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TKR FlaGranny 2nd Knee 9/26/16

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FG-- I bought a "warming shawl" (it's like a small electric blanket) at Walmart -- I think is was about $20. I use it at the top of my body and it really helps with the ice-coldness and feels much better than a heating pad.

Since I stopped the gabapentin, I've added chamomile/lavender tea -- I drink a cup while I'm settling down in bed. I also use a couple of drops of lavender essential oil behind each ear.

These knee 2s are more complicated, aren't they? We'll make it through and this time next year we'll be dancing. :)


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
The ice makes me cold, too, so I snuggle up with a heating pad to help me keep warm. I do think Shelia's warming shawl sounds wonderful though. I might just have to purchase one of those.
 
Last night I wore my flannel PJs, wrapped the hose of the ice machine in a towel and covered up with an extra blanket. It took me forever to fall asleep but when I did I got some good 6 hours of sleep until I woke up. Got up, went to the bathroom, back to bed without the ice, and slept some more.

As far as the knees go, I have noticed a lot of improvement in the last few days. Much less pain (except at night of course :gaah:). My newest knee is just a bit more sore and stiff than the first knee. Neither knee bothers me much during the day, except for soreness and stiffness when I walk. Getting there!
 
I remember getting so chilled to the bone with the ice. But finally with fleece blankets wrapped around me I was able to keep warm at night.
 
Fla Granny you AMAZE Me.
"Neither knee bothers me much during the day".
You are made of some magic tissues!!! Perhaps you truly are Wonder Woman.
I'm happy for you and a little jealous. I know you've had an active, athletic life, but I'm also glad to know that age is not a factor by itself in recovery from TKRs. We are the same age, very different recoveries.
 
Woot!!! Double woot! I'm so smiling for you :)


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
I'm doing my very best not to do too much and get a setback. I find that if I'm on my feet too long the knees protest, so I'm doing a lot of getting up and sitting back down, elevating, etc., etc., so that I keep from getting too stiff from either too much or too little moving around.
 
Monday Oct 24, 10-week left and 4-week right knees. Rode the recumbent bike this morning. Newest knee is good I think for 4 weeks out. Still sore and stiff but not too painful unless I bend it too far. I only take cane when I go out, no more in the house. Older knee is still slightly stiff and sore and a muscle or tendon at the inside of my knee cramps up in bed at night until I move it around or get up and walk a bit, then it goes away.

I don't have a lot of tolerance for being on my feet very long so I avoid that. I think there is about 95 flexion in both knees. They would both be perfectly functional now - - except for the lingering soreness. I can mostly get up from the toilet or a chair with very little help from my hands and arms. I am more and more able to sleep on my newly operated side (right), but not the left side - it hurts my right knee.

All in all I guess I am happy with progress but impatient to be able to do what I want to do without thinking about my knees.
 
Great report! Your activity level will progress in time. Your right knee is nearly a month, but I think since you've been rehabbing since August it probably feels longer. Just think where you'll be in a month when it's Thanksgiving. :yes:
 
By Thanksgiving, better. By Christmas even better!

PT just left and discharged me after 5 visits. She had me go down steps and walk around the yard. She said I was a lot further along than her four other knee patients and said my knees are both to the point where they are functional for ADL. Yay! She even asked for my surgeon's name. I have approximately the same ROM in both knees - a tiny bit better in the older baby knee. So's all good, but wish the hurting was all gone.
 
Woot!!! You made my day with that post!!! Woot!!!


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
I figured I better update my thread before it disappears. :)

I'm still doing OK. Sometimes stiff and sore, sometimes not quite so much. Felt pretty good this morning, not as stiff and was able to actually brush my teeth and wash up standing at the sink with no protest from the knees. Standing still seems to be the worst. Walking around is okay, but standing still? No. Makes it difficult to make a meal.

Using the recumbent bike, taking the dog out, making meals, going to the grocery store, etc. I feel I am about ready to drive.

Swelling is very mild in my August knee and mild in the September knee. I can see my kneecap clearly in the Aug knee - I haven't been able to see it for years. I can see the outside part of my kneecap on the Sept knee but not the whole thing yet. Such a silly thing to get excited about - I can see my kneecap. That means the knees are not as swollen now as they were before the surgeries.
 
FlaGranny, what a good report! You are so encouraging to those up and coming! Keep up the good work!
 
Yes! Very encouraging! Thank you!


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
I'm happy to hear you're doing well. Do you have a stool you can bring into your kitchen so that you can do your cooking? I used that for quite a while so that I could 'stand' in place to finish my meal.
 
A stool is a great idea! I also would bring things that needs chopped or cut to the table so I could sit because standing still bothered me for a whIle. Driving! Yay!
 
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