TKR One thing after another with my TKR<

[kelrobin]

I was measured at 89° today. I have a lot of swelling today, so to me, 89 was pretty good. I'm at 10 weeks PO. My pain is actually at about a 1, even though the quad is swollen.

How long will I continue to progress, do you think? Will I continue to progress?

I want to be able to start showing my dogs in Rally, Obedience and Tracking again. Basically, it's just walking at various speeds. I've come to the realization I probably won't be able to show my dogs in conformation anymore, which would require jogging around the ring a few times. That saddens me but of all the things I do with my dogs, that's the one I would be willing to give up to a point.

I also want to be able to ride my horse again. She's almost 23 and so we basically just walk and trot.

Am I being realistic?

 

[Celle]

Of course, you'll continue to progress. It takes a a full year for complete recovery and people have even continued to gain ROM long after that. As your knees continue to heal, you will be able to do more and more things.

As for showing the dogs, we have recently had a member who had a TKR and is now back, doing agility trials with his dog. They're both doing very well. I'll try to find his thread, so that you can read it.

 

[Celle]

Here is the thread I was talking about:
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/smarttoys-recovery.33676/
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/smarttoys-recovery.33676/
The member's name is smarttoys. I'll tag him for you, but he is getting on with his life now, so he may not see the tag. @smarttoys .

 

[smarttoys]

You should have no problem showing your dogs again including conformation. Of course it will depend on how your individual recovery goes. Most conformation shows that I have seen take place on a padded or artificial turf surface which makes for more comfortable jogging. I started doing agility trials at about 8 weeks after surgery and I was able to run pretty well by 5-6 months after surgery. I have done some Rally and Obedience but my main focus is Agility.

 

[Celle]

Wow, John, that was quick!
Thank you for responding so quickly, to reassure kelrobin.

Happy New Year to you.

 

[mbrown]

@kelrobin, wow you've been through hell! Heartbreaking to read all that. Hopefully you are on the right track now. Do you think you can get your hands on an ice/compression machine for a few weeks? I bet a week or so of intense icing and compression could knock down some of your swelling.

 

[newlybionic]

You will continue to progress as time goes by. You will find yourself doing something and then thinking 'wow' I can do that again. About a month ago I found that I could run a few short steps. For many that doesn't sound like much but I haven't been able to run or jog at all for more years than I can remember. Everyone one's recovery is unique to each person. I truly believe that you will be able to do everything that you want to do.

 

[kelrobin]

@kelrobin, wow you've been through hell! Heartbreaking to read all that. Hopefully you are on the right track now. Do you think you can get your hands on an ice/compression machine for a few weeks? I bet a week or so of intense icing and compression could knock down some of your swelling.

Yes, I have a friend with a polar machine she is willing to loan me. I'll ask her for it. Thanks.

You should have no problem showing your dogs again including conformation. Of course it will depend on how your individual recovery goes. Most conformation shows that I have seen take place on a padded or artificial turf surface which makes for more comfortable jogging. I started doing agility trials at about 8 weeks after surgery and I was able to run pretty well by 5-6 months after surgery. I have done some Rally and Obedience but my main focus is Agility.

Thank you for the reassurance. I used to do agility but as the knee got worse I wasn't able to make time so I started focusing just on conformation, rally, obedience and field work.

Of course, you'll continue to progress. It takes a a full year for complete recovery and people have even continued to gain ROM long after that. As your knees continue to heal, you will be able to do more and more things.

Thank you too Celle. I'm hopeful I will get to where I need to be eventually. Patience is not one of my virtues, unfortunately.

 

[kelrobin]

If anyone would like to read what I do with my dogs, this is the story of my dog Raven, whose picture is my avatar.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BweLaHo918AaTDMwRnVxcU1YWEU

 

[Celle]

I read your story about Raven. She's a wonderful dog.

I can't see any reason why, once you've recovered, you shouldn't be able to work with her like that again.

 

[macduf387]

Hi @kelrobin i loved your article Raven is quite a character love labs golden retrievers and I grew up with German shepherds. I am now mom to 5 rat terriers which I love very much. They are my 4 legged kids.
Hang in there with your recovery it will get better. I am recovering from my second knee and I am 4 weeks post op. I have done no pt this time around just iced elevated and rest and I have good range of motion I would say 90 flexion and very close to zero extension. Bone smart philosophy is definitely the way to go. My other knee is great did it a year ago and have no issues. Take care

 

[Cratchit]

@kelrobin That`s quite a journey you`re on and despite what you say, you must have the patience of a saint to keep on going as you have. I suppose you have no choice.

