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Bilateral TKR Adventures of the Goo-Knee Twins

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Love it! My husband is the cook in the family so I didn't have to do much of that. But sometimes standing by the sink to wash a few dishes was very tiring. I don't tire so easily now, but I am four weeks ahead of you.
 
Thanks for posting! I'm at 7 days post-op. Trying to look forward to these days. Feel like my skin is crawling now. Ugghhh


Bilateral tkr May 19, 2014
 
Dear @Wednesday - Your husband cooks! Lucky you!

Hey, @msmechanic58 - It does get better. The difference between how I feel today at Day 27 and the week after surgery is like night and day. I totally embrace the BoneSmart advice to be gentle with myself and the Twins. This is easier for me since I am a couch potato at heart and enjoy the many hours spent watching TV, reading, being online, etc. One of my hospital discharge instructions advised not to stay in bed all day and to try to move about once an hour. I make small frequent (not hourly) trips throughout the day to the living room and do some bends and stretches. That actually helps me from getting too stiff. I enjoy and seem to be doing well in PT (for the moment), so the advice to be kind to oneself, to rest a lot early on, and to be patient really works for me. I can see small improvements every day. I'm sure that you will as well. Take good care of yourself!
 
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It's May 26 and Day 28. With the encouragement of other Smarties and the recommendation of my OS to do this in the shower, I removed the last of my Steri-strips today. I've had them on since May 9. While the Twins aren't the most attractive things I've ever seen -- sorry, Kids -- to my layperson's eyes, the incisions look good. The lines of scabs from the staples on either side of the incisions make them look like railroad tracks. Choo choo! My second post-op meeting with my OS is scheduled for June 10. I'll check with him about the puckers/dimples at the top of each incision when I straighten my legs. The skin there stretches and flattens over the knee cap when I bend my knees, and there's no pucker. I normally wear shorts to PT, but I don't want to frighten other non-TKR patients at the clinic when I go there tomorrow. I do want to have the PT take a look at the incisions and hopefully provide me with feedback that all looks well. How much do the rest of you display/hide your badges of honor?

I weigh myself every Monday when hubby brings out the scale from our second bathroom. This morning I was 9 pounds down from my pre-op weight! This was especially nice since I had somehow gained 10 pounds from my pre-op weight when I returned home from the hospital. Since I couldn't keep food or drink down initially after surgery and then had a reduced appetite for the rest of my 4-day stay, I can only blame this initial 10 pound gain on swelling and extra fluid in my legs as well as internal plumbing irregularities. Anyway, my appetite is back now that I'm off the oxycodone and allergy meds, so I'll have to be mindful of portions as well as purines, since I had what seems to have been a gout flare a couple of days before surgery. Not good. I'll try to see my PCP for gout/pseudo-gout testing in the future.

Today's a good day for me. Hope that all of yours are equally cheery!
 
I just love good days. :yahoo: So glad everything is going well.
 
I was able to trim my toe nails for the first time today. Cool, cool, cool!
 
I never hid my badges of honor going to PT. Typically there were other tkr people there.
Sounds like you're doing great. As you've probably learned, the tylenol does help that stiff achy feeling. Sounds like you're doing great only needing to take it a couple of times per day.
 
May 27 - Day 29: As I enter my 5th week post-op, I woke up around 2:30 am this morning with unusual-for-me pain in both knees, especially the right (2 of 10), a sore left wrist, and a sore right shoulder. Even my right butt was itchy like it was when I reacted to the oxycodone. I had taken acetaminophen at 1:00 am. I couldn't find a comfortable sleeping position and tossed and turned until about 4:30 am. When I woke again this morning, my knees were still sore and the right was noticeably warmer to the touch. Hubby asked if I needed gel packs and I said yes. I used the bathroom, walked to the living room, got back in bed, and applied the packs. My knees feel much better now, but I wonder what gives with all these body parts vying for attention. Hubby says it's because I'm going in for PT today. The wrist and shoulder problems had previously made their appearance pre-op, but they had not been bothering me recently. I'm not sure if the knee pain is a delayed reaction to yesterday's Steri-strip removal.
 
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My OS emailed responses to my questions this morning. He said that my incision puckers/dimples would go away in time, but I could try massage with cocoa butter or Vitamin E cream. He advised me to keep the incision scars away from the sun for at least 3 months to minimize darkening. He said that I could use sun screen, "but it's not the best." He also said that I could switch from 325 aspirin to 81 mg.

After my poor beginning early this morning, my knees felt better after a short walk to the living room and application of gel packs. At 1:15 pm, we left for PT, where my ROM was 0 - 112 for both knees. My PT spotted the one tiny area of my left incision which separates when I do stretches and becomes moist. She said that it’s better to let the Steri-strips fall off on their own to avoid this situation. I said that I am keeping an eye on it. She put me on the bike for the first time and instructed me to just go back and forth. After a few moves, I said that I thought it would be easier for me to do a rotation. She said I could try, and 6 minutes later I had my first bike ride! I had bought a small peddler pre-op, just to see what it was like with the old knees, and I was up to 30 minutes at 0 resistance before my allergy testing's no-shower-no-pool-no-sweating restrictions derailed all my exercise efforts. Maybe muscle memory kicked in.

