TKR I have a new knee!
- Thread starter Nyland
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Nyland
post-grad
Thanks so much, Judy. You have been such an angel since the first day that I joined. This forum is so helpful!!! 
RestAssured
alpha
Nyland I am so happy for you! You are doing great! 
Lori-M
senior
Great news Nyland! So happy for your progress!
ladyj
senior
Glad to hear that you are progressing, Nyland.
I have my last blood thinning shot tomorrow. I seem to have got the medication sorted now, Co-codamol two four times a day, and Oromorph as necessary, with lactulose laxative to counteract the constipation.
I am not in pain now, which isn't too bad as I am only two weeks in.
I had to go to the surgery to have my staples out, which was successful, and I walked to the bottom of the garden today too, so on the whole I am feeling satisfied with how things are going.
I see the physiotherapist on Thursday, and hope I have a kinder experience than you did.
The ice cuff is very comforting.
My mental processes seem a little better today to what they have been.
I have my last blood thinning shot tomorrow. I seem to have got the medication sorted now, Co-codamol two four times a day, and Oromorph as necessary, with lactulose laxative to counteract the constipation.
I am not in pain now, which isn't too bad as I am only two weeks in.
I had to go to the surgery to have my staples out, which was successful, and I walked to the bottom of the garden today too, so on the whole I am feeling satisfied with how things are going.
I see the physiotherapist on Thursday, and hope I have a kinder experience than you did.
The ice cuff is very comforting.
My mental processes seem a little better today to what they have been.
KathyH
post-grad
Nyland, you continue to strive further 
Now walking without an aid and going up and down the stairs - good for you 
Kathy
xx
Now walking without an aid and going up and down the stairs - good for you Kathy
xx
OP
OP
Nyland
post-grad
Last last belly shot was last night. What a great feeling! I did well with PT today. My ROM is up to over 100. I took a little walk in the neighborhood. I'm pretty tired right now.
I love the ice cuff, too.So glad that you're feeling a bit better today. I've been feeling really down and I don't like it one bit.
ladyj
senior
Its strange isn't it?
One moment it is like being trapped in a pit, and then something amazing happens, and you realise that you are actually making good progress. My son in law's mother popped round today, bringing me presents and cards, and it was lovely to see her, however at the end of her visit I was hot, sweaty and exhausted, then after tea I went out onto the patio and walked across it, no crutches, no stick, NO LIMP!
Of course, then I was exhausted again, but such is life.
Well done with the ROM. Mine was 90 when I left hospital but it hasn't been measured since.
I think we are going to make it, you and I
One moment it is like being trapped in a pit, and then something amazing happens, and you realise that you are actually making good progress. My son in law's mother popped round today, bringing me presents and cards, and it was lovely to see her, however at the end of her visit I was hot, sweaty and exhausted, then after tea I went out onto the patio and walked across it, no crutches, no stick, NO LIMP!
Of course, then I was exhausted again, but such is life.
Well done with the ROM. Mine was 90 when I left hospital but it hasn't been measured since.
I think we are going to make it, you and I
Lori-M
senior
I think we are going to make it, you and I
:iagree: Indeed! And continue inspiring the rest of us!
OP
OP
Nyland
post-grad
"I think we are going to make it, you and I" 
This afternoon my son, DIL, and my precious little side kick came by. I was sound asleep in the recliner. My baby stroked my face, and I opened my eyes. The 3 of them were standing above me looking at me.
They got their bathing suits on and I went out to the pool to watch. Then they made dinner, cleaned up and left. What a wonderful way to wake up from an unexpected nap!
" This afternoon my son, DIL, and my precious little side kick came by. I was sound asleep in the recliner. My baby stroked my face, and I opened my eyes. The 3 of them were standing above me looking at me.
They got their bathing suits on and I went out to the pool to watch. Then they made dinner, cleaned up and left. What a wonderful way to wake up from an unexpected nap!
ladyj
senior
"I think we are going to make it, you and I
This afternoon my son, DIL, and my precious little side kick came by. I was sound asleep in the recliner. My baby stroked my face, and I opened my eyes. The 3 of them were standing above me looking at me.
What a lovely way to wake up!
