Re: Shower

[Guest guest]

Hi Elaine,

That sounds great, the sandals were good, but still hit and slip on the

ledge of the shower. You know what's scary too, when I close my eyes when I

wash my hair, I get off balance. Thanks for the info,

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Wow! Those 5 weeks went by fast (well, for me anyway, YMMV).

I know docs have different criteria and these are based in part on

differences in the ways they close the wound. The objective is always to

avoid infection. So you will want to make sure that the scar is completely

closed with absolutely no oozing. Good criteria are probably that the

stitches or staples have been removed or come out, the wound is closed, and

any scabbing has been completed and scabs fallen off.

If you have ANY DOUBTS AT ALL about this, contact your doc. Avoiding

infection is a big deal.

Congrats on your 5 weeks and the brace removal. Moving along!!!

My knee is a different shape too. As for the bend, keep working it and go

for functionality. Good that you have for PT. Just go for it!

Best Wishes

Peace,

Jackie

--

Jackie on

Jackiett@...

R-TKR 3-19-09

L-TKR 9-1-09

Dr. Patch

On 10/20/10 12:21 PM, " kjc " <k_j_cotten@...> wrote:

>

> I went for my 5-week checkup today after TKR surgery.  I got my brace off.  I

> forgot to ask if I could now shower.  What do you think? 

>

> I was prescribed 3 more weeks of therapy as my bend is only 99 degrees.  Very

> disappointing.  My leg doesn't look like my other one.  It is shaped different

> and very full at the back of my knee. 

>

> in TX

>

[Guest guest]

I am not your doctor nor have I had a knee replacement but I should think

that one

would be able to shower if the wound was completely healed over and healthy.

BARB in Florida

shower

I went for my 5-week checkup today after TKR surgery. I got my brace off. I

forgot to ask if I could now shower. What do you think?

I was prescribed 3 more weeks of therapy as my bend is only 99 degrees. Very

disappointing. My leg doesn't look like my other one. It is shaped different

and very full at the back of my knee.

in TX

[Guest guest]

The doctor had to cut one of my ligaments and tighten it as my leg had started

to bow.  That's the reason for my brace.  It was for stability until the

ligament healed. 

in TX

>

> I went for my 5-week checkup today after TKR surgery. I got my brace off.

> I

> forgot to ask if I could now shower. What do you think?

>

> I was prescribed 3 more weeks of therapy as my bend is only 99 degrees.

> Very

> disappointing. My leg doesn't look like my other one. It is shaped

> different

> and very full at the back of my knee.

>

> in TX

>

[Guest guest]

Not me.

Jackie on

Borntodrum.org

Womendrummers.org

Girightshotline.org

510-332-5998

On Oct 20, 2010, at 12:55 PM, " BARB " <barbmch@...> wrote:

> and Jackie mentioned a brace. Have all of you worn a brace

> after TKR? BARB in Florida

>

> Re: shower

>

> Hi !

>

> Wow! Those 5 weeks went by fast (well, for me anyway, YMMV).

>

> I know docs have different criteria and these are based in part on

> differences in the ways they close the wound. The objective is always to

> avoid infection. So you will want to make sure that the scar is completely

> closed with absolutely no oozing. Good criteria are probably that the

> stitches or staples have been removed or come out, the wound is closed, and

> any scabbing has been completed and scabs fallen off.

>

> If you have ANY DOUBTS AT ALL about this, contact your doc. Avoiding

> infection is a big deal.

>

> Congrats on your 5 weeks and the brace removal. Moving along!!!

>

> My knee is a different shape too. As for the bend, keep working it and go

> for functionality. Good that you have for PT. Just go for it!

>

> Best Wishes

> Peace,

> Jackie

>

> --

> Jackie on

> Jackiett@...

> R-TKR 3-19-09

> L-TKR 9-1-09

> Dr. Patch

>

> On 10/20/10 12:21 PM, " kjc " <k_j_cotten@...> wrote:

>

> >

> > I went for my 5-week checkup today after TKR surgery. I got my brace off.

> > I

> > forgot to ask if I could now shower. What do you think?

> >

> > I was prescribed 3 more weeks of therapy as my bend is only 99 degrees.

> > Very

> > disappointing. My leg doesn't look like my other one. It is shaped

> > different

> > and very full at the back of my knee.

> >

> > in TX

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Of course you can shower at this point. What brace? I don't know anyone that

had a brace on a new knee.

99 is not really a good flex. Give it time and more therapy. Is you knww

straight? This is, I think, even more important.

My swelling did not go down for some months. Then, all of a sudden, I realized

it wasn't swollen any more. But that took about 4-5 months.

It's almost 11 months for me, and I am still working on getting the knee to work

like the other one. It takes time.

All the best, Joan

________________________________

From: kjc <k_j_cotten@...>

TotalJointReplacement <Joint Replacement >

Sent: Wed, October 20, 2010 4:21:49 PM

Subject: shower

I went for my 5-week checkup today after TKR surgery. I got my brace off. I

forgot to ask if I could now shower. What do you think?

I was prescribed 3 more weeks of therapy as my bend is only 99 degrees. Very

disappointing. My leg doesn't look like my other one. It is shaped different

and very full at the back of my knee.

in TX

[Guest guest]

No brace for me.  My dressing came off on day 2, and all i had was steri

strips.  I was allowed to shower on day 2 and get the steri strips wet, pat

dry.  It is day 11 now, wound is healing very well, and half the steri strips

have come off.  My flexion is 110 degrees and everything has seemed to turn the

corner since yesterday.

