Your Life Safe and Sound

  Saturday.  Raining and cold, another beautiful Illinois faliuch else.  I haven't been using the cane anymore, except when I leave the house.  I don't need the support, but sometimes away from home, or on the stairs, it helps to have a little more safety, or peace of mind.  Plus, it makes Kym feel better.   I went 12 hours between pain meds over night, still having trouble getting a comfortable position, I seem to remember that being a problem last time too.  When I get up in the morning, my knee is really stiff and not very flexible.  The incision is in pretty good shape I think.  I've been trying to do the massage around the knee to help with the motion.  That's what he did to get my left knee moving better, so I'm hoping for the same thing. 

  Thanksgiving is today, one of my favorite holidays.  We all went together to Frank and Judi's house, we weren't sure how I would be, but it was good to get out, and be with other people.  I got to sit in the recliner, and I stayed until about 5pm.  It was a long time sitting in the same place.  I am trying to not wish the time away.  I am trying to embrace every day, and remember that every day is a gift, that we only get a certain number of them.     I wish I could enjoy the time, and it's difficult to get past the pain that's always in the background.  Kym says the pain meds aren't working because I'm always hurting.  I think it would be great to feel like I do when they give you mt drugs are morphine, nothing hurts, you can do anything, move as much as you want, and nothing hurts.  It's great, but it isn't normal, and it doesn't last.  I know the drugs are just masking what is really going on.  I know that when they ...

  Wednesday, it was a different start to the day today.  I got up early, and made my own breakfast, had a shower, and was sitting quietly thinking that I had a really good night of sleep.  Then Ryland calls out, "the tree fell!"  Great....  I'm limping around and a tree has fallen into the neighbors yard, right on their fence.....  He shot some video so I could see what was out there.  Ryland got the sawzall out, and after some planning together, he got to work.  Austin came over and helped him with the big log sections, and after they got it all cut up, and back in our yard, I helped them get the fence back together.  I'm really thankful to have sons who work together, and know how to get stuff done.   I woke up with my knee feeling good, I did a little stretching in the office chair, and I thought it was going to be a good PT day.  The walking around outside, in the yard, and stepping over all the debris was probably not a good ...

  Tuesday  Today has been nothing special I guess.  We had a visit from Nate, our pastor.  That was a nice change of pace.  He came right after PT was done.  This right knee is just really killing me.  I have a feeling that I'm going to end up with the revision surgery again.  Really not wanting to do that again.  I know it's early, but it just seems like no matter what I do, it stiffens right up.  Andrzej says that if I keep doing all the stuff, It'll work out ok. 

  Monday, it's hard to believe it's been 2 weeks.  It sure hasn't been an easy time, but I'm still going.  The nurse came today and removed the dressing, she said it looks great!  All closed up, and looking good.  She said I can shower without covering it now, just let the water run, don't scrub it.  Great news I wasn't expecting, I felt like I had to keep it covered for a while longer last time.  She is going to call in a refill for the pain meds, and I feel like that is helping my progress.   Andrzej just left a little while ago, and he seemed pleased with my progress.  He gave me a couple new things to do, I've already been doing them actually.  He was really pleased with the left knee flexion, I think it was 115 degrees.  I haven't moved it that much in years, that's for sure.  He was very insistent that I continue whatever I've been doing.  He will only be here for the next 2 days, and then I see the outpatient pers...

  Sunday.  I really missed going to church today, once again sending the kids off and staying home was weird.  Londynn came home with the boys, it is good to have her back again.    I'm wondering if sleeping is ever going to be comfortable again.  Just when I think I have it figured out, the position from last night doesn't work.  I feel like I didn't sleep at all.  I think sleeping without the icebag might be the biggest adjustment so far.  I can't figure out how to keep my leg straight, or bent, elevated, or flat.  I guess I'm just not tired enough.    I woke up this morning still in pain, the inside of my knee was really sore, super stiff, just not good.  Lately i've been feeling pretty good when I get up.  I tried stretching, walking, finally doing the pulley exercises, and the stair stretches.  Nothing really helped until after lunch.  After the second dose of pain pills, and some lunch, we went out...

 Saturday, I had a whole big post written, and it seems that it has disappeared.  I really don't have any recollection of what I wrote.  It was probably the best one yet.  Oh well.   I do remember writing about trying to only use ice for 15 minutes after exercise, and hoping that will take care of some of the stiffness that's restricting my range of motion.  I was also trying to do the bending exercises more often during the day.  Really struggling to get more than 90.  This is definitely the same thing that happened last time. and I don't want to go down the revision road again if I can help it.

