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Bilateral TKR 4 Months Post BTKR

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52 days post BTKR. 5 days ago at PT, my extension was 0 and flexion was 130 for both knees.

When I wake up in the morning, there is still that very tight band feeling across the knee and above the knee. The incision sites are completely dry and the incisions are darkish purple lines. I have a little more energy but not much. I have been grocery shopping and cooking simple meals and driving myself to PT etc. I also walk my dogs a couple of times a day around the block. I am not using any assistive device when walking. The stairs are becoming a little easier each day but going down is still more difficult due to the tightness in my quads.

I am taking 3 Tramadols (50 mg each) and approximately 3000 mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) per day. Occasionally at bedtime, I may take 1 Hydrocodone if the knees are particularly painful. Most nights, I take 2 Tylenol PMs at bedtime and that suffices. I have been able to sleep for 8 or more hours for the past two weeks. I am extremely happy about this. I am still off work so I am just taking it easy with this recovery.

So that's my status as of today. I wish everyone pain free days and good sleep at nights. Hugs to you ALL!
 
You are doing remarkably well for 52 days post op! Just remember not to overdo and keep up with your meds….yes, you still need them! I must say I'm jealous of your 8 hours of sleep! Unfortunately, I have been a pretty serious insomniac for over 20 years…way before the knees being replaced. Someday…...
 
Wellness in Virginia said:
When I wake up in the morning, there is still that very tight band feeling across the knee and above the knee.
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Yes, and it will remain there fopr amny more weeks yet. You should be taking your Tramadol 4 times a day with 1,000mg Tylenol for that because it is ..... PAIN!
Wellness in Virginia said:
The stairs are becoming a little easier each day but going down is still more difficult due to the tightness in my quads.
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Well don't rush it. It took me about 12 weeks to go upstairs normals and another two months to come down normally. That's ... well .... normal!
 
Lovestoread said:
You are doing remarkably well for 52 days post op! Just remember not to overdo and keep up with your meds….yes, you still need them! I must say I'm jealous of your 8 hours of sleep! Unfortunately, I have been a pretty serious insomniac for over 20 years…way before the knees being replaced. Someday…...
Click to expand...

I hope you will get some good sleep soon. I feel for you. Maybe you can nap during the day? Try to get some naps in when you can. Take care!
 
Josephine said:
Yes, and it will remain there fopr amny more weeks yet. You should be taking your Tramadol 4 times a day with 1,000mg Tylenol for that because it is ..... PAIN!
Well don't rush it. It took me about 12 weeks to go upstairs normals and another two months to come down normally. That's ... well .... normal!
Click to expand...

@Josephine Thank you, Josephine. There is still a raw pain first thing in the morning when I try to do heel slides in bed. So I decided not to do heel slides first thing in the morning because it brings on that raw pain. I go sit at the edge of the bed and do some gentle rocking of the feet back and forth instead. I will take the Tramadol and Tylenol diligently to manage the pain. Actually I am taking more than 1000 mg Tylenol each day. Closer to 3000 mg and 3 Tramadols. I am not taking anything else containing Acetaminophen so I hope that it ok. Thank you for your guidance.

It is still normal to feel some raw pain in the quads right above the knees right?
 
Wellness in Virginia said:
I hope you will get some good sleep soon. I feel for you. Maybe you can nap during the day? Try to get some naps in when you can. Take care!
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I'd love to be able to nap, but work gets in the way!:heehee: Don't think they'd like it…..It's something I've had to deal with for so many years, it's normal for me. But it sure would be nice to get more than 4 hours of broken up sleep per night!
 
Wellness in Virginia said:
@Josephine Thank you, Josephine. There is still a raw pain first thing in the morning when I try to do heel slides in bed. So I decided not to do heel slides first thing in the morning because it brings on that raw pain. I go sit at the edge of the bed and do some gentle rocking of the feet back and forth instead.
Click to expand...
I have better luck with that in the morning too.
 
Wellness in Virginia said:
Actually I am taking more than 1000 mg Tylenol each day. Closer to 3000 mg and 3 Tramadols.
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You've got that all wrong, my dear. The maximum quantity of Tylenol per 24hrs is 4,000mgs. Of Tramadol it's 500mgs. Usually doctors prescribe Tramadol 50-100mg every 4-6hrs. Often people then tend to take 50mg every 6hrs which is useless at this early stage. What's the point of taking so little and being exposed to all the hazards and getting none of the benefits?

At 8 weeks, this was my schedule at that stage. I suggest you try it

[Bonesmart.org] 4 Months Post BTKR
 
It's been two months and 5 days since my BTKR. I feel like I can do anything. I cook, clean, grocery shop, walk my dogs, drive, ride a bike, and do some gentle yoga. Going downstairs still hurts in the quads but not as much as it used to. I am feeling more optimistic every day about my recovery. I can sleep better too. 6 to 8 hours each night. I am so grateful for this!

My extension in both legs is 0 and flexion is 133. The progress is very gradual but I am happy that I am feeling more comfortable and stronger each day.

Thank you everyone for your support.
 
:yay:
 
What a great update! You have done very well.
 
@Phil75070 , @kneeper, @Jozilla Thank you so much. I am hanging in there. Some days I feel so well. Other days, a sudden dull ache and stiffness. Just trying to get stronger overall so that even the "bad" days will be tolerable. Here's to all of us feeling no pain and sleeping well!
 
@Roy Gardiner --- Please help change my Thread's name to 4 Months post BTKR I am not sure if you are a Moderator as well as a Forum Advisor? Please help me if you can. I can't change the title of my thread on my end for some reason. Thank you in advance. Have a great day!
 
Hello Fellow Bonesmarties!

It's been 2 days shy of 4 months post my BTKR. I am doing extremely well. Only taking 4 Tylenols and 1 Tramadol in each 24-hour period. The Tramadol is taken right before bedtime along with 2 Tylenol PMs to help me sleep. Other than that, no other pain meds.

My extension is 0 in both legs and flexion is 140 in both. I am quite happy. If I have a very active day, I would feel sore and tired in the evening, at which time, I would elevate and ice my knees--They feel fine after that.

I am returning to teaching yoga in 3 weeks. I've been doing yoga at home each day for the last 6 weeks to make sure I feel comfortable with the poses that I choose to teach etc. So far so good. We took a beach vacation and I rented a bicycle. My daughter and I rode our bicycles for miles and miles up and down the boardwalk multiple times. At first the knees felt a little tight but after five minutes or so, the knees and the whole legs felt good.

I can go up and downstairs with ease. First thing in the morning when I first wake up, I do feel some tightness over both kneecaps so I'd do gentle heel slides while lying in bed. After a few heel slides, all is fine and I get up and go about my day.

I hope the information above may be useful to someone some day. I remember reading everyone's thread with careful attention when I was getting ready for my BTKR as well as during my recovery.

I wish everyone pain free days and wonderful sleep each night! I'll check in again when I have more news to report or around Christmas to see how everyone is doing with the holidays!

I love YOU ALL!!!!


Hugs!!!!

Wellness in Virginia
BTKR May 5, 2014
 
@bottomshollow ---- Please change my Thread's name to 4 Months Post BTKR

Thank you so much. I don't have the Thread Tools to be able to do it myself. Have a great day!
 
Congratulations on your great recovery so far. It's always wonderful to hear that someone has had a relatively easy time of it after surgery.
 
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