Thread Tales From A Scrappy Quilter

Finally, the first time in 21 days that I have been able to take a shower without assistance.  I have had to have my arm with the PICC line wrapped in saran wrap then followed with press n seal to keep that area dry while showering.  My movement was restricted on that arm anyway from the insertion and attempts to place a PICC line in another area in that arm that is still swollen.   But after being wrapped, I could not bend my arm to shampoo etc.  Even cling wrap free and I could not fully bend or extend my arm.  That line came out yesterday!   I would have fallen apart if I had been told I had to keep it in even 1 more day.  I have very small veins and was put through the wringer by ER and the hospital to draw labs and place IVs during my hospital stay from infection.  I have gone through 2 ordeals, the revision knee replacement following 1 year of pain and mobility issues from a botched replacement April 2018.  The knee w...

Lots of activity the past month or so.  The long awaited neurologist testing which would get me into a pain management group was a bust.   Pain management wanted to do a surgical implanted device!  No non-invasive treatments were offered.  But on a brighter note (this is bright?!) Ortho surgeon #3 has run tests and determined I do not have a bone infection...but my implant is loose.  This is a huge group, at a huge orthopedic hospital and has awards posted all over their building, including joint replacements from 2006 to present.   It was really nice being in a large hospital too, you go from their office to MRI, Lab, whatever.   Sometimes you needed appointments in the future, often they could see you within a few hours.   It took all day on each of my appointments but they get done. I am in limbo at this time.  Bone scans will tell a truer picture of what is going on inside there.  But statistics prove that bone ...

Monday marks the completion of 10 weeks since my surgery.  I continue to struggle getting to a "0" extension but some improvement has been made.  I've now progressed from a walker to a cane to unassisted.  I am driving in my neighborhood.  I have avoided the freeways so far.  However I still walk with a limp and walking is pretty much limited to getting in and out of buildings due to pain.   I am not able to take a stroll around the block or walk for exercise at this time.  I am beginning to apply what feels like equal weight on both legs for a few minutes at less swollen times of the day.  Walking and standing for more than an hour is not possible at this time.  I can not sleep through the night and moderate pain is evident 24/7.  Crazy right?   How do I have surgery and I am worse than before!!?? Most people are feeling so much better by this time.  Many have returned to work.   I have the added bur...