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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / April 2005Checking in
Hi everyone. Its a bit quiet in here lately, so I thought I'd pop my head in properly. Its been 4 weeks now since my tkr, and I'm doing okay. They physio is hard and I cuss it loads, but feel better afterwards. I did something today that I haven't done in about 4-5 years, and that is walk up some stairs properly - you know, one foot above the other. Only 7 stairs mind, but such a mountain to me! It felt strange, but I am now reminding myself that my bad leg is now my good leg, and I must start using it on stairs. The scar however itches like mad. It has healed beautifully, but last week I felt a bit poking out, and it turned out to be thread from stitches! There was a knot, an end (about .5 cm in all), so I sterilised a pair of scissors and cut it off. I hadn't realised there would be internal stitches, but that must be why it itches so. Sleep is still difficult, as it gets very uncomfortable. I know what Janet meant though about sitting in her car going "vroom" - I can't wait to be driving again (see the surgeon in 2 weeks, so hopefully then). I've been back to work a little bit - 2 mornings last week and 2 this week, but am not planning to go back any more than that just yet. So, all in all its good, but I will be glad when I get another 6 weeks or so over with. Hope everyone is well - it was nice to hear from Connie! Jayne >Hi everyone. Its a bit quiet in here lately, so I thought I'd pop my head >in properly. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >a mountain to me! It felt strange, but I am now reminding myself that my >bad leg is now my good leg, and I must start using it on stairs. Good to hear, my Physio once told me off for calling it "my bad leg" it was, according to her "my affected leg" but as long as we all know which leg we are are talking about, what the heck! >The scar however itches like mad. It has healed beautifully, but last week >I felt a bit poking out, and it turned out to be thread from stitches! [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >meant though about sitting in her car going "vroom" - I can't wait to be >driving again (see the surgeon in 2 weeks, so hopefully then). Hope so. >I've been back to work a little bit - 2 mornings last week and 2 this week, >but am not planning to go back any more than that just yet. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Hope everyone is well - it was nice to hear from Connie! Yes, I think she thinks it was a good move taking to the canal, and I'm pleased both her and Robert and the dogs have taken to it. Give the Docs feedback when you see them Jayne. I think it's important. The consultant guy might know his onions, but I found that some of the underlings, whilst knowing their onions, hadn't quite perfected their art of selling them to the customer. Maybe you'll be OK with the docs, but don't be affraid to let them know if they don't explain enough or you don't understand. [Mind come to think of it, I don't think you would be!!] Good luck with your recovery, your body will let you know if you over do things. -- Andy > Yes, I think she thinks it was a good move taking to the canal, and > I'm pleased both her and Robert and the dogs have taken to it. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > -- > Andy Its funny, but I haven't seen this surgeon's underlings much at all - they came around with him when I was on the ward, but I've never seen them at an appointment. He does have the tendency to rush, as if you would automatically understand, but if you ask a question he does take the time to answer. Jayne >Hi everyone. Its a bit quiet in here lately, so I thought I'd pop my head >in properly. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >a mountain to me! It felt strange, but I am now reminding myself that my >bad leg is now my good leg, and I must start using it on stairs. Well done! And it's just the beginning, believe me. My Mum pelts round Ikea ( we took her up last week) like a maniac now, and my poor 4-mile-an-hour powerchair just cannot keep up. And she's 89! >The scar however itches like mad. It has healed beautifully, but last week >I felt a bit poking out, and it turned out to be thread from stitches! >There was a knot, an end (about .5 cm in all), so I sterilised a pair of >scissors and cut it off. I hadn't realised there would be internal >stitches, but that must be why it itches so. >Sleep is still difficult, as it gets very uncomfortable. I know what Janet >meant though about sitting in her car going "vroom" - I can't wait to be >driving again (see the surgeon in 2 weeks, so hopefully then). >I've been back to work a little bit - 2 mornings last week and 2 this week, >but am not planning to go back any more than that just yet. > >So, all in