10 weeks post-op at this time. I have noticed advancement in healing, but have concerns and worries that are probably presenting themselves due to my lack of knowing what I should be accepting and dealing with as normal. Less pain, but not pain-free by any stretch. Less swelling, but depends on the day. A bit less stiffness, but it is still a daily experience. I do elevate during the night and ice once or twice a day. Lower leg edema is still present, but not as bad...wear compression socks.
First off, the good! Recently, during most nights I fall to sleep in my bed pretty quickly with pretty high elevation (use a nice wedge with my adjustable bed). I usually remain sleeping for a couple of hours...then nature calls. This can happen two or three times. I usually get right back to sleep with Alexa's help (music). Eventually, I might get out of bed, head to the living room, more music (or Game of Thrones), and then sleep again in my recliner. I'll take it! Average between four to six hours a night of one-again, off-again sleep time. The important thing - sleep is coming a bit easier, and, while I can wake up a few times during the night, it's a toss up between my knee or my prostate...if I am seeking a reason!
I continue with my therapy routine which includes my 9 daily exercises and stretches. I usually do this on my bed. I can get through them with little to no pain. Flex and motion appear to be maintaining an acceptable rating.
Now, the second part...the not certain about things. Over the past two weeks, I have noticed that after sitting for a period of time (one hour, maybe a bit more), when I get up from my recliner the pain in both of my knees is sharp. Once I get vertical with the floor, I stand there for a few seconds as the initial knee pain wanes. Then, my first few steps are a bit shaky and include a bit of knee pain (from stiffness?)...in both knees. My right knee is bone-on-bone. After a few steps, my surgical knee feels much better, but my non-surgical knee just kills me. It is a very good reminder why I opted to have my first tkr surgery! With a bad right knee walking is pretty much out of the question. I have a knee shot coming on April 10th!...can't wait!
I wonder, at times, if my right knee is causing my left knee and leg to react with more stiffness and pain than one might expect at the 10 weeks post opt mark. I went to my local walking track a couple of weeks ago and could only manage one time around - the pain was pretty bad in both knees. That was it for walking!
I continue to right my semi-recumbent bike when weather permits. No really bad, adverse reactions to an 8-10 mile ride (ebike, peddle assist). Got to believe that it is good for my knees' motion. Have to be careful since the last time I rode I was running out of battery with three miles to go ... so I really stepped up the peddling and my knees felt an increase in pain for a few days...I think they were telling me, "Don't do that again any time soon!"
My concern is that my surgical knee still can be swollen and stiff (which may be normal at this point in my recover). I have started to feel small little moments of pain as I do exercises like short arc quad during which time the knee bends upward and downward. When sitting in my recliner, I move my surgical left up and down in front me which causes small twinges of pain in my new knee. I can also feel a bit of pain if I move my surgical leg in what some might call "the wrong way (unintentionally, while sitting in my recliner). I have also notice feeling my "new parts" move against one another from time to time. There can be a twinge of pain when this happens.
Again - forgive me for going on, but I just am a bit ignorant when it comes to knowing if what I am experiencing is just normal pain and stiffness from the healing process, or if there might be something that I am experiencing that may not be part of the normal healing process. Any suggestions, information, or insights is, as always, much appreciated.
Roger