TKR Kevin's knee journey - ups and downs

[EalingGran]

My knee still pops but not as much! We are walking quite a bit and my new knee is holding up. It aches at the end of the day, but no longer swells. It is a champ on stairs

Great update!

Don't push it, and recovery is 6 months to a year not 2 months. If I knew all of that, I would have had an easier time.

Too right. I still see improvements in strength and achiness at 18 months.
I stood in an early morning queue for 40 minutes, to be first to sort out an issue this morning and realised I wasn't miserable at the end of it. It really is a marathon not a sprint and those who say you can still improve up to two years are right.
Happy Anniversary!

 

[kevinR]

Countdown to July 29th.

Right knee basically saying it's had enough.

Had my preop with my doc to get all my questions answered. Did my pre-op physical. Bought the last few items I did not have last time.

Less than 3 weeks to go!!!

 

[Layla]

Sounds like you’re ready to roll, Kevin.
Lots of comfort to you as you wait for the 29th….not too long now.
Happy Saturday!
@kevinR

 

[Layla]

Best Wishes on Monday!
Please join us again, once you're feeling up to it.
@kevinR

 

[kevinR]

New knee tomorrow. Spent the last 2 weeks having as much fun as possible. Not looking forward to it, but this knee has gotten so bad it has to go.

 

[Jockette]

Best wishes for tomorrow!

 

[mendogal]

Looking forward to your post op post!

 

[sistersinhim]

We're routing for you! I pray you have a successful surgery.

 

[kevinR]

Here we go

 

[kevinR]

Day 7 Post Op! 2nd Time's a charm

First time around, I never got pain under control. This time around Everything has been great. I decided to stick to an every 4 hours, 10 mg Oxy regiment even if it meant not doing anything. It worked really well. With few exceptions, pain has been under control. I have been napping, watching the Olympics icing and chilling. After 5 days, I switched to 100 mg of Tramadol every 4 hours. I have done the usual exercises with only a little pain. Got on the bike yesterday and was able to do full rotations (doc said it was fine to do). So far, I have not had any of the night pain/lack of sleep from before. The stars seemed to have aligned.

 

[sistersinhim]

What an uplifting post! How amazing this recovery is going.

 

[mendogal]

the one week update we love to read!!!
May every step of this journey be smooth!

 

[benne68]

I decided to stick to an every 4 hours, 10 mg Oxy regiment even if it meant not doing anything. It worked really well. With few exceptions, pain has been under control.

Great to read this. I'm sure it will help others who are in their early days of recovery see the value of staying ahead of the pain.

Thank you for sharing!

 

[Layla]

Wonderful news, Kevin! Keep doing what you're doing...seems to be working well for you.
Have a great week and keep in touch. We thank you for sharing your journey here.
@kevinR

 

[kevinR]

End of week 2:

Recovery still ahead of last time. Cannot be sure whether it is the cause, but since I was still in PT for my other knee, I did a lot of prehab for this knee. I have had no swelling of note, and thanks to drugs lots less pain. My ROM is 0 to 110. Silver bandage off and scar looks great.

Sadly not all good. I have started with everyone's favorite, night pain. After the first week I lowered Oxy dose to 5 mg/4 hours so that I would be awake. I was up most of the night a few nights ago, and could not get pain under control with ice or tens. Finally the next day, I went back to 10 mg Oxy and got things under control. A bit stoned, but pain under control.

 

[sistersinhim]

That nighttime pain is such a....well PAIN! Taking your pain meds makes more sense than being awake with pain, so go for it. So what if you are a little stoned, at least you will rest more!

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary, Righty!
I hope you're doing well and slowly getting back to life.
Summer is fading fast. Enjoy it!
@kevinR

 

[kevinR]

7 week report out.

I think the best thing I did was to keep notes during my first knee recovery so that I have something to compare to when things seem stuck. Recovery has been remarkably similar. So here is where things are at 7 weeks.

1) ROM 0-130. PT pretty much the same as before. Because I have been through it before, I have been goiing 1x per week. Between exercise and biking, PT takes about 1 1/2 hours a day. Most of that is biking.

2) Stopped icing during the night about a week ago and sleeping starting to work again. 6 weeks in sleep still sucked.

3) Still in 2 tramadol during the day and 1 oxy at night.

4) knee still hurts when I do too much, but things are getting better.

Scheduled a Hawaii vacation in December and Wildlife trip in January to make sure I have something to look foward to.

Will check back at 12 weeks.

 

[Layla]

Thanks for the update! Even though we shouldn't compare recoveries, it's a temptation we all seem to fall into.
I loved reading progress reports leading up to my surgery in an attempt to gauge when I'd be doing this, or that. You certainly have some fun and excitement to look forward to in December and January, which will be here in a flash. You're doing great!
All the best until next time, Kevin.
@kevinR

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary, Kevin!
Wishing you a wonderful week!
@kevinR