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TKR My Shiny Happy New Knees

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It's the small things that seem to thrill me now. I went to visit a friend today. She has 9 short steps to get to her front door. As I was going up, I realized I wasn't going up one step at a time, but actually going up them one foot, then the next foot on the next step up. I know it was because the rise was short between the steps, but I wanted to jump for joy.
On another note, Friday and today, I stopped doing a lot of the "home exercises" that my physical therapist kept insisting that I do. Instead when I got up, while the coffee was brewing, used my floor foot pedals going backwards very easy for about 5 minutes. Then after coffee, did easy leg stretches. Then got on my new recumbent bike and slowly pedaled for 18 minutes, low setting. I had my music going and felt good enough to sing along! My knee isn't swollen, doesn't hurt, and I was able to go up the stairs, two-footed.
Hummmm...aggressive physical therapy bah humbug!
 
Awesome. Congratulations on taking control for yourself and feeling better. It does feel really great to be able to do any stairs normally - such a treat. I cannot even remember when I stopped doing stairs normally - we just keep adjusting in so many ways to deal with the pain but it is great now to be moving forward. Again, kudos to you.
 
Thanks Leejaa (and others) for the encouragement. Before PT today, following the Bonesmart Mantra, Rest, Ice, Elevate, and Medicate. I spent most of the morning with my ice machine around my leg. Kept my toes on pillows about nose level (higher than I usually do). Took both Ibuprofen and Tylenol before leaving the house. Didn't push myself while there, ROM 104 :egypdance: and didn't cry! My therapist then asked me if I wanted to hear something funny. He said my OS wanted ROM between 120 and 125 by this time in my therapy. I started laughing, and he did too. I said with my fat legs, I didn't see that happening anytime soon. Then my therapist said for my weight and condition, I was doing very good. Which surprised me, since it was really the first encouraging thing he had said.
OS appointment Thursday. Hope he will say ok on the LTKR. But then if he says that my ROM has to be 120 before he will consider it, I will be looking for another OS that day.
 
I am so happy you had a positive PT experience It gives a lift to the spirit to have a laugh. I kept wondering how others had flexion of more than 120 and then as I kept looking at my un operated leg - I was thinking like you this thigh cannot bend any more there is no space so I had the PT measure my other leg. It did not bend more than 120 either. We do what we can with the bodies we have. I how you get your OS to schedule your other knee as you desire. I am going to schedule my other knee for Sept this year- too many issues at work for me to have it any earlier plus my husband hasto have some relaxation time before I have the other knee done and I need to help with yardwork this summer.

Again, I am happy at your positive PT visit.
 
So went to to my OS today. He said I was strong enough and healed enough to get my left knee done. BUT...he was leaving the practice in two weeks, but would schedule me an appointment with another OS to get it done as soon as possible. :happydance: Tues May 21 is when I see that OS. My current OS suggested two more PT sessions, one tomorrow, one Monday. :boohoo: He also said I healed well, and it was obvious that I had worked hard and was pleased with my ROM.
Let's hope my LTKR goes as well.
Thanks to Josephine and everyone for a great site, lots of information, and experiences.
 
Good to hear that you are doing well enough to have your other knee done and eliminate that pain.
 
Ok, it's official! My left knee will be replaced on Tuesday May 28, 2013. I was fortunate that the OS had a cancelation and wanted to know if I was willing to go ahead that quickly. I said YES!

A question, will the PT in the hospital, rehab facility, and at-home be enough to keep my RTKR improving or is it going to set that recovery back some? If so, what can I do to keep improving without aggravating my left knee too much after surgery?

Also, may I have the title changed to RTKR Done, LTKR May 28, 2013?
Thank you.
 
Going in for my pre-op today for my LTKR. Different OS, different hospital (set up better for bariatric patients). Woke up almost in tears though, wondering if it is too soon. I know what to expect now, and that it will be just another step on my journey to getting my life back. So while drinking my coffee, I dropped in here to say Hi!
 
Got a good to go on the LTKR for Tuesday May 28, 2013. :happydance: Can the title of my thread be changed? Or should I start another?

Morgaine.
 
Morgaine, how fantastic that you can have the second knee done now and start moving forward to living your life more fully and not limited by the knees. Good luck and I look forward to hearing about your recovery. I had my Rt.knee done a week after yours and just set my date for the left for Sept 11,2013. I had to schedule around work demands and home demands as well as the fact that my OS being busy schedules 3 months out and nothing else would work with work/home. I realize we are all different but it will be good to hear of your experiences.
 
Thanks bottomshollow how about RTKR Jan 21, 2013, LTKR May 28, 2013. Also, a question, will the PT in the hospital, rehab facility and in home therapy be enough to keep my RTKR improving without making my left knee too angry? If not, is there anything I can do on my own?
Thanks
 
Leejaa, good luck on your surgery too. I was blessed that I could get in so quickly, but my new OS had just happened to have a cancellation that day and he put me in that spot, otherwise, I fond out, it would have been 3 months out for me too.
 
[Bonesmart.org] My Shiny Happy New Knees
Morgaine, other than walking and attempting to pedal, both knees do not have to do the same level of exercise. So you can do more reps with the right and push it a bit more, do less with the left and push it less. It will all work out in the end.

Title has been changed!
 
Thanks bottomshollow love the picture, is it ok for me to save it and when I get on my computer, instead of my IPad, use it as my Avatar? I can't upload it from here, and my computer isn't online unless I carry it to a wi-fi hotspot.
 
Thanks 1ELISEA lots of people in the May Marvels group. Seems I am in good company.
 
Morgaine, I am delighted for you to save the pic and use it as your avatar---but I have resized it for you so it will fit properly, so use the one below:

[Bonesmart.org] My Shiny Happy New Knees
 
Thank you bottomshollow
On Wednesday, I had to stop taking the Ibuprofen because of my upcoming surgery. Still takng tylenol though. On Friday, during pre-op, I did a fair amount of walking, needless to say my right leg got swollen. After gong home, I iced up. Then the next time a I stood up, it hurt, at the lower part of my scar. Like an ache. Spent as much of Saturday as I could icing and elevating, but here it is Sunday morning and it is still there. Just when I stand up and walk. Is this normal? Should I be concerned?
 
[Bonesmart.org] My Shiny Happy New Knees
I think you just overdid and the knee is making you pay. So just continue to elevate and ice as much as you can and take it easy for another couple of days. Soft tissue is easily annoyed, and there's still lots of internal healing going on that you can't see.

Take care and keep us posted. We care. [Bonesmart.org] My Shiny Happy New Knees
 
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