MPFL and LR on both knee - my rehab diary 20thJune2012

[emm10161301]

Luckly my ankles didn't swell. But I kept my legs up and iced when I wasn't walking. Ice on your feet and ankles is surprisinly relaxing and should help with the swelling. Everyone thinks I'm mad getting them done but my surgeon wasn't for giving me the option. So hopefully anyone else going through this or preparing can see that if I can manage with both. Then its possible. But I wouldn't advise it. The first few days were horrific. But now well I'm getting there. I'm on morphine and tramadol and they have little effect on me. First time I had the morphine when I got home ( I alternate morphine and trmadol so I don't rely on it) I sent texts asking my friends if they got lucky like me and had injections to. And even convinced myself I wet the bed even though I sat on baby wipes haha but now they don't do much for me. But the colouring is like that my legs were different colours to. Keep them maybe wrapped up in a blanket to keep them warm and massage them keeping the blood flow going. Let me know if that helps you. Worked for me and when the scars get itchy E45 itch relief cream is the best boots and superdrug and pharmacies etc all sell it
Keep me updated with your progress and good luck

Elicia

[CariG]

  Thanks for the tip on the itch. Not looking forward to that, normally scratch others to resist my own temptation. It's a sign things are healing, but man.....it's frustrating!
Phones should be removed from arms reach of anyone on medication....makes for some interesting conversations.

F ~ how's it all going? Did you manage to get the swelling down? You're right about the trippy dreams too....oh, it's an interesting life isn't it?

Wishing everyone a pain reduced weekend, and a good one.

Take care!

Cari! 

[emm10161301]

Hope you all have a great weekend and painfree as well! But with lots of progress! Don't think I'll get out again tomorrow. Rain is pretty heavy, but maybe work on my standing up

[franny]

Hi all,
Isn't it lovely to have somewhere like this that you can speak to people in the same boat - makes it feel less lonely 

Elicia - thanks for the tips. I've been getting my long suffering partner to rub my feet and ankles and have been icing them and it has worked - Cheers for that  Are you in the UK as the rain here is terrible too. I just think at least i am not missing out on fun summertime frolics whilst the weather is so miserable.

I've just started getting some itching but my doc won't let me take the bandages off for another week so at least I can't get to them! My leg is just feeling really bruised - I don't think surgeons are the most gentle of people as the bruising is visable on my mid shin just below my splint. How did it get all the way down there!?

I'll leave you all with another question - what are your best ways of relieving the dredded BORDEM!?

Ta ra for now,
F
x

[emm10161301]

Yea I'm in the uk so it is awful! Lol
Glad the ice worked! And I got my bandages off a week after surgery. Oddly I have bruises on my shins to? I have passed the days not a problem. I get up and ready at half 9 takes me usually an hour then I go to the living room. I play computer games go on the laptop. Text and ring people. My boyfriend comes over after he finishes work every night and I'm in bed for half 9 and I read as well. But I've my grandparents for company and my uncle plus my mum calls around every day. Also I managed to get out of the house yesterday and went out for a drive in the car
Have a good day

[CariG]

Hi all!!

Boredom busters for me include games on the laptop, as Elicia said, and playing cards/board games with whoever is silly enough to sit down with me for longer than 2 minutes!!! Reading is out of the question, as I normally keep dozing off when I least expect it.
We've got a stash of DVD's that have been taunting me for the past month, so I'll be watching a few of them over the coming weeks...
Oh, and working on the family tree......but have to be able to concentrate for longer than 15 minutes at a time.
Like Elicia, I have people around nearly all the time to chat with, so that does make it easier. One of my friends is coming over on Friday to paint my toenails for me, so I'll have pretty toes peeking out at me post surgery.
OS aren't gentle in the least, but I guess they can't afford to be. With my reconstructions I had bruising from my thigh all the way down to my ankle...freaked a few people out, but it was the muscles letting me know something had happened, and they weren't too thrilled about it!! 
Oh, quick question......did you find your leg was really dry post op??? I've bee moisturising and exfoliating all this week, as normally the leg that's been operated on gets really, really dry post op. Just wondering if it's just me being blessed, or if others face the same.
HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY!!!

Cari! 