I do hope you are able to get back in the saddle at some point and on the dog showing circuit. I retire this year (how good that sounds!) and my goal is to be back on board and hopefully, at some point, to have another little plod about.

 

[mbrown]

@kelrobin great article on Raven. I love watching good dogs work and be trained. I do a fair amount of bird hunting (ducks, geese, quail, pheasant) so I've had the opportunity to be around some pretty remarkable dogs. Not many things better than watching a really good dog work. Lots of respect for those like you that train them. Such a fine line between patience, firmness, gentleness and understanding. I've trained a few dogs in my life (nothing to the extent that you have) and have had to put myself in timeout on numerous occasions. It only takes one bout of losing your temper to completely ruin a dog.

 

[zzevi]

It is amazing to see that progression continues to happen months after surgery. I know I thought about a month or so after surgery I would be totally healed and everything would be normal again.
I am seeing improvements all the time at this point, some days I still are having set backs, extra swelling, trouble bending, walking with a limp when tired. But if I were to go back to my 10 wk posts I was battling trying to work full time a slight infection and the use of a wound vac and exhausted after just my regular work day. I know seem to have most of my energy back. Now my work day seems as it did prior to surgery, I'm not overly fast yet at my walk, still learning stairs, up is ok, down for some reason I have a fear. But I haven't given up and don't plan on it, I realize it's just going to take time to re learn somethings.
I do believe in time you will be able to do all the things you once enjoyed, just be patient and allow for further healing to continue to take place.

 

[mwetzel394]

@kelrobin, hope you are doing well, Sorry about the setbacks, you will get there, loved the article on your Raven, beautiful dog, i have two labs Trevor and Cooper, Cooper is a chocolate lab, very dark, they are housedogs, love there walks, hikes, car rides and tearing up my back yard, joy to our hearts , pain in the butts!
R est well


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[mwetzel394]

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[kelrobin]

Thanks mwentzel394. Love your dogs.

 

[kelrobin]

It only takes one bout of losing your temper to completely ruin a dog.

You're right. I think we've all had to put ourselves in timeout at times while training.

 

[kelrobin]

Just wanted to update you all on my progress. The quad is feeling better, but still tight once in awhile. It's still whispering to me, but not screaming at me like it had been.

I'm doing PT that doesn't hurt and working on my ROM. I've gone back to lightly training my dogs again and while sometimes I feel a bit stiff afterwards, it doesn't hurt. I have a nosework trial next week and can't wait to get back to it. My dogs are smiling again.

My quad still gets lumpy at times and after talking to a friend who had a TKR about 5 years ago, I bought myself a graston kit and knead the quad muscle about every other day to work out the knots. It seems to be helping my ROM.

I'm off the norco except for PT and if by chance I overdo it during the day and the knee aches at night. (I anticipate having to take a couple next weekend since the flooring is cement)

Today, for the first time, I was able to go all the way around on the bike going forward. I've been able to go over backwards, but the quad always felt too tight to even attempt front ways. Maybe I can actually ride my bike this summer after two years of not being able to.

I still haven't gotten on my horse, but I feel it coming.

I've been recommending this forum in all the TKR replacement groups I belong to on Facebook. A lot of the advice given on them is the same as I received before I found you all. My mantra has become, "no forcing, no pain, back off on the PT, do not let anyone hurt you, go to Bonesmart.org".

I filed an official complaint with Human Services at the hospital I was at where the nurse's assistant let my leg fall to the floor, tearing my quad muscle. They wrote back that she has been disciplined and retrained. The complaint is on her record which is what I wanted. If it happens again to anyone else, she will be canned and probably will never be able to work in health care in the future.

So THANK YOU to everyone who has given me encouragement, kicked my butt and helped me when I was in so much pain when I first came here. I appreciate every one of you.

My TKR journey is not yet over, but I'm not horribly depressed anymore though I'm still not progressing as quickly as I had hoped. I've learned it's tiny steps not giant ones. I think I'll get there eventually now. I had all but given up hope when I first came here.

 

[Celle]

It sounds as if you are much improved, and that's great!

You're still quite early in your recovery journey, so there's plenty of time for more improvement, as well.