Hi Grandma,Thanks Peggy. I'd be glad to tell a little about myself. I just turned 60 and until about 2 years ago I was very active. I weigh 120 pounds. and am 5 ft 1" My last job was working in a Preschool with mentally and physically handicapped children, along with this job I also went out into the homes and worked with mentally and physicaly handicapped children and adults. I had to quit both jobs as the problem got worse. My Title was "Developmental Rehabilitation Aide"
The new year has only just begun and with the surgery at the end of Feb., it may just turn out that this is your best year yet. I can't begin to understand the pain and frustration you are having but please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Can you get out at all? Do you have a good support system at home? What do you do for fun when you are on 2 good legs? Tell us a little about yourself. Can you still cook dinner for yourself? Yes, I am trying to take your mind off of the problem, how am I doing :)
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Peggy
HII'm glad you liked the Biofreeze. Did you know this is also good for Bee Stings and Burns. Makes sense.
I hope the time passes fast and you have a quick and fast recovery.
I tried that biofreeze after my TKR and I am glad I bought it after your high recommendation.
Regards
Annie
Grandma,Maybe saying my husband doesn't know where the button on the computer is a little overstated. He can find it when he has too but really isn't interested. He's helped me when I've had computer problems that are small but he grumbles over it. My son is a computer engineer and I hate to ask him even more. I learned most of what I know by trial and error and as a Medical Transcription working for National Companies. He's always asking me to research things.
So your husband can't find the on button HUH?? Mine is soooo computer savy, after all that's what he does for a living. He is the Manager of a Global Network System and he is learning the security end of it now. He's really good at his job and so smart too. I wish I knew 1/4 of what he does concerning the computer. At least I know the internet and email, guess that's all that counts.
Meeting would be nice, we are about 2 1/2 hours from NYC going 1 way and if we go up thru the Pocono's I think, but son't hold me to it, about the same distance. I have absolutely no sense of direction or distance.
We have the big tv in the family room and since my accident, that's my domain. Bill brought down the guest room bed when I came home from the hospital, couldn't do stairs at all and since I am having the hardware removed in April, the bed will stay right where it is. Every now and then he will go upstairs to watch something that I won't watch. I guess I have dibs since I can't run upstairs. Usually I will run upstairs and turn on what I want to watch.
I should be graduating to a cane sometime in the next few weeks. Tried it a few weeks ago and just froze. I usually have therapy on Monday evenings, but tonight I had to cancel to go to the dentist. I am having major work done and can't be in 2 places at once. I'll go Wed. and Thurs. These are my scheduled days. I am getting tired of running out 3 days a week for pt. Apparantly, I will be going until June, the pt may discharge me next month or worse case change the amount of time, which won't hurt my feelings at all.
We haven't gotten any snow and that's okay with me. I will not drive in it, and since my knee I will not walk on it ever again, my greatest fear is falling on this leg again. My husband calls me Klutzy. I really don't watch where I wallk. Our weather man said we will get about 15 inches this winter, whenever that may be. I guess the kids are disappointed, but we cannot control Mother Nature!!
Well I have to go get dressed for the dental appointment. LUCKY ME!!! He's really good and doesn't hurt at all, I am just the biggest baby and worst dental patient there is.
Talk to you later.
Peggy
Hi Grandma,Thank you for your wonderful words of comfort. I don't know what I would do without my Karaoke and singing. I practice and sing my little heart out when no one is around. It's a great way to reduce stress. We have these friends over for dinner every couple weeks and they always compliment me so much that I turn red from embarrassement.
I second Peggy's WOW you are a busy lady. I love to sing but only do it alone in my car - request from people who have heard me. The louder I can sing the better the release of stress. I'm an oldies girl (not much on country) but love the old crooners. I am keeping you in my thoughts and hope that the back becomes a pain of the past very soon for you. You sound strong and vibrant and I am sure this will all return once you on the recovery side of the surgery.
I'm teaching my husband about laundry done (Deborah's way). I a little bossy I've been told but he's a quick learner. Hopefully I can take over soon again - ok I'm really very bossy and its easier if I do it - no fights that way. You sound like you have great support and I hope you can ask them for what you need, its obvious you have given them a lot over the years.
