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TCHarp

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Sep 19, 2008
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Lubbock, Texas
I'm happy to report that the staples (all 22 of them) were removed yesterday (Monday) and all seems to be going well with this 2nd tkr on my left knee. Some of you may remember that this is the second go at this, with the first attempt being 18 months ago.

The pain level this time seems substantially less as does the swelling and temperature of the knee.

I also seem to be getting nearly 100% extension even this early in my recovery. Frankly I'm pretty amazed as well as pleased.

The doctor said that he found it necessary to stretch the tendons extremely in order to get the old components out and for this reason he is giving those tendons 4 weeks to strengthen before we begin any real PT. He has instructed me not to turn the DPM machine past 60 degrees so I'm really not getting much bending.

I'm finding that the ice pack which was so very necessary on the last surgery is not even in use any longer this time.

My thinking is that I will be very happy with this cemented knee and that I'm glad to be rid of the grown-in version that never grew in. If I can draw any conclusions about what the pain levels will be when this is over from what they are now, all with be grand. Comparisons of pain levels on this surgery to the last surgery can't be made. This is like something completely different, and much more comfortable.

Thanks for all of your understanding and advise. It is my intention to keep you all appraised of how things are going via this thread.

TC Harp
 
Wow, TC....GREAT report! I hope things continue to go this well for your knee. Your post will give positive information to anyone out there facing a second TKR.
 
What great news, Harp! I'm not going to say anything corny about what sweet music or anything that is to our ears!(I can't imagine how many times you've heard THAT!!!),,,,Keep up the great recup! ;)
 
TC,
What wonderful news!!!! I am so happy for you. Can hardly wait to hear how you and your new knee get along. Have you named it???
I have not named mine yet I thought maybe something will come to me next week when I get the left knee replaced. Right now I just think of it as "THE KNEE". Maybe they will just end up being "THE KNEE'S"
^i^
 
Calling! Whatever you name your knees,,,is YOUR decision!, you've earned it! Keep healing! ;). I'm. STILL trying to come up with a brilliant name for Judy's throne,,,,er recliner!! :)
 
Congrats, TC! It sounds like you're really on the road to recovery now. That must be quite a relief for you!

20 staples?? OUCH!! I can't imagine having those removed. How did you tolerate it without kicking whoever was taking them out???

Weezy
 
Well, s/he obviously knew how to do it properly!

Congrats, TC. Do, please, keep us posted on your progress.
 
I have just about completely cut out the morphine although I'm keeping a few of them in reserve. I'm using Soma pretty successfully and sleep is getting much easier already. I'm still not walking very much but I have started to push a little past 60 on the ROM front. The doctor still wants me to move slowly there though.

I'm pleased that I have good extension but concerned about not really bending this knee for another week. Does anyone have any experience with waiting a month before beginning PT? Will this hamper progress or limit the ROM that I achieve in the end? I'm so happy with the way this surgery has gone so far I would hate for it to go bad because of poor or late therapy.

TC
 
You're taking something in place of the morphine? Tylenol or such? You do need something else your PT will suffer, believe me. But I'm puzzled why you can't bend your knee for another week?
 
Josephine said:
But I'm puzzled why you can't bend your knee for another week?
Click to expand...

The OS doesn't want me to bend past 60 due to the extreme tendon stretching he had to do to get the old components out of the knee. See the first post in this thread. Actually he has said that I could start to push past 60 but not to set the CPM machine past 60. I should only do so gingerly and rarely at this point.

The pain medication issue is due to the fact that I'm allergic to everything except morphine and the doctor doesn't want me taking that for much longer even though I haven't even started PT. The soma muscle relaxers have worked pretty well in the past for knee pain and he doesn't have any problems getting me them.

TC
 
Sorry - I remembered the facts but not that it was you! Silly me!
 
Don't worry about it.

I think my particular case is at least a little out of the ordinary. 2 LTKRs in 18 months and constant pain in between them. Even though I had pain, I also had pretty good ROM on the last knee. I will be happy to get back to that point re: ROM.

I'm taking carisoprodol in place of morphine now. It is more commonly known by the old brand name of Soma here in the U.S. I'm hoping that I won't need any other pain killers. These worked well for me last time.

TC
 
TC, you have such a wonderful attitude given all that you have been thorough the last year and a half! What an inspiration you are! It sounds like you will continue to make steady progress.
 
Thank you.

There is a much larger story to my attitude than just the last 18 months. I'm glad if I can be inspirational to anyone.

I can thank this forum great deal for much of my understanding of what is happening with this knee. I was told next to nothing after the first operation and just almost didn't have the second. But then I got in touch with Josephine and many others here and learned about what was happening and decided to push on with this subsequent surgery.

So far, even though I'm still less than 3 weeks out, I'm already extremely glad that I made this decision. I feel assured that it was the correct one.

TC
 
I agree with you, TC, that Josephine is nothing short of an angel for us kneesals and hippies. Talk about a person who is in the right place at the right time!!! We are so lucky to have her with us!!
 
Oh stop it, y'all! You're making me blush!

[Bonesmart.org] Happy to Report

 
TCHarp said:
I'm happy to report that the staples (all 22 of them) were removed yesterday (Monday) and all seems to be going well with this 2nd tkr on my left knee. Some of you may remember that this is the second go at this, with the first attempt being 18 months ago.

The pain level this time seems substantially less as does the swelling and temperature of the knee.

I also seem to be getting nearly 100% extension even this early in my recovery. Frankly I'm pretty amazed as well as pleased.

The doctor said that he found it necessary to stretch the tendons extremely in order to get the old components out and for this reason he is giving those tendons 4 weeks to strengthen before we begin any real PT. He has instructed me not to turn the DPM machine past 60 degrees so I'm really not getting much bending.

I'm finding that the ice pack which was so very necessary on the last surgery is not even in use any longer this time.

My thinking is that I will be very happy with this cemented knee and that I'm glad to be rid of the grown-in version that never grew in. If I can draw any conclusions about what the pain levels will be when this is over from what they are now, all with be grand. Comparisons of pain levels on this surgery to the last surgery can't be made. This is like something completely different, and much more comfortable.

Thanks for all of your understanding and advise. It is my intention to keep you all appraised of how things are going via this thread.

TC Harp
Click to expand...

hi glad you are doing well this time i hope it continues for you you mention a DPM machine can you enlighten me about it please as it seams an American idea, i sympathise with you regarding staples i had 40 in my leg and the pain on removal was excrutiating (sorry if anybody reading this hasnt had theirs out yet) keep up the good work love nannylol
 
Actually it's a CPM machine. The acronym stands for Continuous Passive Motion. It is a machine that keeps your knee moving. The particular model I am using is here: broken link removed: https://www.medcomgroup.com/cpm_knee_welcome.htm?gclid=CMmCre_1_JgCFQazsgod2y17mg

These are great but I don't think that they are new.

TC
 
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