TKR My TKR Was Worth It!

It can take quite a few weeks to do stairs normally--especially down. It's really trial and error to see what is too much.
With my first knee, the PT pushing me to do things I wasn't ready for (such as squats) gave me a nasty case of quad tendonitis. That takes a while to get rid of. The PT with my second knee encouraged me to try my limits, but also didn't push me to do things I wasn't ready for. No tendonitis and less pain in recovery, with a result as good or better than the first knee.
 
I have compromised on the step. I put it near the dining table and each time I walk by I do 5 steps up and down or 5 sideways. No pain, going well. Little and often.
Feeling sad today. Husband went off to pick up grandkids from school. I sent along a cake. Got a phone call from tearful granddaughter saying it wasn’t the same without me and she missed me. Can’t wait for the day when I can go to my daughters place again. But until she gets a chair I can actually sit on, I have to stay here. She’s ordered them but shipments have been delayed.
Oh well, it’s just me and the dog for the evening…
 
It sounds like you're doing fine and listening to your knee. That's what it's all about.
 
Got a phone call from tearful granddaughter saying it wasn’t the same without me and she missed me. Can’t wait for the day when I can go to my daughters place again.
I’m sorry you’re left at home. :console2:

How sweet that your granddaughter called you to say she misses you. :roseshwr:

My friend who recently had a TKR feels the same way you do. We (5 of us) usually get together several times a week to play cards, and she’s not ready to sit at a table for the several hours that we play, and she misses us and we miss her!
 
@Jockette , maybe your friend could just sit in for the first game? Them you could put her on the sofa with an ice pack so she could still enjoy the company. However, I don’t play cards and have no idea if this would be a good compromise.
I am back to my writing but can only sit for about 45 minutes at a time. I hate the laptop and prefer to sit at the main computer.
Although I sleep well I am still doing battle with the pillow which is supposed to stay between my legs. It doesn’t and this morning I once again woke with a very sore unoperated leg which was bent at a funny angle. It’s weird but my unoperated knee has started to be troublesome now. Is it jealous of my new knee on the other side perhaps?
 
maybe your friend could just sit in for the first game? Them you could put her on the sofa with an ice pack so she could still enjoy the company.
This is exactly what we are planning when she’s ready.

Your non operated knee may be complaining because it is the main leg now, until your new knee heals more. My unoperated leg actually got better in my recovery, it’s like it saw what happened to the other, and didn’t want it to happen to it, so it became a very well behaved knee! Any time I do feel a pain in that knee, I tell it, look what happened to the other knee, you don’t want that, and it seems to agree! :heehee:
 
My Gran hopped on a plane to Australia, to escape the terrible Maori Wars in New Zealand. She got off the plane and met my Pop, who asked her could she make good cake. Gran said yes and so they married and lived happily ever after.
Out of the mouth of babes! So cute. :heehee:
I’m sorry you’re struggling with foot pain currently. I hope you find relief soon.
 
Just wondering : if you used a toilet seat raiser, how long after tkr could you get rid of it and lower yourself comfortably onto a normal height loo? All thoughts welcome.
 
Just wondering : if you used a toilet seat raiser, how long after tkr could you get rid of it and lower yourself comfortably onto a normal height loo?
I was probably 2 months or so out. But, each one is different. When you are ready to get rid of it, then, it's your time to do just that! There is no one timeline for that. Your knee will be your guide.
 
I had used one for several years before my surgery and I’ve never given it up, on my standard low toilet. I‘ve never needed one on the higher chair height toilets. I’m tall, though, and I just like the extra height of it.
 
I think it also depends not only on the state of your surgical leg, but on how strong your non-surgical leg is. I'm a life long weightlifter and have no problem with even very low seats, because I can get up using just the one good leg. I'm also not very tall :-(.

This speaks for the usefulness of pre-op and post-op training of your good leg, as well as the rest of your body. Even if you are at a point in your recovery where you can't do strengthening exercises with your surgical leg, you can do them with your good leg.

Several studies have shown that exercising your good leg helps prevent atrophy of the surgical leg, and is commonly recommended for athletes recovering from an injury to one limb. It works best when the surgical leg is your dominant leg (right for most people).

I am still babying my surgical leg but am performing step-ups with my good leg, for these reasons. Plus, I find that if I don't the inside of my good knee gets sore after a few weeks of no exercises.
 
You'll know when you are ready to try without it, @kiwicurls

I needed mine for about 6 weeks. Once I could bend my surgical knee to stand (rather than having it sticking straight out tot he side), we did a "test" without it.

I must say that removing it was cause for celebration!:happydance:
 
On my first replacement I used it for 3 months and on the second just two months as we were going away and didn't want to take it with me, there are days still now that I wish I still had it as my seats are very low, but it's good exercise for me getting off them :heehee:
You will know yourself when the time is right x
 
@Sara61, My knee has been very sore since the xray yesterday. They did have me in some weird positions but nothing that hurt at the time. I removed the loo seat riser this morning and it sure is challenging now. Might have to put it back but I need the quad exercise, as you say.
Also need to get used to a normal loo height again if we are out.
Has anyone else been more sore after their 5 week knee xray?
 
The technician probably moved your knee in awkward ways hence upsetting several internal ligaments, these knees are so sensitive to any unusual movements , yesterday I turned in a awkward way momentarily forgetting about my knee. - yikes :flabber: today it's really sore and I'm just under 6 months post surgery.
 
Thanks @Sara61 that’s reassuring. Hope your knee is better soon.
Husband put back the loo seat riser as I am really having trouble getting off without it. I really thought I was ready but I mustn’t be as good as I thought I was. So annoying.
 
Just wondering : if you used a toilet seat raiser, how long after tkr could you get rid of it and lower yourself comfortably onto a normal height loo? All thoughts welcome.
Hi - I used a toilet seat raiser for the first five weeks, then found i didn't need it.
 
Hello. I had staples to close the skin but now the internal suture material is poking out in several sharp spikes; only tiny but they catch on everything. I see the specialist tomorrow so hope he can reassure me it’s ok. Anyone else have this?
 
My surgeon used glue on the exterior incision and I don't know what was used for interior sutures, but that doesn't sound right at all. I'm so glad you'll see a specialist tomorrow - good luck!
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,180
Messages
1,597,061
BoneSmarties
39,364
Latest member
All2Gd88
Recent bookmarks
0

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom