Frustrated-- need advice

[smartdriver]

+1 on the sleep.  It is SOOO important.  If you aren't getting enough or good quality sleep, it will start affecting your health even if you hadn't had surgery.  And, working a night shift is really tough on the natural sleep patterns.

If you want to try a more natural approach, you can try a product called Zyflamend.  They also make a Zyflamend PM that has chamomile, valerian and skullcap in it to help you sleep.  Of course, just about anything with turmeric is good for an anti-inflammatory effect.  You can think of Zyflamend as a natural Cox-2 inhibitor (think Celebrex but without all of the awful side effects...).  The majority of mainstream MD's unfortunately don't recommend supplements such as this, but any good integrative physician or naturopathic doctor will.

Joining a gym with a pool would be good as well.  That way you can do alot of exercises without putting stress on your knees.  You can start out in the deeper water and work your way to the shallow end, and then on to "land"....

Has your OS said anything about the pain being related to your leg/knee strength or just that it is a combination of the things that you mentioned in your first post?

Is your new position permanent or temporary?  If it's temporary, are there any other positions in the company that you can apply for?  Or do you have to be there a certain length of time before you can do that?

Good luck!

[LindaM]

The tumeric is really good and I have also used ginger capsules.  They are a really effective anti-inflammatory and worked as well as Motrin, but they are a little hard on your stomach if you don't take them with a full meal.  If you haven't tried Melatonin for sleeping, I would give it a try.  Your body makes it naturally, but you make less as you get older or are under stress.  I've taken it for years and it really makes a difference in sleep quality-you fall asleep easier and spend more time in deep sleep.

Have a great weekend and get yourself rested up.

Linda

[captainruss]

I have real trouble with anti inflammatory medications, but if I had been given some after surgery, my Heterotropic Ossification (bone growing in my soft tissue) would have been avoided.  I am trying to figure out why any OS would not order Anti Inflammatory medication after every surgery?  I see the new FB site for AF sponsored by KG, I wonder if we will get one with HO?

Russ

[LindaM]

The issue with not getting an anti-inflammatory after surgery is that after a replacement people are often on blood thinners and the anti-inflammatories also act as mild blood thinners.  The cumulative effect could be excessive bleeding or make the post surgery bruising even harder on you.  This last PKR in my post-surgical instructions the nurse said I could go back on all my medications, but when I went to pick up the blood thinner the pharmacist caught their error and told me I would have problems if I took my sulindac with it.  She even contacted my OS and the hospital to make sure that the error doesn't happen again-it  can be that serious.   After the two weeks with a blood thinner, you can go back on an anti-inflammatory if you need one, but since the OS really isn't into the medication end of managing the knee as much, I think they just don't think about it like a rheumatologist would.

Linda

[Lyndsey]

Thanks for all the replies and advice!

Sleep is one thing that continues to be difficult for me, I think the night shift is a really big factor. Although even on the weekends and when I was on vacation I still didn't really sleep well.
    Smartdriver-- I will definitely take your advice! I've tried taking glucosamine and other supplements but that didn't really seem to help much. I bought some Zyflamend, so hopefully that will help me out. We have a pool at home, and lucky for us we have a heater, so we have already opened it up. Spending time in the water is definitely helpful, and hopefully it'll help me build up some strength. My chiropractor has said that I need to strengthen my quads and my legs, and he thinks that will help with the pain. My OS didn't really have much to say on the subject, but i'm going to try to strengthen them anyways. I have a home gym that i'm starting to use, to start slow and build up. Hopefully between that and the pool i'll be able to get stronger. The new position is going to be permanent, except every once in a while if we are short on people I may have to run a belt. That's not too bad though, it was the nightly grind of it all that I really think was causing me so much pain.
     Linda, I'll have to try the melatonin. I have tried using the "sleepy shampoos" and candles before bed, but that didn't really do anything. Sometimes I take benadryl, and that knocks me out if I take 3 or so. I hate doing that though because then I have a hard time waking up, and feel like a zombie.

I've been feeling a little better, this weekend was great because I was able to just relax and rest up for this week. I haven't been on a horse in a long time, so maybe this week i'd like to ride again, even if it's only for 10 minutes or so. That's probably all i'd be able to take anyways!

