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Bilateral TKR done on Dec 2, 2016<

@hope4clay I totally understand how you feel, I'm in the same boat. It's comforting to know that others have been where we are and they've made it through. We all have to go through our own journey and make the best of it. God bless and hope you have better days ahead!
 
Sleep is healing. It's your body's way of saying to let it rest. When you're sleeping you're getting the best healing. I'm so glad that you are feeling a lot better. As you said, "God has it!"! And God bless you!
 
Recap anyone?

In lieu of going digging for answers I wanna ask you all about the morning stiffness and swelling? The regular am delay to start walking I experience? Does everyone have that or is it just me being seriously obese?

What should my daily procedure be to address these issues?

I've quit PT but do have a recumbent bike and a work table. Please give me proper instructions so I know I'm doing good things for myself.

Thank you in advance. CLAY
 
How long does it take you to get going in the morning? Is it a matter of standing for a while then a few staggery steps till you get moving a bit better? Do you use a stick in the house?
 
@Spex10
When I rise up, it takes me I'd say, 5-10 seconds to get stepping, then its staggery, yeah for a few. I use a cane, most the times
 
That doesn't sound too bad. I'm pretty stiff if I move from any one position I've been in for a while. I only use my stick if I'm outside the house. More for confidence and to ward off crowds than anything else though. I only had one TKR so its most likely different for you. All the best!
 
That sounds pretty normal. I think it is because our leg is in one position for longer when we sleep, so it gets a little more stiff.
 
I think the morning knee stiffness is pretty normal. What happens is that you don't move your knees much during the night, so you don't make much of the stuff that lubricates your knees - so they get stiff.
After taking a few steps, you start to make the fluid again and your knees loosen up.
It's a bit like putting oil on a rusty hinge.

The stiffness will last for quite a while. I think it was about a year after my TKRs before it went away, but ti did gradually become less severe.

It's a good idea at this stage to use a stick when you first get up - it could prevent a fall.
 
Hey Clay hope you are continuing to improve. Hope you are considering some of the nutritional overhauls we chatted about. Im very envious of your ROM! I'll take a few of your pounds if you can give me a few flexion degrees :) Seriously, don't listen to anyone who tells you you cant lose weight while being non-active. Thats not true. Get that book- Primal Blueprint- or just really dig into marksdailyapple.com and read it A LOT. Getting rid of the sugar, processed carbs, and other empty calories and totally change your body chemistry, reduce inflammation etc.

Even losing 10 pounds is going to feel better- so imagine losing 50 or so. And then when you throw in more activity as you heal- well you will love it for your new knees and the energy you get. I'll be checking in with you and pulling for you!
 
@hope4clay Hi Clay. I just wanted to touch base with you. We had bilateral tkr just 4 days apart and I too am very obese. My size hasn't prevented my activities in the mornings. These knees are built for all terrain conditions. So while like you I need to seriously loose weight to ensure longevity from them, it need not be a mental blockage for you.
I mentioned my activities in the mornings because my activities in the afternoons include ice, elevation and sleep. I am always shattered in the afternoons to early evenings. My body gives me a window in the am to achieve what I want to or need to and then tells me it's back in charge and to get into bed. So I'm saying that I am mirroring your exhaustion. I also am frustrated with progress so started recording what I'm doing so that I can see change. I can currently only walk 450 metres around my block and it takes nearly 10 minutes! I've decided that's OK, because I'm just going to slowly improve it.
I also forget everything with brain fog.
I make sure I celebrate wins even small ones. For example, I walked the youngest to his class in the mornings without a crutch. Guess what? I need the crutch in the afternoon pick up, but again that's ok. I also managed to fish standing up for an hour. I have fished from a chair for years. I also made a whole meal for my family this week. It was only bolognaise but the only one I've completely finished unaided.
One of my knees is better than the other. My knees are different to yours, your knees are different to others. Our journeys are aligned, but at different speeds and on different vehicles.
Keep smiling, look for that little positive, let your body decide the schedule and find "your window ".
 
I still have some stiffness when I first get up after sitting for more than an hour or after sleeping. I usually do a few thigh/glute squeezes to "wake up" the muscles and get the blood flowing before I stand up. Once I stand, I usually do a couple more before taking my first steps. As the weeks go on, I don't need to do that as much, but initially, I found that it helped make those first few steps easier.
 
