MA's TTT LR and Chondroplasty roller coaster ride!

[Maryannegb]

Hi all,

I am 6 days post op from the above procedure and I feel like I'm on the WORST roller coaster ride (btw...... I HATE roller coasters at amusement parks).

I am in HUGE amounts of pain, I miss high activity levels (no I'm not one to enjoy doing nothing) and I am very reliant on others to function!

I am in a straight leg splint and NWB 98% of the time using crutches to get around! I have a series of exercises that I am doing as prescribed by the PS in hospital.

I am taking Endone and Panadeine Forte (alternating) to try and combat the pain!

At the moment I can not see a light at the end of the tunnel!

I will try to include some good moments of this ride, but unfortunately right now they are few and far between

From the land down under MA!!!!! ( as in M.A. Not Mar ( as it may look to sound)

[Fathead D]

From what I hav eread the pain is going to be the worst for the first week or two and then it gets much better pretty quickly.  Keep up on th epain meds an dice as much as possible.  This will help keep life bearable.

Good luck.

[Dave258]

That is what I have been reading, and what the paper work from my OS says also, first two weeks are the worst.  Good luck, and keep us updated please.
Dave

[Maryannegb]

Today I am 7 days post op - and I can't wait for things to start to improve. Im sorry to anyone who might be reading this before having this operation (operation's) and thinking that it is hellishly painful! Maybe you should also read Kristins post op diary so you can see both sides of the coin!!!

Today it is VERY challenging to get my knee to a 5 degre bend before I hit immense pain! I am still doing my static quadriceps tightening exercises, ankle pumps, knee stretch on a towel, patella mobilization, static hamstring, and static gluteals ( as prescribed by hospital Physio)

A kind friend dropped off some padding for my crutches handles today - I have the sorest hands from using the crutches!

I am now using Panadeine forte and the endone alternatively, plus the anti inflamatories.

I am seriously considering flying my mother in law here so she can help me - my husband is a huge help and so are my friends but none of them are here all the time - I wonder if it would help to have someone here all the time to do all those small jobs I need to do that add up to a lot of extra time up and about!

Would be interested to hear people's thoughts on having a full time helper compared to someone here some of the time.

 

[Rknees4]

Maryanne.
If you have someone you trust and won't be running around behind to try and entertain them that would be great even if it is just for 7or8 days, but if they will be more stress than help stay with things the way they are now. As for the sore hands I am getting a feeling you are up and about a little to much if they are hurting that much. I guarantee some of the stuff you are doing could probably wait until hubby is home from work or that a friend could do. Just a thought.  Remember you need to rest or you won't heal as you should.(sorry just the mom in me)  Lots of dairy, milk, cheese, yogurt, and such.
Hang in there.
Rk4

[Maryannegb]

Glad you're been the mum - I don't have my mum anymore ( she passed away may 2010 - 7 mths to the day after my dad)!!!! I adore my MIL but it's not the same - and she tries t mother me a little too much!

I think I will stick with the help I have - I would lose having a queen bed all to myself and I think she might be a good help and I would enjoy having her around for the first 24 hours and then it might be frustrating!

Think the sore hands are from going to that damn school concert and then to the hospital yesterday to see surgeon. Master 7 has a swim squad break up tonight but I made an executive decision (hehehe) that it would be too much so I didn't even tell Mr 7 and we are not going!

I've had the slightest relief today from the Panadeine forte - I hope it lasts

How are you today - cats, sore teeth, and how are the knee or knees

M.A

[Rknees4]

Hang in there it really does get better.  Sorry about not having your mom to help that is hard.
As for me I am here in Ontario Canada and it is 3 in the morning. The knees remain a painful bone of contention in my life and the kitties well they are to somedays.
Good you are staying home your son will understand he is more mature than he sometimes shows.  My 4 were always more mature than I gave them credit for at that age. Just keep icing and keep it elevated.  Remember to rest and nap when the 2 year old does.  My girls are 24 21 18 15 and all way to old for their age.
It is a marathon this knee stuff not a sprint.
Take Care,
Rk4

[Maryannegb]

I'm starting to gather that this is a marathon - maybe even ultra marathon lol!!!!

I've managed to sit in the dining room with my leg one a chair for about an hour and a half this afternoon, but starting to wilt big time now!

What is a little scary for me is I have suffered from depression before (medicated for approx 18 mths) and I feel like some of the symptoms are coming back and this is scary!

Today the blood rushes when I stand up have started - I thought I was having them before but it was nothing compared to what has started now!!!

RK4 - have you slept yet tonight, or is 3am still an awake time for you due to pain?