You are in my thoughts - Deborah
My great uncle used to have a farm in a town called Ninvea New York. In my youth we would go up and smell the clean air and see all the stars in the sky.Where exactly is this or what is this near. I've never heard of this town.
GrandmaIn my line of work I worked with many autistic children and adults. It is so amazing how different they all are. The same with Down syndrome. My grandson doesn't have any Medical problems and is very high functioning.
I run a house that has 3 mentally handicapped people that live there love the job but it takes it toll somedays they are great people my youngest son is Autistic and when I was in college before marriage the 1st time my major was emotionally disturbed spec ed
Sounds like you are having quite the ride with all the issues that you have going on so sorry to hear that one
I hate the dentist as well good luck with what it is you are having done
PT put me back on 1 crutch today swellling it to bad to go w/o them
We got about 4 inches of snow and lots of ice here in Ia
Deborah will wait for the video and buy it for Curt he just thinks that it all needs washed so it should all go together thank goodness for the son's gf she is helping make sure that the guys dont stuff the washer and use the wrong setting and making sure that they use fabric softner
Take care all going back to the ice pack
Hello, butting in here and obviously coming in very late in the game, but from what I gather you are going to have a spinal fusion? Or something down that line. You might find this bullentin board helpful:Thanks Suburban Life. I certainly will check out that web site. I was supposed to have this Spine Surgery January 8 but the doctor just up and left without an explanation. He shared an office with my Orthopedic Doctor and they were devasted that this happened so I was sent to another Spine Specialist further away and had to start all over again.
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=18
That board is for back issues. I also used this board when I had my knee replaced nearly 2 years ago, and found the other board after I had my spine fused in July. It is a great place to get direct answers. Hope this helps, and good luck!
Lisa
Hi All,I have the Progressive Bifocals Peggy and I don't think I'd be able to go back to the old style. At least with the Progressive noonw knows you have Bifocals. I know about the cold we are freezing here in NY too.
Well as far as being old because you need bifocals, color me old. I have been wearing the progressive ones for about 12 years now. Yes, they cost more but I get anyway!! I dread going to the eye doctors, they are going to have to change my script this year, I can't see the small print anymore either. So that will be another couple hundred dollars. I agree with Terre, they are as expensive as the dentist. I won't even tell you what I have spent on the dentist since October. I keep telling my husband that we should rob a bank HA HA
It is cold here and my poor hubby has to work on the brakes for his car. He's got the kerosene heater going in the garage and it is still cold out there. He'll be running in and out all day.
I have to call my os office tomorrow. I have another bump, this time it is on the top of my knee and it is so hard and hurts like crazy. We seem to think that it is part of the wire that is starting to push up now that my leg is finally shrinking down to normal. Hope that's all it is, who knows maybe they will take this hardware out before April, OH what a blessing this will be. I have not exercised all week end, trouble and pain with the leg.
Will let you know what his office says.
Later,
Peggy
BIFOCALS :o :o :oI just had my eyes examined and he said on the initial exam he though I had cataracts so he did further tests and says I do. I don't notice anything yet and my new glasses work great so unless they get worse I've had enough surgery to last me a long time.
How about cataracts? Now don't get me wrong...they were not the "normal" cataracts...fast gorwing kind "Juvenile Cataracts"
I had what is called "prelex" lens implants...cosmetic surgery unless you are having cataract surgery. I have a reading lens in one eye and a distance lens in the other. I never have to wear reading glasses..perfect 20/20 but I did rub my distance eye too soon after surgery so I only have 20/25 in it.