________________________________

From: BARB <barbmch@...>

Joint Replacement

Sent: Wed, October 20, 2010 12:55:29 PM

Subject: Re: shower

 

and Jackie mentioned a brace. Have all of you worn a brace

after TKR? BARB in Florida

Re: shower

Hi !

Wow! Those 5 weeks went by fast (well, for me anyway, YMMV).

I know docs have different criteria and these are based in part on

differences in the ways they close the wound. The objective is always to

avoid infection. So you will want to make sure that the scar is completely

closed with absolutely no oozing. Good criteria are probably that the

stitches or staples have been removed or come out, the wound is closed, and

any scabbing has been completed and scabs fallen off.

If you have ANY DOUBTS AT ALL about this, contact your doc. Avoiding

infection is a big deal.

Congrats on your 5 weeks and the brace removal. Moving along!!!

My knee is a different shape too. As for the bend, keep working it and go

for functionality. Good that you have for PT. Just go for it!

Best Wishes

Peace,

Jackie

--

Jackie on

Jackiett@...

R-TKR 3-19-09

L-TKR 9-1-09

Dr. Patch

On 10/20/10 12:21 PM, " kjc " <k_j_cotten@...> wrote:

>

> I went for my 5-week checkup today after TKR surgery. I got my brace off.

> I

> forgot to ask if I could now shower. What do you think?

>

> I was prescribed 3 more weeks of therapy as my bend is only 99 degrees.

> Very

> disappointing. My leg doesn't look like my other one. It is shaped

> different

> and very full at the back of my knee.

>

> in TX

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, , that is good news.....you are making great progress......

keep it up.......BARB in Florida

Re: shower

Hi !

Wow! Those 5 weeks went by fast (well, for me anyway, YMMV).

I know docs have different criteria and these are based in part on

differences in the ways they close the wound. The objective is always to

avoid infection. So you will want to make sure that the scar is completely

closed with absolutely no oozing. Good criteria are probably that the

stitches or staples have been removed or come out, the wound is closed, and

any scabbing has been completed and scabs fallen off.

If you have ANY DOUBTS AT ALL about this, contact your doc. Avoiding

infection is a big deal.

Congrats on your 5 weeks and the brace removal. Moving along!!!

My knee is a different shape too. As for the bend, keep working it and go

for functionality. Good that you have for PT. Just go for it!

Best Wishes

Peace,

Jackie

--

Jackie on

Jackiett@...

R-TKR 3-19-09

L-TKR 9-1-09

Dr. Patch

On 10/20/10 12:21 PM, " kjc " <k_j_cotten@...> wrote:

>

> I went for my 5-week checkup today after TKR surgery. I got my brace off.

> I

> forgot to ask if I could now shower. What do you think?

>

> I was prescribed 3 more weeks of therapy as my bend is only 99 degrees.

> Very

> disappointing. My leg doesn't look like my other one. It is shaped

> different

> and very full at the back of my knee.

>

> in TX

>

[Guest guest]

Great !  So now I'm depressed... 

Today is 5 weeks.  My scar looks like a rope and the doctor said that it had

already started forming scar tissue underneath.  I started the Vit E cream

massages yesterday, but I'm worried that it's too late.  I was only able to get

99 degrees bend for my doctor.  The therapist got 112, but the doctor said that

pushing it was cheating.  I still am at about 5 degrees extension.  The doctor

extended my therapy for 3 more weeks.

My leg looks deformed.  My calf muscle just isn't there and I have a hard knot

behind my knee.  I have done about 4 hours worth of therapy every single day

except for 2 days when I only did 2 hours.  I have not missed a day.  I guess I

am being impatient, but would sure like to start seeing some results. 

in TX

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Wow, you are really working hard! Good for you.

Just keep massaging down and across the scar. You can go down the line of

the scar using your thumbs press as you go back and forth or use a circular

motion. There is a description of this at http://tinyurl.com/22k92bb

That¹s a page in the book TKR: An Owner¹s manual, which I highly recommend

(It will also give some alternate bend exercises if you get bored and answer

a lot of questions.)

I hate when docs and others say that about ³cheating². Like you did

something wrong. GRRRRR I know they just mean it¹s not an accurate

number but, really! A little tact would be nice. Sheesh!

That hard knot may be preventing you from getting more bend in your knee.

How can you bend when you are up against an obstruction? What did the doc

say about it? Is it muscle? Fluid? Anything that can be done about it????

If you are able to get some massage that might be helpful (and feel good!!).

I also get a good benefit from acupuncture and am lucky there are some

excellent low cost clinics near me (Oakland, CA). I also use a foam roller

to help unknot the muscles around my knees thighs and hips. That helps me

to release the knees. t¹s very awkward and clumsy to do but it has helped

me a lot. Hmmmmm I need to do that. I should video it and get it on

America¹ funniest videos. Not a time for dignity I guess!

Glad you have more PT. That will help.

Hang in there!!!

Peace,

Jackie

On 10/21/10 3:16 PM, " kjc " <k_j_cotten@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> Great !  So now I'm depressed... 

>

> Today is 5 weeks.  My scar looks like a rope and the doctor said that it had

> already started forming scar tissue underneath.  I started the Vit E cream

> massages yesterday, but I'm worried that it's too late.  I was only able to

> get 99 degrees bend for my doctor.  The therapist got 112, but the doctor said

> that pushing it was cheating.  I still am at about 5 degrees extension.  The

> doctor extended my therapy for 3 more weeks.

>

> My leg looks deformed.  My calf muscle just isn't there and I have a hard knot

> behind my knee.  I have done about 4 hours worth of therapy every single day

> except for 2 days when I only did 2 hours.  I have not missed a day.  I guess

> I am being impatient, but would sure like to start seeing some results. 

>

> in TX

>

>