Clay, what wonderful advice you have gotten on here the last few days. Like I said before, we are all here together and here to help each other. My knee is 8 months old today, but it's still healing. I swell when I stress it. I still ice after extra activity. And I still hurt at night when I move it certain ways. But, these things are a drop in the bucket compared to what they were just 4 months ago. You, too, will see this progress. It takes it's dear sweet time, though, but it does come. Look at your ROM! Now, that is wonderful! It took me at least 5 months to get there. And even now, sometimes I don't have it. This is an up and down journey, even for us 'oldsters'!
 
update tGiF, lol
I did quit PT 2 weeks ago today, I do ride my recumbant 10 minutes a day and walk a little around my house, thats the extent of my exercise lately, can I hear from anyone who can share with me anything else I should be doing to loosen up my painful stiff knees? I just dont feel like Im doing enough to help myself get better, If Im dropping the ball in my own responsibility of healing I need to know it, also I still am what seems to be a long ways from mimicking the climb (stairs and steps on a tractor trailer truck) Im going to have to conquor to return to my job, ( I see my DR again on day 80, for recheck, feb 20) thanks everyone, Clay
 
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There is nothing you can do to speed up recovery. You can work on upper body strength if you feel the need to do something and arms may help in getting in/out of your work vehicles, but no extra weight for legs. But there's nothing else you can do for the knees at 2 months post op. It takes most people 12 weeks/3 months to feel up to working. You could take SHORT walks outside, depending on what the activity progression chart says about distance.
 
Do you feel better for giving up formal PT? Re loosening up how about more exercise bike sessions but for shorter times and well spaced out? How about 10-15 minute sessions four times a day? I find that these sessions sort of 'lubricate' my knee. I'm walking much better too.
 
Thanks @KarriB
Feel better?? I don't really know, I know I feel lazier. I'm so bored. I just waste my day sitting on the pc and walking around a little, (I bike in the morning) I really feel like I should be doing more, but....that's just me.

I will give the increased biking a shot @Spex10 I hate to admit it . I'm so fat and out of shape, that is really hard, but being this heavy, everything is, thanks bone buddies, lol
 
Well if you're bored draw up a daily schedule of things to do. That gives some shape to the day and means you can programme in some 'official' exercise times but also 'official' downtimes. If you stick to it you get a sense of achievement and in time real progress. Take control of your time! It costs nothing!
 
Good idea @Spex10. I even programmed in naps two to three times a day. I'd do something easy, then nap. Get up and get a drink or a snack, maybe wash off the countertops and sweep, then nap. I would throw in bike riding a couple times a day, too, at my two month time. But, I really tried to follow the activity schedule on here. Overall, I had a good and easy recovery compared to many. From past experiences, I knew I could not force or rush recovery. My knees did it in their own sweet time not my mind's time!
 
@hope4clay I'm 7 weeks out and my knee is stiff in the morning, just like most other Bonesmarties. When I first get up, I sit up at the edge of the bed and let my knees dangle for a bit and do a few ankle pumps to help loosen me up. Then with my cane I slowly stand and start walking slowly until I feel more stable. Then I do my morning routine, bathroom and coffee, lol. Then I move on to my home exercises, lifts, heel slides, 5 minutes on bike to stretch things out. Then I make my breakfast. Then rest, ice, elevate for an hour. I then go about other ADL's. At lunchtime, I eat something then go for a 10 minute walk around my house. I RICE again for an hour. Do my midday exercises, repeat RICE and in the evening do exercises, walk and rest of the time I just rest. We're not being lazy, we're healing. It's not easy for me to have so much idle time but it's necessary to heal.

In my opinion, you need concentrate on healing instead of your weight. I'm a smoker and I was trying to quit before my TKR and that hasn't worked out well. Even though I need to quit for my health, my doctor agrees that I need to concentrate on my knee right now. One thing at a time. Once your knee is better, you can work on losing weight. You can't work out until your knee is ready. I too was obese 5 years ago so I understand but you can't let that hold you back. You will accomplish your goals one step at time. I wish you nothing but the best! Be kinder to yourself and keep positive! You will overcome this!
 
I try to structure my day so as to give some routine but with flexibility built in to accommodate the unexpected or downright 'lazy'. I am far better in the morning therefore that is when I carry out most of the activities on my list. That might be jobbies around the house, a bit of shopping or walking the dog round the block (to stop him staring at me all day long!), or just pootling around. The afternoon is usually very leisurely with lots of rest, elevation and if necessary, icing. I find having structure and a sense of achievement in carrying out the tasks I set for myself, is very important for my psychological recovery as well as my physical.

It does get better, honestly!
 
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