PKR One Year Out - Pleased With Outcome

[EalingGran]

Thanks. I had a good follow up appointment with my surgeon today as well. He thinks the knee is coming on well.
I mentioned that very occasionally it feels something catches at the back when I am walking. He thinks that is possibly popliteus catching on a slight rim on the implant. It doesn't happen often and that makes sense.
I actually spent more time discussing my hips and back. He thinks the hip on the operated side will eventually need doing- but it isn't giving me any pain currently. I have been lurking on the hip forum and getting confused between anterior/ posterior and dual mobility hips. Took the opportunity to ask his opinion. There seems to be some real controversy over which is better and the jury is still out.
Hopefully by the time I need it the definitive decision will be made!
The only downer was he thought my back was pretty bad on MRI and he was surprised I wasn't having more pain...
I think the regular pilates must be helping to strengthen my back muscles.

 

[EalingGran]

Nine month update:
Doing pretty well and much less preoccupied by my knee.
I have given up using the walking stick - even when going into Central London on the train or doing long art gallery trips.
I can manage standing for longer periods without having a stick to lean on.
I didn't even take it when I did a 5 mile country walk yesterday on uneven ground. I even managed some quite tricky stiles- although I used my husband's arm to steady me as I climbed over.
My knee still gets fractionally warmer and slightly tight by evening. If I am at home I still like the Cryocuff cool water jacket at bedtime- but it is not necessary. We are going away more for trips on the UK and the only problem with longish drives is some back pain/ slight buttock pain. The knee is fine.
Very occasionally I still get the catching ( popliteus) pain at about 1-2/10 but the MCL pain on stairs is pretty much gone.
I have femoro patellar crepitus but this is painless apart from very slight pain getting up from deep flexion ( getting out of the bath). Generally my knee is pain-free.
I can do lots of stairs ( 20 plus flights/day) normally and I no longer can be bothered to queue for the lift at stations.
My ROM remains excellent (145 flexion/ 0 extension). I probably could sit back on my heels in child's pose but I am not sure it is good to put the full weight back.
I am trying to get my confidence back in terms of travelling. I will also be doing more childcare for my daughter next term as she is starting a post grad course.
Sorry for long post but useful for me to record my progress.
Just praying my hips and back hold up. Trying to balance a more active life with the daily pilates needed for my back.

 

[Layla]

No apologies necessary, EalingGran. Your post is interesting and encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to document and share your experience with others. You've made a lot of great progress. Losing that preoccupation with our new joint is freeing! I am sure given more time you'll feel more comfortable traveling. The care of the grandkids, although tiring, will bring rewards with the kisses and snuggles involved.
You're doing great, thanks for all of the support you offer here!
@EalingGran

 

[Mutti3]

@EalingGran
Your ROM is excellent! . A few months after my knee replacement ( left knee)it was 140. It was never measured again until my preop PT eval for my next replacements ( right knee ) couple weeks ago.
Now the left knee measured 152. You knee will continue to improve and gain ROM for long time!

 

[JusticeRider]

Great update! It’s nice to hear how you’re doing 5 mile challenging walks! 20 flights of stairs a day! No stick, no worries. Such good progress you’ve made. I just can’t believe the number of stairs you do on a regular basis. I wouldn’t worry about that occasional warmth. Sounds like it’s very normal. Take care of that patella. I’ve been doing fish oil, rose hip tea, and collagen to try to preserve the other compartments of my knee, as well as my hip and other joints. Who knows if it works, but what can it hurt, right? I read a UK study a few years ago that found the fish oil and rose hips to be the most effective joint supplements, more so than even glucosamine. I haven’t studied it further but decided to give those a try. Are you taking any supplements for your joints? You are certainly staying active, which they say is the best medicine of all! I hope all your joints will hold up well for a good long while You’re doing great!

 

[FionaW]

Yay! That’s all sounding fantastic - I’m delighted for you and it’s also very encouraging to hear!
I hope I can get back to 5 mile walks some day

 

[EalingGran]

I’ve been doing fish oil, rose hip tea, and collagen to try to preserve the other compartments of my knee, as well as my hip and other joints. Who knows if it works, but what can it hurt, right? I read a UK study a few years ago that found the fish oil and rose hips to be the most effective joint supplements

I haven't heard about Rose hip but the tea sounds nice anyway - so I will get some as it can't do any harm.
I tried glucosamine early on before my surgery but didn't notice any response. But I guess with my other joint issues I probably should try and do everything I can to preserve my joints.
Thanks for the tip.

