Bermuda@Awriterafoot I have to get a fit bit! you and @TexasTee seem to love them ..you are doing great less than a month out form number 2.....
Vinny
Vinny
TKR Bionic knee #2 done 1-21-15
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Awriterafoot
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TexasTee
post-grad
I do love mine! It's helped with rehab, mentally, at least - it's sometimes hard to see progress but you CAN see the steps adding up and getting close to where they used to me. Color me jealous though - i almost matched you on steps at 6158 but it still says 0 active minutes?! I wonder if it's because my fitbit is on the wrist that uses the crutch so not swinging like it normally would on a walk? Maybe I'll switch wrists just for my walk today and see if that changes anything. Why it bothers me is beyond me...probably too much time on my hands 
Hope you feel better! Are you eating enough with the meds?
Hope you feel better! Are you eating enough with the meds?
Well let's see...my home course is 6,000 yards long so approximately 3.5 miles but that would be in a straight line and I hit it anywhere but in a straight line...lots of zig zagging...then factor the distance between greens and tees I would say 5 miles or so....4 times a week.. Sounds like about a half million steps to me...better wait until I get my fit bit
Vinny
Vinny
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Awriterafoot
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You know, Teresa, I noticed that the FitBit counted weirdly when I was on the walker, and with the cane. I'm not using either, and this was the first time I walked in my normal way. It was slow, but it was more or less normal gait. It's worth trying the other wrist. I'll be interested to hear if that does the trick.
I am feeling better today, thanks. I'm also planning a nice, meaty lunch today. Get my protein up some more. It's been so hard to get enough.
I am feeling better today, thanks. I'm also planning a nice, meaty lunch today. Get my protein up some more. It's been so hard to get enough.
TexasTee
post-grad
Good for you! Yes, I started tracking my macros and it was crazy how low my protein was compared to what we need for optimum healing. I've raised it quite a bit this week and I have to say I feel outstanding. I've added both protein bars and shakes in with my normal food - still haven't quite made my goal of 150g but it's well over what I had been having post op (40-60!)
TexasTee
post-grad
LOL - I think my fitbit is being snarky - I switched wrists, walked 1.25 miles in 30 minutes and it gave me 1 active minute! I guess a 2.5 mile an hour pace is not exactly stellar for a normal person and it doesn't know I'm rehabing - but go you, you must be truckin' along!!!
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Awriterafoot
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Slow day here, @kneeper . Maybe too many walks! Or more likely, the PT session yesterday made my hip hurt. Took it easy today, just a mild walk with my dog who would not stop dashing to the door with hope. He's old so no chance of him pulling me down, and I thought it might loosen that hip. It just made it ache more, so I have been doing a lot of resting. And eating protein.
I also asked to step down to vicodin and my doc was fine with that. Will start next week.
One day at a time.
Barbara
I also asked to step down to vicodin and my doc was fine with that. Will start next week.
One day at a time.
Barbara
TexasTee
post-grad
Sorry about your hip - is it bursitis? I was having issues with that last year at this time - of all things asprincreme was the most helpful for me.
Hope you feel better today and that the step down to vicodin works well - I plan to ask about this on Tuesday when I see my doc, as well. I can't seem to lower the perc any further than 4 a day but perhaps a milder narcotic taken more often might work - then step it down from there over time. Not a lot of time left though - I am off 3 more weeks then will be back in the office.
Hope you feel better today and that the step down to vicodin works well - I plan to ask about this on Tuesday when I see my doc, as well. I can't seem to lower the perc any further than 4 a day but perhaps a milder narcotic taken more often might work - then step it down from there over time. Not a lot of time left though - I am off 3 more weeks then will be back in the office.
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Awriterafoot
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I've been stepping down on the oxy this weekend. It has started its old tricks of ramping up my anxiety and giving me weird dreams, so time to switch. Stretching doses to 6, then 8 hours. I'd like to get to the point where I'm just using vicodin for sleep, or PT. While the cold is on, I'll still need something on these cold days, and I'm allergic to NSAIDs, so vicodin is my friend.
