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Bilateral TKR New Here

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referee54 said:


If you look too far ahead, you will only get frustrated---I did, as well as many others. Just take those small steps and small victories---they seem so insignificant, but they are truly very meaningful---and put them away in your heart---you will win the ultimate victory and be as active as you really want to be!
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totally agree.:thumb:
 
Thanks! Well I am 3 1/2 weeks out and now I am walking inside the house without the walker! It's a slow steady walk but I am so happy!! Husband is going to take me walking in the driveway back and forth a few times. He will be with me so I can grab onto him should I need to. I just decided that I have to try to practice walking along with doing PT exercises. I need to build up some stamina. I do know when I get tired and have enough so I won't overdo. But I figure if I make one trip down and back in the driveway and get tired maybe the next day I can do one more, etc. I am taking pleasure in my little "baby steps" lol!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!!

Gayle
 
Gayle, I'm glad to hear how well you are doing! Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my BTKR and I will be heading home from rehab. I'm taking a few steps unaided now, but am fearful of being in the house and tripping over the cat who likes to "follow" me around, a half step in front of me. I think I'll need the walker for self defense. I think you are right, that we need to not get too comfortable with our feet up and not do the walking. I don't have any flat areas around my home, so maybe I'll become a mall walker!
 
Hi Gayle, Today is 2 weeks 2 days since my BTKR, and yes baby steps are a great accomplishment for me! I feel like I am starting to learn how to walk for the first time in a long time. Every step is different than before BTKR. Teaching myself how to walk correctly is such a odd concept. As it must be for you as well. Your legs are now straight, no bone on bone pain, no limping needed so you walk trying to leave all the bad walking habits behind, which is not easy to do since you've been doing it for so long while your whole body was compensating for bad legs. I wish you the best in your recovery! :yes!: Enjoy your conquests and accept your challenges and go forward to enjoying a pain free life.
 
Hi Gayle,
Your doing great. I too am on Panadol only as I had to return to work at 6 weeks and couldn't concentrate on any of the stronger meds. Knee still a bit irritated, but mostly just minor aches at the most. Just take it slow and steady and don't push your recovery as it will just set you back. PT should be to just uncomfortable. Have been sleeping in bed, but wake a few times a night. Just put Quilt/Pillow under knees. I had elevated my knee at your point in recovery as well. Have been using Cryocast since I found this forum. Works well, but wish I had the one that circulates at night on it's own. Keep up the good work.
 
Janet I have 2 small dogs who missed me so much while I was gone. The leg lifter they gave me in the hospital I used to keep them from jumping on me in the recliner. They use to both sit in the chair with me and now they can't. I too have used the walker as a "keep away" lol! Good luck on going home! And Jacky you are so right! I feel like they are baby steps! I have to remember not to use the bad walking habits I had before surgery. I do get tired easily when I walk alot. I wouldn't say it's pain as it was before surgery but I will ache in my legs, back, and hips if I walk too much. Bill congrats on being able to sleep in bed. I have only been able to be in bed for about 3 hours then I have to get up and go back to this recliner...uggghhh! When I recover fully I may just have to get rid of this chair! I am tired of sleeping in it! But this too shall pass!
 
Don't be unkind to that chair---if if weren't for THAT chair, how much sleep would you be getting? Eventually you'll be able to just get up after 3 hours, take some meds, get a drink of something, maybe use the bathroom, then climb back in bed and manage another 3 hours. But until then, LOVE that chair!

Take care, keep us posted, we care.
 
So true Judy! But sometimes I just want to be in my bed. But I guess if I can make it 3 hours in the bed that's progress! I try to not disturb hubby because I know he has to get up and go to work. Maybe one day I can make it through the night! I try to take pleasure in the small things but at times I do get discouraged. Thanks to all of you I know I'm not alone in this! I really appreciate all the words of encouragement!

Gayle
 
Hi Gayle, i brought that leg lifter home with me even though I don't need it. That might be a good use for it when the cat wants to jump up and I don't want him up.

