Bilateral TKR BTKR 28th May 2019 - post op journal

I mentioned any exercise requiring me to lay down and lift my legs was out because of my back which he understood. Unlike my knees and getting better day by day my back will never get better and will keep deteriorating as I get older, I expect it will continue to give me trouble long past my knees being back to normal.

Lucky the knees are feeling ok, my Daughter's dog thinks he is a lap dog :)

members pic.jpg


Until next time :bicycle1:

Even after a partial one thing I would recommend anyone undergoing this procedure is have a strong core and back. If possible, a good regimen of pilates ahead of time. No doubt I've been compensating with the back taking up slack for the limited use of that knee.
 
Lucky the knees are feeling ok, my Daughter's dog thinks he is a lap dog :)
Oh my goodness. That huge dog looks like he'd really hurt! You are more man that I am. :heehee:
 
Oh my goodness. That huge dog looks like he'd really hurt! You are more man that I am. :heehee:
He is a great dog, but only tiny compared to my big dog Zeus.

I would have been about 110kgs in this photo, at his heaviest Zeus was 95kgs..... My smaller dogs, a Dogue De Bordeaux at about 65Kgs and a Great Dane that was light but very fast and tall :)

Zeus.jpg
 
Wow those are big dogs! It must cost a fortune to feed them!
 
All I can say is "Wow!".
 
Wow those are big dogs! It must cost a fortune to feed them!

Not really.... I never had to pay for security so that was a bonu$ :rotfl:

I went through about 20KGs of dried food each week plus each night they would get a chicken carcass each. They never fought over the food thank goodness and Zeus was the oldest and the Alpha male. As he got older the younger ones would have a go at him, but he never gave up.

Most wonderful dog, sadly missed as they all are :bawl:
 
Biking at five weeks w/ a bilateral TKR!!! Mind officially blown. Way to go! I’m at 10 weeks today and not even close to where you are. In fact, I’m feeling intimidated by the fact that many return to work at 12 weeks. I think I’ll need at least another month! =| I can’t help but feel like I’ve done something wrong. My extension is 0° (with concerted effort!), but my flexion is only 103°. Stairs are still extremely difficult. As is getting in and out of a car or the shower/tub. My head’s still wonky/messed up from the weeks of Oxy/Tramadol. I tire easily.
So very happy for you on your remarkable comeback! =D

Elaine
 
@eelainea65 Recovery progress varies greatly from person to person. 10 weeks is early days, and your ROM is OK. Extension at 0 is great, it is often harder to get good extension than flexion, so that's a positive! Flexion will improve gradually with time and gentle exercise. Lots of people here continue to have improved flexion after a year or two. Can you have longer than 12 weeks off work? If so, take it and don't feel bad about needing to. I am retired now, and am glad not to have had the pressure of getting back to work - it is a luxury I appreciate.
 
Biking at five weeks w/ a bilateral TKR!!! Mind officially blown. Way to go! I’m at 10 weeks today and not even close to where you are. In fact, I’m feeling intimidated by the fact that many return to work at 12 weeks. I think I’ll need at least another month! =| I can’t help but feel like I’ve done something wrong. My extension is 0° (with concerted effort!), but my flexion is only 103°. Stairs are still extremely difficult. As is getting in and out of a car or the shower/tub. My head’s still wonky/messed up from the weeks of Oxy/Tramadol. I tire easily.
So very happy for you on your remarkable comeback! =D

Elaine

Hiya Elaine,

Long time no see :heehee:

I guess I am very lucky with my recovery, but remember we are all different. As for returning to work some need to, some like me have the option not too and for that I am thankful. If you have more time up your sleeve perhaps you can wait or have a gradual return to work. I am pretty sure you have not done anything wrong, again we all heal differently.

Like you I still have trouble getting in and out of the car and still not 100% confident on the stairs, but it's getting better. Thankfully I was able to stop the meds early on and only taken something like panadeine forte for going to bed, my new knees seem to ache... Perhaps the cold is not helping. And yes I still tire easily, again I blame the cold miserable weather we have had since I got back in country. Having said that it was a glorious day today for the first time in a long while !

Keep at it, you will turn the corner eventually, hopefully sooner than later.