Snowing a lot here. Six inches on the ground so far, and they say it might be up to two feet. Glad I got my walking in. Also went to the bookstore and stocked up on magazines for collaging and maybe some art journaling. It's something to do.
Snowing a lot here. Six inches on the ground so far, and they say it might be up to two feet. Glad I got my walking in. Also went to the bookstore and stocked up on magazines for collaging and maybe some art journaling. It's something to do.
TexasTee
post-grad
Can't imagine all that snow - it is pretty but it's so cold!! Glad that you were able to get out a bit and have some distractions on hand.
Good luck stepping down - I've only got 3 weeks before I'm back at work so I have to get off of the percocet - even vicodin would be pretty tough to take at work but I'm not sure how well that's going to work. Oh well, at least I am fine with NSAIDs so I have that option.
Good luck stepping down - I've only got 3 weeks before I'm back at work so I have to get off of the percocet - even vicodin would be pretty tough to take at work but I'm not sure how well that's going to work. Oh well, at least I am fine with NSAIDs so I have that option.
BananasKnees
member
@Awriterafoot - Hi. I am nine days behind you with my RTKR. I just finished reading your recovery thread and am impressed with your progress. I am doing well, I think, but would really like to be out walking more. Walking feels so good now I can hardly believe it - and this with just one knee fixed! In about 3 weeks, I will have the left knee done. The weather here has been so cold that wallking outside is pretty much out of the question (wind chills around -10 to-20° F). Both my dog & I are looking forward to nicer weather. I hope you continue with your fantastic recovery!
Charlotte
Charlotte
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Awriterafoot
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Hi, Charlotte @BananasKnees! I know what you mean on the weather. We were lucky for awhile in February, which helped, but it snowed all day Saturday and Sunday and now I'm looking at a foot of snow, which then takes forever to melt enough that I feel safe walking on the sidewalks, of course. We are in a snow pattern this week, so who knows when I'll be outside again! :(
I experimented with getting steps in just walking circles around my main floor yesterday. Bored to tears and just started walking and it was surprisingly pleasant. Also hilarious when my chow and then my big Siamese joined in on the pacing, round and round and round, all of us in a little pack. I had to stop at one point because I was laughing so much. But of course, they're bored of being stuck inside, too. LOL The thing is, I ended up with a good 4200 steps for the day, which ain't bad for this stage, and it helps ease that irritating twitchy nerve thing over night. I don't know if you can find a way to walk around your house--it's convenient that there's a circle through my kitchen and it's all convenient--but it did make me feel better.
Your weather is way worse than ours, btw! Crazy winter.
I experimented with getting steps in just walking circles around my main floor yesterday. Bored to tears and just started walking and it was surprisingly pleasant. Also hilarious when my chow and then my big Siamese joined in on the pacing, round and round and round, all of us in a little pack. I had to stop at one point because I was laughing so much. But of course, they're bored of being stuck inside, too. LOL The thing is, I ended up with a good 4200 steps for the day, which ain't bad for this stage, and it helps ease that irritating twitchy nerve thing over night. I don't know if you can find a way to walk around your house--it's convenient that there's a circle through my kitchen and it's all convenient--but it did make me feel better.
Your weather is way worse than ours, btw! Crazy winter.
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Awriterafoot
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Weekend report--really feeling better all of a sudden again, one of those leaps forward. Easily going more than 8 hours at times without even thinking about drugs, and tomorrow see the surgeon again so can step down to Vicodin, which will be great.
Slept last night for a full seven hours without waking up, and that's the most so far. Correspondingly, my brain is much more alert and alive this morning and I'm going to try to get back to regular work hours this week, at least the creative bits, if not as much business as I'd like (kind of starting to pile up, though I am very pleased with myself for sort taxes into a rough draft).
@Homeport, are you writing?
