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Bilateral TKR Adventures of the Goo-Knee Twins

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June 10 - Day 43:

I had my second post-op meeting with my OS this morning. When I went into the exam room, my x-rays were on display. Nice spacing between the replacement components! The nurse remarked that this was quite a difference from my pre-op bone-on-bone x-rays. I asked the OS if these were available to me online. He said no, but that I could take a photo of the x-rays, which hubby did for me. My OS didn’t measure my ROM, but remarked about how strong my quads were by feel. He noticed keloids on the left leg (although I think the right seems to have more raised incision scars than the left) and asked if I was getting sun exposure. I said that I was covering my knees with a towel when I go out in the car and also used sun screen. He said that African-Americans, Latinos, and Asian-Americans are more subject to this kind of scaring than Caucasians. I asked him if he had tried to straighten my bowed legs during surgery, since they seemed straighter to me. He confirmed he did work on this, shaving some bone. He gave me permission to drive, reduce PT to 1x week, and go to the pool. When I asked about using my small home peddler, he strongly recommended purchasing a stationary bike, which I don't think we can because of space limitations. (We had a treadmill a long time ago, but the neighbors below us complained about the noise.) My OS discussed the benefits including strengthening the heart, losing more weight, and controlling my pre-diabetes. He thinks my shoulder will be less painful when I give up the walker. Basically, he’d like me to push myself and become more active. My third post-op appointment is scheduled for 9-10-14. He said I would be in even better shape in 3 months.
 
June 14 - Day 47:

Hubby and I are back home after my dad's funeral service. Both my mom and I thought it went very well. Relatives arrived who hadn't seen each other for decades. Almost everyone's health has gone downhill -- I seemed to be more mobile than other younger cousins who were in better shape when I saw them last. Because my mom was quite cheerful and jumped up to greet each relative as they arrived, this was more an unplanned celebration of life than a solemn service. The Buddhist minister, who was younger than just about everyone else in the room, conducted a very meaningful service in Sanskrit, Japanese, and English and shared a heartfelt message about death for those of us still alive. During the buffet lunch afterwards, relatives had a chance to catch up on personal and family news, and everyone took home leftovers for dinner and flowers from the large floral arrangement. Cousins shared their childhood memories of my dad, which touched me because I didn't realize that they carried memories of the funny, quirky, kind, skilled, and hard working person that my dad was. As the minister said earlier, death and the person who has passed remind us of how fragile and transitory life is and how important it is to live each moment to its fullest.
 
Blessings of peace for your family as they adjust to a new normal. Glad things went well!
 
Dear @msmechanic58 -
Many thanks for your kind words and thoughts. I like your phrase "a new normal." It's such an apt description of our family as we move forward without dad, and it also describes my own journey without arthritic knee pain, but with the ups and downs of healing.

BTW: my dad passed away on May 19th, the birthday of your new knees. I got my new knees on April 28, which was my dad's last birthday. Transformation is happening every day for all of us. I hope you're feeling better. Take good care of yourself.
 
June 16 - Day 49:

Yesterday, a Sunday, I took a couple of short spins around the empty library parking lot. This was the first time I drove post-op. The car felt strange after not driving for so long. I practiced stepping on the brake quickly. No problem, but I still feel nervous about driving in heavy traffic at this time.

I went to PT this morning and actually broke into a little sweat while doing a variety of leg lifts. My PT had me practice stairs, but asked me to switch off leading with the "good" and "bad" legs. Just when I had finally gotten the order straight, New Rules! I came to PT with 2 canes, and the PT adjusted them to be about 1" longer. Feels strange, after using them at a shorter height for years. The PT said that I'm standing taller with better posture with the taller canes. I'm getting used to going out with canes for short, easy trips, but will be using my walker for two Handi-Van trips this week to unfamiliar locations, which may involve a lot of standing and walking. A first though: as of yesterday, I no longer use my walker for bathroom duties. I sometimes have to use the counter top to help me up and down, but toiletting is getting easier -- never thought this day would come!
 
I'm going to ask my physio tomorrow about driving. I feel like I would be fine - getting that independence back will be awesome!!
 
@msmechanic58 -
Funny! My hubby can't wait for me to resume driving!! I used to do all the driving locally when we both went out. Our neighbor always remarked that hubby was lucky to have a chauffeur. However, on vacation trips, hubby did all the driving, and I was the map reader and navigator. Not sure how we fell into those roles, but there it is.

@Spider -
Wish I had your independent spirit!

Actually, I'll be happy when I can give up my walker and canes, and walk and go up and down stairs unaided. I know this will happen, but when?
 
I think I get a little too keen to be able to do things myself. Its taken all of my patience to be doing as little as I am at the moment!! Winter in Australia, so cold and rain outside makes it somewhat easier. My family has always been concerned that my need for independence will be my downfall in this if I don't keep it under control!! LOL
 
@Spider -
I am normally one of those patience-is-my-middle-name types. However, at this time, even I am thinking, "Let's get these knees healed already!" I can only imagine what you fired-up-and-ready-to-go folks are going through!
 
I am a doer not a waiter. Feeling very confined and restless without my ability to drive when I want. We live 12 miles from town and I have about 5 miles of gravel to navigate. This in and of itself is not an issue. The drunk drivers that use our country road and people stopping in the middle of no where to relieve themselves can be quite hazardous. He wants to be sure I can stop if need be. He loves me. Ha!
 
@madinana -
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! Best wishes for your TKR in July. It's great that you're starting early to check out different threads and BoneSmart advice. I would have had an entirely different experience without the shared expertise and experience of the Smarties here. I'll be looking forward to reading about your journey. We're here for you!
 