Hope everyones doing well,
Lyndsey

[dm]

Hi Linds,
 Hopefully the melatonin does you some good. I didn't have much luck with it, but then again, I have to take 4 benadryl to even feel them at all...I'd probably have to take about 8 of them if I wanted to take them to sleep! Instead I've had to resort to prescription sleep-aids for when things are really bad. Lunesta leaves a bad taste in my mouth that ruins the taste of everything for half the day, but it works. Ambien works, but is kinda hard for me to wake from if I have a limited time to sleep. Sonata wasn't too bad, I didn't have any real noticeable side effects from that one and works okay if I've only got 5-6 hrs to sleep. I don't take them too often, but when I've had a run of really really bad days and I have got to catch up on myself, they help when nothing else does.

I had no luck with glucosamine, or or hyalonuric acid capsules, stuff like that. Sometimes heat helps, sometimes not. I'm not lucky enough to have a pool, so I end up having to satisfy myself with being able to nuke myself in the tub. I don't have little kids, so I can set my hot water heater just short of nuclear and get a good bake on. Can't get a hot tub THAT hot anywhere other than home! At least it takes the ache out at that heat level for me... a regular hot tub just doesn't do it. My hands can't take the heat anymore... but the hips and knees.... ooohhh yeahhh!

Tomorrow's gonna be a long day.... gonna have my anesthetic patch on ahead of time on this one knowing it's coming.

[captainruss]

Let us know how it goes.

Russ

[vl7007]

Hey lyndsey,

I haven't been on much for quite a while due to my own issues since breaking my back, & kat developing other issues.  You were such a great support for me when I needed help in dealing with my daughters multiple surgeries, as well as how she was coping with issues and therapy associated with de-rotational procedures.  I wanted to let you know just how you inspired us to continue going forward.  To see you able to return to employment is wonderful.  Having issues with pain is not great but you know that the specialist has done what they can at this stage.  I am glad that others have been able to offer suggestions on coping with the pain.  Have you thought of contacting an podiatrist or an orthotist to see if they can come up with some ideas for the gel inserts, they should recheck your feet as the rotational surgery would have changed your balance and possibly the arch position.  Just a thought.  They would also be able to look at a soft bracing option to possibly take some pressure off your knees.  I know I may be coming from the wrong direction. But if the doctor can't help it may be worth a try.  Stress is a big pain inducer, both physically and emotionally, which will also impact on your sleeping issues.  Please know that both kat & I are praying and thinking of you.  Sending you positive vibes.  Thank you again for being you.    ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥ 

Remember Tomorrow is Another Day

Kat's mum Vicki

[Lyndsey]

It's great to hear from you Vicki! You're words mean alot to me, I try to be an inspiration because it's hard to deal with all of this, especially when you first start into it all. Now i'm nearing the end of my orthopaedic road, and I need to remember to be that inspiring person! I am really fortunate to be back to work, and the instability gone. The pain is not gone, but that is what I need to deal with. It's not disabling or anything near that bad. Unless of course I do something stupid like ride horse that I need to bail off of in an emergency! I couldn't move for a couple days after that one!

I have old inserts that you're right, I should really have redone. That may make a difference, and i'll have to look into that. I'm always willing to give anything a try! I'm trying to reduce my stress, but I just got promoted at work which means I have to learn all these new procedures and the new job. I don't mind it, but it is a bit stressful! Also, this is more exciting, I just bought a new truck and trailer to haul the horses. The new truck is a dually, and the trailer is a 3 horse gooseneck with living quarters! So it's pretty much a camper that can haul the horses too! I'm excited because that will make the showing alot easier, not having to unpack and repack everything every weekend. This should hopefully cut down on the amount of work I need to do.

The Zyflamend hasn't seemed to help a whole lot yet, but I think I just might need to give it some more time to kick in and get into my system. I still haven't been sleeping more than 4 hours a night, which doesn't make things easy. I'm thinking i'm going to crash soon! My plan this weekend is to hopefully catch up on some sleep and get some rest. If I have to take meds to do that, then i'm at that point.

Hope all are doing well! Vicki, say hi to Kat for me and tell her I hope she's doing great!