Welcome Back to Life - LBHR Mr Treacy 9th August 2012

[rubyred]

I've been able to bend my operated knee fully now which definately helps the comfort levels. This morning though, I was so frustrating sleeping on my back, so thought i'd try putting a pillow between my legs and lay on my non operated side. It felt a bit weird at first. Like all my weight on the operated side was pushing down on to my good side - so heavy! - but it felt nice to take the pressure off my back.

[mike1966]

And then I saw the Foo Fighters. Im not sure if any of you are into music but the Foo Fighters are my all time favourite band. They sing a song called 'Walk'. Its my favourite because of the lyrics. .... "Learning to walk again, I believe ive waited long enough, where do I begin?"

Hi Anna,

Every walk on crutches I played that song! Might be your recovery theme song when the time comes!

Cheers

Mike

[obxpelican]

Everyday you will find yourself improving and you will be able to do more and more things.

Start a journal, write down how you feel and the new things you are able to accomplish everyday.


Good stuff.

Chuck

I've been able to bend my operated knee fully now which definately helps the comfort levels. This morning though, I was so frustrating sleeping on my back, so thought i'd try putting a pillow between my legs and lay on my non operated side. It felt a bit weird at first. Like all my weight on the operated side was pushing down on to my good side - so heavy! - but it felt nice to take the pressure off my back.

[hernanu]

You're so early, you're going to get twinges of all sorts right now. The muscles have to come back and will be upset for a bit. I think if you do your exercises, get the muscles stronger, work on the proper gait, things improve.

[bilateralbliss]

Hi girls- have you tried the stretching the leg outwards, holding for 5 secs, then slowly back to straight. whilst laying on your back? Was one of the early exercises given to me. Then go back to the bent comfy knees:) xx

[rubyred]

I'm still unable to move my leg outwards laying down :( Quite sore and heavy to do so...

Had the worst night sleep since the surgery last night. Just could not get comfortable... on my back, my side, everything hurt.

[Spanielsal]

Ouch Ruby, can you try with a plastic bag under your foot, makes the resistance less. It's no wonder though, you have a big scar= cut muscle, and your surgery wasn't straightforward. In the early days it's going to be slower, but you'll catch up / overtake soon!

I wish I'd known you were up, we could have had a chat.... I too was awake 3-5.30am......

Hang in there and very gently, keep moving xxxxx

[Mike D]

I'm feeling your pain Ruby!
I had bad lower back pain Friday night and all day yesterday-hardly any sleep and unable to do exercises yesterday, easily my worst night/day so far.
On my first week home, I was improving a lot every day but it's levelled off now. Better today though.
If I didn't have all the advice from the experienced hippys here, I'd have thought there was something wrong and probably been back at the Docs, but reading through the old recovery posts, I'm not worried by it.
I like that tip from Sal about sliding the foot on a plastic bag-I'll be trying that.
Keep going Ruby-it will get better.

[Jason0411]

The only way I could slide my leg sideways was with a plastic apron the physio gave me underneath it to start with. But if you do get it going it is surprising how quick it gets easier.

[rubyred]

Thanks for the tips! Will be trying the plastic bag thing for sure.

I'm getting lazy with my exercises  :( I have no excuse for not doing them really, it's not like i'm busy doing other things LOL. But the good news is i'm down to using one crutch! Around the house only so far, but it feels perfectly fine and comfortable to do so. And I managed to get into town for a VERY short while this morning... no pain at all. Was bliss  :)

[Anna]

Awww yey, for making it to town Ruby!!! But boo to you and Mike having bad days. ... but then you have to have the bad days to appreciate the good ones  ;D

Im pretty sure that very soon the good days will start to out number the bad ones and you will both be very happy with your new wings. Just keep going!! ... and try do those exercises Ruby. Even if you only manage to do a little. I reckon some of the tiniest things will make the biggest differences. x

[rubyred]

Having good and bad days are to be expected really. I think I'm missing retail therapy.... x

[kamoynsgi]

Hi Ruby

You sure are right about the good and bad days.  It's really frustrating if you have made progress to feel as though you are going backwards again.  Well done with the 'one crutch walking' and the walk into town.  I find I'm putting too much pressure on my hip if I try that, but I did have a long (relatively speaking) walk today.

Ka 

[bilateralbliss]

Hang on in there- it  gets better, still early days for you all. Ruby- get online shopping!!:)

[lycraman]

I'm finally home. A normally 3 hour journey, took 4 hours due to the frequent amount of stops and the last leg was particularly painful despite taking all my meds. I feel wiped out and in a lot of pain but it's good to be home. I just can't wait for the swelling to go down.

Hi Ruby.  Glad to hear that things went well, if a little painful post op.  Got my op scheduled with Mr T in two weeks time (aaargh, so scary).  can I ask you how the journey home went, in a little more detail? I've got a similar distance to travel.  Could you sit normally on the car? Did you have to have the seat reclined?  Any tips?  Not looking forward to it to be honest.

[Anna]

Lycraman,

I dont think anyone looks forward to the op, the journey home or the recovery ......... its the future you need to look foward to. Thats the best bit which will be completely worth every miserable second you will have over the next few months.

Good luck, I hope everything goes really well  :)

Anna

[rubyred]

I'm finally home. A normally 3 hour journey, took 4 hours due to the frequent amount of stops and the last leg was particularly painful despite taking all my meds. I feel wiped out and in a lot of pain but it's good to be home. I just can't wait for the swelling to go down.

Hi Ruby.  Glad to hear that things went well, if a little painful post op.  Got my op scheduled with Mr T in two weeks time (aaargh, so scary).  can I ask you how the journey home went, in a little more detail? I've got a similar distance to travel.  Could you sit normally on the car? Did you have to have the seat reclined?  Any tips?  Not looking forward to it to be honest.

Hi Lycraman,

Good luck for your surgery, you really are in the best hands with Mr T. It's natural to be scared, but if I can do it, the worlds worst worrier and someone who has an over active imagination, then anyone can!

The journey home wasn't as bad as I first thought, but yet it wasn't pain free either. I would definately take your meds maybe 30-60 mins before you set off to give them a chance to kick in and ask the nurses for some ice to take with you to put where it's most painful.

I travelled home in my dad's car. He has a Ford Focus Estate so it's a little roomy and I was advised by the doctors to sit in the passenger seat, with it fully pushed back and reclined, to give you the optimum leg room. Plus it's easier to have a nap if you can.

Also take frequent breaks. I cannot stress how important this was for me. Yes, it will take you longer to get home, a normal 3 hour trip took 4-5 hours, but you'll be more comfortable in the long run. We were recommended to stop every 30-45 mins, but we probably stopped once an hour. But you might need to do this anyway for bathroom breaks. That's something no one tells you about this surgery.... how often you have to relieve yourself! Suze will back me up on that!!

Ask whoever will be driving you to drive as carefully as they can. This may sound obvious, but my Dad gets into his own head sometimes and going down residential streets he forgot about speed bumps, pot holes etc...

For me the last hour was the worst. I was in pain, i'm not going to lie to you. I just couldn't get comfortable and in the end I rested my good leg up on to the dashboard for a little more comfort! Not sure how legal that was, but my dad said he could still see so...  :P

Please feel free to contact me if you need any further help  :)

[Spanielsal]

Hi Lycraman, For the journey home I sat on a memory foam pillow, it absorbed the bumps which I remember hurt last time.

At home, My favourite thing has been the granny chair I borrowed, a rise and recline chair. Or a La-z-boy. It is easier to get comfy in it. Pressure on the wound is uncomfortable so seatbelts etc aren't nice. If you can, get lots of pillows available for your bed, a v shaped one is useful too, I've been sleeping sitting up and am gradually heading for lying down as time passes. I also made sure that I had smooth sheets on the bed for my return, it makes getting in and out easier, doing your bed exercises easier and if you sometimes sleep on your front it helps with the bed dive bombing  ;D

You just need to be as kind to yourself as possible for the two weeks following your surgery. Your life is going to get so much better, in a relatively short space of time, but boy does that time DRAG! Have some good books on standby, I love my iPad which has been a godsend. If you are going to be alone at home for any length of time, I'd recommend a small rucksack and a hot drink cup that doesn't leak, too. Playing hunt the phone is annoying on crutches so keeping it lose with your rucksack is great.

Can you borrow raised loo seats and grabbers too? Try the red cross, they loan them out. If you need to buy, amazon for the loo seat which needs to bring you up to the height of your knee bent. My loo was 16" high, my knee bend is 19" so I bought a 4" raised seat. Sue Ryder in the uk sold grabbers, the short ones are fine. Essential for getting your own undies on! ;)

Very good luck for the op, keep posting we'll all be here to cheer you along. Hurrah for the hippies!  Keep busy until then. You'll be fine! Xx

[Mike D]

Lycraman
My journey home was almost identical to Ruby's-same length, number of stops,etc.
The only thing I could add was that in the hospital, I only ever wore shorts but put jogging pants on for the journey home.
That last hour, like Ruby's, was awful and as I sat squirming around trying to get comfy, I hadn't realised that my TED stocking had ridden down around my ankle.
By the time my wife & son got me laid out on the bed at 1.30am my calf was really enormous and heavily bruised, really throbbing.
It felt so much better when the stocking was back on. It didn't do me any harm as things are nearly back to normal now, but it's something to consider.
My trip was in my son's VW Polo, so quite small but even at 6' tall, I got in it ok.

[bilateralbliss]

Hi lycraman! Ruby`s description echoed mine perfectly, YES I do back her up on the bathroom breaks :)
The only difference was I had the 90 degree rule so had to get in and out with straight legs!
Was better then the journey going- at least was out of agony lol