Total Knee Replacement-What works for pain

Hello All!
I wanted to do a quick blog to let you guys know what kind of treatments have been working well for me, with pain, and healing.  Below is a quick list of the items I recommend!

ICE!  Ice is by far the best friend I have right now.  I wake up, I ice my knee for 20 minutes.  On top, underneath, the shin and even my thigh.  Anywhere with swelling and pain.  I do it as often as I like, all day (and night) just only 20 minutes at a time.

Essential oils-Before surgery, I made sure to keep my spirits up with some of my favorite essential oils. (Diffusing-Cedarwood, lavender and spruce blend, or Stress away (a young living blend) with peppermint.  Wearing- My favorite blend right now to wear is called "The Secret", it is available through Rocky Mountain Oils).  A good attitude goes such a long way on this recovery.  Now that I am on the healing side of this adventure, I am using a blend of coconut oil, Helicrysum, Lavender and Frankincense.  I also highly recommend a deep relief or deep blue lotion blend, both available through either Young Living, or DoTerra.  They are pretty much the same.  The deep lotion blend helps to numb me up enough to fall asleep. 

Staying hydrated!!!  Before, during and after surgery, I am seriously pushing water like crazy.  I know it helps, I had alot of meds in me for surgery, and after.  Best to purge all that out!

Go Slow!  I am doing really well with my progress, but I have to keep reminding myself to take it slow.  Keep moving, but go SLOW! 

Its ok to ask for help.  Those who love you will understand.  Try and have a good support system set up BEFORE you embark on this adventure! 

Praying.  I cannot tell you how much my fears, pain, and frustration have been replaced by peace and joy, just by communicating with my Creator.

Take your meds.  Don't try and be a superstar.  You will only end up in so much pain that it takes you hours and hours to get it under control.  You may make this mistake once, but you most likely won't make it again.

Do your physical therapy.  It sucks, it hurts, but it is rebuilding you.  Make all the pain worth it, by teaching your new joint and the muscles around it how to work together!

I think that is it...Just wanted to put together a list for those who may be facing their own joint replacement!

Love and healing,
Chelle

Authentic Battle Damage-TKR 2 weeks Post op

Today is 2 weeks since my knee replacement!  I wanted to reflect on a couple of things I am dealing with 2 weeks post op.

I am still in enough pain that I struggle to sleep some nights.  This is frustrating to me because I am finding with the new crack down on opiates, unfortunately this also means post op patients.  Do most patients not need anything stronger than advil 2 weeks after a total knee replacement?  I am so curious how this is going to pan out.  Right now I am trying to only take it when I need it, but I have been hurting quite a bit last night and today. Honestly, Ice and Essential oils seem to help the most. 

I hate my staples.  I called and got my appointment moved up so I could immediately get them taken out.  I feel them digging and tearing at me, and it makes me reluctant to use my awesome knee! So hopefully later this afternoon I will be happier.

I am beginning to get better with my cane!  No idea how long I will need it, physical therapy will probably let me know.

I am also a bit scared to see how my scar is going to look.  I am thankful my husband, and my sons both see it as authentic battle damage.

May you win your battles today!
m

Total Knee Replacement-11 days Post Op

Good morning! 

I have had a bit harder of a week.  I feel the nerves waking up in my knee, and the muscles that support it, and they are pissed.  I was numb in many areas (and still am), but I feel it all beginning to wake up.  It feels weird, little sharp shooting pains, some acheyness that I was not aware of before.  The good news is that I am healing.  Bad news, pain is no fun, but ice, essential oils and of course REST are helping so much.

I had my stitches taken out this week.  Next week they will take out the staples.  The wound is still covered all the time, which is good, because it is hideous to look at. (its literally like 27 stitches, from my thigh to my shin)  I have a great bloody picture of before I left the hospital.  I wont post it, because it makes me queasy, but if you like that stuff, let me know, I don't mind sharing it if that kind of stuff fascinates you.

As for the new knee.  She is a really feisty. Like a toddler, in a room full of old people.  She is ready to party, and try all the things, she keeps running off without her cane, and thinks she is so independent.  My Quads are the old men who scream at running children, "whippersnapper! You will get us all killed!".  She doesn't care.  Maybe I will end up totally robotic, or have all "replicant" joints. :D  I do feel my new knee needs a name, she is young, and ready to party, and God bless her, she is living with a bunch of boring grown ups. 