I slept really well in bed last night, my first night home. Before surgery, I shopped around and got a large down wedge for reading in bed. I can sit up with it more, or lay flatter but still elevated. Then I put two pillows long ways under my legs, which slightly elevated and cushioned them. This combination gave me the same feel as the recliner, but more stretched out. It was much the way I had the functional hospital bed at rehab. It's only been one night, but I slept from 11-7. Today I napped on my side, and when my hip got sore, I rolled over on my stomach, which is how I usually sleep. It felt wonderful! The pain meds are probably helping the sleep, so once those let up, who knows.
 
Good for you Janet being able to sleep in bed! I make it about 3 hours at a time then I have to get up. But then again I get up and down all night. I think waking up my hubby with my switching positions alot is one of the big reasons I don't sleep in bed more. I know he has to get up early to go to work and of course I'm not working atm.

LOL...the leg lifter is a great pet keeper away!!
 
I do have a question to see if this is "normal" for some people. When I go to PT they put me on a bike and so far I can't pedal all the way around I can just do a back and forth by pushing the pedals. I see some of you are able to bike and were able to do it early on in recovery. It's only been 4 weeks since my surgery so I know it is still early. In some areas I am doing great but in other areas I feel like I am lagging. Just taking a shower and getting dressed I get tired. So I've learned to do a few things then sit down take a break then get up again. I will be so glad when I can build up some stamina. I have found I have to learn patience which has never been one of my virtues!!
 
Gayliekins, yes it is very early. Rocking back and forward is excellent gentle practice for getting better flexion, and IMO helps to disperse fluid from the joint (when I was pre-surgery and still cycling to work, I'd sometimes be in the position that the first revolution would be agony, but by the time I completed a journey be fine).

Get them to raise the saddle as high as possible, if you want to try a full revolution, so you're only just touching the pedals.
 
Gayle- I'm a slowpoke, my right knee could make a revolution but my left one was lagging, it took me 10 weeks! Rocking makes you think about moving all of your leg muscles. It all takes time, your legs need to remember how to move again. As Janet said it's an odd thing to learn to walk correctly at this point in our lives. Good luck!
 
Gayle, the stamina thing takes time. Your body is still using most of its energy to heal those knees. So it will continue to be necessary to take rest breaks often after activity.

The rocking back and forth on the bike is standard operating procedure in the beginning. Just keep it up and each day push to peddle a little further forward---and one day "VOILA!" you'll go all the way around. You'll be so pumped when this happens---I certainly was.

You're doing great. Just make a note of all the little milestones you reach, so when you're having one of those down days, you can pull your list of accomplishments out and realize how far you've come since surgery.
 
Thanks for the responses. At least I don't feel like I'm behind. My left knee is the lagger. I understand it's completely normal to have one knee lag behind the other and that's ok. Today has been great! I've noticed it's not as hard to get up out of the chair and walking seemed a little easier! I also ran a cordless vac around the house for the first time! But shhhh I won't tell my hubby and daughter hehe!! I am so thankful that today has seemed to be a much better day!

Gayle
 
Yep, you've gotta rock before you can bike. :wink: Glad the vacuuming went ok, but don't overdo.
 
GaylieKins....it sounds to me like you're doing just fine in recovery. I like the fact that you've recognized early that your body is in charge and must pay attention to what IT wants to do. Don't worry about the sleeplessness. It can go on for a while, so taking naps wherever and whenever is important. Back when I was recovering from my TKR, I used to get up during the night and walk with my walker in circles around the dark house....night stalker!!! Sounds like a really bad zombie movie, doesn't it!
 
LOL Jamie! I am up and down all night. I sleep about 1 1/2 to 2 hours at a time on a good night then I get up make a bathroom run, walk around etc., then try to sleep again. Then I look at hubby snoring so contentedly in the bed and I get jealous! I guess this too shall pass! I only hope it does before I go back to work. As far as paying attention to my body I learned I have to or I will pay! I sometimes will experiement with doing things to see if I can do them which is what I did with the vacuum. When I get that achey feeling in my legs, back, hips I know it's time to stop. It does get frustrating when I think about how little stamina I have then I stop and remind myself what my body has been through. I seem to have these internal conversations with myself lol! When I get down I think how I was 4 weeks ago and before the surgery and I was a whole lot worse then than I am now! I am glad I have my new knees and I can't wait to be out enjoying life again! I am so glad I found this forum because it helps me realize what I am feeling is perfectly normal!

Gayle
 
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