My goodness. I haven't posted since August 25 -- I come on here and read everyone else's updates but had no idea it had been so long for me.
I will hit the 5 month point the first of Oct. which isn't far away now. I mostly have settled in with my new knee on most days although still have the occasional day when I think, "What did I do!" I still take one Aleve in the morning and one in the evening. I tried the Voltaren gel and it didn't seem to do as much good as the Aleve is right now. I don't have much pain at all but still have some swelling where my femur and kneecap meet. It doesn't affect my flexion and is more an annoyance than anything but I still elevate in the evenings and ice some to try and get rid of it. I also still have a little sore to the touch spot on the lower inside of my knee which I am starting to suspect is bursitis. It doesn't really impact my walking at all but is a bit sore. IT band is ever so gradually settling down -- what a long haul this has been! I stretch a lot and have learned through trial and error what activities cause it to flare up. But really all of these things are more annoyances than anything else and they are all improving. I see my OS for my 6-month check-up in early Oct. so will check with him. My 6-months isn't really up until November but we are making another trek to Phoenix to see our daughter and her family and will be gone for awhile so I had to move the appointment up. Thankfully, my OS will happy to accommodate me.
I can tell my legs are getting a lot stronger. I have no problem or pain standing up from a sitting position and, when I walk, I can really stride out and my gait is good. I still generally do two miles a day but the last two days, I have only walked one mile. The wicked Kansas wind was blowing like crazy and my allergies were not at all appreciative of it. But I have also been able to start my tai chi workout (Classical Stretch) again which makes me very very happy. I did it all the way up to my surgery and really credit it for my leg strength which was pretty good right out of the gate. I had tried it at about 2 months post op but could tell I wasn't quite ready for it then. Now, it actually feels good to do it.
I also feel like I finally got over that energy drain that seemed to go on and on. I would say that really started improving at around 4 months and I feel like my energy level is pretty much back to normal now. Unfortunately, so is my appetite so I've really tried to watch it so I don't gain back the 15 pounds I lost post-surgery. So far, I've gained back two so we shall see how well I do from this point forward. Sleeping has finally improved too to the point where I don't feel hung over when I wake up in the morning! That, in and of itself, probably has a lot to do with the improvement in energy too.
My husband and I went and took lunch to our 4th grade granddaughter today at her school. They have picnic tables set up outside for when students have guests. Other than almost blowing away, it was a very pleasant lunch. Tomorrow my husband takes off to fly fish in Colorado with our son for a few days and I shall have the weekend to myself -- I'll probably spend it in my sewing room.
@wberry , I am counting the days for you and am anxious for you to get things headed in the right direction.
Blessings to all,
Roxie
United States
... but the last few days, I've been feeling it coming back.. Please share any trick you find to staying on the "straight and narrow", so to speak.. 