I did some more weighted front leg lifts, straight leg stretches, and a new add-on lying-on-the-side leg lifts (ooof!). While elevating and icing, I asked when I might transition to a cane(s), and the PT said that my OS will advise me at my next post-op appointment on June 10. I am scheduled for PT through June 12, and I asked if that would be the end of PT. She said no -- we would continue strengthening, walking properly, stairs, etc. I asked her whether I could use my small peddler at home, and she said yes but only 5 minutes or so at a time. She said that it would not be as good a workout as the professional equipment at PT. She also said that I was one of less than 5 BTKR clients that she’s worked with – all of us my OS's patients. All of us have or are doing well. I told her that my OS thinks that the BTKRs are self-selected. Maybe our two bone-on-bone knees are so bad that there's nowhere to go but up.

I felt good after PT and attempted my first SHORT trip to Safeway, pushing and holding on to a shopping cart. All went well except for the shoppers who left their carts willy-nilly in the middle of the aisles. We were home by 3:30 pm where hubby brought me gel packs and put away the groceries.

@Wednesday - it's true. The little things DO bring us joy!
 
Greetings for the first time. You are doing very well. I hope your recovery keeps moving in a positive direction. I can tell you that each week now you will notice small changes and be able to do more. Sleep whenever you can. Rest is huge. It made my recovery so much better. Some days you have the energy to do more and other days not so much. Be kind to yourself and you will feel stronger and stronger. I am almost 4 months since btkr and I can't believe how I feel and what I can do now. Good luck!
 
Dear @newkneesNH -

Thanks for stopping by and for your excellent advice! These are certainly mantras that I live by -- for this recovery at least. As a long time couch potato, it was very easy for me to take it slow, rest, read, rest, watch TV, rest, rest, rest. I feel for those who are much more action-oriented and who get a little stir-crazy from the physical restrictions which seem to stretch on forever. All we can do is advise patience and give assurance that it does get better.

I was just looking at my journal for the first few days after surgery. In many places, my notes just trailed off into unintelligibility. I mean really -- my handwriting became more and more crabbed and unreadable and just trickled down the page. Often I was trying to document what medications I was being given, so I don't have a good record of their names, but I do seem to have recorded their effects. As time has passed and as I've discontinued opiod pain meds and sleep-inducing allergy meds, I feel much more alert and eager to return to a more normal life -- and definitely one without the arthritis pain. However, I am ever mindful of the Twins' status and needs and try not to do anything to jeopardize their recovery. They certainly provide me with feedback when I do something that they don't like.

I'm just entering my fifth week and can only wonder what four months out will be like. I know I turned a corner from weeks three to four, although actually every day brings its own small surprises and rewards. In the future, I hope to regain pre-arthritis mobility and strength, to get around without a walker or cane (i.e., EmptyHands), to not search automatically for seating and elevators wherever I go, to be able to walk up and down stairs, to be able to stand in one place for more than a few minutes, to be able to return to water exercises and lap swimming, and to plan and enjoy trips without worrying about arthritis pain and its limitations. It will take time, but I believe I will get there. I am lousy with patience.

Hope your journey has been a good one as well. Take good care of yourself!
 
You're really making great progress. :thumb: I am entering my ninth week , so I am four weeks ahead of you, and it can tell you that it only gets better, much better. :yahoo:
 
@EmptyHands, I'm glad to see another couch potato on here! All those active people must have it rough being forced to be still for once. Personally, I'm really looking forward to weeks of reading and watching movies! Sounds like an excellent vacation to me...

Best of luck on your recovery! I'm only 1 day into mine but so far, so good. I didn't get staples and they just changed my bandages - I was pleasantly surprised! The incisions were much shorter than I expected. Yay!
 
Dear @LauraLeigh -

Welcome to Couch Potato Nation and to the Other Side! Wow - one day out and you're coherent! I got past my original anxiety when I learned that my pool buddy had a BTKR one week ahead of me and she had a smooth surgery and easy recovery initially. While everyone's experience is different, I was thrilled to learn that at least one BTKR-er had a better than expected ride. I then switched from frightened camper to tourist mode, and the whole medical procedure experience engaged my interest.

After reading other Smarties' posts, I decided to give up my initial plans to bring 3 books to the hospital and opted for one skinny easy to read book of recollections by Wil Wheaton. I wasn't able to finish even that until I got back home. I had asked hubby to bring the daily paper whenever he came to visit, and that reminded me that there was a life outside the hospital walls. I never watched TV in the hospital -- I'm not even sure where it was. I decided not to bring my laptop, which was probably a good thing. I recall lots of sleeping/dozing punctuated by staff bed checks, blood draws, meds, doctors' visits, meals (ordering and eating), pee breaks, sponge baths, PT, ice refills, etc., etc. The staff were surprised at how cheerful I was. I had to be taken for a CT scan at one point, and I remember sitting up in the gurney, grinning at everyone we encountered, and enjoying the trip like a small pup. If I had dog ears, they would have been flapping in the breeze.

