Just thought I would update you on what is going on with my knee. IT HURTS. 11 physical therapy appointments, and it HURTS worse than before. My legs are much stronger from the therapy, so if I position myself just right, I can get up from the couch using only my thigh muscles and the knee doesn't hurt.
Next step - arthroscopic surgery to determine what is going on in there - fix the tear and whatever else needs to be done. They are pretty booked up, and are scheduling in December, so I will have the surgery Dec. 16th. That means I can go to Chicago for Thanksgiving as planned. I also plan to have the rehab therapy right here where I live. The rehab. facility is across the street in one of the villas.
Being the good patient that I am, I listened to the doctor. The 9 lbs. of pressure on the knee for every pound you weigh got through to me, and I joined WW. I've lost just a smidge under 10 pounds in two weeks. Since we get a dinner meal here at the Independent Villas, and it is both nutritionally balanced and portion controlled, I don't have to weigh and measure anything. I just heat it up and eat it. Oh, I do love living here. AND I joined the medical gym associated with my doctor's office. My insurance cut off PT at 11 visits, but I can continue the exercises at the gym under the supervision of one of their trainers. My PT knows and trusts the trainer I use.
Oh, and drugs. Happy drugs. The doctor gave me pain pills, which I only take after supper and at bedtime, since I need to drive and work during the day.
Good for you losing ten pounds. Hard to do when AD stress Rx is CHOCOLATE!!!
I am so sorry about your knee. Thank goodness you are in your new place where you have so many advantages. I have been looking around here for something similar, but haven't seen what would work for us.
I hope you don't have to have surgery. I have had several friends much younger than me that have had succcessful knee surgery - but they didn't have an AD LO at home. Thanks for keeping us posted.
Good for you with your weight loss. Sorry you have to wait so long for your surgery. You know you can rely on me for help when the time comes. I make a mean chicken soup.
OH Joan, I hope the knee feel better soon. Knee pain is so hard to deal with. Congrats on the TEN lbs! I started the Blood Type Diet yesterday. So maybe we can keep each other posted on our progress! My therapist lost a lot of weight on it and has several patients who have tried it and done really well. I once lost 80 lbs on WW. It's a good program. Concentrating on the diet and exercise is keeping my mind occupied, which is a good thing. Arms around, Susan
I get very anxious thinking of my upcoming surgery so I know you are probably anxious somewhat too...I pray for your successful operation and quick recovery. This breakdown of our bodies is not any fun is it? I admire you for being able to handle all the problems you have and being able to keep a positive outlook on it all. If you can do that, I can surely handle my surgery positively.
I had arthroscopic surgery on the worst of the two knees and cortisone injections on the other one while I was out. I went from a cane and 4 Alieve a day to no cane and no pain medications. That was 3 years ago. He said come back when I was in pain. I'm not in pain, so I haven't gone back.
This is MUCH easier to come back from than a replacement and might be all you need. Getting physical therapy BEFORE the surgery is a good thing. I couldn't because I was such a mess. But I know you will come back even faster if you can do exercises before the surgery.
Yes - the physical therapists told me that doing the PT and keeping up the exercises will make the post-op PT go much smoother.
This is nuts. I can stand this. I've never had knee pain like this before, and it is a pain in the ..........knee (ha ha). Monday, I start with the trainer at the gym - she will guide me through the exercises the PT gave me until the surgery in December.
((Joan)) so sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Don’t be afraid to use your medication to help you through until your surgery. I too had arthroscopic surgery on my knee. I am much better now than I was but I still have some pain. I hope yours is successful and they can find out what else may be causing your pain. Congrats on the weight loss!!! You go girl :)
As you know, I have a damnknee too. After the synvisc injections, which did help but not stop the pain, there's nothing really left but surgery. Thinking about it, though, leads to a great many other complications: how could I cope with my husband (who takes a good bit of physical help) - was I ready to place him after all, etc. I have been backing off from considering the surgery over the last few weeks; I too am losing weight or trying to.
One thing I don't think we've talked about is the pain meds - most of the otc ones are NSAIDS - anti-inflammatories. A year ago I was having diarrhea and after a colonoscopy etc the doctor said I had microscopic inflammation in the colon and that it was probably aggravated by NSAIDS, which I had been taking on a routine basis. I stopped them, took some expensive steroid meds, got over the diarrhea, forgot the whole thing.
Then when the knee flared up again a few months later completely forgot about not taking the NSAIDs! The other day I was again having some diarrhea and realized what was happening. So I've AGAIN gone off the NSAIDS. The knee doctor had prescribed Tramadol, which is NOT an NSAID, and I have found it to be a lifesaver for me. I try to take as little as possible but it does make all the difference in the world. That and icing the knee. And not sitting with it tucked back under me when I'm at the computer. So at the moment I'm learning to live with discomfort, trying to do the exercises which hurt hurt hurt, and taking the Tramadol.