Well Lucky, glad I could help. Not knocking the Knee Geeks, but something a tad bit more specific doe help. Feel free to contact me directly if you would like more information. You will find a few things to be very common. Those with bad knees ending up having bad backs, and those with bad backs ending up having bad hips. I hate to say it's been a downward spiral for my body since I had my knee replaced in March of '05. Had my spine fused S1-L3 in July, I do have instrumentation, 2 rods and 6 screws. They only went in thru my back. I have/had Degenerative Disc Disease, Facet Disease and Degenerative Arthritis. Now dealing with the Degenerative Arthritis in both hips, my TKR side being worse, so I can definatly comiserate with you! Another gal from the knee boards also had the same surgery a couple months after me and we still talk regularly, so again, message me if you would like support, I'm here for you! Take care...LisaWe certainly have a lot in common. Your statement how one things leads to another like bad knees, bad back and so forth is why I started this thread. I've seen so many people still complain of leg pain and wonder why they are not getting better after a knee replacement. In 9 months I had three knee operations, arthroscopy, PKR and TKR and yet I continued to get worse because I think dealing with all teh rehabilitation for my knee stressed out my back even more. I've had back problems for years but never like it is now and it seemed to happen so quicky.
No I don't have floating cataracts. Actually I can see quite fine since I got my new glasses. The eye doc just said he wanted to see me in a year and see how they progressed. Why not I've been averaging one or two surgeries a year so what's another one. I might not know what to do with myself if I'm not palnning surgery. It doesn't seem to matter how minor the surgery is you still go through XXXX to get through it and have all this preop stuff.L. Thomas, can cataract surgry be corrected with glasses. I see a big improvement in my eyes since my new glasses and I tthought cartaracts meant you would lose your puriferal vision . I can see fine out the sides of my eyes. This doctor mentioned surgery but did say that it has to be justified.
Bad night last night girls and guys. Amongst other things I just couldn't find a focal point that wasn't stressful. I need to fall asleep thinking about something pleasant and right now I'm having trouble finding that.
Suburban Life, thanks for the webite message board for Back problems. All I have to do is go there and read and it is so refreshing to find many many others who have the exact same problem I have and how they felt about the surgery. Even in the worse senario cases they said in the end they were glad they had it. Many said they went from literally not being able to walk to playing sports again. I'm sure glad you joined my thread and I'd welcome your inpute anytime, especially if you have back problems. I belong on both boards as I have had three knee operations in the past couple years that have led me to this point. Actually three in 9 months but it's been a year since my TKR. It will be so great to see just how my knee is doing without these other problems. I can't wait.
Have you been diagnosed with cataracts? There are "floaters" that really do a job on you as far as clouding an area of vision. They are a blur that move across your eye. They will move across you eye opposite to the way you are looking. That is different from cataracts. Floaters can't be fixed but glasses will give you vision that is better. With cataracts your eyesight will continue to worsen. I think you will want to have the surgery when your OD suggest it.
Soon you will be on your way to healing and all the past events will seem a distant memory.Boy Goo, I sure hope so. For years my knee was my life and now it's my back. Man there has got to be more to life then body parts.
Hi Everyone, I wrote last night but somehow I hit the wrong button and lost it all and didn't have the energy to do it again.
Becky
Hi everyone,Hey Deb, you said something in your post that may have helped me. You said anti-inflammatories give you leg cramps. I've been haivng terrible left leg pain especially in the knee (opposite knee that bothered me before the operation.)and I took the last steroid pill this morning so we'll see what happens. Monday I go back to the doctors and if I still have it then hopefully he tries something else. He told me it would go awy that it is because they stretched the area to get the wedges in so time MAYBE IT WILL GO AWAY. Looking forward to you call. Becky
Terre I love your kitties!!! I'm in kitty envy again - ah well. I will vicariously enjoy them through you.
Becky, good to talk to you on IM tonight. I'll call you next week during the day so we can yak - that way you can be in a comfortable position since it is hard for you to spend to much time on the computer. I hope your pain is better.
I'm going to post the same info below in another thread too so sorry for the repeat for those of you on multiple threads.
My dad is home from the hospital. I thought he was going to go to a nursing home to get PT but the social worker at the hospital got a visiting nurse and PT three times a week at home. So my mom said she would try him at home. He is very stubborn and the dementia makes him very hard to work with. Hopefully he will following instructions. The problem is there is no association with doing this will mean he will get better. But he is tired, still not feeling great but at least home.
