All I want for Christmas is two brand-new knees!

[FI_RElater]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R Definitely, for a bilateral knee replacement like what you had! I agree with aja8888, you were really brave to have both done at once. But maybe it's not such an insane idea when just one knee is replaced. I had my right knee replaced, and may possibly have my left knee done in the springtime. I was able to walk 150 feet a couple of hours after surgery, and 300 feet the following day. I would imagine that doing things like that would probably be impossible that soon after a bilateral. Since it was just one knee, I got out of the hospital the next day.... about 29 hours after awakening from general anesthesia.... but I was so eager to get out earlier than that. I think I'd be OK leaving the hospital late in the afternoon of the same day, if the surgery was first thing in the morning, with F to help me.

it is insane to expect for either

Both of us have had knee replacements (DW had both, but not at same time)....

complications are very real; first day seems easier as can sometimes even do small steps early, but then the swelling really starts (and the local wears off)
even only having a nurse stop by once a day afterwards might be inadequate for first two days; it's usual for post-op after that, as they just do vitals etc and check sutures.
bizarre that MC expects everyone to have "normal" outcomes....things DO happen

[Squirrel]

Update: today I walked (graceLESSly) a half-dozen steps without the walker!

Then I took a nap.

Man! You guys are right about the lack of stamina.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrel Update: today I walked (graceLESSly) a half-dozen steps without the walker!

Wonderful! I am so happy for you. That is a TREMENDOUS accomplishment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrel Then I took a nap. Man! You guys are right about the lack of stamina.

Don't worry! It will come back. It just takes some time. More time than I expected, I guess, but it happens eventually.

[Squirrel]

Today was the first outpatient therapy.

I whimpered all the way home.

The therapist was good, skillful, and kind, but she's not gonna let me slack off. I'm glad I got her; my in-home therapist was a cream puff and I think I need the tough cookie.

I tried advil and a nap after lunch, but still painful.

Since I need to do another set of therapy exercises tonight, I had DH give me an oxycodone. Once it kicks in, I'll do the exercises.

In therapy, right knee bent 55 degrees. Left 65 degrees.
She worked on me and got right up to 65 and left to 70.
She expects me to get to about 110 degrees on each knee, but it'll be a process.

Okay. Almost no pain now; going to exercise.

I think DH should bring me a reward -- chocolate or a skein of luxury yarn! (i stocked up on rewards before surgery.)

[Twize]

I've never had knee replacement surgery but have injured mine several times. What has helped me recover fast is swimming. Weightless exercising of the knees helps a lot. Hopefully you'll recover soon and be able to get in the pool. Good luck!

[Squirrel]

Well, tomorrow is 5 weeks since the operation.

Update: Still having a rough time at therapy. But making progress.

So far, DH has been able to drive me to therapy. So I take a pain pill to help me get through all the stretching and walking and steps and weights.

Sometimes I take a pain pill later in the day as my body catches up with the morning's therapy session.

But my therapist makes a lot of sense. Basically, if I can do something, I should do it. So, I'm parking my walker and doing chores around the house ... some cooking and unloading the dishwasher, for example.

Today I went to therapy with two canes; therapist said I should be down to only one cane soon.

I can walk many steps without assistance, but I need to watch what I'm doing ... trying to get a proper gait. It's easy to just waddle along. But that builds a terrible habit.

Also, today the therapist identified some areas where I'm compensating. For example, swinging my leg rather than bending my knees. It's valuable to learn that, but it's difficult to overcome.

Still glad I did the whole process, and highest kudos to my strict therapist. I am seeing good progress.

[W2R]

Glad to hear things are going well, and that you are making progress!

New Year, New Knees.... sounds pretty good!

At four and a half months my knee is doing fine, and mostly I am trying to build back my leg muscles. That will take continued time and effort at the gym, but I am happy that my knee itself is sturdy, stable, and working nicely in my daily life. My flexion and extension are fine now.

I quit PT exactly 6 weeks after my surgery, and in my case I have improved so much faster on my own since then. It sounds like your PT facility might be better than mine was.

[Squirrel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R It sounds like your PT facility might be better than mine was.

We're in kind of a remote location ... our local facility is pretty rudimentary. (I went there for a few sessions when the knee pain started ... maybe 10 years ago.)

