One Week Post Op - Bilateral knees

[Guest guest]

I had both knees replaced on 7/22. The hospital stay was not too bad, except for

the ridiculous pain. Nurses and all were very nice. I have been in the rehab

facility since Monday night. BOY DO I HURT!! We can force from about 3 to 80

degrees in both knees. In general, my left knee is a bit better. I had been

wearing capris to all of my PT visits. Today I wore shorts and my therapist SAW

my horrible purple legs. She was shocked. Now she has more of an idea WHY I

cannot bend my knees so well. Almost the entire back of my legs are purple.

My legs - mostly in back are starting to itch. I know this is part of the

healing process. Is there anything I can do to calm this?

I have a urinary tract infection which does not help. It made me feel

particularly bad the other day. I am on antibiotics. Today I asked to switch

to Vicodin for my short acting pain killers. I will see if this helps clear my

head at all. I cannot keep my eyes open (except in the middle of the night).

I am getting very tired of having to ask for help all the time. I am anxious

for when I can go to the bathroom on MY terms. I am not very patient and WAY to

independent for all of this. Although when I go home sometime next week, a

whole NEW set of problems crops up.

in PA