I am doing Physical therapy in my home 3 days a week.  I like my therapist, she is down to earth, and has a great personality.  She has also been able to answer so many of my questions, which help me not to worry during this healing process.  My Boston friends will appreciate this, she is a Patriots fan, from RI, and showed up with her patriot colors on her nails this morning.  I am doing better than expected, getting around with a cane when outside, (dr.appts etc), and  I am up and down stairs without a problem, just slow. :)

One thing I wanted to mention is how emotional I have felt through this process, especially this week.  I have alot of feelings, and for some reason, it feels like I am 13 with PMS again!  Why does healing or pain make me so emotional?  I am not saying I cried or anything, but I definitely had a few moments this week that I wanted to. 

I think I am still on track to begin working from home beginning 2/13.  Then the following week, I will probably try and go in like normal.  The main thing, is going to be how tired I get.  Healing takes so much work, and effort on our bodies part, and sometimes we don't even realize how much rest it needs.  So I am resting.

I am so thankful for family and friends who have made this journey so much less bumpy.  Bringing food, sending pretty flowers and plants, giving me rides, praying for me and asking about me.  I cherish you all so much.

xxoo
-Chelle

TKR 4 days Post Op!

Good morning!  First let me just say, I feel your prayers, your love, and it makes me stronger, braver, and happier.  You guys are awesome.

I got behind on the blog b/c before surgery, I had no problem sending myself little notes and putting them together when I had a second.  Post op, I am so sleepy, and sore, it has not been a priority.  I do exercises, walk around, and then I have to rest.  My body feels like I lost an MMA fight.  My spirit feels like it won the same fight.

I was up and walking the same day as my surgery- Monday.  I stayed the night in the hospital that night.  The nurses kept telling me to rest, "Tuesday will be a big day."  So then I realized, I have been having trouble sleeping.  I can call asleep sitting up, for about 5-10 minutes at a time.  When I get IN bed, I make a pillow fort so I can prop my knee up, then I can sleep for 45 minutes-1.5 hours.  Still not enough sleep.

Tuesday, I was discharged from the hospital.  I wanted to come home.  They set me up for Home Health PT.  They discharged me with instructions, and two prescriptions.  We went to two CVS, they did not have it.  So we hit up Walgreens, they had it, but there are so many new laws about prescriptions, my insurance wouldn't fill it the way it was written, and I was beginning to hurt, so we just got it filled.  It cost 120 bucks..(OH my gosh you guys.) So far, Ice is the most helpful and low cost item in my bags of tricks!

Wednesday-Brian's last day at home with me.  We watched some TV, I did alot of walking around the house, steps up, and steps down.  PT the usual stuff.

Thursday (yesterday)-PT came, Brian went to work, My momma came over to site with me, we watched Alias Grace and ate chick-fil-a.   I stayed up late again, unable to sleep is by far the most frustrating thing!'

Friday!- So today, my momma is coming by to take my to my follow up appointment with my ortho surgeon (Maruice Jove).  I am hoping for a clean dressing change, additional supplies to do it myself, and the OK to shower!

So a quick few other interesting tidbits-
     I am walking,  every day, doing steps, using the bathroom on my own. (no shower yet, just sponge baths)
     I am not using the walker really.  But I have not mastered the cane.
   
The pain at this point is more scary, b/c I feel like I am going to rip the incision open.  The bending and stretching for PT IS painful.

I think thats it for now.  Call or text if you want.  770 309 3645 <3

Peace, Love, and bruises!
sillie

Today is the day! TKR

Good Evening y'all!

This morning was a blur, had to get up at 4 AM, arrive at the hospital at 530. My brother, and my  Wylly Belle came to sit with Brian and me while we waited.  💜 Yesterday Clayton (my bro), Kimberly (his wife) and my Sweet Wylly Belle (my niece) came to my house and brought the most delish home made dinners.  Wylly Belle made her Brocoli cassarole, they also brought Shepherd pie, and a Lasagna.  It was funny, last night, I could not help myself and had to make the Lasagna.  I needed a comfort food dinner!  It was AMAZING! ...So I texted my brother, and he goes.."that was POST OP Lasagna!" I simply responded..."Pre Op Lasagna"!