all its good, but I will be glad when I get another 6 weeks or so >over with. It does seem interminable, but it will go in quite quickly, really. Every time I have surgery I always get impatient, but when you look back afterwards, it seems like no time at all, especially when you can feel the benefit, and you will, even more so, very soon. All the itching is a sign of healing, and I know it's highly irritating (as she scratches her most recent scar with a knitting needle), but it's a good sign, and at least you don't have a stookie ;-) You're well down the far side of the hill now (er... I meant in the sense of getting over the obstacle, not getting "over the hill" ! ), so try to be patient, and you'll be able to fully enjoy the better weather if/when it comes. Anne > It does seem interminable, but it will go in quite quickly, really. > Every time I have surgery I always get impatient, but when you look [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Anne I just have to ask Anne - what is a stookie? LOL Jayne >> It does seem interminable, but it will go in quite quickly, really. >> Every time I have surgery I always get impatient, but when you look [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Jayne I've heard that before. It's a plaster of paris cast thingy on a broken arm or leg Janet > I've heard that before. It's a plaster of paris cast thingy on a broken > arm > or leg > Janet Thanks Janet! Jayne >> It does seem interminable, but it will go in quite quickly, really. >> Every time I have surgery I always get impatient, but when you look [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >Jayne Ah, two nations divided by a single language ;-) In Scotland a stookie is a plaster cast - sorry if you were hoping for something more exotic! Anne >>I just have to ask Anne - what is a stookie? LOL >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Anne LOL Anne - thanks for that, although Janet sussed it (clever girl). Jayne >Its been 4 weeks now since my tkr, and I'm doing okay. They physio is hard >and I cuss it loads, but feel better afterwards. Hi Jayne Good to hear you are doing well - fingers crossed for more and more good things to come! :o) I remember how it felt when i started doing the physio after my thumb tendon graft ... feels really weird and not a little uncomfortable. Always feeling for the 'limits' and wondering how much pressure i can risk putting on it. Then having the nurses saying "Well, you know the stitches will disolve after 2-3 weeks and then you're on your own - if you have exercised too much or too little in those 2-3 weeks it might just snap and we're back to square one!" On boy - i was worried on that 3rd week - but it was all OK :o) >Sleep is still difficult, as it gets very uncomfortable. What does it feel like? Is it still very painful, and where do you get the pain - is it in the new joint or where the joint meets the real bones? >I know what Janet meant though about sitting in her car going "vroom" haha, yes - it was about 6-8 weeks before they let me drive a car Now i am "vroooming" all over the place and even managed a trip to Cornwall at New Year, which was great. Best wishes, Chris R. >>Sleep is still difficult, as it gets very uncomfortable. > > What does it feel like? Is it still very painful, and where do you get > the pain - is it in the new joint or where the joint meets the real > bones? The joint isn't painful at all, and apart from the first couple of days hasn't been the whole time. Discomfort comes from the surrounding tissues, muscles, tendons whatever. At night, lyiing still, everything tends to stiffen up a bit. Also, the swelling is uncomfortable too - makes everything feel stiff and heavy. Cheers Jayne >>>Sleep is still difficult, as it gets very uncomfortable. >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >stiffen up a bit. Also, the swelling is uncomfortable too - makes >everything feel stiff and heavy. i cared for my mother after her first knee op, and this seems to tally with her experience. it also tallies with mine, of the after-effects of my back op: absolutely nothing wrong with the spine itself, any more (so i can walk again with nothing but arthritis pains), but there's a terrible tendency for the lower back/buttock muscles to seize up if i sit still for too long. still, it gets me away from the computer... great to hear you're (mostly) getting on well with life. do get us some more pictures to drool over ;-)  SignatureRobin (http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq) Fairbairns, Cambridge >Hi everyone. Its a bit quiet in here lately, so I thought I'd pop my head >in properly. >snipped Well, Jayne I hope you are not trying to overdo it. Take it easy, and I'm really glad things are going well. Best wishes. - Peter James Remove AT to reply |
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