6 month post op report

[carolinagirl]

Hi all,
Just thought I would report in. I will be 6 months post RTKR tomorrow! Things are going REALLY well. Most days I don't even think about my knee. In fact,
my knee FINALLY loosened up December 4th! When I woke up and moved my leg, I knew right away that something was different! I actually marked that day on my calendar! Now only very minor stiffness when I have been sitting for awhile (especially at work). WOW, to be able to just get up and get moving is a real blessing! No problems with stairs or chairs! It feels so good to have my life back! I was thinking back to this time last year, and how much pain I was in. Being stubborn and thinking that it would get better by itself. HAH! I have NEVER regretted this surgery and all that hard work was WORTH IT!
My left knee has been doing better. Hopefully I will be able to wait until next fall to have it replaced. I have my 6 month checkup coming up and I can't
wait to see what the doc thinks. Hope all had a wonderful holiday. I wish all of you a happy new year! To all of you who are at the start of their journey hang in there and remember to be patient. It takes time and hard work.
But the payday is AWESOME!!!!!!!!
Thanks to you Jo and all the others who were there to help me through this.
Take care!
Tammy

 

[gloucesterman]

CONGRATS to you!! I am looking forward to a day like you had for some time now and I am really happy that you are feeling confident & positive about your knee and the decision to undertake this procedure..
Cheers!
Gloucesterman....

 

[Nursepair]

Hi Tammy, glad to hear your great report. What a great morning that must have been!! I am still waiting for it (Almost one year on!!) Oh well, at least I have no pain now thank goodness. I can do so much more now than I could before I had it done.

Have a great New Year!! Sue

 

[Josephine]

Most excellent report, Tammy, thank you.

 

[kipper]

Brilliant! Inspiring! Gives us the hope we need!
Thanks Tammy

kipper

 

[RickB]

Tammy,

Happy 6 month anniversary, on your RTKR. It is great news on how well you are doing. I would like to take this time to tell you that I made in to my 4th month of my BTKR. You were one of the main reasons that I had this surgery and got through it. Thank you for all your support along with the others. We have such a wonderful group of people on this forum. May the NEW YEAR bring you happiness and good health, and thank you a million. I am glad that I got both mine over with at the same time. I’ll be here for you when the time comes for your left one. Let’s just hope it is a long time coming.

God Bless,
Rick

 

[dovcar2000]

Hi...can I ask you a question.......
I am just about 8 weeks out of TLKR and I still have a lot of stiffness and pain which I control with med's. I am doing my exercises faithfully but I wonder are you still doing them at 6 mths?
I have not been able to find out how long we keep doing them and when the stiffness seems to go away.
Thank you for writing this note to us all...it helps give us a guide line. Carol

 

[Jamie]

Tammy, what great news! And how thoughtful of you to take time to write about it to provide hope and something for those behind us to look forward to. It's easy for life (once you get relatively pain free) to get in the way and not find time to post. I remember all you went through...we were sort of going through it together as my surgery was 10 months ago. I've been a little slower getting to that point where I don't think about my knee, but I know it will continue to get better. Periodically I have soft tissue swelling, so that sometimes causes minor problems with pain. Check in now and then when you can. It's so nice to hear you are doing so well!!! ....Jamie

 

[Doug]

Hi...can I ask you a question.......
I am just about 8 weeks out of TLKR and I still have a lot of stiffness and pain which I control with med's. I am doing my exercises faithfully but I wonder are you still doing them at 6 mths?
I have not been able to find out how long we keep doing them and when the stiffness seems to go away.
Thank you for writing this note to us all...it helps give us a guide line. Carol

I'm about two weeks away from my TKR one year anniversary. The stiffness is largely gone except for in the morning. It usually takes me one trip down the stairs and I'm loose. Also, if I drive for over one hour, I may be a little stiff for 5-10 steps but then I'm fine. I am still sensitive to low pressure fronts but then, my whole body hurts.---the fruits of a lifetime of contact sports.
As for working out, I've done so all of my adult life and I still do. From the knee perspective, the last couple of years before TKR, I lost a lot of leg strength. It doesn't come back quickly. So I would recommend that you plan on working out at least one year post op to benefit fully from the surgery. But remember, you aren't training for the Olympics so take it easy and have fun with it.

 

[Simon]

Dovacar2000

I am starting month 8 BTKR. I was in PT till last week with the last month just once a week to make sure I didn't loose ground. My PT changed my exercise routine a bit and I plan to me doing them forever especially the exercise bike. I have had problems for more than 30 years so I have alot of ground to catch up on. Also, I find that if I don't exercise each day, they get stiff.

I think if you do something everyday, walk, exercise bike, garden you will probably be ok.

Simon

 

[carolinagirl]

Dovcar2000,
Although I don't exercise my knee everyday, I still what I call "pushbend"
my knee every single day! My OS did warn me at my 3 month checkup to
keep bending it and pushing it as far as I can, or I will lose ROM.
I sit at a computer all day, so I try to get up every hour or so and walk around the offices. Sometimes, I may have some minor stiffness, others
I just "get up and go". Like Doug, the weather does bug me sometimes.
Today has been foggy and rainy all day. My leg has bothered me some but not a whole lot. Everyday I am still amazed at how quickly I am able to walk!
I can actually keep up when I am walking with someone.
Rick B, THANK YOU SO MUCH for those kind words! I am so glad to hear you are doing well! Again, I can't stress PATIENCE enough! My OS said that
it would take me at least one year to feel like myself again. I can tell when I have walked alot, no problems with swelling or pain, just a "achy, think I did a little too much" feeling.