OP
OP
Nyland
post-grad
I've been re-reading many stories today, just trying to get a grip. Today is 3 weeks for me. I'm doing ok. I remember everyone saying that they were so glad that they had their knee replaced while I was on deck. When will I feel like that? I mean, I'm glad that it is behind me, and I do know that eventually I will be so glad that I had it done, but when will that feeling .....even teeny tiny feelings of it set in? When will I want to tell everyone that I am so glad that I had this done? It's hard, it's harder than I figured when I read your stories. I'm tired. I'm in a funk. I'm not in pain per se, but I'm stiff and I ache and the PT exercises hurt. She did massage the tight backs of my knees today and it felt like heaven. I hate to be a debbie downer, but when do most turn that corner? Thanks!
rosi
junior member
Oh Nyland, don't ever apologize for feeling down. We've all felt the way you're feeling at some point. Remember that anesthesia, medication, pain, and physical shock are all ganging up on you, ready to upset your normal brain chemistry. I suggest keeping a diary of sorts. Even if you write one or two sentences a day, you will be able to look back and realize that you have had a good day, and I 'm guessing you are right around the corner from a "hey this is feeking better" kind of day. Your knee will start giving you subtle signs that it's settling in to give you years of pain free movement. Keeping a journal can help you recognize those signs. I remember my first pain free steps at about 4 weeks post op. then they were brief and fleeting, now I have more pain free steps than steps of pain. We're all like kids at Christmas, impatient, and cranky. Just remember Christmas always came, and so will your recovery.
Baby steps, Nyland.
Baby steps, Nyland.
OP
OP
Nyland
post-grad
Thanks, Rosi! You're right, and I will!
bottomshollow
Former BoneSmart staff member
It's just been three weeks. You make it sound like a lifetime. And it was a pretty tough three weeks and, of course, it feels like it's been a lifetime. You're sore and achy and can't get comfortable, PT is not really much fun, and you are feeling blue on top of all this.
What a bummer!!
TIME & PATIENCE----TIME & PATIENCE----TIME & PATIENCE----there are a few more hurtles and potholes waiting down the road for you. The famous "tight rubber band feeling", nights you can't sleep, moments you thinks you never want to see another mind numbing TV show, or those zingers that stop you short when nerves start to fire up, the aching shins because you were on your feet too much----oh, just a world of more fun and games---and even with all this----it's getting better and better all along. Then one day--I don't know when--4 months, 5 months, 6 months---you realize that things are going really, really well and most days you can do what needs to be done without pain and swelling, and you can do things you want to do without pain and swelling----and then you know --- you love your new knee!
I believed from the beginning that recovery was going to be tough and that I would have to persevere, but after the first 2 weeks, I just had a wonderful recovery. Oh, I elevated and iced, I didn't sleep well during the night, I had the tight rubber bands from month 2 until sometime in month 5, I had those nerve zingers, I had the sore achy shins, but I didn't have the grinding unending bone on bone pain that meant I had to sit down 30 minutes for every 15 I was on my feet. Even the bad times during recovery were so much better than the bad times before the surgery. I just felt that everything that happened was normal for my recovery. And I was really lucky---I only felt blue for one night after my second surgery. I am a cock-eyed optomist--I see the world through rose colored glasses--and my glass is always half full.
IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER, SWEETIE! I promise you it will, but the real answer to your question, "When will I be glad I did this and when will I turn the corner?" is
![[Bonesmart.org] I have a new knee!](https://bonesmart.org/forum/attachments/dunnokitty-1-gif.3614/ "[Bonesmart.org] I have a new knee!")
Take care of yourself, pick your chin up off the floor and cheer up---that's orders from headquarters! Keep us posted. We care.
What a bummer!!TIME & PATIENCE----TIME & PATIENCE----TIME & PATIENCE----there are a few more hurtles and potholes waiting down the road for you. The famous "tight rubber band feeling", nights you can't sleep, moments you thinks you never want to see another mind numbing TV show, or those zingers that stop you short when nerves start to fire up, the aching shins because you were on your feet too much----oh, just a world of more fun and games---and even with all this----it's getting better and better all along. Then one day--I don't know when--4 months, 5 months, 6 months---you realize that things are going really, really well and most days you can do what needs to be done without pain and swelling, and you can do things you want to do without pain and swelling----and then you know --- you love your new knee!
I believed from the beginning that recovery was going to be tough and that I would have to persevere, but after the first 2 weeks, I just had a wonderful recovery. Oh, I elevated and iced, I didn't sleep well during the night, I had the tight rubber bands from month 2 until sometime in month 5, I had those nerve zingers, I had the sore achy shins, but I didn't have the grinding unending bone on bone pain that meant I had to sit down 30 minutes for every 15 I was on my feet. Even the bad times during recovery were so much better than the bad times before the surgery. I just felt that everything that happened was normal for my recovery. And I was really lucky---I only felt blue for one night after my second surgery. I am a cock-eyed optomist--I see the world through rose colored glasses--and my glass is always half full.
IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER, SWEETIE! I promise you it will, but the real answer to your question, "When will I be glad I did this and when will I turn the corner?" is
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Nyland
post-grad
Thank you, Judy! You ALWAYS make me feel better. It's going to be a GREAT Christmas! 
1ELISEA
big-cheese
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Everyone, my dear???? Everyone told you they were glad to have it done?? Noooooo... go back and read my posts from that time under ACK! OMG! TKR on May 29th! Read my responses at 4 weeks, #197 and #203, and I still wasn't. I did not say that and what you've state as an observation is one of the reasons why.
For me, saying "Oh how great it is to have a new knee" isn't telling the whole story. I mean, yes, I am getting to the point, at two and a half months, where it is finally feeling ok, but did I feel that way at 3 weeks? Ahhhh, nooooo.... I did not.
I was only getting over the rest, ice, pain meds, and repeat stage. And then I went back to crutches for another three weeks. I was nascent to this new knee process. How could I possibly know at that stage what was coming down the road.
So at 3 weeks where should you be? Exactly where you are! Just coming off the terrible stage following surgery and keeping properly medicated and iced and grabbing naps whenever you can! Fairly soon you will feel better enough to put a little effort into PT! And then a little bit longer and you will be doing a bit more and so on, that is how the process works, sloooooooowly.
Jacky48
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Nyland, this downer period, thank god, does not last! Just like your knee became unbareably (sp) bad in a gradual period of time, you will wake up one morning and go about your business and then realize, Hey, wait a minute I'm not feeling the stiffness and pain like I was before. And then as days and weeks pass by and the feeling lasts you realize it's not like the arthritis pain that would never go away, this is starting to go away! Then you know that you are happy that you got your knee replaced and Christmas is at your door step and it's great!
Stay well and stay positive my friend the good is yet to come and it will come!
Stay well and stay positive my friend the good is yet to come and it will come!
1ELISEA
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I appreciate Jacky writing as we both provide types of viewpoints and recoveries. I have yet to wake up and not be stiff. Some day, perhaps but not there yet.
Am I feeling better, yes, I am. But I realize I am only two and a half months out and still have lots of healing to do. I don't dwell on it, I take it day by day.
Someone mentioned that the surgeon, after the initial staple removal visit or similar, won't see the patient again until 6 weeks because up until that time we knee replacement folks are not that appreciative of the dr's skills. I would say that is about right. At about 6 weeks is when the tide begins to turn. Hang in there.
Am I feeling better, yes, I am. But I realize I am only two and a half months out and still have lots of healing to do. I don't dwell on it, I take it day by day.
Someone mentioned that the surgeon, after the initial staple removal visit or similar, won't see the patient again until 6 weeks because up until that time we knee replacement folks are not that appreciative of the dr's skills. I would say that is about right. At about 6 weeks is when the tide begins to turn. Hang in there.
OP
OP
Nyland
post-grad
Hi Elisea,
I definitely remember your posts about not being thrilled. I loved that you were so completely honest. I keep thinking about people that have told me how easy and great it all was. I think of my vice chancellor, my dance director friend, my husband's firefight friends.....all said that it was the best thing they ever did. I do believe them. i see how much they enjoy life, I'm just in a funk. I love your posts and often go back and re-read them!
Hi Jacky,
Thank you for always being so generous with your words of wisdom. You are such an inspiration. It is fitting that your name is Jacky, too! My absolute idol is Jackie Kennedy. Professionally, sometimes I even ask myself, "What would Jackie do?" She was the epitome of grace! Now, during this sometimes tedious recovery, I can ask myself, "What would Jacky do?"
Thanks a million!
I definitely remember your posts about not being thrilled. I loved that you were so completely honest. I keep thinking about people that have told me how easy and great it all was. I think of my vice chancellor, my dance director friend, my husband's firefight friends.....all said that it was the best thing they ever did. I do believe them. i see how much they enjoy life, I'm just in a funk. I love your posts and often go back and re-read them!
Hi Jacky,
Thank you for always being so generous with your words of wisdom. You are such an inspiration. It is fitting that your name is Jacky, too! My absolute idol is Jackie Kennedy. Professionally, sometimes I even ask myself, "What would Jackie do?" She was the epitome of grace! Now, during this sometimes tedious recovery, I can ask myself, "What would Jacky do?"
Thanks a million!
