TKR FlaGranny 2nd Knee 9/26/16

[sistersinhim]

Wow, did you ever have a busy weekend. No wonder your knee is complaining. Gets lots of rest this week!

 

[FlaGranny]

@sheliac Eight days ago or thereabouts, was when I started being able to do the steps and the bike, so any day now, you will probably be able to.

@greatlakes I walk without assistance most of the time. I did take my cane when I went to the mall, but mostly for my old sore knee. I used the cane previous to surgery. Trying my best to walk with a full stride.

My hospital pre-op is tomorrow.

 

[newlybionic]

Good luck with your preop!

 

[Doggiemom]

Wishing you the best on your #2 knee replacement coming up. It will be over before you know it and you'll be on the road to recovery and a life of pain free knees. We're all so lucky the doctors can do this remarkable surgery and give us our lives back.

 

[sheliac]

I hope the preop is a breeze. Thanks for the info on when you could lead the stairs with baby knee.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016

 

[zammie24]

Hope prep goes well!! Best of luck with everything!


Mercedes Z - RTKR Aug 15th

 

[Celle]

It can take 3-4 months before you are doing stairs one step at a time.

 

[Floridagal]

So right, Celle! It is now four months for me and now when I go downstairs I just feel tightness and no pain. I thought it would never come.

 

[FlaGranny]

I have to be able to use my new knee for steps or I won't be able to do the 3 steps I need to do. Of course, it is far from a normal stride up and down those steps. I'll need to be able to go up on the left knee and down leading with the new right knee when I get it replaced. So far it's not easy but doable.

Way overdid it again yesterday and I paid for it last night. Ugh. I think I have about 105-110 flexion, still not full extension but I don't have a solid surface in the house to check it out (except for the floor and I'm not going to get down on the floor!). The back of my knee is still very stiff and sore and I'm sure my ROM will improve quite a bit when that goes away. If I would just stop doing too much.

I passed my pre-op. All I need to do now is a type and cross for blood. I asked the nurse, "You need to do that again? I just had it done 6 weeks ago and I doubt it changed." She said it was a blood bank requirement. Have to go tomorrow for that. Today I see my OS for my 6-week followup of the left knee. Swelling is minimal in the knee, but my leg and foot swell up quite a bit by evening. In the mornings I can tell very little difference in the temperature between my knees, but along toward evening the knee gets a little warmer. I only have 2 pair of shoes that work for me when the foot swells.

All my joints are acting up. Feet, ankles, knees, hips, fingers, and back. It's been so long since I had any arthritis meds. Tylenol does little or nothing for me. I'm sick of hurting. I'll complain loudly to the OS when I see him today. Maybe he'll have a suggestion.

I just bought a shoe horn (wish I'd had it for the first knee) and a leg lifter (I used a dog leash before).

 

[Floridagal]

Sounds like you are ready. Maybe those pain meds you will get with the new knee will help all the other joints too! I hope so.

 

[sheliac]

I'm so sorry for your pain. I hope the OS gives you something. You need to be as pain-free as possible going into surgery.

I hope you can take most of the day to rest . I way overdid it cleaning/prepping for my cancelled surgery. The shower doors sparkling seemed critical to my preop prep. .

I got a shoe horn as part of my preop package. I never opened it, but I bet I use it for knee two .


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16

 

[greatlakes]

I used my leg lifter a lot for about 10 days, then suddenly didn't need it anymore. Glad I had it at first, though.

 

[FlaGranny]

OS said to take my oxycodone for the painful joints. I told him I stopped it so that I wouldn't get too used to it and have it not help as much. I guess I'll take it at bedtime so I can sleep a little better. Actually my visit went well and he said I'm doing well. Told him about the soreness in back of the knee and he said I'm still early on and in another month I'll feel a lot better. Of course, I knew that. As I said above, the right knee hurts more than the left when I'm walking.

He had me walk and said I was walking well (I've been practicing). I tried to take a picture of my x-rays on his monitor but couldn't get the camera to work. The x-ray of my new knee next to my old knee really showed how much my leg was straightened. Maybe I'll be a half or an inch taller when done. I can also see why the bowed right knee and the straight left one might cause me more problems with my back.

Anyway, in 4 days I will be back on my full oxycodone dosage and I'll try to stay on that until I can re-start my arthritis treatments.

 

[dianehelen]

I think you are so brave and tough to be able to do this again so soon. The good thing is next year at this time you will have 2 great, strong, painfree knees.

You know we will all be here cheering you on all the way!

 

[Celle]

Tylenol does little or nothing for me. I'm sick of hurting. I'll complain loudly to the OS when I see him today. Maybe he'll have a suggestion.

Sometimes Tylenol doesn't help with pre-op arthritis.
However, when you say it does nothing for you what dose are you taking? Sometimes people think that Tylenol does nothing for them, but they are taking too small a dose. The correct, therapeutic dose is 1,000 mg, 4-6 hourly, to a total of no more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours.
I know that the ADA recommendation is for a maximum of 3,000 mg in 24 hours, but that is being cautious, in case people forget (or don't know) to check if any Tylenol (Acetaminophen) is in any other medications they are taking.

 

[FlaGranny]

Thanks Celle. I do take a 1000 mg dosage of Tylenol but probably only 2-3 times a day. Last night I took the oxycodone and I slept very well, even sleeping on my side (both) for part of the night.

 

[Tnlady]

FlaGranny you are such an inspiration to me. Like you Iam going to have my second knee done fairly soon following my first. However not as quickly as you. I have closely followed your recovery and now your prep for your second knee. Your "can-do" attitude sure is amazing. I wish you a swift and pain free hospital experience and to be quickly home and on with your life with two new knees that do not lock up hurt or give you anything but freedom of movement. I will be praying for you.

 

[FlaGranny]

Thanks Tnlady. I'm a lifelong optimist so that helps. I feel better about this second knee after the first experience. I was worried about the hospital care, as I've witnessed some pretty bad care in the past, but the hospital employees and nurses couldn't possibly do a better job and I was very pleased with their care. I'm sure you'll be glad to have that second knee done too. I told my surgeon that I really wanted to get it over with. By Christmas, I should be pretty good on both knees. Can't wait. My only concern is that I hope my left (new) knee can keep up with the demands the the new right knee.

 

[sheliac]

I love your attitude! I'm so glad my surgery was delayed for a few weeks. I could have done it at week 4, but I feel stronger after just a few more days-- you were right about that!

This is a silly question - but how do you sleep on your side? With one pillow lengthwise or with your leg elevated? I SO want to do that but I can't figure it out. I get in a comfy side-nest and it feels wonderful for about 30 minutes, then my hip and lower leg start to ache. Is there a trick to positioning?


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16

 

[mamazipp]

@sheliac when I first tried side sleeping I put a pillow between my knees and slept on my unoperated side. Op leg was elevated about equal to my hip so it felt anatomically neutral. I kept it flexed to comfort and probably was using ice as well.

Fla granny, I remember Tylenol being pretty ineffective pre surgery. I needed oxy, but usually one a day. I didn't want to overuse it before I would really need it. I think one at night will be ok.

I, too, have hip pain when walking but when I see on X-ray how my knee was straightened I know that's the reason. However, a lot of realignment will take time. And now, with your second TKR, more realignment. But you will relearn!