TKR Jane B.'s New Knee
- Thread starter Jane B.
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Lusknewknees
junior member
Jane , how cool that you were able to travel (albeit with the challenges). You're a braver soul than I. I have to travel for business periodically, but my only expected trip is not until April, so I hope I will be a lot further along by then. How far out were you when you flew to Florida? BTW, my company's HQ are located in Waltham. I was there in early May and wished I could have stayed longer to sightsee, but wanted to be home for Mothers Day, so I returned sooner than I could have. I will be back again, I'm certain. Really lots to see!
Lusknewknees
junior member
That would be cool! I'll keep in mind and let you know when I'm going to be in the area. Probably some time next year.
OP
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Jane B.
graduate
I sent this to my friend in Cali who just had his two knees replaced, at different times, by Brad Penenberg in LA. The doc and staff are still amazed my friend did so well. He truly has had a super recovery.
This out of focus shot
![[Bonesmart.org] Jane B.'s New Knee](https://bonesmart.org/forum/attachments/flexion-jpg.27074/ "[Bonesmart.org] Jane B.'s New Knee")
is not my best work:
This out of focus shot
Great Flexion ! 
Minnie's knees
post-grad
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Jane B.
graduate
I am Kathy/Minnie, thanks. Too bad That Knee is here with me. But I am doing a tiny bit more each day.
I was going to go back home to attend to some family business, but then I read about the polar vortex.
Um, no thanks.
I was going to go back home to attend to some family business, but then I read about the polar vortex.
Um, no thanks.
Paisleydoll
junior member
What, you don't want to come back to the loverly 30 degree weather? Whyever not???
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Jane B.
graduate
Nine weeks:
I'm sitting on the couch icing The Knee this morning. Yesterday I gardened hard clearing brush and small trees. Everything grows so fast in Florida and the gardens are overwhelmed. So I cut, clipped, dragged, yanked, and carried all manner of large vegetation yesterday.
I am sore. And I am happy. I know that I can do more hard core gardening in the future. I will have to get a little roll around thingy for weeding, because kneeling is just so not going to happen.
Before this I've tried to limit myself to small jobs around the house. I wasn't here much last year and my knee was a mess. So I'm pacing myself doing inside jobs, like cleaning out closets and organizing.
I find my mood is much improved by doing short errands. It makes all the difference in the world to just get out and do normal things. I'm still on the couch a lot of the day, reading, but I'm up more and more.
I wish I were completely off of narcotics, but still take a 5 mg dose most evenings. Whatever.
A lot of my discomfort is in the back of my calf and thigh muscles. I don't know why, it just is the way of This Knee recovery. I've also just started wearing a soft velcro wrap knee brace to bed at night to help settle things down. It does seem to help and gets rid of the pillow between the knees.
My knee still feels solid. I wish I didn't have the medial pain I had before surgery, but the twenty something PT said that should go away eventually. And as I said elsewhere, after a few minutes I can no longer stand still, I need to move.
I have to remind myself that I would not be back to work yet, and to slow down!
I'm sitting on the couch icing The Knee this morning. Yesterday I gardened hard clearing brush and small trees. Everything grows so fast in Florida and the gardens are overwhelmed. So I cut, clipped, dragged, yanked, and carried all manner of large vegetation yesterday.
I am sore. And I am happy. I know that I can do more hard core gardening in the future. I will have to get a little roll around thingy for weeding, because kneeling is just so not going to happen.
Before this I've tried to limit myself to small jobs around the house. I wasn't here much last year and my knee was a mess. So I'm pacing myself doing inside jobs, like cleaning out closets and organizing.
I find my mood is much improved by doing short errands. It makes all the difference in the world to just get out and do normal things. I'm still on the couch a lot of the day, reading, but I'm up more and more.
I wish I were completely off of narcotics, but still take a 5 mg dose most evenings. Whatever.
A lot of my discomfort is in the back of my calf and thigh muscles. I don't know why, it just is the way of This Knee recovery. I've also just started wearing a soft velcro wrap knee brace to bed at night to help settle things down. It does seem to help and gets rid of the pillow between the knees.
My knee still feels solid. I wish I didn't have the medial pain I had before surgery, but the twenty something PT said that should go away eventually. And as I said elsewhere, after a few minutes I can no longer stand still, I need to move.
I have to remind myself that I would not be back to work yet, and to slow down!
PrincessTia
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I'm sort of a natural "slug," so lying around is just fine for me. 
But hearing about your gardening work makes me think that maybe I could do some real gardening again! I have missed being able to kneel, and it sounds as if that won't really be possible even after both surgeries, but sitting on one of those little carts might make it possible to do some "dirt work." They are generally so low that I couldn't get up off of one before, but now I have hope that my knees will be able to handle that in time.
I can't imagine gardening in Florida! It seems like it would be "four steps forward, three steps backward" when the vegetation roared back. (Sort of like healing from a TKR.)
But hearing about your gardening work makes me think that maybe I could do some real gardening again! I have missed being able to kneel, and it sounds as if that won't really be possible even after both surgeries, but sitting on one of those little carts might make it possible to do some "dirt work." They are generally so low that I couldn't get up off of one before, but now I have hope that my knees will be able to handle that in time.I can't imagine gardening in Florida! It seems like it would be "four steps forward, three steps backward" when the vegetation roared back. (Sort of like healing from a TKR.
)
tmwillia
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I did all my gardening before surgery sitting on the ground and reaching. Sort of combines gardening and yoga. The biggest problem is getting off the ground without going on my knees. I've tried doing some of my exercises on the floor since surgery and can't recommend it. TerriM 10/28/13( RTKR)
10/14/14 (LTKR)
marmora
post-grad
Jane @Jane B.
You seem to be using your knee to maximum potential at 9 weeks with your garden work, great to hear
It's a balance between activity and rest and to find the balance that works best for each of us.
The linger pain cause be discouraging, but it's still early days.and as @Legin suggests stretches may help.
At 15 weeks, still have pain at back of knee and sometimes medial pain, doesn't ease out with activity, I almost forget it at times.
Take care and enjoy the Florida weather while you can,
Cathie
You seem to be using your knee to maximum potential at 9 weeks with your garden work, great to hear
It's a balance between activity and rest and to find the balance that works best for each of us.
The linger pain cause be discouraging, but it's still early days.and as @Legin suggests stretches may help.
At 15 weeks, still have pain at back of knee and sometimes medial pain, doesn't ease out with activity, I almost forget it at times.
Take care and enjoy the Florida weather while you can,
Cathie
OP
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Jane B.
graduate
New York Times article today:
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/think-twice-before-choosing-knee-replacement/?ref=magazine
The comments seem more interesting than the article. I think that the Times could have done a better job.
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/think-twice-before-choosing-knee-replacement/?ref=magazine
The comments seem more interesting than the article. I think that the Times could have done a better job.
marmora
post-grad
OP
OP
Jane B.
graduate
I agree with you Cathie, about when we'll feel truly thankful this surgery was done. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but not in the middle of the night when I am wide awake and in pain.
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