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I did it! And it's great!

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koditten

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Hi, guys and gals:

I now have to write from the post knee replacement forumn. I got reliesed from the hospital friday afternoon. Spent from wednesday to friday. Is that about normal. I am now getting around the house on a pair of crutches.

The pain of a knee replacement is not that much worse than an agressive knee 'scope. Quite stiff, difficulty bending the knee a bit of quad muscle weakness. I can already see improvement in strength just in the 12 hours I have been home. All in all, I do not know why I was such a chicken. Literally I was in pre op and got up to call it off. The nurse who was there pointed out that I had a really bad limp and the only way to get rid of it was to have the replacement surgery. I am so glad I did it. When I woke up from surgery I did not believe that I had a new knee. I can not tell that there is a chunck of metal and plasic in there. I did not start believing until the nurse changed my dressing the first time and I saw all the staples.

I can not believe how straight my new knee/leg is. Now that I have the ability to compare the 2 knees against each other I know what people were talking about when they would say "kirk, You are really bow legged".

So far I have only been able to straighten my operated leg fully a few times, but just in the few times that I have I could almost swear that my new leg is 1/2 longer. We will see as I get thru theropy.

Expect updates.

Thanks

Kirk in Mid-Michigan
 
Kirk I am so happy for you. I was thinking of you yest. See wasnt that bad, you sound so upbeat I hope you continue like this you will be terrific. Again I think we can work ourselfves up so much I did it. Aw really so relieved I know how nervous you were glad your all done. The best is yet to come. You already see when you straighten your leg. Are to having trouble sleeping........So glad for you keep up the good work. Always here for ya. anytime....LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY UPDATES.....Now rest, ice ,elevate and medicine...So happy for you.REALLY
 
Kirk
So glad you did it. You are going to have ups and downs and you are going to read how fast some or recovering, but remember we all heal different.

There are a lot that have had a problem with depression and feeling down, but I am very thankful I did not experience that. I had so many loved ones around me for so long they did not give me a chance.

I am at 3 months today and I still have a lot of stiffness. Not much pain. But I have not had a lot of pain either.

Good luck and listen to your body not to the post you will get telling you to push the exercises, etc. You will know what you can do. It takes time to heel properly and pushing just causes relapses and a lot of pain. At least that is what I have seen from the post.

Hope you have smooth sailing from here on!
 
Kirk, just dont over do it take it slow and dont forget the ice!! I was up at 4;30 and didnt get online but now that i see i am not the only one up at that hour the next time instead of doing my exercises and getting food ready maybe i will just turn on the computer we all can have coffee together!
 
Works for me Too. I was having a cup of coffee. I have been up since 1:30am and it is now 11:06 am.

Can't go to take a nap taking Grandson to see Star trek
 
Yay, 'Kirk!!! So happy you're on the other side now! Don't worry! It gets better and better! Happy Recup!
Pat! Enjoy your special afternoon with your grandson, a trekkie already! Let's have coffee sometime! I'm STILL dreaming of your peach dumpling!! :)
 
Sounds good to me. Maybe I will make another just for you.
Loved your answer about learning experience for kids to young.
 
Hi, All:

I see one of the questions that many of you have is the trouble sleeping. I don't really think of myself having trouble sleeping yet. My job requires me to work any hours of the day anyways, so I just sleep when I need to.

I do know that the lortabs I take make me drowsy and I will sleep for 45minutes of so. After that I am wide awake for 3-4 hours and wound right up. After that it is time for stretches and another pill. All in all I think my sleep arrangement is ok. We will see as I progress.

And thanks again for the reminder that I can expect some backsliding on my progress and not to overdo it.

By the way I just started to use my cane. I think the use of the crutches are going to be shorter term than I expected.

Many thanks to all, everybody keep up the good work and keep reporting in.

Thanks

Kirk
 
Mmmmmmmm!!!! Sounds good, no GREAT to me,Pat!!! STAY COOL!!! An afternoon movie to escape that awful heat sounds like bliss! Enjoy!! :)
 
Kirk, I'm happy to hear you're doing so well. This is EXCITING!!! I hope all the good reports continue - your attitude is fabulous. Hope you continue to make such excellent progress. I'll be looking forward to reading more of your posts.
 
