Day started off shitty

Didn't sleep well. No matter what position I got in, the pain in my knee would wake me up. So, I was cranky from being tired.  I had laid out my clothes last night, and quickly got cleaned up and dressed, and ready to go.  I got the scaffold, and was going through the routine of putting in on,and tightening the straps in order.  This is were 'shitty' came in. One of the clips snapped while I was tightening it.

(Insert bad words here)  I took an unbroken clip from upper thigh strap, removed the broken clip and replaced it with the one I took off the top thigh strap.  I then repositioned the velcro tab on the upper thigh strap, and pulled it tight, clove hitched it to where the clip was supposed to go, then pushed the velcro tab onto the strap.  It worked, but was easily loosened.

Saw Dr B, the endocrinologist. It seems my thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4) and uptake levels have normalized. He couldn't put me on the scale because of the scaffold, but I told him how I had been measured, and have lost 8cms (about 3.5 inches) from around my butt, same from around my waist, and 2.5 cms from around each thigh. Also my clothes are too big, and some that were too small I can wear. 

Off to see Mr S, the osteopathic surgeon (retired from surgery, but still consulting and referring) and this is where my day got better.  He read the MRI, layer by layer and the good news is I do NOT need any surgery. I will, however, need an ultrasound guided injection of cortisone under local anesthesia.  Appointment has been made, but I have to wait a few weeks.

I spoke to Hayden regarding the scaffold/brace clip breaking. Even he said it shouldn't have.  He took photo of broken clip, and the model of the brace on my leg.  What he did really surprised me. There wasn't an extra clip in storage, but he did have some sample braces that Mr S had been given, AND he had a used one the he heartily recommended.  I got the the used one on now, and my knee feel so much better. It's an above the knee, mid-calf and I can lock the brace to zero degree of bending, keeping it completely straight.  The other 'sample' brace is a lockable one, but it is upper thigh to mid calf.  If I need it, it's there to be used. 

I hate that scaffold, I really do.

Saw Simon the Sadist today. Remedial massage on thigh, and checked how mobile the knee is. It's like this; I can bed it 130 degrees without any issue. No pain no worry. But straightening it out made me clutch at the edges of the exam table, digging my fingers into it.

Not much can be done until I see Mr S next week. But, Simon did agree with Jace the podiatrist, that half crutches would be better to use than the cane. This way, I take pressure/weight off my right prosthetic knee and heel. Since bending my knee causes the pain, putting weight on my left leg/foot is ok.

Simon has said to wear the scaffold when I am out and about, if I have to do any walking. But at home, or short 'in and out' quick trips.

Well... shit

Saw Jase, the podiatrist. A rather wasted appointment, because until I get my knee seen to, not much can be done regarding it. 

Ah, the knee: Jase at least gave me the skinny on my knee. I have a meniscal flap tear. Loki, in a freaky accident, landed just right on my knee, making the knee cap 'shave' a flap of the meniscus, like a tongue, hanging off the meniscus. No wonder it was blindingly painful.

To see what can be done for or to it, I have to wait until I see Mr S *. Because if I have to have surgery on the knee for a temporary fix, it might be better all around to have Left Total Knee Replacement (LTKR) for a number of reasons. For one major reason, to stop the undue strain on my RTKR. Because of my left knee being so painful, I am leaning a lot of weight on my right prosthetic, speeding up wear and tear (and the need for a revision).  Another, I have asthma. Putting me under for surgery again, and again is dangerous.

I know what I would look forward to feeling and going through with a TLKR, as I have been through it with the right knee. We already have the bathroom revamped (rails in the shower, shower hop lowered, 'rehab' chair already in bedroom etc etc).

I can speculate all day, and get myself all worked up, but no decisions can be made until I see Mr S.

*Mr S,orthopedic surgeon extraordinaire, after a long career of knee/hip surgery is retiring. But he hasn't abandoned his patients, as he still is there for consultations, diagnoses, and referrals.

Not quite what I expected

I ordered another knee brace, one that is mid-thigh to mid-calf, rather than from upper thigh to ankle scaffold.  It arrived today... and it wasn't quite the one I thought/saw it would be.  Oh well, at least it is serviceable.  My only issue is I can't have both front and back of brace at 0 degrees, aka straight as a board.  At least I do have some the flexion stops to prevent most of the bending.

Will just have to be aware, and not force my knee to bed.

Reaching end of the line for me

I am getting fed up with all the pissing contests, the one upmanships people see to have to do, and humble-bragging on Facebook.

Fucking sick of the games, the attempts at making cliques to belittle and insult someone.  I had enough of that crap when I was in high school, I sure as hell do NOT need it NOW!

So much for a simple problem

MRI results. It's not patella tendinitis. Loki managed to damage some of the remaining meniscus.

That didn't last long,

Less than two days. My Medical Mutiny (wearing smaller knee brace vs the upper thigh to ankle brace) is over. Knee hurts like hell, so put the scaffold back on. Keeping it totally straight, Zero degree bend is needed. (insert many swear words here) Pardon me while I go have a good cry.