When I woke up, my leg was already in a passive motion device, to keep it moving.  It goes really slow, and hurts on each extreme, when it lies flat, and when it reaches the furthest bend I can do now.  I have inflatable booties, to keep me from getting a blood clot.  I still have an IV going, for Antibiotics and Ibuprofen.  I am sure they keep it in, just in case they have to push something else.  I also have been applying ice, but it is not helping much since the dressing is so thick. 

I was up within a couple hours Post Op.
I have walked to the bathroom 3 times with the aide of a walker, and used the potty all by myself.  I have been playing UNO with my sweet husband, one of our favorite games. 

I will try and explain what kind of pain and discomfort I am having now.

-swelling=throbbing and aching. Like, Alot of throbbing. 😬
-muscle soreness in my leg.
-in the last 4 hours, I am beginning to feel the "burn" of the actual incision. 

Tomorrow I get to actually put panties on.  (I am not a huge fan of just sitting bare ass on any bed but my own)  Actually, lets hope they let me put more than panties on...I just want my yoga pants and a tank/flannel combo. I am a goth (skull tank), grunge (flannel), Yoga Pants (...lets just call them stretchy pants.  I haven't done Yoga in YEARS), kind of girl. 

Tomorrow I begin group PT, and a million other little things to begin prepping for discharge.  I am apparently going to be a "Shining Star" b/c my progress is great so far.  I feel this is unfair to all the other patients here, who seriously out rank me by age...most by at least 30 years.  

Please pray for my fellow patients, this is serious work, and it hurts.
Please pray for my family.
Please pray for my healing.

Special shout outs-
Too many to list, I feel loved, and so blessed.  I love you guys!

A couple of photos below..nothing gross.

 *I should have specified, I am not wearing ANY makeup in these...so the "nothing gross" may have been a small lie. 😱

 This bouquet has SOOO many different flowers.  Absolutely beautiful!!! Thanks Dad!! xxoo

Love, and Titanium...

Michelle

T-1 days to TKR

Fell asleep with my mind racing with all the things I have left to do. Tried to focus on my breathing, it only made me realize I was not relaxing. 

 Started running through the alphabet, focusing on my Creator. 

A Abba

B beautiful

C compassionate

D delight in HIM

E Elohim

F faithful

G good

H hallelujah in the highest

I Immanuel

J Jesus

K kind

L love

M mighty

N name above all names

On and on. Until I fell asleep. 

Today I am at church, later I will get a few more things done, pack my bag, pick up after my bunnies, and take some special antimicrobial shower.  

I feel impatient, and curious about how I will be doing in 24 hours. I feel courage and strength, but also uncertainty. All of this is normal. Hahaha I am anything but normal. So I guess I feel pretty weird. 

T-3 Days to Total Knee Replacement

 

 

 

 

This week, I have been doing my Pre surgery PT, and I have this sleeve that goes on my thigh, and just shocks the ever living daylights out of me for 20 minutes, 3 times a day.  I have to meditate or knit during these times, just to keep from being annoyed by the shocker. It doesn't hurt, it is just irritating.

I had a really nice guy bring all kinds of equipment I barely know how to use, a passive motion machine to keep my knee in motion for 6 hours a day after surgery, an Ice pack thing, some inflatable boots, and Unfortunately for him,  a "bedside camode".  ...  I was not having that.  I told him, "nope, take that back to your truck".  He insisted, "you might wish you had it".  Again, I protested, and assured him that I would rather drag myself to the potty on a hot ashphalt street in mid summer than use the potty right next to where I sleep.  I am just not ready for that yet. 

A bit of history about me- TMI- I can't do ANYTHING on the potty unless I know I am alone, and no one knows where I am or what I am doing.  Bed side potty goes against all of those things.  Some things should always be a mystery to a husband. The end.

I have the feeling I already have a "mark" in my chart..."feisty patient thinks she knows everything." "How can she expect to use the bathroom without a bedside camode?"  I promise, I will get there...even dragging my lurch leg behind me. :)

Here is a link to a video about the place I will be having my surgery and what it will look like -

https://youtu.be/AwQnV4JJ0SE

I will try and keep a record of my experience, for those of you who are willing to follow along and keep me and my family in your prayers.  Surgery is Monday 1/22/2018. 

Agape!

-sillie