nutcase

^^^ Yea your right. I just got off the cpm. How do you keep that thing from walking forward on ya. Even with the straps it slides forward. I can't seem to get comfy in it.

zjrog

I tried on the couch first, but that wasn't a good fit. Then, we moved it to my spare bedroom and tried it on the bed. It was too easy to go to sleep and not edge the the forward. Ultimately, I wound up with it on the floor, pushed up against the wall. Had a pillow under my head and my big ass dog leaning against the pillow.


My English Mastiff is a petite and svelte 200# gal!!! Hmmm, Athena? Seriously, she is a great friend and manages to get in the way almost all the time. She does keep me on my toes. Sometimes very literally.

I don't think anyone ever gets comfy with it. *I* think they should come with an attached pad that you can lay on so it doesn't walk...

Neil_B

OK, here's my thinking.....

In March 2010 I was treated with cortisone and gel for something that, in retrospect, seems a lot less painful than what I face now. At that time I was told if the gel didn't work, we'd have to turn to replacement. Who knows how much damage I did running? It seems it's enough that I'm probably going to need to get it done.

I've pinned my heart to a cross country tour, and I've spent months planning it in detail. I was despondent about abandoning it, both because of the time I'd put into it and because this is the fourth time I've had to scratch it. But if I get a patch job, shove off in May, there's no promise I'll complete the trip without significant discomfort, and if I do have a problem, I won't be able to afford to get it treated because I'd quit my job to ride.

Also, a double knee replacement will reduce my biggest mental block to my self image as an outdoorsman - my knocked knees. I've had valgus since childhood. It's all I've known. It shaped me in so many ways - everything from my relation with my late dad (he gave his name to a second son since the first one turned out to be lame) to my bike riding. It's something I have to work around. I got rid of the fat guy that I used to be. Now it's time to get rid of Dickens' Tiny Tim.

And there's no doubt about an improved quality of life. I constantly have to worry about my joints on every hike and ride. I'd be 200 times the awesome cyclist I am if I get both junky joints replaced.

So when I see the doctor in the next week or so, I'm not only going to consider replacement , I'm going to press for it. America will still be there in 2012.

Once again I have to thank my friend Sayre for helping clear my head. We got into an argument about it on line and I stormed off, electronically of course.

Peter_C

Oh - OK, that makes sense then. You had me worried - thought you were talking bout your *bike* bike - and riding is a no-no for somewhere between 12-16 weeks (up to your DR). If the PT DR says something is OK for you to do, then of course, listen to he/she - but also, please listen to pain and swelling? A bit of either is normal during ROM work, but a lot is not, and I can't stress enough, everyone is different.

You being slow to to get a good ROM won't mean much a year from now, but you doing too much and hurting the surgical area *will* mean something a year from now...

A bit too slow is not a deal-breaker, but a bit too fast *can* be. It's a dance, and your PT DR needs to do the leading

zjrog

Hey nutcase... Don't forget... ELEVATE AND ICE!!!! And you need to turn on your PM box... I can't send you anything... (Or I'll send the Dog of War and let her nail ya with her 50# swinging club of a tail!!!)

Peter_C

Since we're showing off the kids, here's my baby Nyla - only 74lbs, just a lap dog

Peter_C

+1 - ya - there's been a time or 2 that I wanted to PM Nutcase - and can't...

zjrog

If I'm on the floor, she thinks she's a lapdog... She barely left my side once I got home from the hospital. She slept next to the couch while I was still sleeping on it. Shes just a great big furry sweetheart...

Mr. Markets

nothing like a good dog...

nutcase

^^^Thanks guy's. Yea I haven't been on the laptop much at all. I haven't been able to focus on much except the pain I'm having. I seen the pt guy today and he said that until I can get the pain and swelling down,I shouldn't try to much. I went to the doctor today and he Say's They didn't prescribed enough pain meds from the hospital. He told me to take more, and I'm already feeling a little better. I've been Icing as you all said, and elevate the leg for 30 min prior to walking or pt. I guess the pain has really been in my way. I'm done with pt for the day, just the cpm to go .

nutcase

Oh I got the PM stuff is on I think. :-)>

zjrog

Hey nut... It sucks you got shorted on the pain meds. Relax, take it easy. Allow the knee to heal a bit and then get back into it. Even though I did well in therapy, I had lots of pain in the first weeks. I didn't talk about that. Except when I got behind on my pain. I hate being medicated. Hate it with a passion. I also realized with everything going on at the time, I couldn't let the pain get out of control. I really hope this doesn't set you back at all.


And no... I can't send you a PM...

zjrog

Quite true...

Peter_C

Mine thinks she's a lapdog in the car...

And, she sleeps on the bed between the wife and I - least I stay warm...

zjrog

Sent you a PM. I hope all works out. Sounds like you have your head wrapped around it. That part took me a while. Let us know how it goes with the doc... QOL should be better after. Recovery will take time. But you have all of us here..

Peter_C

I can't stress enough how pain meds work. If you wait til the pain is driving you batty, and then you take a pill, I can promise you it won't work at all. You must stay ahead of the pain. Too much pain will put you behind in your rehab too. Right now is *not* the time to worry about taking too much pain meds. I strongly suggest taking them on a schedule, and as much as you Dr will allow. If the script says take one or two every four to six hours, I would suggest taking two every four hours like clockwork until your pain is under control. Then 'try' two every six hours if you feel spunky - but time them so you take a *full* dose 30-40 minutes before PT each session - also, if you do nothing but sleep after PT, don't let that bother you~!