My surgeon operates out of a hospital 25 miles away. (Many kudos to my primary care doc who recommended this specialist.)
I did PT there a year ago to attempt relieving the pain without surgery. So I was familiar with the setup.

I opted for the longer drive to a better facility, which is a little crazy in the winter. The therapists have been outstanding. But, man! They make me WORK!

If that's my only complaint, I'm darn lucky.

[Squirrel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R G At four and a half months my knee is doing fine, and mostly I am trying to build back my leg muscles. That will take continued time and effort at the gym, but I am happy that my knee itself is sturdy, stable, and working nicely in my daily life. My flexion and extension are fine now.

Glad, glad, glad to hear it. Your journal was inspirational for me when I was deciding to go through this.

And ... maybe I'll have to overcome my natural laziness and start gym work too.

[Time2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrel Today was the first outpatient therapy. I whimpered all the way home. The therapist was good, skillful, and kind, but she's not gonna let me slack off. I'm glad I got her; my in-home therapist was a cream puff and I think I need the tough cookie. I tried advil and a nap after lunch, but still painful. Since I need to do another set of therapy exercises tonight, I had DH give me an oxycodone. Once it kicks in, I'll do the exercises. In therapy, right knee bent 55 degrees. Left 65 degrees. She worked on me and got right up to 65 and left to 70. She expects me to get to about 110 degrees on each knee, but it'll be a process. Okay. Almost no pain now; going to exercise. I think DH should bring me a reward -- chocolate or a skein of luxury yarn! (i stocked up on rewards before surgery.)

Yes, physical therapy is very important. I had a busines where I was lower than my customers setting on a bench. I often saw the zipper on their knee/s. I ask about them, and there was only one person that said they would not do it again, everyone was happy they got the replacement. The one person that was not happy was only about 6 weeks since surgery and I didn't get to talk to him after 6 months.
Also on the pain killers, I have a friend that has shoulder surgery, and the doc gave him pain killers, my friend said he would do without. The doc made it clear, you need to take the pain pills so you are able to work your shoulder and get full use of it. If you are in pain you will restrict your movement, and not heal as well or as fast.

[Squirrel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R I quit PT exactly 6 weeks after my surgery, and in my case I have improved so much faster on my own since then. It sounds like your PT facility might be better than mine was.

My therapist is excellent, but I still don't have the flexibility that I want. So, I requested to continue for a few extra sessions. Should finish by mid-February.

[rayinpenn]

My flexibility came after tons of extra therapy sessions. I’m walking every day 1 hour plus - of it rains I’m on the stationary bike for 50 minutes. I don’t think about my knees which should tell you all you need to know.

[Chuckanut]

FWIW, my surgical knee gets to about 120 degrees max. The non surgical knee can go to about 130, maybe 135. Those people who bend their surgical knee 150+ degrees are doing something my 'healthy' knee can't even do. Good for them.

My biggest problem since surgery is that I am find my ankles and hip lost flexibility do to babying that leg for years and years. I am getting some PT for that.

[W2R]

Today marks exactly six months since my total knee replacement.

My flexion and extension in that knee is just about exactly equal to that in my other knee. I don't measure it, but I do *live* with both knees every day and to me, both seem to bend and straighten just the same amount and just as easily. They improved a lot as soon as I ditched my (relatively crummy) PT facility which was continually re-injuring my knee and even had me back in a wheelchair at 6 weeks, at which point I told them to stuff it where the sun don't shine (but in more polite words). After I quit going to them I just did what I felt my knee needed to do, and improved at an unbelievably rapid rate and quite well I think. At 12 weeks (IIRC?) my surgeon was quite satisfied with both flexion and extension in my new knee and said I didn't need to come back until the one year knee-anniversary.

I get a kick out of straightening both knees to the max now and then. It's fun to see that both do just as well. If I had to pick one as straightening better than the other, it would be the surgical knee. But really they are so close to equal it is hard to pick. The same is true for flexion. Like Chuckanut, I don't get those huge degrees of flexion in either knee; never did.

I still don't feel like I need the other knee done, but I am leaving my options open. My surgeon said to just call and he'd be glad to do the other knee any time if/when I want it done. I recently bought a new recliner and chose one with the lift function, in case I have another knee surgery in my future. That function was very helpful right after my first knee surgery. But now that I have recovered, I don't use the lift function.

