PKR IRONGIRL PKR 5 months after

As far as recovery goes, PKR is not much different from TKR. Both will take an average of a year for complete healing. Very similar work is done. I was shocked by my PKR recovery as I believed the watered down version I had read about beforehand.
 
Day 19 post op recovery. ROM seems to be improving day by day. I can do foot over foot going upstairs with rail support. my house is nothing but stairs to get any where so I end up taking some stairs at least 8-10 times a day so am getting more proficient on them at least going up.

I am walking outside about 1.5 miles daily with my running partner dog who himself is recovering from a broken ankle so he is as slow as I am. I am up to almost 80 on the CPM but think I am at 90 with out it. I did some bike pedaling today but cant yet get to a full revolution with out the OUCH factor. Did about 35 min of boxing on my feet with my VR set and felt ok. Will start my upper body strength trainin this week as well, but will stay seated initially for sure.
I have been out to the store a couple of times including Walmart which is always an adventure in itself. I continue to ice and elevate several times a day especially after working out.
I have my first formal PT session today so will be interesting to see where I am really at.
Pain wise, still taking Advil or Tylenol at nite but I am going to try and skip tonite. If I position my leg in a certain way I am with out pain so not really sure how much the pain meds are helping anyway.
Everyday seems to be little improvements but am really trying to pace myself. Will see how I feel after PT.
I found some great You tube videos by a PT specialist on a variety of things such as sleeping positions, easy ways to increase flex and extension, some exercises to learn how to walk again, how to walk with a cane etc. I found the walking video extremely helpful as I was learning how to walk again in the wrong way and just doing some of his suggested exercises for one day helped immensely.
search Total Therapy Solutions on YOu Tube in interested.
 
Week 4 of recovery. ROM at 105/0 with some effort. Walking almost 3 miles a day, mostly on flat trail and hiking poles as needed. I really have to focus on my walking form as it had been so wonky these last few years.
turned in my CPM on monday, kind of miss it as it was the lazy way to do heel slides.
Pain during the day still minimal even after PT. Still some discomfort at nite so still rely on Advil or Tylenol. I do notice Advil helps quite a bit with the inflammation so my knee feels pretty good in the morning, but I cant tolerate taking it very often.
I am in PT 2x week. My PT is very respectful of my pain level and not pushing me beyond discomfort. I have been working with him for about 2 years on all my other surgeries so he knows my knees well.
Finally did some driving yesterday (just to PT). Little apprehensive but no hard braking needed.
I was hoping to take a trip to see my 93 yo mom on her Bday on Monday but just dont think I can tolerate a 4 hr drive and a strange bed yet.
Can’t quite get a full ROM on the bike yet but did on my seated elliptical, an improvement from 3 days ago.
things are moving along slowly but surely.
 
@Irongirl56 sounds like you are doing fantastic! Just think how great you will feel as each monthly milestone passes. Congratulations.
 
@Flutter1 thanks, that is what keeps be going! Hope you are enjoying your summer!
 
Irongirl, pain at night often means you might have overdone it during the day. 3 miles is a lot after just 4 weeks... I couldn’t walk 3 miles today. Make sure you’re not overdoing it. Are you still icing and elevating?
 
Sisterpat, I do still ice and elevate 3-4 times a day. Pain at nite seems to be positional for the most part. If I can get it situated just right it quits hurting.
 
Week 7 post op update:
Improving slowly but surely. PT yesterday ROM 119, extension 0 after a good warmup. Walking is becoming more natural as those two things improve. Think that is something to note since I was really pushing the walking early on but with out some ROM and extension it was futile to practice it so much.

Driving with no problems although get a few zingers in the driving position as I go down the road.
Stairs are getting easier, up without rails, down still with rails but both foot over foot.
Been doing all household chores, vacuum, dishes, laundry, all the fun stuff For a few weeks now. Even some yard work.

Riding the bike easily now with my feet clipped into my pedals ( my training indoor bike); tolerating a 45 min ride at this time. Although my pt says too long at one time, and should do more frequent shorter rides.

Did the standing elliptical today with no pain as well. Plan to get into the pool next week, OS said I still had one small scab area he wanted to heal up before entering the pool. It is minuscule so should be good to go by then.