Take care. :) :-) (:
 
Good morning all,

Whilst waiting to drift off to sleep last night I was wondering what people considered a successful procedure....

Is it a 'magical' number of degrees like some surgeons and OT's think ? Or is it returning to a normal life ? How do I / we know if the major trauma we have subjected our bodies to worth it or not ?

Then I took stock of my own recovery and tried to figure out what I have gone through was worth the inconvenience and pain of surgery.

Even at this early stage of 10 weeks post (I think) I would have to say a resounding YES ! Why ?

The answer to that is simple, yet complicated I suppose.

I have had knee problems for as long as I can remember, in fact it has been so long I would have to go back 30+ years to say I was free of knee issues. Of course the mini surgeries at different times like L&R knee arthroscopes and 1 lateral release helped me carry on until the next time I hurt myself playing sport...

Roll forward to today, post BTKR and the original pain and sometimes agony, has been removed, literally ! :thumb:

It has however been replaced with other aches and pains but from what I have read and already felt myself, this is only temporary. The reasons I had the surgery was to become knee pain free.

To that end, I deem my BTKR to be a total success. :wow:

What about you ? What is your goal or idea of a successful replacement ? :dubious:
 
That was a very thought provoking post.

I would consider a successful knee replacement to bring about a pain free knee, or at the very least, knee pain that is drastically reduced.

One that enables you to do the things you couldn’t before surgery.

A new knee that you forget about, that you don’t notice it’s existence.

This is what I was hoping for and did not get. It’s been over 2 years since my surgery, and while my ROM is still improving, other issues are not. I don’t consider mine a success. In fact, I have more limitations now than I did before.
 
Good mroning @Jockette

This is what I was hoping for and did not get. It’s been over 2 years since my surgery, and while my ROM is still improving, other issues are not. I don’t consider mine a success. In fact, I have more limitations now than I did before.

I am sorry this has not turned out like you have hoped for. Is there something that can be done ?
 
Not at the moment. My X-ray looks fine. My original surgeon and 2 second opinions, one at 15 months and one just before my second anniversary, won’t look past my X-ray to order any further tests.
 
@Jockette ,

That must be very disappointing. Perhaps you need to find another Dr that will actually listen to you. Surely there are other tests they can do, like CT scan or something.

Good luck.
 
Hello all,

A quick update. all is going well and I survived a 9 hr flight back to the warm weather for a couple of weeks, hopefully missing the really cold stuff back home.

I wore my 'special' socks (we call them TEDs here, no idea why) took a few sleeping pills and the plane was sufficiently empty that we had a row each to curl up on. I could not stretch out like at home on a bed but it was far better than sitting ! Bit sore today but to be expected.

Lookout massage shops here I come ! :loll:

PS. When I booked my flights I asked for a wheel chair, had great service, never queued once !
 
Woohoo, 2 months today !! :wowspring::happydance::yay:

What a ride it has been. Once that catheter came out I was well on my way to recovery.

The weather here (Thailand) is agreeing with me, nice to be back in the warm weather once again, all be it for a couple of weeks.

When I look back and think being at home with that catheter still in it was hard to imagine ever getting through this surgery, let alone believe I would be where I am today.

For the past 2 days I have been living 'life' like a normal person and I am feeling great, well except the sciatica which has flared since the operation. Shopping, walking, eating out just like we did before, but no pain in my knees.

Don't get me wrong, I still have some pain, but it is the good sort of pain I know that time will fix. I am absolutely amazed how far I have come in 2 months and I really have this site to thank for the wealth of information and experience others have chosen to share.

Thanks. :)
 
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3 Month update -

Well another month has passed without any issues. I am back motorbike riding which I love but had basically given up 5yrs ago because of the pain when riding. That has all but gone now :yahoo:

Last night I tried out my golfing skills (or lack there of) at a driving range with my daughter. Again all seems great.

I am still having 'aches' around both knees and a general soreness (especially my butt when we go riding !! ) of my leg muscles but that is to be expected.

Have not exercised as such, have not been back to OT for about a month and see no reason to. My day to day activities seem to be quite enough for now.

Off for x-rays and final visit with specialist next week.

Trust everyone is progressing well.
 
You are doing really well for only 3 months! :yay:
 

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