TKR Jaye’s recovery thread

[jaybird]

Thanks, sistersinhim. I’m really surprised at how quickly I’m progressing - it’s certainly far better than I was expecting. I’ve only ever had one other surgery. It was more than 20 years ago and I honestly don’t remember if I recovered quickly from that one or not.

Cleaners came today, so Art and I went out for lunch at Jim’s to get out of the house and their way. That was my first meal out since surgery. After lunch, I was feeling pretty good, so we went over to the old Wind River office park (empty since they were bought by Intel) to try driving. It went great. I’ll stick to Alameda for now (25mph speed limit on the whole island), but I had no problems hitting the brakes every time Art yelled “pede” (for pedestrian) or with getting in and out of the driver’s side. Then I drove over to the boat ramp near our house that the city is rebuilding, and then home. All in all, we were out of the house for about 2.5 hours, and it felt great.

My other milestone today was getting up the entire flight of stairs foot over foot. I’d been doing half the flight for a couple of days, but this morning I felt strong enough to try the whole thing and I did it.

 

[Helizabug]

Wow @jaybird! It’s so great to hear a story like yours! Enjoy that progress!

 

[Jockette]

Wow is right!

 

[jaybird]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m far from my usual self. When I’m not doing stuff, I’m in my recliner elevating and icing. I sleep with my leg up on a wedge (though I’ve been surprised that sleeping on my back has been no big deal). I haven’t gone sailing or rowing in nearly a month, and this is the first time in at least 48 years that I can say that. My knee is stiff, and sometimes sore (mostly just stiff, though). I just feel so much better than I expected to at this point.

Overall though, I am thrilled.

 

[Helizabug]

@jaybird You must miss the water, but soon . . . soon! I still can’t wait to try rowing a scull. It’s one of my visualization exercises to get me through frustrating down times.

Even though you’re making progress, we all know that it’s hard work on a rocky path. Celebrate the progress!

 

[jaybird]

Helizabug, i’m just glad it’s at least winter now. If this were summer and I was able to sit out on our deck and watch the paddleboarders, outrigger canoers, kayakers, rowers and and what all going by in the channel behind the house - now that would be torture. As it is, it’s pretty stormy out today, and I just look out at our little sailboat pulling on her lines in the slip and my rowboat turtled on the dock and think: soon, soon.

 

[jaybird]

First outpatient PT today. ROM was at 125°/0°. Taught me how to get up and down off the floor. I still need something to hold on to, but it’s a step in the direction of being able to go back to yoga and to maintain my aquarium on my own (weekly water changes require sitting on the floor, so I’m currently paying a guy to come in and do them for me.) Added straight leg raises to my exercises. Did timed sit/stands (I think I’ll pass on those next time - I sit and stand enough on my own and don’t get the point of doing so at speed - it’s not a race.)

Kaiser does most PT as a group class. He thought I’d be fine with only once a week (yay!). After 6 weeks I see him for a re-eval. Took a pain pill before the session (Art drove me there), but I don’t think I’ll do that again. I hate feeling dopey, which is how I feel right now.

 

[sistersinhim]

Did timed sit/stands (I think I’ll pass on those next time - I sit and stand enough on my own and don’t get the point of doing so at speed - it’s not a race.)

Oh no, your knee is much too young to be doing this. I think you are going to need to find a PT that knows how to rehab a joint replacement. You are not in training. You're healing from a major, traumatic surgery.

Took a pain pill before the session

You shouldn't take a pain pill before PT. It will dull the pain that you need to feel. That is your knee's way of letting you know that it isn't ready for doing that right now.

I hope you don't pay for your PT's ignorance in having you do too much too soon. I suggest you ice and elevate as much as you can.

 

[Helizabug]

I was so psyched when I figured out how to get up off the floor last week. I showed my husband, my kids, posted it on FaceBook. “Alert the media!” I cried. Then I remembered that I hadn’t been using my left leg to get up off the floor in years.

Didn’t diminish my joy at recovering the ability to spend time on the floor, though.

 

[jaybird]

>> Then I remembered...

Ha!

I’m actually fine this afternoon - I’ve iced a bit, but also went for a 3/4 mile walk with Art, and rode the stationary bike for three 5 minute sessions.

Some of that was just my needing to work off nervous energy this afternoon. We are unfortunately at the point when we need to euthanize our 20 year old cat, and due to a mix up with the visiting vet, our appointment got cancelled, then rescheduled at the last minute from 1:00 to 5:00 this afternoon. The stress of having gotten emotionally prepared for this, coming to terms with the fact that this is the best thing for her, that she is going downhill fast and isn’t going to get any better, and then potentially having to put it off another day was unpleasant, to say the least. I was pacing inside the house, so at least I got a change of scenery by going for a long walk.

 

[sistersinhim]

We are unfortunately at the point when we need to euthanize our 20 year old cat

I can empathize with you and sympathize for you. Last year I had to put down my kitty that was almost 22. It hurts. I have her ashes on my mantle with her photo on the box. I pray that you will be OK and just know that you are doing the best for your baby.

 

[jaybird]

We got through euthanizing Maggie - we used the same pet hospice service as we did for her brother, Bubba, who died 5 days short of three years ago. They are truly extraordinary people.

Art was not up to socializing, but friends had an open house this afternoon and I thought getting together with people would do me good. It did. I probably spent too much time on my feet, but what fun. I was able to walk to and from as well, which amounted to about 2/3 of a mile.

As with most large parties in a small town (made even smaller by a strong bias for sailing among the invitees) an acquaintance and I had one of those out of context moments where you recognize someone but can’t recall why. He knew me when I was selling boats because he’s the best small job repair guy around and I used to send him work getting boats ready to go on the market. His wife works with our hosts. It was nice to catch up.

 

[InkedMarie]

I’m sorry Jaybird. I’ve been in your shoes too many times, with dogs and will be there again on Friday. I hope things get easier.

 

[sistersinhim]

I'm so sorry about Maggie. That's all part of being a good pet parent.

It's always fun to catch up with those we haven't seen in a while.

 

[jaybird]

Marie, I’m so sorry. I hope tomorrow isn’t too hard.

Sistersinhim, it’s definitely my least favorite part of having pets. i think we may wait a while before we decide if we want to have pets again right away. We had Maggie for just shy of 20 years, and her brother, Bubba, for just shy of 17, so it feels very weird for us to be the only beings in the house (I tend not to count the fish). The party was a hoot, even though I only stayed about an hour and a half.

I walked a mile all in one go yesterday - two loops around the marina. I hadn’t planned to, but I felt pretty good when I finished loop 1, so I went around again. Surprised myself, actually. I made a prime rib for dinner last night (a bit extravagant for just the two of us, but soooo delicious) so after I get back from PT this morning, I’ll be slicing that up for the weekend.

 

[sistersinhim]

I've had kitties all my life and can't imagine being without one.

It sounds like your knee is doing amazingly well for less than a month old.

 

[Helizabug]

I’m not a pet person because neither my husband nor I are good caretakers for pets. That just makes me more grateful that there are loving pet owners for all the critters out there. Your cats were lucky to have you to tend and care for them.

 

[jaybird]

My knee is almost back to normal size this morning!

 

[sistersinhim]

Wow, it sure is! As I said before, amazing!

 

[InkedMarie]

Hi @jaybird . Things went fine. Boone went very peacefully but the house is so quiet without him :(