Ask about the fish oil too. It was the surgeon who put me on the stuff to help me pull back from the heavy drugs. I'd been on Vioxx until they took it off the market. Was on twice the OTC dose of Naproxin at the time of surgery. The fish oil took me down to half the dose I was on BEFORE the surgery and all the way off after it. It sounds weird, but the stuff holds down the inflammation in hearts. Turns out knees too.
I don't take NSAIDS because Advil makes me retain fluid, which is bad for the blood pressure, and although it didn't used to, now it gives me stomach pains. I can't take Aleve because it makes my heart race.
So it's pain drugs until the surgery. The doctor did mention Tramadol, but said something about it not being a good idea to combine with my Zoloft, so he gave me Tylenol with codeine. It gives some relief - I take it at night only.
None of the pain meds are going to fix a tear, so surgery it is. Once the surgery is done, I'll DRINK fish oil if it will help keep the tear repaired.
Wonder how many people realize that ADVIL retains fluids? My cardiologist warned me years ago NOT to ever take ADVIL ... for that reason. Congestive heart failure is all about fluids in the heart/lung area...don't need to take a OTC that builds up more fluid. Thinking about Susan's daughter, - I fear many people abuse Tylenol/Advil, etc., becuse they think since they are OTC, they aren't dangerous. (Just edited that post. Didn't mean to say Tylenol retained fluids..it's Advil that does) (Too much Tylenol will, however, seriously damage a liver!)
Ibuprophen also helps the body retain fluids, and I found out Tramadol can lower heart rate--not so good for someone who's basic rate is running in the mid 40's. Arthrotec was suggested, only in the form of the 2 drugs that combine to make it up. I asked the dr. about some to try and explained about the cost issue--the 2 are cheaper than the combo. He didn't get it. He wrote for the Arthrotec--my Part D co-pay---$65. I didn't fill it.
When I smashed down on my right knee in this last fall--if I'd needed it, I was going to take the left over generic Vicodin from my dental extractions. It was sore, but I managed without anything. ************ DH has had 2 arthoscopies--1 each knee in the past. Recovery is relatively quick, with PT soon after procedure. Although I've damaged the ACL and MCL before and have a small meniscus tear in the right knee, unrepaired, I've never had an arthroscopic repair. When they happened the st**d Dr.s decided that because of my CMT it would be stupid to do so. Gave me a splint and a home therapy program. By the time I found out that "regardless of original condition--Olympic Athlete or someone with only 60% function" Arthroscopic repair and PT will get it healed with the least additional loss. I'm just lucky that when the meniscus tear catches it doesn't hurt--just a nuisance. IMHO better to get such things taken care of ASAP. In-home help can be brought in temporarily if needed. The inconvenience will be minimized when procedure are done in a timely way. Had I known this, I'd have had my umbilical hernia repaired long before DH was Dxd. Probably could have bveen done with laparascope. Instead, since there was "no rush" per Dr., by the time I had it, it was regular surgery with about a 5" cut, and much more involved recovery. It's really true---If I had known back then what I know now....,
I learned a very hard lesson about surgery - you are absolutely right - it is better to get it done ASAP.
WARNING - DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER put off umbilical hernia surgery. I waited a year to schedule it. It was scheduled for Christmas vacation of 2000. Thanksgiving night, I was carted off to the hospital with a strangulated hernia. I almost died - they had to open me up completely, take out my insides, untangle them, and put them back. It took 3 1/2 months to get back to work. 2 years to fully recover due to a surgical infection, insurance denial of rehab., and other serious complications.
I certainly don't expect anything that serious to happen if I put off the knee surgery, but I'm not taking any chances. Their first opening is Dec. 16, and I'm taking it.
If I had known then what I know now I'd have pushed even harder for the knee surgery and I'd be able to go up stairs now. It is the one thing I did not get back.
I went back to the gym today - it's affiliated with my medical facility - it's not one of those "buff bod" places with trainers who think they're training you to be 25 again. I went back to the trainer I had before - she knew all of the PT exercises that were on the sheet of paper I brought with me. She added stuff for my arms, core, and balance. Boy, was I tired when I got out of there. I'll go back on Wednesday, and to water aerobics on Friday. I am DETERMINED to get back in shape, and make sure my legs are strong, so the knee surgery PT will go well.
Now my knee hurts - a lot. Time for ice and some happy pills. :)