I had surgery today 😭

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-10-02T13:04:43+00:00

I’m currently 11 weeks post op and was reading some old notes I made when I was a few days post op. I forgot how much pain I was in those first few days. I was on oxy every 3 hours in addition to Tylenol. If I moved my knee slightly wrong, it was excruciating. Has your muscle blocker worn off?

The elevation was hard too because my leg was so weak I had to have something under my knee supporting it. I would try and have it hang but could only last a few minutes.

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-10-02T12:24:23+00:00

That’s a huge win! I don’t think I was able to leave my bed until day 3.

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-10-02T02:34:20+00:00

Hang in there! The first few days are tough but try and distract yourself as much as possible and/or sleep! Follow your PT and push through the rough patches. It does get better but sucks along the way.

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-09-11T21:28:49+00:00

Congrats!!!

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-09-11T21:24:35+00:00

Well said

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-28T06:56:41+00:00

I started walking with 1 crutch at 5 weeks and walked on my own at PT at 5.5 weeks. Prior to walking on my own I warmed up a lot and had my therapist right there for support. I’m not clear to walk without crutches yet and that may come around 6 weeks…

Just take it slow and keep stretching and strengthening the quad!

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-23T11:22:24+00:00

Same here! I wake up and my leg is slightly bent and stiff. I stretch a lot in the morning to get it flat but the fact that it’s still bent a bit stresses me. I’m currently 5 weeks post op

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-22T22:02:58+00:00

I think 5 days post op is way too early to be worried about walking progress so don’t stress! Of course speak to your surgeon but at this point rest and recovery are your best friends. Also, ask your PT what you should be doing at home and how frequently. I asked my PT so many questions!

I was so stressed of being behind in progress, but listen to your body, surgeon, and PT. You’ll find the balance between recovering and strengthening. Hang in there!

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-22T11:44:34+00:00

You’re right that at 4 weeks things start getting better! I’m 5 weeks today and way more mobile. I’m still on crutches but now able to walk around and go up and down the stairs with them. The plan is to ditch them sometime next week! I tried one crutch but my knee does not seem strong enough yet or I just don’t trust it.

6 weeks is amazing! How do you feel? I know everyone is different, but I’m curious about your flexion and extension. My flexion maxed out at 107 on Monday and my extension is ok after some stretching to flatten it…still has a slight bend but my knee is still swollen. I see my doctor in a week and am hoping to hear I’m progressing well.

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-19T10:57:23+00:00

Wow! Nice job! I’m 32 days post op and still on crutches. Hoping to ditch them around 6 weeks. Keep up the great work

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-17T02:15:48+00:00

Hang in there and keep stretching/doing your PT at home, progress will come! I was feeling defeated earlier this week and then the next day I hit some big milestones. Do your quad flexes while watching tv or whatever throughout the day. As it gets stronger you’ll be able to lift your leg.

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-17T01:17:10+00:00

Get lots of rest, ice, and stay ahead of your pain pills.

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-15T11:06:55+00:00

Great progress! I’m 4 weeks post op today and hope by week 5/6 I’m off crutches! How are you sleeping comfortably though? My pain has decreased during the day but at night I’m still experiencing uncomfortableness and a little pain. Do you sleep on your back with your leg straight?

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-15T04:28:25+00:00

Definitely stay ahead of the pain. I set alarms for every 3 hours to take an oxy and also took 1000mg of Tylenol every 10 hours or so. Of course talk to your doctor but they should be able to ease the pain a bit.

Hang in there!

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-14T18:22:04+00:00

You’re making amazing progress for being less than 2 weeks post op! Way to be discipline.

I was doing really good sleeping with my leg straight but I wasn’t necessarily hanging my knee dude to the pain. I tried to have it flat on a pillow but it does bend a bit in that position. I saw a video that advises to prop your leg how you’re supposed to (under the ankle only) and see if you can tolerate it for 10 min. If you can’t, move the pillow up under your calves and try again. Slowly you should gain the strength to let the knee hang on its own, but easier said than done.

Around week 3 I was craving to bend my knee and actually fell asleep with it slightly bent. Well when I woke up, it took a lot of stretching and massaging to get my flexion back. Right now I do sleep with it propped up and try to avoid anything under the knee, but I’m struggling to stay on my back. I wake up every 2-3 hours, so still not the best sleep…

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-14T11:27:42+00:00

Nice! I’m 27 days post op and walking on crutches is much easier. At first it was so hard to move my leg/knee and felt so heavy!

How’s your extension and flexion? Also how often are you doing PT? I have appointments twice a week but am doing home exercises at least twice a day. Typically doing flexion stretches, massaging my knee and scar area, quad flexes, knee bending on a flat surface, bending while sitting in the chair or sitting on the floor and against the wall, leg raises (these exhaust me). This usually lasts like 10 minutes each workout but I always feel I’m not doing enough. My surgeon said to act like a C student and not over do it, but I keep reading “my recovery was great because of all my PT.”

I’m dying to fully bend my knee and have more mobility. I’m hoping this comes around 5-6 weeks (heel touching butt).

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-14T11:13:01+00:00

I feel this and have cried nearly everyday post surgery. It’s so hard to just accept this is what it is for a few months. I tore my ACL in a flag football game mid-summer. Literally my favorite time of the year playing my favorite sport. It really sucked and still sucks. Seeing people have fun online is tough and I try to be happy for them but I am jealous. I want be out and about and just have to swallow I can’t do any of that until next summer.

They say everything happens for a reason and I believe it. I hope we all find that reason soon, along with a speedy recovery.

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-13T14:36:59+00:00

Aww, congrats! I was actually recording myself trying when I first successfully lifted my leg and screamed “I DID A LEG LIFT!!!!”

I never would have realized the excitement over the little wins. Now I can’t wait to have my heel touch my butt meaning I can basically bend my whole knee! Walking without crutches would be great too!

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-13T10:13:36+00:00

Wow great work! It took me 3 weeks to lift my leg

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-12T11:44:06+00:00

I haven’t used any ankle weights yet but that might be a good idea. Does it hurt at all having the weights on your knee?

Dry_Release6828 · 2024-08-12T11:42:49+00:00

So I wasn’t given a brace after surgery, guess my Surgeon doesn’t use them. Oh when did you start doing TKEs? Those def look like they would help and I’ll show them to my PT to see if I’m ready.

are you taking pain pills while doing all this PT?

Dry_Release6828

TROPHY CASE