[BILATERAL TKRs] The Historian - recovery diary

Surgery took five hours and I lost a lot of blood, more than anticipated. The hospital has provided first class care. My surgeon has seen me three times since the operation, I've been working with physical therapists, my primary care doctor has been here, and the nursing staff is both caring and, I must admit, HOT. (I'm too old for them, unfortunately.)

I've seen my friend Will and his wife twice; they just dropped off my laptop so I could update my friends here. They also prayed with me. People from my church are coming this week.

I'm on a full schedule of medicines, most usual for this sort of surgery: Coumadin, a blood thinner to combat clotting; Celebrex, for pain releif; a stool softener, to help me get back into a regular routine (surgery and the drugs are terribly constipating), Percoset as needed, replacing morphine when I was on an IV; and Lyrica, which is usually perscribed for Restless Leg Syndrome but is used after bilateral knee replacements to help reduce 'night kicking.'

As mentioned upthread, I have some probable nerve damage from moving the right leg straight. This wasn't entirely unexpected. My surgeon, who does knee replacements all the time, says that while this happens now and again my right leg was as "bad as I've seen". The nerves were not cut, so the damage is from stretching. I'm told with a few months of treatment I'll be back to normal, whatever "normal" is. At the moment I have muscle and motor numbness in both feet, and in particular the right. When I get transferred to a rehab hospital in a couple of days we are going to work on getting me to walk and stand properly. At the moment I can't do either. I don't know how long I'll be in rehab, or how long until I get back on a bike. Its going to be one day at a time. In the meantime I have the resources of Phoenixville Hospital, my doctors, the medical staff, my friends here and elsewhere, my family, and my church. It hit me when Will prayed with me this evening.....What a friend I have in Jesus....Sorry I have to stop writing now... I can't stop crying at my good fortune......

Re: Bent out of shape....

Re: Bent out of shape....

Brother it pains me I'm unable to visit personally. Things will improve, but it will take time. You know how to reach me!

Sounds like you're off to a great start.

Numbness is normal, apparently, down each side of the knee to the 'outside' of the incision. It certainly happened to me and is still recovering, about 95% normal now I guess.

Historian, it's so good to hear from you on the other side. Your knees had a HUGE makeover and it's going to take some time to adjust to the new normal. I know time seems to stand still when you are pretty uncomfortable but know that your body is working double time for the remodeling project and you will get a little better with each passing day. :flowerysmile:

Historian, I wish you all the best with your recovery and I'm sure the difficult challenges ahead will be so worth it.

Historian - SO Very Happy for you. That recognition of being so blessed is a great thing to possess.

I'm with Sunflower on the issue of "Normal". New Normal will change day to day. And I'm sure you don't want the OLD Normal. Thinking about you brotherman...

I hope things are going as well as can be expected at this point. I'm glad you came back to post about your surgery and recovery.

Welcome and best of luck! I'm sure you're going to be VERY happy with your results.

La

sending you heeling thoughts, rest rest and more rest

Glad the outlook is good, even if it may take a while to get there.

Hugs.

Hey, Historian,

I really loved reading all your posts up to now and wish you the best in your recovery. I so admire your work to stay so active with the terrible condition of your knees before surgery. Imagine what you will be doing now! Inspiring! In six days I too will be having replacement and valgus correction and hope also to return to cycling. So it is inspiring to see what you have gone through and your great spirit.
Betsy

Just an update six days out....

Two days ago I was transferred to the rehab hospital. I've gone from being bedbound to spending nine hours in a wheelchair or walker. Flexion is at 85 on the right, 83 left. Extension is at ten on each. It was 10 right 15 left prior to surgery. When you consider I've gotten taller because my legs are now straight my extension improved even if the number didn't change - the hamstrings stretched to match the new knees.

I still need help dressing, undressing, getting into and out of bed, bathing and eliminating.... but less each time. My pain relievers are Celebrex and Percoset. Pain, aside from the numbness, is in the calf muscles, not the incision or joint.

I'm taking physical therapy and occupational therapy, spending four hours a day in CPM machines, and wearing a boot on my right foot at night to keep the nerve damage from becoming a new normal. My hunger has returned, I'm eating without digestive problems and I have regular stools. In short, I feel like I should be suffering more. Or is this much improvement so soon normal?

Glad to hear you are doing well.
Thanks for the update.

Mr Historian, our cases are similar in that we are bilat and I too had my legs straightened; dissimilar in that your condition was so much worse than mine.

This may be a honeymoon period, and you may face bigger challenges on going home (this might seem obvious, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence here) simply from having to do more for yourself. I certainly went home too early because of boredom in hospital, I'd suggest hanging on as long as possible!

I had to re-learn how to stand and to walk, starting from 110+ and 3. Hamstring and calf stretches are still de rigeur. BUT the whole thing is (waxes evangelical) a joyful road. Each tiny improvement feels better, so much better. Slow and steady wins that race, IMO.

My "hanging on" depends on the insurance company - as an American I have coverage "privately" or through my employer. As the inpatient rehab at this hospital is both state of the art and expensive there's a tension between fixing me up and getting me out. The consensus is that I'll be here at least through the weekend. My probable discharge is next week, but no date has been set. My personal goal is to get to the point I can use the bathroom without aid before I am discharged.

I found in those early days that once stood up I was fine. The new knees take the load, crutches keep the balance. The more the knees were bent and taking force, the more they hurt.

So the essential piece of kit for me was a toilet seat riser, enabling minimum leg bend on 'assuming the position'.