3 days post op

[verno]

Hello, want to thank everyone for there support. This forum has helped me educated myself on TKR. I finally did it on Tuesday August 5th. I get to leave the hospital tomorrow August 9th. I cant wait. Im up and about with crutches have no Ives since yesterday morning. Managing pain with roxicodone every three hours. I got to 0-102 today range of motion. Lookin forward to getting on a stationary bike tomorrow. Thanks to all for helping me with the decision and the knowlege of what to expect.

 

[AlaskanTKR]

WOW!!! 0-102 Fantsatic! I read back to some of your previous posts - sounds like you are very happy with your decision. I am still dreaming of 102, but with pt I am hoping to get there(swelling issues after surgery). After all this I am going to take it easy on the knee this winter - spend the winter strengthening it beyond belief - and then next winter return toa ll the winter sports we love up here! Congrats on your awesome recovery!
Marianne (42 years old with a 3 1/2 week old new right knee)

 

[verno]

What was your range before the operation?

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Right b4 it was between 125-135. I left the hospital at 60 on the cpm, 77 on Wednesday (just past 3 weeks out). OS wants me to be 110 by my next visit - 8/29. The hospital pt was weird - she was hell bent on me walking heel toe as opposed to flexion. I really did not enjoy her at all. She needed a better bedside manner - coming in at 7:30AM and demanding we take a walk - it was like can I hit the bathroom on the way????? AFter the 4:30 vampires I tried to catch some sleep - ughhhh. Anyway - I love the pt group I am with. They push and push and it hurts like he** but I know this is what I have to do. I try to make sure pain meds are on board for maximum benefit at pt time. Doing the home exercisies and CPM religously. Biggest problem is the swelling - I was really swollen through staple removal and it got better, but with each PT workout I swell right back up and the knee is super hot. So I spend the next day using th eice, elevation and cpm with the home exercisies spread out to work on getting the swelling down just in time for it to return during PT. Like a vicious circle. OH well.

Anyway - you sound like you are doing excellent. I was on the itouch the afternoon I had surgery. The pain meds and femoral nerve block worked really good until midnight the first night and then OWIE. But the 2nd night we got it undercontrol with the oxys every 2 hours and then spaced them to 3 and then 4 4 I went home. Are you heading straight home tomorrow or are you going to a rehab place. I went home and it was really good for my head! Got up and went to pt the next day. Felt good to try to be "normal".

Hang in there - If you get bored type - Its only 4:30 up here in AK and I am cpming till 7 - trying to get it up to 85 tonight so the computer is on till then!

Marianne

 

[Josephine]

Well done, Verno! And posting from your hospital bed, to boot! How I envy you guys that. In this country, we're not even allowed to have a laptop in the ward much less connect it to the internet! And then the nurses come round with the drugs and they're all using bluetooth laptops on cute little trolleys. SO annoying!

 

[gloucesterman]

Hey Verno, Sounds like I want to do as well as you are! Congrats on the ROM it gives me something to shoot for. Hope the pain management is going well and I'm sure it will be good to get home. Sort of like a vacation you look forward to it so much and then cannot wait to get back home! I am a homeboy BIGTIME love to be in my own little world.
Good for you!
Gloucesterman

 

[NLVCa]

Hi Verno, Your progress sounds great! Hope mine goes half as well as yours. You've set the bar pretty high. I'm scheduled for LTKR Aug 11 at 1:00 PM.

In our hospitals in Ontario Canada, no cell phones on the wards, no computers and certainly no internet. Nothing with an electrical plug, so wifey will have to take the MP3 player home to charge it.

Vern

 

[schoust]

Hey Verno Congrads on the quick start! I only pray that I have similar results!
Ralph

 

[verno]

Had the operation 8/5 its now sunday 8/10 ive been at home since friday. I took all the information i got off this site and have created a great post op facility in my living room. I purchased a game ready recovery system from e-bay for $1000.00. Its a ice compression machine that is computerized to regulate tempatures time and pressure on your leg. Its a fantastic machine and I would recomend it to everyone. (gameready.com). I have a chair the exact hieght as my shin to my thigh for PT exercises, two couches for Rom machine,sleeping, gameready, and more pt. I have a octane elliptical, staionary bike, crutches, a must have extension graber to reach out of reach items, towel rolls of different sizes multiple pillows, blankets, drug tray with schedules, Ice machine($179 at target) 5 day cooler for ice storage and a must have 50 inch plasma with direct tv that is hooked up to a pc for internet, and my laptop. I spent at least 4 months preparing for the best recovery I could have. I plan on going to work tomorrow morning after PT and blood test. I will do both of these off site. If any body has any other recomendations that might be handy would love the imput.

 

[Josephine]

Jeepers! You sound like you have a state of the art room there, Vern. Most impressive!

 

[verno]

I want the most successful recovery I can have, and will not give my self any reason or excuses to fail. I want no regrets later on.

 

[schoust]

Hey Vern I am interested in this system! If I see how it was built I can take it from there! If you don't mind I would love to see the specs on it....

Thanks Ralph

 

[Linda2]

My goodness--you sound like Superman!

 

[verno]

ralph, are you talking the game ready system? https://www.gameready.com/

 

[carolinagirl]

I get the game ready treatment at the end of my pt sessions.
I LOVE IT!!! My leg is COLD when I come off of it, but wow! I consider it my
reward for all the hard work I put into each session, not to mention the "torture" I get put thru with all the bending etc.

 

[verno]

I use it about 8 hours a day. Its computerized so you can set temp, time, and compression. I've seen where you can rent them and have insurance pay. I was unable to find any for rent in my area.

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Holy Cow - I think you have it all covered!
Marianne

 

[schoust]

Wow Vern that is prety cool there! I f I had one to check out I might be able to come up some sort of clone. This is the type of thing that I like to do. I will have to look around to see if they are available in my area?