slowly getting there

babytiger
babytiger Member Posts: 360
edited 21. Nov 2011, 10:30 in Living with Arthritis archive
Well that's 2 1/2 weeks since my TKR ,got my staples out thursday and my dressing off today.Finally managed to have a bath although it was scary getting in and even worse trying to get back out but I made it.out eventually ,Wouldn't have one on my own though in case I did get stuck .(did ask OTherapy for a board to help me but was told I had to be assessed first and that wont be till january)
Pete takes me to Asda and puts me in the wheelchair which is an eyeopener in itself ,the amount of people that totally ignore wheelchairs and bang into you but at least it gets me out the flat.
My knee during the day doent seem to bother me much,its at night the pain really starts and I cant get comfortable so I try and stay of paink. during the day so I can take them during the night.
I start my physio on tuesday so see how that goes because at the moment my leg doesnt seem to want to move in any direction without a lot of pain.
So no thanks to O therapy or the council getting me out this 4 storey flat.I am slowly getting around.
P.S. even the district nurse said I shoulndt be climbing all these stairs

Comments

  • jillyb1
    jillyb1 Member Posts: 1,725
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sorry to hear you still have so much pain , haven't had my knees done yet , next year hopefully . Had to smile reading your wheels experience though ; I have been using my wheelchair for a couple of years now and am still struck dumb on occasion at peoples' reactions . It varies between being totally ignored , to being talked over ( ie. addressing my husband instead of me even when it's me that spoke to them first , it's still hubby that they reply to ! ) , to the pat the imbecile on the head reaction . Jillyb
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    Sorry you are still having pain.....havent had a TKR...have had a THR and it was 6 weeks before they allowed me in the bath....that was scary :lol:
    I found the same thing with pain....not bad during the day but I kept wakening with pain 4 to 5 times a night.
    Yes my daughter wass the first one to take me out in a wheelchair .....you ae right......the reactions were and eyeopener....they kept talking to my daughter not to me. When my husband took me out in a wheelchair i was terrified :shock: he just went flying through Ikea and I'm sitting with me arms crossed incase he bumped into anything....that only happened twice, I started hiring a scooter when I went shopping then got my own {2nd hand} at least more independant.
    Hope things will sort themnselves out for you
    Love
    Hileena
  • kellerman
    kellerman Member Posts: 741
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,
    I'm sorry your having trouble sleeping because of the pain.
    Can't your GP help re the council and for that matter your OT assesment.
    Seems to me by the time you see the OT you won't need as much help.
    I'd never be off the phone if it was me.
    The hospital should have sorted something out for you.
    We never ever would have let anyone home unless there was a care package in place before discharge.
    I'm surprised and shocked by this.I think its possible to sort this out via a social worker if you have one.
    4 Flights of stairs.....good grief.
    May
  • babytiger
    babytiger Member Posts: 360
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    May ,my GP wrote a letter to the council as did I regarding the stairs etc but have been informed you bid for a property and depends on need (usually single mum with 3-4 kids around here)
    Going to see physio on tuesday so going to ask her if she knows who can help get us out of this flat as it isnt good for operated knee or my left one which is on its way out /
    OT only phoned me once the day after I got out of hospital asking if I could used toilet and get into bed
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    Im sorry the night times are bad, wish I could help, now our Elna is the one for advice on knees and everything else come to that, I do know that she is always says,,you have to rest the knee and elevate it and ice packs to get the swelling down before the exercises
    I think you are doing well, I bet you enjoyed getting out..I really do wish you well with all..
    Love
    Barbara
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,838
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi babytiger

    l for one think you are doing fantasically!!! Well done it is still very early days you know.

    Hope someone can support you getting rehoused those stairs are just plain stoopid!!! :roll:

    If you have the cash you can buy bath boards/seats reasonably cheaply.

    A bit back someone posted this link on here and l saw it again yseterday it has secondhand disability equipment for sale.. http://www.disabledgear.com/ might help you or someone else.

    Love

    Toni xxx

    Ps when l had my back op sleeping was the hardest bit :sad:
  • babytiger
    babytiger Member Posts: 360
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Not doing too good today ,my knee has basically seized up altogether,just hope its working tomorrow I have to go to physio at 1pm .
    One good thing I spied the housing officer out my window and shouted for her to come up. She even said theres no way I should be living up all those stairs so shes going back to have a word with allocation team, so fingers crossed
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am sorry to hear that you are not doing so good today. I do hope that you get to physio tomorrow as this is important especially as you are having difficulty getting the knee moving and as you say it has seized up altogether today. Unfortunately, the longer the knee is left immobile the harder it will be for you to coax it to start doing its job.

    Let's hope the housing officer keeps to her word and has a word with those that need to be aware.

    I wish you all the best at your physio appointment tomorrow.
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.