Quote:
Originally Posted by PaPaLarry
After visiting Dr Dukes office yesterday, Sally will be going to Rehabilitation, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks to get the stiffness out, which is causing some of the pain. Dr said this will help her, heal faster, and reduce some swelling. Otherwise , everything looks fine, x rays show everything in order, and more pain medicine was ordered in case she needs it. Was told to start taking 2 Aleves, twice a day to help swelling and imflamation faster etc. Pain can be with her for a long time, we were told. Exercising and stretching is so important they said.
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Like Sally, I am going to Physio at least three times a week. On the days I don't have Physio I make sure I use my stationery bike and do the exercises. I always ice after exercising. At six weeks post op I can drive, walk unassisted ( but slowly and carefully), do grocery shopping and laundry, etc. My leg straightens out well and the Physiotherapist is happy with my flexibility. I would be estatic with my progress, if it weren't for the ever-present pain! At this stage, so many people are pain free.
I always thought I was a tough little cookie, which makes me so frustrated that I'm still in pain and on Meds. After arthroscopic surgery on both knees, I hardly needed pain Meds at all. With this TNR, I find I am always in pain, even with Meds. The first few weeks, the pain was a 8 or 9 out of 10, which made sleeping almost impossible. The pain has now decreased to around a 5, more when they do Physio and break through scar tissue. I do not like taking strong Meds, of course, who does! On the days I have Physio, my Surgeon told me to take a double dose prior to the adjustments. Of course that means I can't drive myself to Physio. You said that Sally is taking Aleve to help with inflammation, and I'm sure that would improve things. But unfortunately I can't take Naproxen or anything that thins the blood.
For anyone that has had a TNR and suffered chronic pain, does it ever end?