June 19 - Day 52:

Yesterday hubby and I rode the Handi-Van for the first time. My mom's appointment with her attorney was at 3:30 pm, so I arranged for pick up for hubby and me at 2:00 pm. The van finally arrived at 3:05 pm, and we arrived at the law offices at 3:50 pm. Our 5:00 pm ride home actually began with a 5:30 pm pick up and ended at home at 6:30 pm. We were nervous about a similar delay for today's trip to the Social Security office. When I called for an estimated pick up time (van reservation set for 12:00 noon for a 1:30 pm SS appointment), I learned that we were going to be picked up by a cab rather than a van. Hubby and I rode in air conditioned comfort with a chatty and friendly driver and arrived at the Federal Building more than an hour ahead of schedule. After my mom arrived, she and I waited in the SS waiting room, and later a very efficient and helpful representative helped her complete her survivor's application. Hubby was astonished when we met up with him just before 1:30 pm, about 15 minutes later. I called Handi-Van to see if we could arrange an earlier pick up, but the vans were full, and we had to wait for our 3:00 pm reservation. The van actually came at 3:20 and we were back home, after several stops, by 4:30 pm. Hubby and I said that we wished we had had a combo of the two days' trips -- some Goldilocks area between too fast and too slow. This is not the mode of transportation if you absolutely need to arrive somewhere on time -- or if you have bad legs (hmmm) and can't stand and sit for very long. However, I really enjoyed the rides back home -- seeing small, very different neighborhoods where we've never gone before and seeing the people on the van going about their daily lives with the help of wheelchairs, guide dogs, canes, and the steadying arms of their companions. These folks are tough! Almost all of them probably have chronic conditions. Almost all of us here will be getting better. I was also very impressed by the drivers who were kind, patient, helpful, and very careful about keeping their passengers safe. They were like younger family members helping out aunty and uncle.

Oh yes, when we went through security at the Federal Building entrance, my knees did set off the alarms and I was wand-ed as well. One of the guards also carefully inspected my walker. Another first. We waved good-bye to the guards when we finally left for the day at 3:00.

When we got home my knees were achy and my ankles swollen. The gel packs felt great!
 
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June 27 - Day 60

I've been spending a lot of time at my mom's apartment trying to go through her and dad's financial statements and reviewing their trust documents as part of settling my dad's estate. My knees are stiff after all the sitting and my head is ready to explode from all the legalese which is often beyond my comprehension. Some small progress is happening however as mom, hubby, and I are all coming to some common understanding and consensus about what further info and clarification we need (lots!) and how to proceed.

It occurred to me today that this estate settlement business is similar to my BTKR journey. I don't have medical or pharmaceutical or PT expertise, but I am the one most affected and need to integrate the expertise and advice of the specialists as well as the collective experience of the Smarties here. I've had to advocate for myself and act as the interface between different departments in the same HMO. It seemed weird at the time, but in the end, it was up to me to make sure that I was getting good care and trying to prevent/end things like opiod reactions and aggressive PT, which could derail my recovery. The collective wisdom of BoneSmart members was critical in giving me the confidence to speak up for myself, so thanks to all of you!

In a similar way, the estate settlement process is the biggest challenge facing my family at the moment, and it behooves us to try to get a clear handle on the legal, financial, and tax issues, about which we have little expertise. We are consulting with a number of experts in different areas and trying to determine where their recommendations overlap or differ. Given a choice, I'd much rather deal with the BTKR recovery.

Hope you're all doing well!
 
July 7 - Day 70:

I'm going to PT once a week and we're working on strengthening and balance exercises. I'm amazed to be doing exercises which I would not have attempted prior to surgery. Actually, I wouldn't be attempting them now without the PT's demonstrations and encouragement. I've never had very good balance, so I think these exercises are very useful for me. My ROM this morning was 125 for both knees. I enjoy the stationary bike the best - certainly better than leg lifts.

I'm still experiencing small improvements, but I seem to have hit a 3-month doldrums. My incisions are often itchy and I have developed keloids. Someone here described these as looking like pink earthworms -- exactly! However, the knees work and I don't have the old pre-op arthritis pain, so that's the main thing! I had a surprisingly small amount of pain early on except for the tight band feeling below the knees. I am now annoyed by the sensations that I do feel -- irritation from pant legs, incision tightness, and a small, sharp tearing sensation when I bend my knees after a period of inactivity, not to mention the minor traveling aches along the outer sides of my legs. Nevertheless, I am able to sleep throughout the night except for pee breaks, can sleep on my back and both sides usually without difficulty and usually without a pillow, can get on and off a regular height toilet without aids (!), and have given up my walker for 2, 1, or no canes depending on where I'm going and how much and what kind of activity I'll be doing. I've made some short drives, but am limited by my own dislike of driving pre- and post-op rather than the mechanics of driving. I've RSVP'd for a club get-together and a school reunion in late July and mid-August, and I'm hoping that I'll be mobile enough to get to these venues on my own. Hubby and I are talking about a possible river cruise next year, after each of our health issues is behind us. We don't look forward to the long plane ride before and after a cruise however.

My days in the hospital are a distant memory, but the end is not yet in sight. I told a friend of mine that I'd like to be recovered, not recovering. Patience!!! I'm curious if others feel/felt particularly grumpy at the 3 and 4-month stage. I know I've made a lot of progress, for which I'm very grateful, but the little pains are a constant reminder that I've a ways to go before the end of the journey.

Hope everyone is doing well!
 
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