That didn't go too well

First night of trying to sleep (emphasis on trying) with the scaffold (high thigh to ankle brace) on my leg.  I don't sleep well on my back, but am being forced to.  If I had a reclining chair, that would work, but we don't have one. I stack pillows so I am sleeping sitting up, but on an angle. Mixed results. Hoping it will work tonight due to sheer exhaustion from not sleeping worth a damn last night.

Good news, bad news

Good News: Left knee is no worse than it was last week.

Bad News: Left knee is no better than it was last week. *sigh*

Dr S has scheduled an MRI for the left knee, and x-ray of right knee, as it's been three years since I've had the hardware installed. Dr S is fairly certain there is no structural issues with the left knee, just a raging case of tendinitis. If MRI shows that, a few (ouch) injections under the kneecap will be the fix.

Dr S has given me script for some pain managing, as he noticed how tired I look,and I admitted to not sleeping well. That's when he told to me to TRY and sleep with the brace on, and to leave it on all the time. (notable exceptions will be not while in the shower, or while getting dressed AFTER the shower. 

Simon the Sadist;  he really is a decent sort of guy, a bit of a wise ass, but he takes as well as he gives.  My range of motion of the leg (the degree to which I can bend it) is great. Straightening it out, however, hurts like $@%#.  He told me to stop with the heel slides, as it might be aggravating the tendon.  He said my core/abdomen strength and control is great, and so is the muscle tone elsewhere. Fekking thyroid.

Oh really? When?

Hayden The Hardliner (physio) told me the pain would lessen.  Really? When? I have been gritting my teeth, and clenching my right hand so hard I leave little crescents in my palm when I do the heel slides. (Lay flat on my back, foot flat on surface, and slide it slowly back as close to my butt as possible, then slowly extend) Gritting my teeth is not a great idea, seeing how I vertically fractured one tooth already.

I see Mr S and Simon the Sadist tomorrow. Not really looking forward to that.

Solution to the chilblains

To reduce the swelling under the kneecap, I have to use an icepack, at least three times a day. 20 minutes a pop.   It helps with the swelling, and subsequently the pain, but would leave me feeling chilled.

Only took me three days to think up 'Hey, use the wheatbag on your lower legs while freezing the knee!". 

I blame it on the meds. heh

*shiver*

Down to using ice packs on my damned knee.  The timing part is easy; just say "Echo, 20 minute timer."   Side effects: I can't get warm!  I'm sitting here bundled up as if I'm expecting snow.  *sigh*

After the weekend, I'm back in the saddle

And if by saddle you think 'Thigh to Ankle Knee Brace" , you would be correct.  As much as I'm beginning to loathe it, my knee feels better when the leg is kept straight, without any bend.  Unfortunately, because of how far up the thigh the brace comes, it makes certain daily tasks and 'bodily functions' (hey, I'm trying to be polite here) difficult.

I think the problem is I have to get it through to Wing that when the doctor and physio says my knee is better, that doesn't mean it's "ALL better". Packing a lot of things to do over the weekend isn't a great thing. Having to keep the leg straight doesn't really work in the car, unless I sit in the back seat behind the drivers' seat, torso facing the passenger window, with my let across the seat. But keeping the safety belt from choking me is more than just a little bit difficult.

So, that only leaves me the "Big Berth", but that one bends too much, because he misplaced the clips that keep the thing from bending. Baby Betty hasn't arrived yet. It would be a happy medium. a brace just above the knee, strapped at the calf below the knee, that can have or not have a slight bend in it.  And it would make certain day to day routines a helluva lot easier to do.

I was so so close

I was down to taking OTC pain medication, maybe at night before bed, so I could sleep.  Now, I'm back to taking prescription strength pain killers.  But I am trying to just do the OTC ones during the day, heavy duty meds at night.

Does the phrase "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired"?   But apply it to being injured instead of ill.

I wonder if there will be an exodus

Or a stampede back to weblogs, seeing as FB is pretty much painting it's users into a corner.  FB has turned pretty much into a vat of just meanspiritedness on the part of some people.  Not everyone, and not even the majority of people, but the ones that like to laugh at people getting killed, or children caged... it takes too much energy and time.

I don't mind logging in to play the cooperative games, but going to stop checking the newsfeed.

What we have here, is not failure to communicate

But a failure to understand.

Yes, Mr S and Simon the Sadist said my left knee was BETTER than it was the previous week. Wing took that to mean all better, and without even asking me about it, or thinking on his part, had me standing on a hard floor, no walking around, for over an hour. By the time we got home, I was hurting. I took off my 'above the knee to just below the knee' brace, and put the thigh to ankle one on.

One would think that would've been a big clue, that and the fact I couldn't sleep because of the pain. But no. I gave him my script for medication, asking him to get it. He says ok, and I take that to mean he will be heading out himself. Again, but no! He pops his head into my office and doesn't ask, but tells me in his passive aggressive way that we were heading out in 30 minutes. He pops into the shower. So while he's getting cleaned up, I go through the struggle of getting socks, shoes, brace tube, and brace on, and then he said "You know, if it's so much trouble...." AFTER I had gone through the hardest part of getting ready.

I am not in the slightest homicidal, but if I had a NERF cricket bat, I might have used it a few times. Ok, I would look at it and fantasize about using it a few times.