BTKR - 15 weeks out

[indefatigable]

Hubby Jeff (age 60) had BTKR 1/11/08.

Still has lots of pain and stiffness. Works out at the Y 3-4 times per week (part machine time, part hydrotherapy time) but tends to get depressed when the pain and stiffness inevitably returns, no matter whether he works out aggressively or tones it down a bit.

ROM is 100+/-.

Takes Hydrocodone at night and for occasional pain relief during the day.

On last visit to orthropedic (4/25), dr. indicated all was okay and time would be the great cure all.

I hate to ask such a leading question.... but is hubby considered 'normal' by knee replacement standards?

What are the best exercises he can do to improve his ROM? And what if anything can be done to alleviate the pain and stiffness.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Inde.

 

[beachcomber]

Hi Inde and Jeff,
Bless you both.... it's tough, huh? BTKR in January? That is only 3 months since they sliced, diced, sawed, hammered, glued, and stapled foreign metallic and plastic objects into BOTH of those painfully arthritic knees. When you look at it that way, I think you are doing fine. In fact, better than fine....you are on your way!

Unfortunately, there are no easy, quick ways to recover from such a major surgery. Time, patience, and hard work are the answers. This forum is full of people who have been or are currently working their way through TKR recovery. Go back and read some of the posts on exercise and ROM. Most rely on ice, some find heat helps, elevation, massage, TENS.... we have discussed them all. Plus, some fun, light-hearted discussions to chase away the blues that go with the territory of this recovery.

Stick with us, share, laugh, cry, learn, and heal. This is group of good people with a common goal--- to take back the lives that OA took away from us. And we are achieving that goal--- one day and one straight leg raise and one ice pack at a time.

 

[referee54]

I had a bilateral TKR on 1/08/07. I went back to school on 1/03/08---I was stiff on and off until---no kidding here---early March. I still get a teensy bit stiff if i over do it on my biking and my umpiring baseball. If you look at it, I was still stiff and hurtin' from time to time from November through February---4 months worth.

I ride a bike as much as I can and as far as I can, and do the weight machines ---squats, extension, curls, etc. It is frustrating, but it will take some time---and it will be worth it.

Is your husband normal---I guess so---but one thing that i have learned here is that there is really no "normal" when it comes to this stuff. I was worried about my spring and the return of baseball umpiring---and then one day---literally overnight, the major stiffness was gone and i was working baseball games less than a week after my last PT---3/27/08. He will be OK---He will be just fine.

you have to climb the ladder of recovery, and some days you take two steps up; some days one step. and some days a step or two back. He will get there, do not fret it.

My OS and my PT people have said that it takes nearly a year to "forget" (if you ever really do) that you have titanium or whatever in your new knee joints.

Tim C.

 

[Jamie]

I don't know that I can add anything to the wonderful posts above except to say that your husband has one fantastic thing helping him through this and that is YOUR support and caring! It is so important for a person's family to really "get" all that a TKR patient has been through with the surgery and goes through in recovery. That is the miracle of this forum.....finding out that "normal" is a wide spectrum of events and milestones and, yes....even setbacks at times. He sounds to me like he is doing just fine and that was reaffirumed by his surgeon. Hug him, be there for him, and he will continue to get his life back.

 

[Newwoman]

Dear Inde & Jeff,
I think he is doing great. I had rtkr on Jan 9th and I am just now at 95 degrees flex and 0 degrees straight. Everyone that said it is different for each patient is right on target. You are very supportive of your husband and I think that goes a long way in his recovery.
My biggest problem is patience so hang in there and all of us will someday completely recover.
Cathy

 

[Doug]

I had my TKR on 1/17/08.
I still have some stiffness. Take 1/2 oxycodone at night. I work out 6 days a week.
There is no normal. I'll have great days and then some bad days. Just last week I stood in the kitchen talking to my wife about how frustrated I get with the slow recovery. But I am at a point where there are more good day than bad.
What ever discomfort I have now and stiffness for that matter, is less than I had prior to the surgery.
From my understanding, it will take the better part of one year to get over the surgery.

 

[JenniferG]

Hi Guys, Jennifer here. I had Bi-lats TKR on March 18, 6 weeks PO today! From everything I've been told, hubby is right on trak. I think that the stiffness is the last thing to go. Except the scar which we always keep. Sometimes I get discouraged with all the stiffness and start to whine and complain like I did when my knees hurt before the surgery. Then I stop and say to myself, this is nothing like the pain. And some times my husband worries taht something isn't healing right and will ask me "is all that stiffness normal?" So what I'm saying is that you 2 are not alone and we are all moving right along stiff knees and all.