BTW, it is still such a pleasant surprise to me when walking, that I don't have to look around me in panic for a chair to sit on. I am still not used to that! I can stand easily for a very long time now compared with before surgery or just after surgery. In fact, it's hard to imagine but I sometimes stand just for fun, when I could just as easily sit. After years of mobility issues that is my idea of fun. Also my new knee seems so much stronger than my old one that didn't have the surgery. I expected less pain, but did not realize it would be so sturdy and strong.

[Squirrel]

Ray, Chuck, W2R, did you have pain getting up from sitting once you got walking on your own?

It's surprising me that I have some pain getting out of a chair or recliner, 2 months post op.

I'll see my surgeon in the middle of March and see if I need to continue therapy. (I just finished the extra sessions this week).

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrel Ray, Chuck, W2R, did you have pain getting up from sitting once you got walking on your own? It's surprising me that I have some pain getting out of a chair or recliner, 2 months post op. I'll see my surgeon in the middle of March and see if I need to continue therapy. (I just finished the extra sessions this week).

Of course I did at first, but by now my knee is not really painful enough when standing to notice and it is definitely less painful than the other knee that did not have the surgery. But neither one hurts much lately. The new knee has had six months to heal and improve. Especially, my muscles strengthen with gentle exercise and returning mobility, and for me the stronger knee and leg muscles help a lot when standing up after sitting. Maybe it will just take some time, in your case? Remember you are recovering from two major surgeries and so that can be expected to take some time.

In my case, once I ditched my (bad) PT, I noticed small improvements in my knee and capabilities almost every single day. Even now, I still notice small improvements several times a week. I have heard that full recovery takes about a year. Although I have recovered as far as I thought I ever would, I am constantly surprised by further improvements so I think it is true that I am still healing. As long as you keep noticing improvements, you are getting better and will get to where you want to be. Best wishes for your continued recovery.

[Squirrel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R In my case, once I ditched my (bad) PT, I noticed small improvements in my knee and capabilities almost every single day. Even now, I still notice small improvements several times a week. I have heard that full recovery takes about a year. Although I have recovered as far as I thought I ever would, I am constantly surprised by further improvements so I think it is true that I am still healing. As long as you keep noticing improvements, you are getting better and will get to where you want to be. Best wishes for your continued recovery.

Thanks for the encouragement. Today I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to stand during all the relevant times at church. Definite improvement.

I guess I am impatient -- I expected that, at 2 months out, I'd be back to normal. Not there.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squirrel Thanks for the encouragement. Today I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to stand during all the relevant times at church. Definite improvement. I guess I am impatient -- I expected that, at 2 months out, I'd be back to normal. Not there.

As long as you keep noticing improvements, you are getting closer and closer to normal. Time will pass faster than you know it. Also, remember it's not a race, or a competition, as long as your knees get to where you want to be. Once you are fully recovered you probably won't even remember when you reached different milestones. Also, different people reach different milestones at different lengths of time after surgery. What I mean is, like, for example, I was able to put on my socks, or climb stairs, sooner after surgery than most people. Despite that, other challenges took me longer after surgery than most people. So comparisons with other people are pretty meaningless.

My milestone for today, is getting out of F's new-to-him Ford Fiesta without needing to touch the door or car with my hands at all, even for balance. I just swiveled to put my feet on the concrete while sitting sideways in the passenger seat, and then stood up using knee power only. The car is really low so that made me happy.

[2soon2tell]

I've had three total shoulder replacements with the last two being revisions due to loosening of the prosthesis. After each surgery, I had to have PT. The exercises hurt so much that I started taking a pain pill before each session.
In time the pain subsided but PT was not fun.

I hope my knees will hold up a while longer before replacement becomes necessary. Age 73 and still walking 12-15 miles a week.

[Squirrel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R My milestone for today, is getting out of F's new-to-him Ford Fiesta without needing to touch the door or car with my hands at all, even for balance. I just swiveled to put my feet on the concrete while sitting sideways in the passenger seat, and then stood up using knee power only. The car is really low so that made me happy.

wow! Impressive!