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TKR FlaGranny 2nd Knee 9/26/16

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Great update, FlaGranny. I especially like the last part about getting out of bed like you never had arthritis or knee replacements.
 
Most of the stores in Florida have wide aisles. There are no old-fashioned stores left. The electric carts are different though. Publix has the best, they turn on a dime. Target not quite as good. The carts at Walmart are the worst, hardest to maneuver. I'm getting to be an expert. I just get up to reach the higher shelves. Sitting long enough to get everything makes me stiff and sore anyway, so I do get up and walk around intermittently. Even with those wide aisles in Publix, people still get in your way so you can't get through.:)

Little red canoe, do you still have pickles in barrels, and rolls in bins? Love those. Had a small grocery/deli when I lived in NJ that was like that. Fresh delicious rolls every morning.

Yes, birdinger, that was great and I surprised myself. I forgot to be careful and discovered I didn't need to be.
 
Tried to walk the dog last night. The problem is that he hasn't been walked in several months and he completely "forgot" how to. Not good. I'm not stable enough outside on uneven ground/sidewalks to be tugged and pulled around by him. He's a stubborn boy who thinks he should be in charge. When I keep after him he's good and walks by my side, but since spring I haven't been much able to. I have some work to do. He needs a lot more exercise. Thankfully I have an electric scooter that I used to walk him in the past. I should have been using it, but you know how it is to sit with your legs down and the back of your leg against a hard seat. He deserves more consistent exercise.

I can fairly easily go up steps now. Down, not so much. I can do it but it doesn't feel stable enough without support. Trying my best to walk normally and trying to lengthen my stride. Practice, practice, practice.

Still have a slight pain in my right (newest) knee under the incision occasionally. I've been thinking these short, sharp pains near the incision are from sutures just under the skin. I looked them up and they take 50 and up to 70-some days to dissolve. I think I have one left.
 
to give yourself a feeling of security and strengthen that quad try going downstairs with a pair of hiking sticks. They lend stability.. I had the same sense of insecurity and with them found I could hike on uneven ground and sidehills.

This won't work for the dog though.. What does is making the dog walk at your side.. Shorten that leash up.. I trained my dogs with a two to three foot long leash. Never were they allowed to lead.. Your dog may have been a good walker in the past.. they do tend to push their boundaries!
I know..another project.
 
Oh wow, I can't imagine being pulled by a dog with your new knees! If he was trained in the past, I bet he'll remember and behave in the future. The walking the both of you is good for both of you. But, not if he'll pulling you! Please be careful!
 
He was definitely a good walker in the past. He's had a lot of training, but he's the kind of dog who pushes the limits if he can. Given that and the lack of exercise, he just wouldn't cooperate - bouncing around and pulling in all directions on a short leash. I intend to start walking him with the mobility scooter to drain his energy and then start on his training again. He needs nearly continuous training to remind him who's boss.

I'll walk by myself until I'm more stable. I have no doubts I can re-train him, just not quite able to do it properly just yet. In the meantime - the scooter works really well to drain his energy. Thankfully he's not a really high energy dog, just a casualty of his mom's arthritis. Did I say he is a one-person dog?
 
You coins try a gentle leader with your dog for the time being. it works like a halter on a horse. if he pulls on it his head will get turned back to you thus stopping his pulling. Once he gets the idea and your walking better then you can get back to his regular leash. Some also us a type of harness that is supposed to do the same thing. That way both you and him can get the enjoyment of sharing a walk with each other.
 
I've no doubt you'll have success in your retraining your companion. You are really blessed to have the scooter to use in the meantime. I understand about a one person dog. I have many one person cats! They won't let anyone else touch them. I'm glad you're able to get out now that it's cooler down there.
 
I've tried no pull harnesses and gentle leaders in the past. He hates them. I'll just not walk him on foot again until I can do it on a regular leash. He walks by the scooter extremely well. One reason is the speed. I need to start his daily training again. Stop and sit by the door to go out, to come in. Periodic short training sessions, and "watch me" commands. I think "watch me" works amazingly well for training to walk by your side and for many other things. Actually, am a bit surprised he "lost" so much since spring.

The legs are a bit stiff and sore today but improving slowly and surely.
 
You are blessed to already have both of them behind you! From now on you'll just get better and better! What a wonderful future you have!
 
16 left and 10 weeks right. I actually forgot for a few minutes that I had knee replacements. Got the dog on the leash, went down the steps to outside and then took him for a walk with my electric scooter. Came back, put the scooter away and came inside without a thought to my knees and the dog was happy too. I use the scooter to give the dog a good workout because he wants to go faster than I can walk. I'm working on getting him back to where I want him.
 
You're getting there! Does your dog do better with the scooter because it's faster or because it's what he's used to now? Just wondering...
 
I know it felt so good to get out with your dog and having him under control.
 
Karri, he does like to go fast and does really well with the scooter, but he was just so excited to go for a real walk he was out of control the other day. He did walk well by my side previously, but since it has been quite a while (about a year) since I've been able to walk him on foot he just needs reinforcement. Scooter battery was dead and had it fixed yesterday and took him for his walk last night. After a minute or so of excitement, he settled down.

Paula, yes it felt great. It was a beautiful evening, temp in the low 70's, perfect.
 
Weeks 17 and 11 update. Feeling a lot more "normal" lately. Don't think twice about getting up and doing something that needs doing. Both knees feel about equal in recovery. I can go up and down stairs correctly but I don't feel secure enough yet to go down without assistance, either handrail or cane. As near as I can figure out, my flexion is probably 117-118 both sides - good enough for just about everything I need it for but expect it to improve more over time. OS had my flexion at 130 at surgery for both knees. Extension is good, I think close to 0, also both sides. On my firm sofa cushions and firm mattress, I cannot get any part of my hand under my knees (I'm not getting on the floor to test it). :snork: All in all I am much better than before my replacements.
 
Yay! :yay: Such great news to feel you are better than pre-TKR. I've said before, you all who have staged TKRs amaze me!
 
Normal feels so good, and you're getting there really quickly. You're doing a lot of things right!
 
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