  It's Friday!  I feel pretty good this morning, I sure have a hard time going back to sleep in the night.  I wake up to use the bathroom, and take medicine, and then can't go back to sleep.  Sort of frustrating.  I guess it's from the lack of physical activity during the day.  Short term problem.   The pain getting out of bed seems to be gone, for the most part.  Maybe it will come back when I switch back pain meds, we'll see.  I know it's really hard for Kym to sleep, with me tossing and turning, I wish I knew what to do about that.   PT is at 1:30 today, wonder how much flexion I'll get today.  I might have said yesterday, I'm getting really bored... I made a paracord bracelet yesterday, just to do something new.  It turned out great, and then I gave it to Emerson.  He loved it!  It's an awful lot of work for something so small, but it's cool.  I have such small windows of time right now where I feel good,...

     Last night(evening) I was pretty uncomfortable all night long, my lower back is really hurting from all the sitting.  I can't get comfortable anywhere, so I just went to bed.  I guess that stuff doesn't help with back pain.  How does the medicine know where to go anyway?   I did take just half the dose during the night, try and see how it works, always in the back of my mind is whether the pharmacy is going to give me a refill when it's time, or tell me I used too much, even when I follow the instructions on the bottle to the letter.    Today I was going to look back at pictures from last time, and try to compare same day after surgery pictures.  I am wishing I would have labeled them better, to make that easier.   Kym asked me what I was going to do today, since nobody is scheduled to come over for PT or anything.. Did I want to make Christmas decorations or something?  Sure, why not.  I haven't done that...

 First night with new pain meds, that's the best I've slept in a while.  It definitely works better, but I worry because of all the  talk of addiction and abuse.  It is nice to not have the hurt in the background all the time though.    I hooked up the new rope and pulley system like Andrzej wanted.  He showed me some things to do when he's not here, to get some motion going,  Different from the methods that everyone else uses.  I'm glad that he adjusts his treatment to the patient, not just the same protocol for everyone.  He has my right knee bending to 90 degrees with difficulty, and the left one, by myself, bends to 110 degrees.  That's gotten better in just the last few days with only massage treatment.   I felt really good doing all the new things, and really encouraged by the progress.  But now tonight I'm paying for it in pain and swelling, even through the new pain medicine. 

  Another day here in Plano, with two new knees.  I had Ryland take me to Walgreens today to pick up a prescription.  It was nice to get out with him today, and I decided to switch from the walker to a cane.  Moving on up.  The doctor called in a new pain medicine prescription, I'm hoping it will work better than what I'm using now.  Fingers crossed.   I hooked up a pulley and rope, to help me get the range of motion back, when I'm home alone.  I feel like I'm getting some strength back in my quad.  It's easier to get out of bed, and up from the couch.  I am feeling some soreness, and I'm guessing some bruising on the back of my thigh.  I remember that from the last time.  Sitting in the car made me aware of that.  I'll have to get some pictures for the day later when someone is here to help.

  Ok, it's been a week now.  The home nurse came and changed the wound dressing today.  She measured the length of the incision, and the diameter of my leg.  She said everything looked nice and clean, no bleeding or oozing.  We were comparing it with the left leg.    I was describing the weird shooting, stabbing, pain that's been keeping me from sleeping.  She said it's definitely nerve pain.  We told her about the trouble we've had with getting the pain pill prescription refilled, this time, and in the past.  She called the doctor to get a different medication to try.  I would like to get a better result than last time, and I think this could be a big part of.  We'll pick it up tomorrow and find out.   We tried a few new exercise things today, and I feel like we're actually making good progress on the first knee.  The new one is still really stiff, and sore, not bending very much.  Just keep going Dennis. ...

  Sunday morning, God has given me another day!  It seems really weird having the children go off to church without me today.  The rumor is that Kym and I are going to listen to her brother Eric speak from his church in Philadelphia today.  The online experience is really cool, he has a great way of explaining things so that even an old guy like me can get it, and apply God's word to my life.  Take a listen when you have a chance.   https://valleypointchurch.com/   They have you wear these compression stockings to keep you from getting blood clots post-op, and last time I wore them every day and night for the 3 weeks until we saw the doctor for the follow up visit.  Andrzej has had me roll them down after exercise to try to get the swelling to go down.  It seems that the swelling causes most of the pain and stiffness, and we're trying this to see if it helps.  Putting them back in place after the "extreme" elevation post exercise....

  Andrzej came early today, it's Saturday.  Every day that goes by validates my decision to get him back.  He is very experienced, I think he said 40 years of experience.  He is from Poland originally, he knows all kinds of techniques, and doesn't just stick to one template of care.  I'm pretty sure I'm a challenge to the therapist.  Not your regular garden variety knee replacement patient.  Kym says I'm special...   I feel like I'm getting more motion out of both knees, and the swelling seems to be better.  After I walk, or exercise, he has me elevating the knee a lot for 15 minutes.  He is doing most of the movement so far, with me just following along as far as it goes, without a lot of pain.  So far, so good.   I'm working on walking form, not speed so much, and to depend on the walker just for stability, not support.  I remember that from last time, I fell like we were on to a cane pretty quickly.  One day at ...

