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TKR FlaGranny 2nd Knee 9/26/16

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Sleep is a very good thing right now. I think I slept more the first two weeks than I did the entire month leasing up to the TKR and I'm not a napped. But boy, did I learn to appreciate a good nap.
 
@FlaGranny so happy you're doing well and resting! My appetite hasn't been the same either although I'm craving sweets which is not like me at all! Should start real pt tomm- let's see how that goes!


Mercedes Z - RTKR Aug 15th
 
Glad to hear you are doing well. My appetite took quite a while to return. Sleep as much as you can and let your body recover. All of the sensations you mentioned are normal and your ROM is good.
Take care.
 
Day #5

I feel quite a bit better today. Swelling is down a little more. Still cannot elevate as it is very painful. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm pain free more than I'm in pain. I could do straight leg lifts in the hospital but now I can't. Walking is much better today. I have narrow doorway to the bathroom that I can't get through with the walker. So I put the walker aside and walk in without any assistance (but very carefully). I like the tip about using a dog leash to lift the leg, along with using the other leg to assist. Both are a big help.

I'm bending a little better and can actually perform the heel slides, about 5 inches worth. Getting up and down easier because I can bend my left knee better.

I was told to take the bandage off when I got home and let the incision get air. It looks good. I don't have stitches or staples, just glue. Also that I could shower, but no submerging the incision. I don't I'll try a shower though, not yet, because I have to get into the tub to take a shower.

I slept 8 hours straight through last night. Woke without pain. Went to the bathroom, then back to bed and slept another 2 hours. Did not really sleep today, except for a couple of little catnaps.

@dianehelen I think I will be up to the surgery in 5 weeks and 2 days. Sometimes it hurts more than the new knee.
 
So glad your surgery went well and you are doing good. I can't imagine having to go back for the 2nd knee. I'm happy my OS wanted to do bilateral so I just got it over with. I'm doing my stretching, strengthening and bending exercises they taught me at the Rehabilitation hospital. Go to outpatient physical therapy next week. I will not let them put their hands on me. I refused the CPM Machine when I got to rehab. That is a torture machine to me. I don't know about anyone else....keep up the great work@FlaGranny. Soon the second knee will be done and you can just get on with your life without painful knees!
 
Flagranny you are rocking this recovery. So happy for you. You're just doing amazingly well.
 
When I went to PT in the hospital they didn't touch me at all. Just asked me to do straight leg raise, heel slides, a NuStep machine and a set of 4 steps. I did them all very well, but if they had tried the next day I wouldn't have been able to do any of them. My OS does not prescribe the CPM machine. I did wake up in an icing machine which they sent me home with. I haven't seen home PT but I don't really need one. I'm doing all the exercises that are important right now. I'm having a faster than normal heartbeat and it could be a side effect of either oxycodone or gabapentin or both. It was racing along at 105, now down to 80. My normal is in the 50's and 60's. I feel okay though.
 
FlaGranny, thanks for sharing so many details of recovery. You have no idea (or maybe you do) how helpful you and many others are.
 
Flagranny-- thank you for the reports! You give me courage. Like you, I'll be having my second knee done six weeks after the first (8/23). I love what you wrote about being determined to go thru with it no matter what (barring complications). I've adopted that attitude, thanks to your progress and example!


RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/2016
 
It took 12 days after surgery for me to do straight leg lifts. I couldn't pick up my leg, thus the need for the leg lifter that looks like a dog leash. I was so determined to do them that I began practicing at about a 7 days using th leg lifter. I would pull my leg up with the leg lifter and gradually use less arm power, more leg power. But I still used the leg lifter for getting in and out of bed, the car etc.
 
You are doing well so far. Heart rate is elevated when you experience any pain at all. That's great that you were able to sleep so well.
 
Thanks to all of you. I don't feel like sitting at my computer too long. No laptop. The chair is uncomfortable on the back of my thigh and it won't go any lower. Feeling no better today. Last night was not good. I ached all over. All my other joints are aching. Knee is okay when I get it comfortable. It hurts a bit when I walk and when I get in bed or sit down or stand up. I'm having pain in my right hip, right knee, lower back, and left ankle, all of which have arthritis in them. Today I started getting short twinges of pain in the muscles/ligaments around the knee. It will be one week tomorrow. My tummy is starting to feel uncomfortable - no BM since surgery. Taking stool softener and just added senna. Slightly crampy. My new knee feels good and stable, not so much the muscles around it.

Incision looks ok, It is a bit warm, not too sensitive, a little pink. I hope I see some little improvement by tomorrow. Sitting/lying all day watching Naked and Afraid.
 
You might want to try Miralax to help with a BM. It's a gentle laxative that comes in powder form and you add it to any liquid or water to drink.

Hopefully you will start to feel better soon. It seems like our whole body has been run over by a truck. After a week or two my aches seemed to feel a bit better.
 
I second the Mira lax. It worked wonders to get things going. Once things got moving then colace and senna kept me regular. And prune juice.
 
I am so sorry you are feeling so achy all over, I know these first few days are very challenging :flwrysmile:I also used senna and it eventually worked for me. Hope you start feeling some relief soon!!!
 
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I'm sorry to hear it @FlaGranny- yes! MIRALAX it works very well - please continue to get as much rest as possible!! Ice and elevate! I was watching a bit of naked and afraid today too! Lol


Mercedes Z - RTKR Aug 15th
 
Just read through your recovery journey @FlaGranny. Your attitude is to be commended in the early days of recovering from 'major-surgery'. Hope so much you are feeling better really soon~!

[Bonesmart.org] FlaGranny 2nd Knee 9/26/16
 
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