 

[Josephine]

Hi Inde and Jeff,
Bless you both.... it's tough, huh? BTKR in January? That is only 3 months since they sliced, diced, sawed, hammered, glued, and stapled foreign metallic and plastic objects into BOTH of those painfully arthritic knees. When you look at it that way, I think you are doing fine. In fact, better than fine....you are on your way!

Unfortunately, there are no easy, quick ways to recover from such a major surgery. Time, patience, and hard work are the answers. This forum is full of people who have been or are currently working their way through TKR recovery. Go back and read some of the posts on exercise and ROM. Most rely on ice, some find heat helps, elevation, massage, TENS.... we have discussed them all. Plus, some fun, light-hearted discussions to chase away the blues that go with the territory of this recovery.

Stick with us, share, laugh, cry, learn, and heal. This is group of good people with a common goal--- to take back the lives that OA took away from us. And we are achieving that goal--- one day and one straight leg raise and one ice pack at a time.

Very well said, beach. In fact, I had to look at that post twice - seemed almost like a copy of posts I have made innumerable times over the forum!

Unless I made a sock account and forgot!

 

[indefatigable]

Hello to all and thanks so very much to each of you who took the time out of your own busy schedule to offer support, encouragement, and some good advice to both Jeff and myself. The two of us shall endeavor to press on

We are leaving for a short cruise in the near future but shall certainly check this forum upon our return, as we're certain to have more questions Who knows -- maybe salt water and sea air are the great panacea for stiffened kneecaps

I hope each of you continue to improve daily and make even greater strides in your journey in life.

God Bless,
Inde

 

[Pattipoo]

I can't wait to hear all about your cruise!! We'll be going on one in Dec.

 

[beachcomber]

Uh-oh... did I plagiarize? Or maybe you have just taught us so well and I actually paid attention!

Whichever, you have always been there for us and if we can pick up some slack for you at this very busy time---then it is a way we can pay it forward, huh?

thanks so much for all you have done for all of us and continue to do as our own knee-guardian-angel!

A "sock-account"?????? I just love learning English from you! I need a new word for my students.....

Very well said, beach. In fact, I had to look at that post twice - seemed almost like a copy of posts I have made innumerable times over the forum!

Unless I made a sock account and forgot!

 

[Nursepair]

Welcome Inde and Jeff. Ditto to all the above posts. I am almost 16 weeks and still have constant stiffness. Only have 92 degrees ROM. My physio says I am doing fine. Some people take a lot longer than others, guess Jeff and I are 2 of those. Enjoy your cruise, Jeff will feel heaps better in the sun!! As long as you have the patience to listen to his complaints and you can keep encouraging him, he will get through this long haul. My hubby is great at that!!

Keep posting. Sue

 

[Josephine]

Uh-oh... did I plagiarize? Or maybe you have just taught us so well and I actually paid attention!

Whichever, you have always been there for us and if we can pick up some slack for you at this very busy time---then it is a way we can pay it forward, huh?

thanks so much for all you have done for all of us and continue to do as our own knee-guardian-angel!

A "sock-account"?????? I just love learning English from you! I need a new word for my students.....

Wasn't a criticism there, beach - was a compliment!

And as for the term 'sock' - I believe that originated over your side of the pond. Short for "sock puppet" (on forums) meaning it's me but not really me - like ...

Beware the sock puppet

​

Actually I have a sock on here - was the account I originally joined before being taken onto staff and it's name is 'dids'!

 

[Jamie]

Jo, love the photo of the sock......

Doug, it looks like someone that is just your monkey's type. Maybe you and Jo could set them up.

 

[Doug]

My monkey is still in solitary confinement. Bread and water. Being seen with a mallard was the final straw..

 

[Jamie]

Doug, you must learn to forgive and forget. Compassion for your monkey is in order. He has paid his debt to society and needs to be able to get on with his life.

 

[Doug]

Do you all realize what the folks who joined the last few weeks must be thinking now???

O.K., I'll find the monkey and let him out..One more act of moral turpitude and he goes to the dogs!!

 

[Jamie]

That's the spirit!!! He'll be good. I'm sure he's seen the error of his ways and will soar with the eagles from now on instead of flopping around with the ducks.

 

[1jt@atime]

We haven't seen Patti's monkey in a while either.

 

[Doug]

Now there is a sick monkey. cross dresser. Likes Michael Jackson.