Kirk it sounds like you are just taking each day as it comes and rolling with it.... a great attitude. And I recall feeling stronger each day after I got home too. I think you make great progress in the first 6 weeks or so and then it gets harder to build more muscle strength and so on -- like in the real world, not the post op world. You build it and get on with your life but at a slower pace. But in the beginning you will see a lot of exciting changes! Don't get discouraged if every day isn't a straight line progression. Recovery isn't that way even for those of us who have no problems. Don't for get the ice and putting your leg up after you walk or exercise... and keep working little by little on the bend on your own. Once the staples are out at 2 weeks (if that's what you have) you;ll feel a lot better!!!
 
Quote "All in all, I do not know why I was such a chicken. Literally I was in pre op and got up to call it off. The nurse who was there pointed out that I had a really bad limp and the only way to get rid of it was to have the replacement surgery. I am so glad I did it. When I woke up from surgery I did not believe that I had a new knee"

I have just found this thread and glad to hear you are doing so well Kirk I had to laugh (sorry):hehe: when you
were literally in pre-op and wanted to call it off. I feel that is how I will be when I have my hip op and I haven't even seen the consultant yet!
BUT I keep reading on this forum how great everyone is doing and that they are glad they have had it done so please Kirk, and everyone else, keep posting because it gives great encouragement to people like me.

:cnsl:
 
Janis....never you worry....we'll always be here to support you and calm your fears. You just keep reading and posting until your time comes.
 
Hi, guys and gals:

I am now exactly 1 week post op. I am still happy with the outcome. I still am the stiffest and sorest I have ever been in my life. I did a few test steps, leading with my operated leg and I can do it! Before I had to lead with the good leg and bring the bad one to it, and so on. The knee cap tracked so bad I could not bend the leg to walk down steps in a normal fashion. I know I am going to be able to do it in a normal way in a couple of weeks.

On the outside of my leg it looks like I was hit by a bus. I am bruised from upper thigh to mid calf. My wife asked me to wear sweat pants because my leg looks so discusting. I have a pretty good deep muscle ache in the top of my thigh and of course all the swealling around the knee joint. The only thing I am worrying about is the difficulty in completely straitening my leg out. The theropist says this is normall and not to worry for now. In about 15 minutes I will be haviong my 3rd theropist session. She says she can tell I have been doing the exercises and wanted to make sure I knew she was making her job easy. So, everybody, make sure you keep up on your exercises. It will pay off big time in the end.

I know I was a big chicken going into this ordeal, but since I have been living it first hand I will not fear the next knee being done. I am so happy with the way things are going.

Well, gotta go. My PT is about to start and I know I am going to be beat. I was thinking I might finish the note after PT, but I am pretty sure I will be too tired.

Thanks for being there for me.

Later
Kirk
 
I am happy for you just plugging along....Yes it was a big surgery. BUT YOU DID IT. It is normal with the straighting it will come. My PT gave me alot of excercises at home as well. Keep up the good work... Be proud of that battle scar that was a dozzy....lol...All that color will go away soon....Keep is us posted...
 
Great News!

So many people have had great experiences with this surgery. Work hard on PT and it will get better and better.

Max
 
Kirk,

So glad you are progressing well. Don't worry about the bruising, it will go away within a month or so. I was on a blood thinner for that first few weeks, possibly a month. Any trauma, even the PT pressing on it will cause additional bruising, due to the blood thinner. This is normal. I even had my PTs hand print on my knee where he would apply 5 pounds of pressure to help with straightening for the first 4-5 weeks!

As for the clothing issue, wear whatever is comfortable to you. Tell your wife not to look at it if it bothers her so. Most of us couldn't stand anything touching the scar. Right now you are probably still bandaged so it doesn't bother you with the pants. Just wanted to warn you for when the bandage comes off.

Keep up the great work! Don't forget to rest especially after pt. It can be so exhausting!

Blessings,
 
Kirk! Keep up the great recup!!! Have fun with patterns and clothing you ordinarily wouldn't otherwise be caught in! The sense of humor is VERY important! :)
 
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