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

[RMasano]

I just want to take this time and do what is right for my recovery. I don't want to prolong it. I am a summer lover!!! I am keeping the eye on the prize and that is to do what's right for my baby knee, so I can enjoy my favorite season!!! Chicago has decided to have a week of spring, which is great, but it puts in a mood because my mind wants me to go go go!!!!

 

[Celle]

I know it's hard, but

Patience, grasshopper!

 

[2active]

I'm just gonna go ahead and join the ODIC, as of tomorrow, because I am going to a 3-D ultrasound with one of my pregnant daughters to find out if she's having a boy or girl.. We know that as soon as we leave, we will hit the stores!! It will be full blown crazy! Four weeks after tomorrow, I will be going with her twin, my other daughter to find out what she's having. Another day of shopping. I will have my husband fill my ice machine and have it ready for me. We are all so excited for these babies... Gonna be a busy Nana

 

[Celle]

Make sure you plan a big day of rest for the day after your ODIC!

Congratulations and best wishes to both your daughters.

Your knee is going to be better by the time you are a busy grandmother. Good timing!

 

[jaschembra]

@2active wow! You are going to have a whole new world in front of you! Sounds like those babies live close. No wonder you want working knee(s)

@RMasano Yes!! The Midwest is experiencing spring! At last check it's 74 in St. Louis and it's 75 in FL where my mom is.

I took my dog out back today as usual. Then I came inside, got my car, drove down the hill to the barn and called her. She looked at me like - how'd you do that. She came and is enjoying her outdoor kennel while me, mommy has been trying for a nap - only to be experiencing more pain than normal. Took an extra 1/2 Tramadol and filled the machine with frozen bottles (haven't done that in weeks, during daytime hours). Guess my trip to the chiropractor, then to PT, then inside a little grocery for some oranges and crackers was overdoing it??? There wasn't anything different at PT. Oh wait... this step up exercise... the step went from 4 inch to 6 inch. Guess that could account for some. Ugh.

@Celle That's what I've been quoting lol. Patience Grasshopper. I had forgotten the movie/show it was from

 

[Celle]

"Patience Grasshopper" comes from the 1970s TV show "Kung Fu" , in which David Carradine played Grasshopper.

 

[2active]

Thanks so much! And yes.... This is definitely good timing because I will need full use of my knees by this summer for sure. All three of our grown children live within minutes of us, so we will be able to spend lots of time with our grandbabies. I'm not gonna lie, I joined the ODIC today too... I just can't seem to stay put... I'm fine though. Just stiff and swollen. I don't have any pain, so it's easy to join the ODIC before I even realize it. I'm going to dinner with hubby now, but when we get home, I'm icing and elevating for the rest of the evening...

 

[RMasano]

@2active So awesome that you are doing great!!! You have so many exciting things happening in your life. I encourage you to share your journey with other members who are behind us, so they have hope. You are inspiring and you should share your journeys with others, so they know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Congrats Nanna!!

 

[Mireille]

@jaschembra Congratulations on the grandbabies! That's certainly a spirit lifter!

 

[jaschembra]

Oh, @Mireille that's not me That's 2active.
Our daughter (my step) is getting married May 5 though. No babies yet. They are both 26, been dating since they were 15, bought a home 2 years ago. We are all very excited they are tying the knot!

 

[L.I.T]

RMasano, jaschembra, 2active.
Sounds like you all have some great future plans! Me, I must be a pessimist - I have absolutely no exciting plans. I didn't know what this brand new knee would be capable of doing! My only plans are to make Mississippi lemon pie and some Mexican pecan pralines - southern comfort food LOL

You guys have inspired me, though. I'm going to have to plan a fun outing!

 

[Mireille]

@jaschembra sorry about that, can't blame it on the meds Congratulations on the upcoming wedding! That's exciting and something to look forward to!

 

[2active]

Thanks so much! We really do have so many exciting things happening, but I know without this new knee, it wouldn't be as enjoyable. I cannot say it enough.... if I wouldn't have had this done, it would have only gotten worse, and the quality of my life would have continued to decline. It can only get better with a new knee. It might take a while for it to be completely normal, but being without chronic pain every day is a blessing, and has given me back my happiness, my mobility and my LIFE! My family needs me to be present...Mind, body and soul. I will be present thanks to my new knee. I'm finding out today if our first grandbaby will be a boy or girl, and then its off to shop for the nursery in my daughter's house and ours. For those of you who are contemplating surgery, recovering from surgery, or maybe having a difficult recovery, just hang in there.... It will all be worth it in the end. LIVE AND LOVE LIFE!!!

 

[jaschembra]

@Josephine There is a picture in the article (article shows different ways to improve extension) Does this exercise work as well to let the leg, including the knee, hang off the side of the bed. My bed edge is just above the knee area when I've done this exercise, more on my thigh.

Thanks

 

[jaschembra]

7 weeks today
- I can go up the stairs 1 step over the other.
- I walk around in the house and PT most of the time without the cane although I definitely need it at night and some evenings or when I'm tired
- I'm still taking 1 - 50 mg Tramadol + 2 - 500 mg Tylenol every 8 hours
- I still have some sharp pains that occur every so often on the inside of my knee. These come out of no where while lying here. Otherwise it's the tightness/stiffness that occurs constantly.
- Yesterday I measured 108. I've been at 105 for 3 weeks. My extension is still 5.
- Still trying to maintain a proper gait when I walk
- Mentally, wish I could do more without pain or swelling but realistically I know that I'm early on this journey and I have a long way to go. And that's okay!

 

[KarriB]

You're doing great at not 2 months post op. Extention can sometimes take a bit longer. I couldn't lay on my back for a while, so that stretch would've bothered me.

 

[Celle]

Yes Julie, your way would work, too. My favourite way to help with extension was this:

You can do it while you're watching TV, or whenever you sit down.

 

[KarriB]

That worked for me and I could do it a few minutes every hour. It actually felt good. Boy do I wish those were my legs!

 

[sistersinhim]

I couldn't lay on my knee, so I had the edge of my legs on my thighs. It was painful for me, but gradually got easier. Walking with a longer stride worked the best for me. At first I did it with the walker for stability. Then I graduated to the cane. I still use a cane when I'm in a crowded situation. While pushing a shipping cart you can lengthen your stride, too. Good luck.

 

[jaschembra]

@Celle yes, I do it this way as well. I make it for 10-15 min. and that's my limit. I've enjoyed doing it with the patio chairs during these unseasonable spring days MO is having in Feb.!

Thanks for the pics and other suggestions everyone. OS thought my straightening was more than 5 when I saw him Feb. 3 so I'm not too concerned with it. More concerned with the bend, but just this weekend, I felt more of it coming along. @Red's Mom helped me there with a couple of different stretches for bending that seem to be benefiting me.