Most of my discomfort for everything is still in my calf and my quad. My calf pain feels like a sprained muscle since day 1 post op. PT is working it and that seems to help but it really bothers during extension work.
I had some pretty good quad tendenosis prior to surgery so thinking that my be some of the issue as well in addition to still have some swelling.
Taking Advil about every other nite only. Always feels better in the morning after I take it but as I said before, hard on the body so try to limit.

Saw my OS for 6 week Follow up and said all is well. X-rays looked good. No return until 6 mos visit.
It is an amazing feeling to have some times when I am completely pain free. I will be happy to not run again if I stay out of the pain cave!

Exercise wise I can squat well, get on the floor with no problems, doing some upper body and full body strength work, riding indoor bike and elliptical, doing some of my Virtual Reality workouts that include upper body and squatting, and walks of 1.5-2 miles.
PT home work includes extension work, ROM work like wall squats, heel slides on the wall, heel raises.

so coming along slowly but surely. I am headed to our Off grid cabin in the woods tomorrow so will see how that goes assuming the heat and the smoke dont chase us out first.
 
Today is Week 8 since surgery. As last week things continue to improve slowly.
ROM still about 113-119, ext 0. Feel like I walk more naturally.
Pain same as last week but calf and quads seem to be improving. Taking Advil at nite as needed.
Still have some swelling as expected but seems to be a bit less this week. I still ice and elevate 2-3 x day.

Doing PT 2x week, mostly biking to warm up, then some soft tissue work, some EMS on my quad then icing.
PT exercises at home: calf raises, biking, prone quad stretches, squats
I am also biking, clipped in with resistance for 45 min, strength work on upper body, walking 3 plus miles.
Did a short 10 min ride on my Ebike outside. Felt great but seat may still be a little low so will hold off on that for another week. Hope to ride to PT next week then
Will be hitting the pool tomorrow for lap swim. Hoping at least 2000 yds since it has been awhile since i was in the water.

Spent 5 days at our Montana cabin in the mountains. Lots of activity and moving around and my knee really did great. I think the not sitting so much like I tend to do at home really helped. As we are off grid have to haul water, monitor solar panels, outside plumbing, lots of land work. But did great.

I do seem to be having quite a bit of Right hip pain, groin, upper thigh etc and at one point last week could not even walk until I took some Advil that nite. PT evaluated today and suggested an xray. I have always had right hip issues but this was worse than anything I have experienced. Given that I limped on that leg for so long probably worth checking.

Seem to be improving a little bit each week. Excited to get back in the water tomorrow.
 
Crikey, that is an enormous amount of exercise for 8 weeks. I am at 5 months, was pretty fit beforehand, but if I did all that even now it would cause a great deal of pain and swelling. You really are Irongirl! I’d love to know your secret. Is it that you have a brilliant surgeon, or that your pain tolerance is extreme? In any case, well done, I’m envious!
 
I’m sorry your hip is not happy but glad your knee is doing so well! Maybe the hip is adjusting to the new knee.
 
Irongirl, sounds like great progress! Remember the Skeleton Song, the hip bone’s connected to the back bone and so forth. Everything’s connected, and having a new gait will make everything else have to adjust. Your hip will settle down. It’s a common complaint.
 
@Ghostpipe , I do have a pretty high pain tolerance, as an aging triathlete I train and race through a lot of pain issues. not always a virtue though as that is probably how I get into trouble!

I am hoping it is just new gait effecting my hip but have asked for an X-ray just to check and will do this week.
. this hip as always bothered me but this pain is different than before even during my other surgeries on this knee.
I do feel it is impacting my quad as my knee feels fine but my quad is limiting my ROM and movement.
Will post what the xray shows.

Off to the pool this am.
 
Well my hip xray was normal, thank goodness. But woke up today with bad low back pain. Not sure if maybe related to swimming or poor sleep position.
PT thinks my hip/groin pain is nerve related vs skeletal or muscle. So had a spa day at PT ie heat pad, gentle quad massage and icing.

Guess things will just have to settle out as has been said many times :)

on the flip side my ROM went to 120.

Tally ho……
 
Week 11 Post op. My PT says week 12 is when things start to finally settle out as far as movement, pain etc. and I am having very subtle improvements. It’s kind of like you wake up and start moving around and realize you have less pain, dont limp, have more extension, more ROM.

