.
In other words, my knee recovery has plateaued.
After a few weeks of what felt like rapid healing and progress… I seem to have stalled and can’t find the choke.
I’ve been assured this is normal but it’s annoying all the same.
At almost four weeks post partial knee replacement I’m mobile, independent and thankfully back behind the wheel.
Three weeks of sending my husband to the grocery store with a list, individual product descriptions and a detailed schematic of the store’s layout still resulted in the purchase of incorrect items… so I’m very glad to be able to resume my normal chores.
.

.
I did however make the mistake of telling my physical therapist I didn’t think I was getting much out of the visits at my appointment yesterday, so she doubled down and worked me extra hard. This morning I’m swollen, in pain, back on the ice and limping… which I haven’t done in weeks.
Sometimes it’s preferable to keep your mouth shut.
Lesson learned.
My scar is still prominent, though a little less Frankenstein-ish.
.

.
The erythema discoloration… which I learned was the dilation of blood capillaries – knee replacement is so educational!…. has mostly disappeared so that’s good.
I’ve been told to wait another week on scar tissue massage but I have a large crease and dent at the top that I’m anxious to break up so my vitamin E oil is ready and waiting.
Overall things are good.
Still having trouble going down stairs like a normal human being, but I’ll get there.
Someday.
.
Sounds like you’re doing extremely well to me!
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Overall, I am.
But it’s hard not to be frustrated.
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Ha ha about the list for the grocery store. 🥴
Your recovery was quite remarkable. Good luck with the return to normal-ish.
Interesting news coming out of Maine this morning, and out of 🇺🇸… For once I watched a bit of news. 🥴
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I hope the US and Canada can be friends again… now that we’ve regained our sanity.
😉
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That scar looks a LOT better!!!
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It does.
Not that it could look worse. 🥴
Still quite tender though.
No tight jeans yet.
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Just be patient and baby it!
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Your nails look great though! I softened the blow with my PTs after bringing some leftover chocolate candy. Even then I thought she wanted to keep me hostage for a few weeks as I noticed a few furtive glances my way between her and another PT. She said to me, you really are doing your PT. This says you have logged in 86 times! I said, “Yeah, and then she said, “But you do have a health club nearby and you are…..” Leaving, leaving, I gave a grand smile! My last session after she timed me for walking improving around the room and sit to stand, twice the amount…go and the last session was only 25 minutes! Wow, I felt like I would take it an leave.
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Chocolate always makes saying goodbye easier.
😉
Congrats on your recovery!
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Thank you! It was a VA clinic so I was surrounded by Vets. I understand some will not exercise or believe in PT, like my husband, but I do and I benefit from it but I would do fine with exercise on my own but the direction, not the personality, of the PT and her assistant helped.
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Yes. As much as I complain about it, my knee is usually better for the extra help.
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Yeah, I think after 12 weeks you can move on or do what you can.
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No matter how many people warn you that recovery is not linear, it’s hard when it happens to you and not someone else.
As for the scar, silicone sheets (available at pharmacies) can also help soften and shrink a scar.
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I’ll look for those. Thanks!
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LOL… I told you about those too…aka: Scar tape. It’s inexpensive and seemed to help me. I’m prone to horrible scaring but my knee scar is nice and smooth.
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Your charts about success are very accurate. You’ll get there. Like you said, someday.
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Cupcake and I take pictures of the item and send them to each other’s phones. If that still does not work, we text a picture from the store and get the thumbs up it is the right item, color, size….etc. It works for us.
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I’ve texted pictures.
Sadly it’s not enough…
🤣
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I hope you, like I, eventually take stairs without thinking about it too much!
The random inflammation events still hit me. I’ve learned to recognize them and not freak out. That said, last week I had pain so bad (and my knee was trying to bed backward) that I considered ER because something was seriously wrong. Woke up the next day and it was fine – like nothing ever happened.
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I’m discovering that as well. Last night my hamstring ached, this morning it’s my kneecap. But the random swelling is annoying… just when I think I’ve conquered it, it’s back.
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The swelling isn’t as bad now, just feels tight. I haven’t figured out my triggers.
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Well, darn! Sorry to read about the plateau in healing. I think husbands have a knack for picking out the wrong things.
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I’m assured it’s normal, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
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Sigh…
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That grocery list looks almost fool proof.
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Not to my husband.
🤣
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Lol..I did say “Almost “. 🙂
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