time?!

Brams