  Well, it's official.  When someone asks your pain on a 1-10 scale, I always leave room for "it could be worse".  Last night at bed time was as close to 10 as I can remember. Two pain pills, and I was still feeling it, couldn't get comfortable, trying not to cry out loud and scare the family.  Praying out loud to God, knowing that he has suffered way worse.  That was bad.  I'm hoping that was the bottom...   Andrzej, the PT guy was here yesterday, man what a difference!  It's hard to narrow it down to one thing, I think it's his whole approach everything.  He doesn't just follow a protocol, he listens to me, and pays attention, uses his 40 years of experience in the field to find the way through it all.  I am so glad my family encouraged me to get him back. He even started me with some things to do for the first knee, he is hopeful that we can get some more motion out of the first knee.    The Christmas village is up, and ...

  Well, I let the pain get ahead of the meds last night, and had a really hard time getting to sleep.  I took two, and then was able to sleep, pretty well actually.  I actually slept with my feet out, with only two blankets.  Having no quad strength really makes simple things  difficult.  Emerson says we need a winch to lift my legs.  If only.. No pain, no gain.   In other PT news, Andrzej, my former home PT guy is coming this afternoon for the first time.  I'm really glad that we could work it out.  He's tough, but he gets what I do for a living, and I'm not some old guy just trying to get by.  I want to get better as soon as I can.

  Sleep last night was ok, I just kept waking up every two hours to use the bathroom.  I didn't take any pain meds over night.  It's really easy to go with the dosing guidelines on the bottle, but I'm trying to stretch  the times.  Last time the pharmacist gave me such a hard time about refills.  It seems the government knows how much I need, more so than the doctor.  Kind of a balancing act between taking enough to do the exercise, and not taking too much, and having to fight for a refill.   Super stiff, and sore today, using ice pretty much all day, and trying to keep my leg elevated Preview attachment IMG_5936.jpg IMG_5936.jpg 1.8 MB .

  The nurse came last night, i really don't know why it couldn't have waited.  I was glad to be home, and actually slept better than before the surgery.   A different nurse came today, we actually knew her.  She removed the drain and checked my vitals.   Right after lunch, the home PT person came, a different person than the last time.  She was ok, but I think I want to try to switch back to the guy I had last time.  She was fine, I just don't feel like I'll get the same result with her.   The nerve block is still working, and that is helpful.  Super sore, and stiff .  I know this is the same that happened last time, but it's been 6 months, I guess God lets you forget some of the pain, as long as the results are good.

  Yesterday went really well.  The surgery was at 7am, and we left the hospital at 3:30 pm.  Faster than the last one.  The whole staff at Copley hospital was really great.   We arrived in the snow about 5:15, too early to go in the main entrance, so we went and parked near the emergency room entrance.  There was a police officer inside, who graciously walked us into the main section of the hospital.  We walked down to the check in section, and we were all alone, in the dark actually.  We waited a few minutes for the check in person to arrive, and when she set us up and called back to the surgery section, nobody was in yet.  The snow seemed to be a surprise to everyone but us.  If only we had online weather forecasts.....   We were walked back to our room, #127, and I got changed into the awesome hospital gown, and slipper socks.  Thankfully, there were blankets, and the temperature was nice and warm. Next was all the paperw...

  This is it!  I can't believe this day is finally here.  It's 3:30 am, we're supposed to be at the hospital at 5:30, and the surgery is scheduled for 7 am.  Thirsty, I'm really thirsty.    It's 30 degrees and snowing, Emerson will be happy.  I think everyone is nervous, but me.  I just can't wait to get it done, and start getting better.   God has been really good this year as far as providing work.  Still have a lot of Dr bills from the first surgery to pay off, but we're right up to the out of pocket limit, so we shouldn't have much more to pay after this one.  I know people are praying for us and the doctors, I just wonder how all of us will do cooped up in our little house together for the winter.  It looks like it's going to be a cold one.   Time for the last hibiclens shower, and then off we go.  Let's do this!

  It's the night before surgery, November 10th, 2019.  Kym is helping me get the blog up and ready to use.  I had the left knee replaced on May 14th this year, and now it's time for the right one.    The first surgery went well, the recovery was a little longer than I expected, but my life is so much more pain free, and I'm really looking forward to having both knees better.     I'm writing here for a couple reasons.  I want to be able to look back to see progress for myself during the rehab and recovery.  I'd also like to be able to encourage those around me with Gods provision and care.  I plan to take pictures, and post them here, so it might be scary if you're squeamish.