@TexasTee, taking NSAIDs is often enough for people at 5 or 6 weeks. I cannot even tell you how much I miss Advil, but I gave myself an allergy taking too much of it trying to keep the arthritis pain at bay. When I had to give it up, that was when I recognized how wrecked my knees had become. Which I guess is a mixed blessing, because it forced me to get the knees fixed, and now I feel so much more empowered!
I'm still thinking about what my celebration will be. Some sort of hike.
Slept last night for a full seven hours without waking up, and that's the most so far. Correspondingly, my brain is much more alert and alive this morning and I'm going to try to get back to regular work hours this week, at least the creative bits, if not as much business as I'd like (kind of starting to pile up, though I am very pleased with myself for sort taxes into a rough draft).
@Homeport, are you writing?
@TexasTee, taking NSAIDs is often enough for people at 5 or 6 weeks. I cannot even tell you how much I miss Advil, but I gave myself an allergy taking too much of it trying to keep the arthritis pain at bay. When I had to give it up, that was when I recognized how wrecked my knees had become. Which I guess is a mixed blessing, because it forced me to get the knees fixed, and now I feel so much more empowered!
I'm still thinking about what my celebration will be. Some sort of hike.
TexasTee
post-grad
Congrats on sleeping 7 hours!! Major victory. I seriously LOL at the visual of you and your pack pacing around the house...we do what we have to do! It's not snowing but it's drizzly and cold here so I had my husband drive me to Target and I did laps around the store while he picked up what we needed, it worked.
Today I have to go to the accountant to drop off our tax stuff then my big exercise will be to go to Sprouts and gather some groceries, I know, I'm a wild and crazy gal
Last night was a little rough - pain wise, not sure if it was the weather? But it makes me nervous to think of facing that level of pain with only advil...hope I'm wrong!
Today I have to go to the accountant to drop off our tax stuff then my big exercise will be to go to Sprouts and gather some groceries, I know, I'm a wild and crazy gal
Last night was a little rough - pain wise, not sure if it was the weather? But it makes me nervous to think of facing that level of pain with only advil...hope I'm wrong!
BananasKnees
member
We haven't had very much snow or ice this winter (knock on wood!) so at least in that way this isn't so bad. I could not stand the cabin fever any longer this morning, so in spite of -11° wind chill, the dog and I ventured out for a very short stroll. He did a very good job of going at my pace and not circling the walker too much. I do walk around in the house but that is only a few steps the turn around! LOL I know it will get better, I'm just not too good at being confined for this long. 
Great that you were able to sleep last night. Good luck with your appointment today!
Great that you were able to sleep last night. Good luck with your appointment today!
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Awriterafoot
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Yeah, it's very icy, @kneeper. Sadly. I was enjoying those sunny walks soooo much!
Another really good day here. Feels like I'm really heading back to normal life again all of a sudden. Not going to rush it, but I'm happy for every leap forward. Surgeon & PT tomorrow. More walks today around the house, though no animals joined in. Walked to the mailbox in the sunshine, too, carefully. Just breathing the outside air felt great.
@TexasTee, I get being worried about the pain, but it's funny how it gets better all of a sudden, too. You have a couple more weeks, right? So maybe you won't have too much pain by then. And it doesn't have to be all or nothing, either. You could use ibuprofen in the daytime to work, and stronger stuff at night, or some variation. If you can't take any meds at all at work, that will be a balancing act.
Another really good day here. Feels like I'm really heading back to normal life again all of a sudden. Not going to rush it, but I'm happy for every leap forward. Surgeon & PT tomorrow. More walks today around the house, though no animals joined in. Walked to the mailbox in the sunshine, too, carefully. Just breathing the outside air felt great.
@TexasTee, I get being worried about the pain, but it's funny how it gets better all of a sudden, too. You have a couple more weeks, right? So maybe you won't have too much pain by then. And it doesn't have to be all or nothing, either. You could use ibuprofen in the daytime to work, and stronger stuff at night, or some variation. If you can't take any meds at all at work, that will be a balancing act.
OP
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Awriterafoot
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The confinement is the hardest part for sure, @BananasKnees. May it get warm soon!
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