Your positive attitude will make everything a lot easier. Let your body be your guide and follow the BoneSmart mantras. Ice is your friend. Your job at this point is to rest and take good care of yourself. I hope that your recovery continues to be a smooth one. It has its ups and downs as I'm sure you realize, so try to accept that as part of the journey. We're all here for you and will be following your postings with interest. Best of luck, honey!
 
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May 28 - Day 30: My mom asked me to join her for today's meeting with her independent living facility's staff to plan for my dad's memorial gathering for the home's residents. Hubby and I left at 10:15 am and joined mom for a wonderful grilled salmon lunch in the dining room at 11:00 am. This is the the first time I've sat in a dining room since my surgery. Toward dessert time, my right leg started to get stiff and sore from being in one position during lunch. I asked my mom if she could shift a little bit away from me so that I could stretch out my legs. She did, and my leg felt much better after that.

We returned to her apartment after lunch and I placed a call to Social Security for her to inquire about survivor's benefits. She is very hard of hearing and has difficulty making out conversations on the phone and in person. While I was on hold, hubby helped mom resolve her TV remote control problems. She had tried calling the help line but simply couldn't understand what the technician was telling her. I was on hold with Social Security until 12:50 pm, when we decided to go downstairs for a 1:00 pm meeting with the event coordinator and the resident chef. We discussed the menu and seating arrangements and a place of honor on the grand piano for dad’s photo, flowers, and memorial handouts. The gathering will be a simple meet and greet for perhaps 60 - 80 of the facility's residents from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on June 20, and the staff will take care of setting up the tables, serving the food and drinks, and cleaning up afterwards. We then went back to mom’s apartment to place a second call to Social Security. The wait this time was very short, and I was able to set up an appointment for mom and me at the Federal Building for June 19 at 1:30 pm. I should be more mobile at the time, but we’ll have to see what transportation/parking arrangements are best for me. For security reasons, there's no parking for the public at the Federal Building. Mom and I concluded that we had accomplished a lot today. Hubby and I arrived home by 3:30 pm, and I was once again in gel pack heaven.
 
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@EmptyHands - I have that Wil Wheaton book too! I've been pretty coherent the whole time but not doing much reading. I have my iPad mini with lots of books downloaded and so far have only read after breakfast each morning. Otherwise I've been napping, reading through the BoneSmart forums and keeping friends and family informed through Facebook. I can't be bothered with the tv - if I want to watch something I have movies and tv shows on my mini too. I love technology!
 
May 29 - Day 31: As I was getting ready for my 1:45 pm PT session today, I found that my lower back was very painful. I had spent too much time sitting on the bed hunched over using the laptop without adequate support for my back. I kept rubbing my lower back in the waiting room, which was hard to do since my left wrist didn't like being bent in that way. Today's ROM was L-112 and R-115. My PT introduced a new exercise: Lie on my back and bend knees. Lift the butt off the surface and hold for a count of 3. Repeat 10x. Bending my knees was challenging because my incisions feel quite tight, but it wasn’t impossible. When I got home, I put gel packs on both knees and one beneath my lower back - felt great. At 4:00 pm, I realized that I had forgotten to take my 1:00 pm pre-PT acetaminophen. Is this the don't-force-it-it'll-happen weaning off of meds that I've been reading about?

BTW: I decided to leave a bath towel in hubby's car to drape over my knees/incisions when I wear shorts to PT. Hubby said I looked like a little old lady (wait, I AM a little old lady!), but the towel provided my incisions with a lot of protection from the sunlight streaming through the car's windows, in addition to the sun screen I had applied. I just placed a mail order for a couple of pairs of light-weight capris. I'm pretty sure they won't be too flattering, but I do want to get back into the pool in the coming months and need something longer and which offer more sun protection than my swim shorts. I'd be interested to hear what clothing suggestions and adjustments, if any, the rest of you came up with post-surgery. Best wishes to all!
 
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May 30 - Day 32: At 9:27 am, we left to make a first trip to Office Depot, where I had my dad's biographical handout duplicated for the funeral and memorial gatherings. I asked a staff member to check the stock room for an unscratched acrylic document holder for the handouts – all the floor samples were in bad shape, and he was nice enough to bring out a couple which were pristine. We did have to wait for a long time with me standing and bracing myself with the walker handle and against a store shelf. We purchased a sign holder and the document holder as well as the copies of our digital document. We then drove a block away to a fast food chicken place for lunch (first post-op visit). My lower back started hurting again, perhaps aggravated by standing for a while at the office supply store. The fast food place started filling up for lunch, and at least two people bumped or scraped by my walker. I had the walker positioned like a little protective fence around me, so that worked. On my way out, several men stopped to let me by, and one fellow moved chairs out of my way. Nice! We came home at 11:53 am, and I discovered that I had missed my acetaminophen dose by an hour. I took them more for my back than for my knees and applied gel packs to all 3 areas. Ahhhh!
 
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