Healing takes time, sleep, and work - in that order...

zjrog

I can't believe how much room the Shihtzu takes up in the bed.

Not so much keeping us warm as keeping my feet trapped in one spot. She thinks she is as big as the Mastiff sometimes.

The Mastiff couldn't get in the waterbed with us if she tried. She never liked it as a puppy anyway.

Neil_B

Yes, thanks for the PMs, and the support.

I scrubbed the trip for now. Let's see what the doctors say. My last ortho visit in 2010 advised me I had too much degeneration in my knees to allow for a successful orthoscopy. I was told replacement was coming at some point. Let's see if it's now.

ZmanKC

Absolutely true, Peter. I took two hydrocodone's before my PT session started. I wouldn't have made it through most of them if I hadn't.

Neil_B

Suppose you've ridden 90 miles and camped on a broken rib. I think I'm tough. Should I skip the meds?

zjrog

While I joke that my doc didn't introduce himself on my first visit, but pulled up my XRay and asked, "When do you want to schedule that knee replacement?" I was so immediately demoralized that it took too many brews later that evening to get over that. Although I got a lot of good information that day, I wasn't ready to think about replacement. I was somewhat comfortable with the idea of keeping everything I started with. My wife, ever the enabler, suggested maybe my Jeep felt the same way? I'd like to think my Jeep appreciates its taller stance and improved ground clearance... Sorta letting it stand apart from so many others.

I wrestled with the replacement idea for a lot longer than I'll admit to again. But when the second round of gel injections just didn't take, I knew it was time. Even before seeing the new Xrays with the worn in grooves already showing. Which sealed the deal. I would have gone under the next day, except I needed to save up more vacation and sick time, since I had just changed jobs a few months before... And my daughter would have liked for me to have waited till she was home for Christmas break to do it, but then, I'd be a month behind where I am now. But that meant taking care of my wife as much as taking care of myself for those first few weeks. Which meant, planning around my meds to keep from letting the pain get away from me.

Now, I KNOW I didn't have the anywhere near the issues you have, the Computer Aided Minimally Invasive procedure I had DID alter the swing of my knee a bit from what I had. They were able to optimize my new knee to match my good knee. In therapy, a lot of time was spent curing me of my "Seaman's Swagger" (My therapist friend is in my head now when walking more than a few feet, constantly telling me how to walk!). Perhaps, knee replacement can help you beyond just replacing the damaged joints.

Some months before my surgery, I had to wrestle with some issues regarding my wife. Namely, after surgery, I knew I was going to need to be more active than she can manage. The idea of "leaving her behind" was difficult to work through. She won't be able to hike with me, or any other activity I feel a need to pursue. She wants me to be active. She will catch up where and as she can. I hope so. But now I don't see it as leaving her behind, but just getting myself healthy again. I have to do this for myself, not her or anyone else.

Sitting here at the moment, looking at my swollen knee, I can't imagine hiking. But I can imagine a bike ride. I don't know if I'll ever try running again. It was indeed something I enjoyed doing. Maybe as I lose some weight I might give it a go. Doc says why not... In time of course... (I think I'll try the elliptical machine at the gym next week!)

The bike on the trainer calls to me now. I really need to update my music selection...

Neil_B

My right foot is turned out 25 degrees from a 'normal' position. Both knees are knocked, and I don't have a full extension on the left leg. Also the left leg is shorter than the right. In other words, if I were any horse other than a Clydesdale, Peter C. would be serving me to his dogs. :-)

Peter_C

No. Every one has a different 'pain' level, and handles pain differently. It's not a matter of how tough you are. I once had a patella dislocation, and still went to work that day (pumping gas) and didn't go see the doc til after work - of course, my knee was blown up like a balloon~

When you are in pain, muscles stay tight, tissue is slow to regenerate, lots of not-good things happen. The time to be tough is when you have injured yourself far from home and only you can get you there. After surgery is *not* the time to be tough.

If you think pain is good for your charactor, go have a root canel and enjoy yourself~

Pain meds help you relax, sleep, and allow motion that your body would not otherwise allow.

zjrog

So I turned almost 30 minutes on the bike today. Longer than any ride so far. Need the cadence function on the computer. SO will get that swapped from my old KHS roadie... And a new battery for the old Cateye comp.

In the late afternoon, took the wife to the gym. She managed 10 minutes on the recumbent exercise bike. Even managed to keep the display lit most of that time. (Which considering her health problems is fantastic!) I on the other hand, at the suggestion of my former therapist, spent time on the elliptical machine. Holy COW!!! 10 minutes and I was TOAST!!! Wife was beat so we hit the pool for some laps... But 10 minutes? OK, I've never used an elliptical. I do understand they will give a good workout. So I'll try it again soon, but tomorrow is weights day. I'm gonna feel that I'm sure...

Music search (another thread) is underway.

Mr. Markets

If you like brasilian bossa and the like PM me and i'll send you my comprehnsive YouTube playlist link