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Goood thoughts for Neil_B.......

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Goood thoughts for Neil_B.......

Old 03-31-12, 08:08 AM
  #251  
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Originally Posted by ZmanKC
No, Neil, you can beat this. I know you can.
Well said ZmanKS.

When the time comes. ... and I hope you, Neil B, will start to feel "betterer and betterer," then you'll be able to see.

I recently ended 14 months of PT, traction, and electro-acupuncture myself. Seemed like forever off the bike, with the exception of a couple of trial runs. Back to around 90% give or take. Some recoveries take just a long time.

I'm rooting hard for you Neil.
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Old 03-31-12, 10:28 AM
  #252  
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Visiting nurse during her visit Friday was very pleased with my vital signs, but the degree of swelling in my right leg prompted a call to the surgeon's office. I now have an appointment Tuesday for an examination. I might be given a script for a water pill or an antibiotic. If it is an infection, I'll have had two of the three most dreaded problems with the surgery. The third is a loose or ill-fitting knee. Cross our fingers we don't go for the trifecta.....
 
Old 03-31-12, 10:35 AM
  #253  
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Physical therapist says that aside from the swelling, my range of motion is excellent. I'm 0 to 110 on the right and 5 to 115 on the left. I might be better if my swelling were reduced. Next week he wants me to begin transitioning to a cane.
 
Old 03-31-12, 10:38 AM
  #254  
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Originally Posted by Rowan
No.

If the Coumadin has a side effect, work around it.

Machka has the genetic marker, but she is off the Coumadin, and only has to take a high daily dosage of folate. The exception is if she is to undertake long-haul air travel, such as Australia to North America non-stop. Then she has to have injections in the belly of an anti-clotting agent.

The blood specialist we saw (yes, we, because it was an inclusive session) was excellent in his explanations of the condition and outcomes. Except for avoiding the foods high in Vitamin K and the injections for long-haul travel, things chug along nicely. She is doing monthly centuries, and we are planning six months of international bicycle touring from June.
Thanks, Rowan and other friends. First, I shouldn't worry about something that might not arise. And as you point out, there's always a work around.
 
Old 03-31-12, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Neil_B
Physical therapist says that aside from the swelling, my range of motion is excellent. I'm 0 to 110 on the right and 5 to 115 on the left. I might be better if my swelling were reduced. Next week he wants me to begin transitioning to a cane.
Wow, I was like 12 degrees for the first 10 days or so, how many has it been now?
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Old 03-31-12, 05:55 PM
  #256  
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Originally Posted by Peter_C
Wow, I was like 12 degrees for the first 10 days or so, how many has it been now?
21 days since surgery. I lost a few days to the PE, which kept me flat on my back.
 
Old 03-31-12, 06:07 PM
  #257  
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Originally Posted by Neil_B
I don't know. I think standard for a PE is six months, with testing for "genetic" markers. As Peter C pointed out, if they are present I might need to be on it for life. If so, I think I can kiss my dream of riding cross country goodbye.
Neil you are young and have many days ahead for touring.
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Old 04-01-12, 01:01 AM
  #258  
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Originally Posted by Neil_B
21 days since surgery. I lost a few days to the PE, which kept me flat on my back.
Oh, and the PT commented he'd never seen a patient not flinch when he 'assisted' the ROM with pressure. I explained I'd been doing aggressive cycling and hiking with defective knees for so long that having someone press down on my leg to stretch the hamstring is nothing in comparison.
 
Old 04-01-12, 05:40 AM
  #259  
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Looking back on 'The Saga' thread, it took me quite some time to hit zero RoM. So in that way you are way ahead of me! Good for you Neil. For me, the swelling really took about 3-4 months to calm down, and that was part of my RoM problem. Every time the swelling would get to minimal, I'd work the leg enough to raise the swelling back up. But about 16 weeks in, it all started to calm down and I made fast progress.

FYI - now, some 2+ years later, my left (new) knee is never an issue, and is very strong. Wish my new hip was doing as well. Weather changes are still an issue for me, but nothing like it was prior to the replacement.
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Old 04-01-12, 02:01 PM
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Good to see you are back on track with the P T
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Old 04-01-12, 08:09 PM
  #261  
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Originally Posted by Peter_C
Looking back on 'The Saga' thread, it took me quite some time to hit zero RoM. So in that way you are way ahead of me! Good for you Neil. For me, the swelling really took about 3-4 months to calm down, and that was part of my RoM problem. Every time the swelling would get to minimal, I'd work the leg enough to raise the swelling back up. But about 16 weeks in, it all started to calm down and I made fast progress.

FYI - now, some 2+ years later, my left (new) knee is never an issue, and is very strong. Wish my new hip was doing as well. Weather changes are still an issue for me, but nothing like it was prior to the replacement.
The swelling on the right leg hasn't ever gone down since the week after surgery. Even assuming there are 'superficial clots' in the leg, the degree of edema was enough to alarm the visiting nurse. I have an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday to examine the leg and perhaps issue a script for an antibiotic or a water pill. The right leg isn't just swollen, its giving off heat too.
 
Old 04-02-12, 04:07 AM
  #262  
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That heat thing is not good because it does indicate clots, but as you say, they may well be superficial. Do you have any sign of what appear to be "spider web" broken capillaries anywhere on your lower leg, say, around the ankle? That was the symptom that alerted the first doctor that Machka saw, and he said: "I will bet my career as a doctor that you have DVT".

