New to Forum Bilateral TKR 2/29

[northman22]

Just wanted to say Hi and thanks for all the input on this forum.

My name is Steve, I'm 54 and had bilateral tkr 2/29/08. I live in Homer Alaska and drive a propane delivery truck 3 days a week and do service work on propane appliances the other 2.

I too have struggled with TKR recovery. Although I knew that all of the info given up front depended on the individual and damage/repair I felt like I would make sure I had a speedy recovery. I could be back at work if I had a desk job, but not my job yet. I did the CPM thing for 3 weeks (2 of them ) 4-8 hrs a day, pre & post op exersises, PT etc. Tomorrow will be my 8th week and I have 104 ROM in my left and 94 in my right. I am progressing, just VERY SLOWLY. My PT says that we are all different and while most people would be further along than me, I just create more scar tissue than most and it will just take time. I injured my right knee and that's why it is lagging. I had it up to 95 two weeks ago. No real diagnosis, just intense pain directly above my knee around the scar line and could not put weight on it painlessly for a week or so. It's back now and improving.

I was scheluded (preop) to go back to work next Monday and I really hit a low this week. Had the flu, missed 2 PT sessions, couldn't workout much at all, and the wife is wondering why I don't start doing more now that it looks to her like I'm better. (which I am) I do cook, grocery shop (a great place for walking in inclimate weather here) and a few other things, but I get worn out so fast especially on PT days.

So anyway I was really feeling down, and started looking on the net for recovery tips, timelines etc. and came across this site. You guys & gals have really made me feel better!! I don't feel all alone and really just wanted to espress my heartfelt thanks. I'll keep reading and add some input when needed .

Steve

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Steve! You and I are twins. I had my surgery on Leap Day too! I'm sorry to hear that things aren't progressing as fast as you'd like them to, but it sounds to me like you are moving forward. That's important! It sounds like you have an excellent PT to get you where you want to be. Try and be patient....I know it's difficult, especially when your family thinks you should be back to normal. But they weren't the ones cut, sawn, hammered and manipulated in surgery. It was MAJOR stuff!!! I lived 4 years in Anchorage, Alaska many years ago when I was a kid and my Dad was assigned to Elmendorf AFB. I have so many great memories of being in Alaska. It was a great place for a 6-10 year old tomboy to grow up. We traveled a little around the state, but never went to Homer. Once I looked on Google Earth to see if the house we lived in was still there and IT WAS!! You could see it from the satellite photo and it looked pretty much like when I was there. That was something!!! Anyway, glad you found this crazy group of recoverees. We are a unique club, us heebie geebie kneebies. Welcome!!! Post any time with good news on progress or when you need a mental boost! There are always people here to celebrate with you or provide support.

 

[Skeet]

Steve, welcome to the forum! You will be loved and cared for here. Our families simply do not understand what we've gone through and folks here know first hand. There is such a bond between many of us, that we'll be friends for life and we've never even really met. I hope you find this group of folks as welcoming and wonderful as I have. I would never have survived the first three months without them. We're here for you now and you can feel free to whine, complain, cry, laugh, you name it. We've all done it! God bless your recovery, may it be fast and may you be blessed with understanding and patience at home and here.

Skeet (Oregon)

 

[JenniferG]

Hi steve. Welcome to a fellow Bi-Latter. Glad you found us. You're right, we look better as we get better, but we get tired quicker. I'm about 6 1/2 weeks and walk pretty good, but as soon as I fatigue my stiff leg limp comes back. Some times I'll carry my cane out in the world even though I don't really need it, but it is a signal to people who see me that I'm injured, even if I don't look it. Anyway, welcome again. I actually have family in alaska. Fairbanks area.

 

[Josephine]

Steve - and welcome!

 

[referee54]

Hey I had a bilateal on 11/08/07. I am umpiring basebaqll games now and riding my bike up to twelve miles. Rehab was tough---especially tearing the adhesions. I still get a little stiff every now and then, but I am getting better every day.

Remember, your body didn't get beat up and torn up overnight with arthritis, and the surgery is the easy part---sorry to say that, but it is true. Your rehab is tough but it is a way to get your life back together. One day at a time you take a piece of the puzzle and put it back into place. SOmetimes you take a step or two forward, and sometimes you take a small step back. You keep climbing the ladder though, and in no time you will look bakc and marvel at how far you have come.

Hang in there and keep on looking up for that next rung of the ladder!

Tim C.

 

[Nursepair]

Hi Steve and welcome. Yes it is a long recovery, longer for some than others. Hope yours will be short. Post often and whine all you like if need be. It's what we are here for, that shoulder to cry on, and to encourage you every step of the way. Good luck.

 

[Turtlelady53]

Hey I had a bilateal on 11/08/07. I am umpiring basebaqll games now and riding my bike up to twelve miles. Rehab was tough---especially tearing the adhesions. I still get a little stiff every now and then, but I am getting better every day.

Remember, your body didn't get beat up and torn up overnight with arthritis, and the surgery is the easy part---sorry to say that, but it is true. Your rehab is tough but it is a way to get your life back together. One day at a time you take a piece of the puzzle and put it back into place. SOmetimes you take a step or two forward, and sometimes you take a small step back. You keep climbing the ladder though, and in no time you will look bakc and marvel at how far you have come.

Hang in there and keep on looking up for that next rung of the ladder!

Tim C.

What happens when you tear an adhesion? Is it avoidable? Is it from overdoing it in rehab? I haven't had my bilat yet--scheduled for June 16. What's the fix? No more questions, I promise!
Sharon

 

[Newwoman]

Welcome Steve,
Hi it's Cathy and I had rtkr on Jan 9th and am a very slow healer. Just hang in there and when it gets too hard come to the site and let us know and we will pick you right up.
Cath

 

[Josephine]

Rehab was tough---especially tearing the adhesions.

Ref was referring to adhesions that developed post-op and restricted his range of movements necessitating a manipulation under anaesthetic. There's stuff around here about it. Just look for threads that say "manipulations" and read them. It's not a very common complication but it does happen.

 

[Skeet]

What is the difference between scar tissue and adhesions?

 

[edk]

Scar tissue forms whenever you heal. Its supposed to occur just like the original
tissue. Sometimes as it heals it joins up with neighboring tissue which it isn't supposed
to be connected to. So the two tissues adhere to each other and where they
are supposed to slide over each other independently. So most of the PT you get
after surgery involves keeping things moving so that the neighbors can't heal together
and create adhesions. The big issue is they frequently interfere with range of motion.

 

[Jamie]

EDK, that was is a very interesting description. No one has ever explained that to me before. I just knew that adhesions were bad and wanted to avoid them. Thanks!

 

[Turtlelady53]

Yes, I agree. Great description EDK, and in plain English. Just one more reason to keep things moving along and keep up rigorously with PT. At least if its discussed, I won't have that blank look on my face like "What the heck is he/she talking about?"