1 Year Anniversary RTKR

[SportHog]

Well folks, today is my one year anniversary for my RTKR. I have to say that it really feels great! I don't even think about it anymore. It just feels natural. I believe that exercise is really important in recovery and I have tried to be as active as possible. O, and I have knelt on it without any pain or other problems. For the new folks on the group, you will notice significant improvements at 4 and 8 months and right up to the one year mark. My LTKR is at 8 months now and I still have days when it is a bit stiff but it is progressing as well. On occasion, I take Ibuprophen for the left knee if I am planning on standing or walking a lot. My sincere thanks to Josephine and everyone else on this group for the many helpful comments during my journey. You are truly a wonderful group of people (friends). I can't help but check in periodically to see how everyone is progressing. I guess a nurse's job is never done Jo. Your dedication to this group is REALLY appreciated.
Cheers, Ross

 

[harleyrider]

Ross, i'ts very encouraging to hear that you have done so well, I read about so many that have not. I'm 6 days away for my RTKR and I have never been so fearful of anything in my life. I am especial concerned about getting back to work which includes driving and air travel, some international. I'm also concerned about being able to get back on the Harley, my wife and I avarage about 8,000 miles per year. One recent trip was north up to Canada much further west from your location we rode from Colorado through Montana and Glaceir Park through Bamf and up to Jasper and back. Some of the most beautful country I have ever seen it was in August and some mornings it was bairly 40 degrees.

Mike

 

[SportHog]

Hi Mike. I guess I was just the opposite. I looked forward to my surgery and didn't fear it a bit. I thought what an improvement in my life it would be to walk without pain. I also had great faith in my surgeon. I recall when I first met him he said "I will do a good job for you" and he did. Have faith Mike. You will be able to do the things you want to. We will all be here for you as well. Get it over in the winter time and you will be riding again in April. Keep up the exercises before surgery so your muscles are in good condition. It is very important pre and post surgery.
Cheers, Ross

 

[harleyrider]

yay ross! I am Sandy, Mikes wife. I have been beating my head against the wall trying to get him to think positive. I appreciate your comments. Keep up the good comments. Sandy

 

[JackieS]

yay ross! I am Sandy, Mikes wife. I have been beating my head against the wall trying to get him to think positive. I appreciate your comments. Keep up the good comments. Sandy

Heehee, tell Mike I'm only seven months out and thrilled with my knee. It's the best thing I ever did!

--Jackie
LTKR 5/14/08

 

[SportHog]

Hi Sandy/Mike.
Well, you have to look on the other side of the fence! I was concerned that I couldn't race my granddaughters up the hill at the cottage or get in/out of the old aluminum fishing boat or walk down a slight incline. Surgery to me was the rest of my life. I am 67 but consider myself to be young and active. I have things I want to do before I am done. I bet Mike is the same! The main thing to keep in mind is that you have to do the PT after surgery and mine was not overly painful. Our hospital gave us a booklet with what to expect from admission to the hospital to release and post surgery followup. It included some basic exercises which were to be done several times each day. I can forward these pages to you if you wish. The whole process was very well documented. I was driving the car at 6 weeks (it wasn't comfortable though) and rode the bike late March or early April prior to my LTKR on April 14/08.
Keep us posted on your progress.
Cheers, Ross

 

[SportHog]

Jackie:
Sounds like you are doing very well with your LTKR.
It's great to hear your success story as well.
Cheers, Ross

 

[Josephine]

Thanks for the update, Ross - and the plaudits! It's good to get those long term reports.

 

[JackieS]

Jackie:
Sounds like you are doing very well with your LTKR.
It's great to hear your success story as well.
Cheers, Ross

Thanks, Ross. It's not a walk in the park in the beginning. But now I can actually walk in the park ... and more! It's scary when folks about to have the surgery go online and find so many tales of troubles. But people tend to post more when they need support or are having problems. The vast majority of knee replacements are indeed successful. You're proof. I'm proof.

--Jackie
LTKR 5/14/08

 

[Rowdy66]

JackieS: I agree, the people who tend to post more seem to often be the people who are more in need of support and/or are having problems. I did really well after the surgery, great ROM and extention, very little pain and I found myself not posting because I didn't want to seem to be bragging about doing better more quickly than some of the others. I do not think I am in the minority either, I think the majority of TKR's do really well and probably feel the same way. And it is true, when we are having problems or not doing so well it is only natural to want to have support and reassurance, that is what makes this forum so great. The first week or two after surgery are difficult and can be painful but that goes by so quickly you soon forget. The thrill of returning to your life after so many months of being unable to do much is just overwhelming. I don't think I dared dream prior to surgery that it could possibly be as wonderful as it ended up being. There are a lot of younger people on the forum who have had such difficulty and here I was 67 and healing so rapidly and returning to my life so quickly at times I literally felt guilty. Especially after everyone was so wonderful to me after my son was killed right before my surgery was scheduled and then I got sick and it had to be postponed. The last thing I wanted to be percieved as was ungrateful and to come on to the forum and tell everyone how wonderfully I was doing seemed like bragging. I suspect there are a lot of folks who might feel the same way.

Bikers: You guys really have active lives and it would be terrible to sit it out. The scary part of this surgery is what they put you to sleep for. When you wake up you are going to hurt but the pain is not going to be as bad as what you are in now. Just think about how much better your life is going to be afterwards and the fear will go away. Plus, you have all of us here praying for you and pulling for you and sending good thoughts your way. The most important thing you have to do is make sure you have a good surgeon. To me that is what makes the biggest difference, having a really great surgeon who knows his stuff and is going to do a great job for you. I knew from the minute I met my OS that he was going to do his best and he did even better than I could have imagined. Good luck and know we have all been there and will be there for you too as you go through this.
Rowdy

 

[SportHog]

Hey Rowdy, well said!!!!
I, too, had a pretty good recovery and my OS was wonderful.
Thanks for your comments.

Cheers, Ross

 

[Linda2]

The one thing that really sets this forum apart from most is the number of optimists who have had good outcomes. I am certainly one of them. Also, many us stick around to be helpful--and having people who keep saying that "yeah, it's rough, but hang in there because it will get better" makes a big difference. I think our beloved leader, Jo, sets the tone with her cheerful optimism and caring attitude and we follow her lead. Thanks to Jo for making this the best joint replacement forum I've run across.

 

[SportHog]

O, Linda2, you hit the nail squarely on the head. Thanks for the input.
Cheers, Ross

 

[Josephine]

Linda, you are a sweetheart! Thank you!

 

[Simon]

I had a BTKR on June 3 (I am 57) and have had knee problems since I was in high school. THere were some ups and downs but overall things went well and the outcome is better than I or the OS expected. If you have confidence in your OS, have a great PT and good back up from your PCP you should do fine. I wish I had done this early as I did give up alot and its only as the knees get back to normally do I realize how much I wasn't doing. I mean yesterday I was able to make 10 dozen cookies to donate for a cookie walk and had no pain. My only concern was getting from the car to the building due to lots of ice ( I live in northern vermont). I came home and was even able to shovel the frozen wet snow (think more like concrete).

As everyone else has said, keep doing your exercises, especially the bike. I had problems getting ROM due to previous surgeries and the horrible shape they were in but it came around. I have a great PT and he is still seeing me once a week till the end of the year to make sure we maintain that ROM.

This forum is great as people are very knowledge and willing to share all those little tips that will get you through what ever comes up and Josephine is fantastic.

Good luck

Simon