Ok for me, I saw my OS yesterday. I was his last patient of the day and I think I learned the secret to a good visit - I set my next appointment late in the afternoon too. Anyway we had a good visit from the standpoint that he had some ideas and we talked a long time. I told him that I was unhappy with the amount of pain and that it felt like I was grinding two pieces of raw meat in the joint - now mind you I have no idea what grinding raw meat would feel like but... He said that with the arthritis and the medial side in the shape it was in it was just going to take more of what I was doing. He liked the swimming and said that I needed to continue with PT. Then I said there was a point of a lot of pain that you could touch and I wll yelp. So I pointed it out - of course he had to push on it multiple times. He then got a big smile on his face and said he thought he could fix that part of my pain. He came back with a paper and said I have Pes Anserine Bursitis. I do have to say I felt really old when he said Bursitis, that is sometime my mom should have not me. Anyway he said he could inject it with a mix of anti-inflammatory and steroid and he thinks it will feel better. The only problem I have with anti-inflammatory meds is they cause me to have horrible leg cramps. What is wierd is that the worst of the cramps is always in my left ankle. Not anywhere near where the injection is given but its consistent with oral meds too. We did the injection yesterday and of course now it can take 5-9 days before I get any effect. Right now its worse than what it was but that has happened before with injecitons so I'm not too worried. He did not think I had another tear but he did say if the joing pain isn't better in another few weeks he may rethink that part. The only bad news was about me going back to work. I wanted to go back on April 6th (after my March date fell through). He said we would shoot for April 15th but it may be May. Then he asked if I had thought about an alternative if I could not go back. Of course I have this has been two years of dealing with this stupid knee. He said he thinks I should be able to go back but I then asked him to please tell me if he thought that I had to seriously look for another job. I absolutely love what I do but I am not willing to lose the ability to walk or do what I can do now just to have a few more years as a medic. He said we would talk again when I saw him in... you guessed it four weeks.
I'm waiting for the knee injection to hit to see if that will help the pinpoint pain and I'll keep doing what I'm doing. My plan is to go back to what I love to do but be assured I'll be ok - very sad - but ok if I can not.
I'll keep you posted on how its doing.
Be well everyone - talk to you tomorrow.
Deborah
Sorry to jump in at the end of a long post ... I'm new to the board and just wanted to say "hang in there" ... I had nerve damage following a Post-op femoral nerve block (TTT surgery in 95) and I know exactly what you mean by your legs "not cooperating!" ... it basically took me two years to recovery from a surgery that was supposed to take, I can't quite remember the estimate now, 6 weeks or something ... it just takes time to heal ... just keep asking those nerves to fire, so they'll know they're still needed! :-) My original OS kept telling me that he had no idea what was wrong, I must not want to get better ... took quite a while, and visits to other doctors before I got a diagnosis and could put to rest any little nagging thoughts of "maybe my OS is right - do I *really* not want to walk?!?" It's quite strange when body parts don't really hurt but just don't work and you used to be able to make them work without any thought at all ... anyway, again - hang in there and keep at it - the baby steps (maybe, quite literally, baby steps - was for me!) will add up over time and down the road, you'll be able to look back at how far you've come!Thanks so much for jumping in here. Your letter was very encouraging. My OS never did tell me that nerve damage was the reason I was having trouble walking. He figured he fixed the problem and in a few weeks I should be able to walk without the assistance of anything even though I had two surgeries in three weeks because he screwed up. I think that is when I got the nerve damage. The disk literally collapsed and landed on a nerve. Picture a tree falling on your leg and you are trapped and can't move. That's what it felt like. I went to my GP and he is the one that explained the nerve damage to me and told me it could be months etc before I got the nerves working again. He said basically what you did. Keep moving the legs until they wake up and realize you still need them. When I went back to my OS and told him I saw my GP and this is what he told me, he didn't argue and treats me differently now and not just like a routine patient. Anyway thanks for your input. My back and legs feels so much better since the surgery that I guess I can be patient and give my legs time to do what they have to do. Afteall I've walked with so much pain and pinched nerves for so long they have a right to be mad at me. [/color] How did you now the nerves were waking up. What were the first signs.