I don't know what I would be doing without this forum - its my life line right now! I am really hoping I can post some positive stuff really soon!

[Rknees4]

Maryanne,
We all struggle with the ups and downs of knee surgery so when ever it is really getting to you day or night there is usually someone on to talk with. Even just putting a voice to the depression will help ward it off as you aren't stewing so much internally.
As for the blood rushes, lower your leg a little at a time and don't get up in a rush.  The slower you it do the less drastic the pain surge.
This forum has saved and been support to many a weary knee traveller. That is why the good people in the UK invented it.
No sleep yet tonight it is now 5:20 and haven't slept a wink yet. Yes the pain is part of the problem and age the rest.
Well time to try and sleep for a while.
Try not to worry about what you are not doing with your little ones and enjoy the fact you have no choice but to sit quiet and just watch them enjoy life.  That will bring you enough joy to help get you through this tough time. Every day it will get a little easier. That first week is the worst just remember slow and easy.
Take Care Maryanne, you will navigate this whole experience and be stronger for it.
Rk4

[Maryannegb]

I tried getting up a little slower and it helped a bit - still the rush but maybe not quite so bad!

I'm wondering why tonight I can't bend my knee hardly at all when the other day I was nar 10 degrees! Thought it was supposed to increase not decrease!

Husband is struggling I think with how little I can do and how much he needs robe doing - he is so used to me doing so much around here - its not as if I am doing it on purpose!

I have had to put a pillow next to my leg down in the bed to stop the covers pulling across the top of my leg - does anyone have any other easy suggestions to keep the covers directly off my leg???

I'm going to read my book on mynipad now and try and get some sleep! For those world wide readers I am in Western Australia and it is now 9pm!!!

[Maryannegb]

Hope you got some sleep RK4! 

[Rknees4]

Maryanne,
I just kept that leg out from under the covers and wore my sock and covered it with a separate cover so that the covers wouldn't drag across it when hubby moved or when i moved in my sleep.
Hope you get some good sleep.
If hubby has a problem understanding all of this invite him on to see how other experiences were and he will see you are not surking your responsibilities.  This is a hard surgery for most people. Few have a simple trip with little pain.  Everyones experience is different.
Get him to look up the procedure on line especially the pictured version and he will get a whole new appreciation for what a trooper you are being. Try not to let it bother you, you do need to rest and you do need to take it easy as you could fall and really make a mess of the leg. Please don't get in a big rush to ditch the crutches they are there to help you heal and keep you safe.  Just watch the crutches after coming in out of the rain they will slip on non carpeted floors. I whiped out several times and you really can get hurt.
Take Care,
Rk4

[Maryannegb]

The joys of husbands hey - doesn't want to look at the procedure online or on here - amkes him feel sick just to think about it - and then has the cheek to call me from a business trip that he left on at 0610 this morning and will get home at 1945 and asked me what was for his dinner!!!! I kept my cool and told him it was what ever he was going to prepare when he got home!!!!!! Thank goodness I have you understanding people here on knee geeks!

I'm going to get checked out by my friends gp tomorrow morning - still struggling with pain! Pharmacist today said I could take 2 Panadeine forte and 1 endone at the same time, but that I'd feel groggy and washed out! I took the two together, it just covered the pain and I was hoping for a big sleep but only got a half hour nap!

As of Thursday next week I will have a friends mum come into the house at 7.30 for 2 hrs Monday-Friday to help me out / do washing / clean and run errands - it will be a huge help for me!

My 7yr old was supposed to go to a friends after school today on the school bus, but the school forgot to pass the message on = he didn't get on the bus= got home here much earlier than expected = very disappointed 7 yr old to deal with!!!!! Thank goodness my other friend was there picking up her son and delivered him home for me!!!!

How was everyone else's night / day - we are scattered all over the globe so everyone is on a range of time zones!

[Maryannegb]

Uh oh - think I got a bit of an indication of how far I have to go till I'm bak to 'new normal' - just had a shower and took my brace off about thre steps from the shower chair. Scarily my injured leg didn't know what to do - I had to concentrate SO hard to work out how to make it very carefully walk into the shower!!!!!

     and then 

[Maryannegb]

Just back from the dr!!!!

Suspected infection in my leg!!!!!! 

About to call my surgeon who I am 1700km (1062.5 miles) away from!!!!!

I now have stronger pain killers so I really hope something starts to work SOON!!!

I'm teary, I'm tired, and I'm wishing I had never had this operation!!!!!!

I'll be back when my chin is a little higher!

Apologies if I am scaring anyone - I don't want to make it sound glossy when for me it's terrible!!!!!!