I'm sorry to hear that you are having these complications. I am trusting that you will get through them OK, and that in two and five years' time they will hardly be a memory.
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Old 04-02-12, 06:08 AM
  #263  
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Originally Posted by Rowan
That heat thing is not good because it does indicate clots, but as you say, they may well be superficial. Do you have any sign of what appear to be "spider web" broken capillaries anywhere on your lower leg, say, around the ankle? That was the symptom that alerted the first doctor that Machka saw, and he said: "I will bet my career as a doctor that you have DVT".

I'm sorry to hear that you are having these complications. I am trusting that you will get through them OK, and that in two and five years' time they will hardly be a memory.
I have a small spider 'nest' on the left ankle.

The hospital, when explaining the results of my CT scan, used the term "superficial" clots to describe what I have in my legs. They also said they weren't terribly worried about them. That hardly set my mind at ease.
 
Old 04-02-12, 10:32 PM
  #264  
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Peter C, I got to 125 on the left today. No change on the right due to the swelling.
 
Old 04-03-12, 06:38 AM
  #265  
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sounds like everything is going forward even with the set backs. Keep up the good work it will ahve you back riding and hikin sooner than you think.
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Old 04-03-12, 08:04 AM
  #266  
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Great Job Neil~! How are the leg-lifts, and quads coming? Are you yet able to practice quad-tightening during the day yet?
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Old 04-03-12, 08:08 AM
  #267  
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Originally Posted by Peter_C
Great Job Neil~! How are the leg-lifts, and quads coming? Are you yet able to practice quad-tightening during the day yet?
All coming along well, despite the swelling. The only drawback is that my quads aren't strong enough to lift me up from a chair yet.
 
Old 04-03-12, 08:33 AM
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I hear you. Baby-steps. All about baby-steps. My big problem was they were thinking that part of my left quad had 'died'. Even with muscle-stim, it would not flex - twas why I was in PT for four months. Now, I have a real quad, all nice and rounded, that will flex on command But in the beginning, my leg lifts had roughly a 10-degree droop. Every commercial on TV, time to flex and hold the quads, squeeze them til they felt like they would lift off my leg and tear - for me, that and getting to zero were my fights... I used to sleep with a rolled-up towel under my left ankle, trying to make the weight of my leg bring my knee to zero. It felt like it took forever, but now, I can snap a zero-degree perfect leg lift and hold it for multiple minutes with nary a quiver! Baby-steps, it'll come...
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Old 04-03-12, 03:31 PM
  #269  
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Surgeon thinks the swelling in the right leg is nothing more than the body reacting to the enormous amount of correction. Still, as a precaution I'm now on an antibiotic for the next week. Elevation 2-3 times a day are the instructions. He saw no need for a water pill since they "suck you dry" and he thinks elevation will do the trick.

The surgeon thinks my recovery has been remarkable - excellent ROM, feeling returning to the nerve damaged areas, normal walking, normal xrays .... I thanked him for giving me my life back, and then I broke down.

Once I got myself together, we discussed pain medication. He suggested weaning myself from Lyrica, since it's probably not doing anything for me, and just using Tylenol and icing as needed. I asked when the really painful part of recovery was going to happen, and I was told that I probably have a much higher tolerance of pain than some people, largely because I rode and hiked with such a deformity.
 
Old 04-03-12, 05:32 PM
  #270  
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Told ya it'd be a good thing, Neil.
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Old 04-03-12, 06:06 PM
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IMO - you've seen the *painful* part, other than possibly PT - I'd simply suggest that you have some pain meds available for if/when you have issues at PT. Since everyone handles pain differently, and since pain during PT won't help you at all, might be good to have something just in case. But most of *my* pain was 3-20 days after surgery.

Sounds like overall you are doing great~! Am pleased for you.
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Old 04-03-12, 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Peter_C
IMO - you've seen the *painful* part, other than possibly PT - I'd simply suggest that you have some pain meds available for if/when you have issues at PT. Since everyone handles pain differently, and since pain during PT won't help you at all, might be good to have something just in case. But most of *my* pain was 3-20 days after surgery.

Sounds like overall you are doing great~! Am pleased for you.
Percoset did NOTHING for me. I found out later some people just never respond to it.
 
Old 04-03-12, 08:54 PM
  #273  
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Originally Posted by Tom Stormcrowe
Told ya it'd be a good thing, Neil.
Yes, you did. I hope it continues to be. I'm not out of the woods yet.

Speaking of out, I was out of the house today. Trip to the surgeon and then walking around CVS while my script was filled. Then chatting with my 10 year old nephew. I'm not sure which activity wore me out and caused me to sleep five hours......
 
Old 04-03-12, 09:37 PM
  #274  
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Originally Posted by Neil_B
Yes, you did. I hope it continues to be. I'm not out of the woods yet.

Speaking of out, I was out of the house today. Trip to the surgeon and then walking around CVS while my script was filled. Then chatting with my 10 year old nephew. I'm not sure which activity wore me out and caused me to sleep five hours......
Well, you're doing great! Should we pencil you in for an iron man tri next year?
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Old 04-04-12, 12:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom Stormcrowe
Well, you're doing great! Should we pencil you in for an iron man tri next year?
Next year ? i was going to put him down for the Gold coast one this year.

Is good to here how well you are doing mate, i actually linked this post a mate of mine in the US , she doesn't ride but she just had the right knee done and on a slow recovery.
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