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TKR New Year, New Knee - Jan. 3, 2017<

You are doing so great. Your OS seems to be listening. I wonder if the scale puts on a few pounds for swelling?
 
You're really doing well. I was lucky and had some staples with glue over it all. (Not fun getting staples removed). The glue just slowly peeled off. I used my handheld shower to spray over my knee and it helped wash it away.
 
@sistersinhim The glue on my incision did start to crinkle as my skin cranked or some of the initial swelling went away but as far as being more pliable... I'm not sure. As I peeled some of this off (okay-ed by the OS) the glue seems awfully think and pretty strong. I mostly took off the edges and the loose stuff at the top and bottom.

I know the heat is normal. After you're up or if you've done any slides, etc. It is normal for the knee to take on a darker appearance (kinda red) than my other knee correct? I guess what I'm saying is, the hotter it gets, the more red it will get, correct? The best it looks is during the night or first thing in the morning. Longest time to be iced and elevated at one time.
 
@jaschembra, good morning. Do you prefer the glue over staples or stitches! I was concerned about my knee being so much darker at times and sent Jo some photos. She said it was completely normal. Just part of the healing process. There are so many things to be concerned about in this journey. Yours sounds completely normal, if not above average! Keep up the good work!
 
Thank you @sistersinhim I've never had staples for anything so I can't give an opinion. I can say that I like the way the incision is looking now that some of the glue is gone.
 
Thank you for your reply. I just assumed you had, had either staples of stitches in the past. Glue sounds so much better to me. When you swell the staples and stitches pull the skin and it's very painful. Almost as bad as the incision! I'm looking for an easier way!
 
@sistersinhim and the last statement about glue - it sure is nice not to have something "removed" because even stitches being removed causes me to squirm. :)
 
On the eve of my 4 week knee-versary, I am happy to report that I walked into PT with only my cane. I had the walker in my car just in case, but I pulled up my big girl panties, felt ready, and just did it!
I must get my monthly allergy shots tomorrow and really didn't want to use the walker if I didn't need to and by Friday, I definitely wanted to be on the cane for the OS office. It will sure be easier to come and go.

Had my first boo-hoo moment shortly after my hubby got home from work today. I had warned him that the tears may flow at some point in time. Didn't last long. I'm a pretty emotional person anyway so I'm sure that won't be the last!

PT was okay today. He measured me (98/7-8) and nothing is really moving right now and I don't expect it to until my swelling stays away a little better. I used that dang CPM this weekend just because I wanted to relax yet bend my knee...I did, it did, but I swelled afterward and told myself, NO more CPM. Guess what! The company called today because they are ready to pick it up. God is good! :)
 
@KarriB For some reason when I try that I am in a lot of pain. I had such a bad gait before, that might be why.
 
Same for me - not a lot of pain but not comfortable. I time it and make 5 min. Today, I made 10 min. PT suggested doing it more often, while I'm relaxed. I really understand now why he is having me do so much stretching- feeling a lot of different muscles in the leg(s)!
 
I should've said I didn't do it until well into 2 months post op. In the first month I rarely moved, just around the house and to PT. Then I had the infection surgery, so it was probably 6- 7 weeks when I sat with the leg bridging the ottoman. @jaschembra you are almost a month and @RMasano only 3 weeks. That first month is all about getting the swelling down, not looking at numbers. So once the swelling is gone, you'll see improvement in ROM and the stretches won't hurt. If it hurts don't do it yet because you don't want to aggravate things. Extention can sometimes come later because walking with a longer gait helps and that doesn't happen for a while.
 
@KarriB You are doing so great. You had an infection, which is a such a setback. And as far as the infection, who knows, it could have come from anywhere. My husband, who was 30 years old at the time, got a staph infection, and needed a valve replacement. It has been 19 years and he still doesn't know what caused it. As far as infection, I just think it is nothing to do with what you did, it is a matter of that bacteria getting in at the wrong time. I am no way looking at the numbers. I could care less but I could feel my knee not being straight. All I want in my life is to be able to walk places. I don't need to be a bionic woman. I have been so restricted for so long I can't just wait to be "normal".
 
You have good range of motion so far. The extension seems to lag behind flexion. When you do the exercise mentioned by Karri you may only be able to do it for a couple of minutes at first and that is normal. Make sure you ice the back of your knee to.
 
Aaarrrggghhhhh the dreaded extension! My OS, for some reason doesn't care about the extension. He seems to think that will naturally come with time and reduced swelling. Of course I'm hard headed and don't really trust him LOL

I, too, hurt doing the equivalent of the leg/ottoman stretch. What is comfortable for me is getting in a hot tub, letting my muscles soak, and then doing quad flexes. It stretches me out, but doesn't 'pull' as much. I just have to make sure I ice before and after, so as to not end up with a basketball for a knee:fingersx:
 
Happy 4 week knee-versary to me! Guess I was just so excited, I've barely got any sleep since 2:00 a.m. meds. WRONG! lol There is a nap in my future.

- I am using the cane all the time now except during the middle of the night bathroom or ice trips
- I am feeling less pain
- I take 75 mg (except 2a.m. I take 50 mg) Tramadol and 1,000 mg Tylenol every 6 hours for pain (following Josephine's 6 hour chart) - now that I type this and see the correlation of time with my reduced pain med and lack of sleep, I may go ahead and take 75 mg at 2a.m.
- Stiffness and swelling is still in place, but there are times (like at 2 a.m.) when I change out my water bottles from the ice machine and my knee looks kinda normal before getting up
- I'm excited to see the OS Friday because his instructions have always been that I can get it wet after my 1 month follow up! Although he gave me the okay to pick my glue away if I wanted and I've slowly been doing that. :)
- Looking forward to the changes that may occur this next week.
 
Being able to shower without wrapping yourself in Cling Wrap is wonderful! I wasn't allowed to shower for a month and then I had to wrap my arm in Cling Wrap to keep the PICC line dry. When they pulled it and I realized I could shower...:yes!:. So here's to hoping you get the go ahead to shower freely!

Very soon your patience is going to pay off in a big way!
 
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