Here is what I can now do:
I was able to drive 400 miles round trip to Montana to see my 93yo mother, with no discomfort. My knee didnt hurt nor did my sciatica act up!
Easily walking 4 + miles on the trails or road. Able to do spin classes on my bike for an hour and can almost stand up while on the bike (Part of a spin class)
Swimming is no problem.
Still going to PT 2x week and now working on quad strengthening more than anything else. My quad tendonosis pain is finally abating a bit.

Swelling is almost gone. I do still get stiff and my ROM is currently 124. I am still icing a couple times a day after activity and right before bed.
Pain meds only include Advil at nite after a high activity day. My knee really doesn’t hurt at all but a few twinges at nite.
Heading back to our Montana cabin in the woods and looking forward to being more active than last time we were there.
Overall things are coming along great and I am ecstatic to be more active without my pre surgery pain. I cant remember the last time my knees felt this great.

I do keep having dreams that I am running again so maybe some day will try a little jog.

those of you that are just getting into recovery relax and take it easy, dont fret the ROM, as they say it will come. Dont push yourselves too hard in the recovery process. Patience is a virtue they say!
 
Hi all, I keep meaning to post an update and finally getting to it. I am 5mos post op R PKR medial side this week. All seems to be going well but still dealing with pain at the top of my calf and can only assume it is a darned bakers cyst that wont go away. It’s better than it was a month ago but still acts up pretty good on some of my higher effort workouts.
My quad tendinitis has finally resolved a bit more though!

I did a Veterans Day 5K today on a hilly paved course and was quite surprised that nothing hurt. Was able to power walk a 13 and half min/mile pace, so thrilled about that.
I did a 5 K trail run (power walked) a few weeks ago as well and felt pretty good even on some of the more technical parts of the course.
I am still in PT sporadically but am going to stop this week as my PT isnt doing any more for me than what I can do at home which is heavy Lifts to strengthen quads, hips and glutes. I strength train 2 x a week anyway so figure I can handle it on my own.

Activity wise I am biking, swimming and power walking and lifting most days of the week and tolerating well. I can do floor exercise on hands and knees ok too. Have been doing a lot of work on our property in Montana and holding up well with that too. My ROM is still not much past 125 as the bakers cyst pain is still quite prominent when I bend.

I am no longer taking anything for pain, not even Advil at nite but still have some occasional pains on the side of the knee. I dont ice much anymore either although probably should after some of these races.
My swelling is almost gone but there is some persistent areas compared to my left knee.
It still amazes me when I am doing something and realize I am no longer limping and I am more nimble especially on the trails.
I return to my OS for my 6 mos post op in December, I will be asking him about the bakers cyst thing.

Anyone else have this persistent issue after replacement? I am wondering if it can be drained etc.

Overall things seem to being going well. It is so great to be racing again even if it just power walking. Next up is the Turkey Trot! Happy Recovery to you all.
 
@Irongirl56
You are doing really well for 5 months post op! Complete recovery can take an average of a year, even for a partial, so you will continue to see improvement.

By the way, I merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread, as we prefer that members in recovery have only one thread.

This benefits you because all your information is in one place, easy to find, and maintains a nice journal for you.

This also benefits our staff, as your information is all in one place, and we often go back through your thread for previous details, so we know what you‘ve been through which helps us advise you better.

So, please keep all your posts in this thread. If you’d like a new title, let us know what you want, and we’ll change it for you.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.
How can I find my threads and posts?

Best wishes on your continuing recovery! :flwrysmile:
 
Wow you are doing great. I am still struggling to do stairs and my leg strength training is limited to very light weights. I think you went in with a much stronger leg than me and I think that makes a huge difference.

My main issue is patella tendon pain if I exercise the leg too much.
 
It is so great to be racing again even if it just power walking. Next up is the Turkey Trot!
Now that's interesting. Until reading that I'd thought you were a dedicated runner just holding back a bit after PKR but desperate to get back to it.

If it is competition that's the driver, I commend you again to cycling / cycle racing. My knees give absolutely zero trouble on the bike - indeed I pedal better now than before (but then my knees were pretty bad & I was bow-legged). Your knee will not hold you back, you could ride to any level otherwise attainable.
 

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