[emm10161301]

Hey the dry legs thing mine was dry but from almost day one I have put on dermol cream, doctor perscribed it to my mum from dry skin for pregnancy. But its rubbed on it morning and night and has moisturised fantastically well. So its kept well. e45 itch relief also acts as a moisturiser and you don't have to have a perscription for it

[CariG]

THANK YOU ELICIA!!! 
I've been using a natural beeswax based moisturiser with Lavender and Chammomile...it's great for any dry skin condition.....though greasy, so that goes on at night under the pj's. During the day I use a Mango & Papaya moisturiser....smells great, and feels delicious!
My friend is treating me to a pedicure/manicure on Tuesday, and will be coming over on Friday to paint my toenails for me....and in the meantime, I'm lathering myself from hip to toe and hoping that will help.
Otherwise, I'll be calling my GP and asking for her to write up a script for the Dermol Cream!!
Hope you have a great day ahead!

[emm10161301]

I lost my purple nail polish soo wanted my toes painted. Weird having them natural!! And yea that dermol stuff is great. And its not greesy by any means. Had a tiring day was standing up and down and walking about a bit more. The walking has come a lot more natural. But still no sign of a letter for physio? Did get one to say I've a review check up on the 30th july with my consultant. Be he's not going to be there he will have someone else see me. Think he's scared I'll beat him with my crutch since I don't have a leg to stand on haha. But bed for me. Its a late night. But oo chinky for dinner tomorrow. Have to get happiness from somewhere
Good night all

[CariG]

  re PT not getting back in touch with you. That's a bit of a bother...but well done on the up and down today. It's progress!! 
Sweet dreams!

[emm10161301]

Well that was a terrible nights sleep, had such a sore right knee but I did manage to lift my legs outta bed in one, rather than having to use things to balance my legs at different levels and lower it down.

[CariG]

  bummer on the rough night....naughty right knee....but YAY on managing to get them out of bed without assistance! It's amazing how little things can make us feel so awesome....things that others take for granted. I guess that's one of the many things I've come to appreciate...being able to get myself in and out of bed without help in any way, shape or form.
What's the plan for your day ahead? Nearly bed time for me....which leaves me with 4 sleeps to go before my own sleeping goes down the drain.

[franny]

Wow, that's great that you got both legs out the bed on your own - I'm looking forward to being able to get off the bed by myself.

I'm sorry you had a bad night. I feel sore today, I have pain in the back of my leg and i feel like i can feel the wounds. Moan, moan, moan!  On a happy note my mum arrives from Hong Kong in an hour or so! Hooray! 
Elicia - we are having indian, gotta love getting a buzz from having a take-away treat   

I have found reading a slog but find i can manage newspapers without trailing off. I like the idea of having my nails done though - thanks ladies.

I've been using oilatum on my leg which I get prescribed for my excema, it seems to work pretty well. I think that the reduced circulation leads to dry skin problems.

I hope you both had a good day and have a good week ahead.

F
x

[joanfan123]

Hi, I have been fallowing but didn't have anything to add.

CariG-I am surprised you are going to get a pedicure before surgery. Before mine I was told I had to take off my nail polish which sucked because I couldn't get them repainted until a month later when one of my friends helped me. I wonder why these protocols differ, I am very jealous.

[CariG]

  GOOD MORNING!!!

Hi Joanfan, how are you??? Please don't be jealous.....I've made it quite clear there is to be no polish on my nails until post op....but oh...to have the massage and soak and ahhh!!  There's no difference in protocol, all polish, jewellery and the rest of it out and off is the same worldwide....I've just been blessed with friends who understand how being emotionally positive effects the total mind body healing process....hence, 1st day post op I get my nails painted!!   

Hi F ~ how's it all been going? Great news on your Mum coming over!!! Is she staying for long? You'll get there shortly, and then you can encourage and kick my butt when I start turning into jelly later this week....

Hi Elicia ~ Hope you had a better day, and continue to make such wonderful progress. And hope you have a better nights sleep ahead.

I had an average night, saw my Man off to work (he does nightshift) then packed myself off to bed. After a few hours of rolling around trying to get comfy I succumbed to taking a sleeping pill and trying again. Thankfully that worked, and have woken up feeling more like myself, though a bit stiff. So, now I'm left waiting for my legs to decide to wake up, smell the roses (would help if we had roses!) and then I can head out and spend some time with my best friends and their little boys....one is 15 months old, and my Godson is 7 months old. Looking forward to being able to laugh and forget about surgery, knees and everything else for a bit and being one of the girls! Gives my Man a bit of a breather too!

Wishing you all a brilliant day/night ahead!!

Cari!