 

[WFD]

I tried glucosamine early on before my surgery but didn't notice any response.

I have used glucosamine for probably close to 30 years. What I found was that it takes about six months to get the full effect - the reponse is not immediate.

I started taking it in my mid-30s when I first developed osteoarthritis in my hands. As long as I took it I had zero pain from arthritis until my mid-50s when the symptoms became strong enough to occasionally 'break through' the glucosamine's effect. I have osteo in my hands, both hips, both knees and my left ankle, and as long as I take the glucosamine I have only occasional symptoms.

A couple of times I went off it and after a few weeks the arthritic pain came back quickly.

In my opinion it appears not to prevent degradation of the joints but just relieves the pain.

 

[InkedMarie]

You’re doing great!

Marie

 

[EalingGran]

10 month update.
Not much change. Still walking between 10-15,000 steps/ day pain free. Still doing lots of stairs and not worrying about finding the lift.
The main progress is that I no longer use my Aircast Cryocuff at all.
I still get slightly tight/ warm by evening on some nights. But if I elevate my knee and read for 10-20 minutes it disappears.
The sharp pain I had behind the knee occasionally has gone. My surgeon said it was due to popliteus sometimes catching on a slight lip on the implant. He said it would settle as the tissues healed around the implant. I was a bit sceptical but fingers crossed, he was right.
I am no longer so worried about falling. I feel much steadier than pre-op.
My biggest fear is still infection- especially after my episode of septicemia in February. I have slight low white count and a kidney abnormality which makes me prone to UTI. Just have to be super careful.
We had a nice holiday away for a few days- walked loads.

 

[JusticeRider]

@EalingGran you are doing so well! It’s wonderful you are so active and enjoying life. I’m glad you had a nice holiday, and I hope you’ll keep posting, because as you have said before, it’s so helpful for those coming along behind us to see how recovery can look long term. As they say in Montana state where I’m originally from, keep on truckin’!

 

[EalingGran]

Thanks @JusticeRider for your good wishes. I have found it helpful knowing you are a couple of months ahead.
It is easy to stop posting especially if there isn't much change. But I hope it helps others to know things do eventually settle down.
How are your other joints? My hips/ back are generally manageable with regular pilates. I did get a bit of a sciatic twinge in my operated side buttock/ thigh after a long car drive recently. But I just try not to think/ worry too much about my more generalised osteoarthritis/ spinal stenosis and just enjoy what I can do currently.

 

[Layla]

Happy Ten Month Anniversary!
Thanks for the update, EalingGran! You’re doing really well.
I am glad to read that your fear of falling has dissipated. Your fear of infection is shared by many, certainly understandable in your case, but hopefully given more time that apprehension will lose strength also.
Thanks for all the support you offer here. Wishing you a great Sunday!
@EalingGran

 

[mendogal]

What a fine status update !!!!!

 

[trinket]

What a wonderful update! So happy everything is going so well for you. Thank you for all the advice and good wishes you’ve offered to me and so many here. It’s greatly appreciated.

 

[JusticeRider]

How are your other joints? My hips/ back are generally manageable with regular pilates. I did get a bit of a sciatic twinge in my operated side buttock/ thigh after a long car drive recently. But I just try not to think/ worry too much about my more generalised osteoarthritis/ spinal stenosis and just enjoy what I can do currently.

Hey EalingGran, thanks for asking. My operated hip has been loosening up as my operated knee improves and the hip is able to move and do more. The PT I’ve been doing is helping a lot too…she’s done lots of manual work on my hip and tailored exercises for it as well as the knee. My other hip alarmed me once, seizing up during a faster ride on my horse. I stopped my horse and moved my leg around until it released, and it seems to be fine. Gave me a bit of concern though! Going to try not to worry about it. The other knee is mostly doing alright. It hasn’t been catching lately (knock on wood) and just has the same limitations it’s had for many years. I accommodate it and try to convince it to hold on for many years more!

I just try not to think/ worry too much about my more generalised osteoarthritis/ spinal stenosis and just enjoy what I can do currently.

Yes, exactly!

 

[EalingGran]

The other knee is mostly doing alright. It hasn’t been catching lately (knock on wood) and just has the same limitations it’s had for many years. I accommodate it and try to convince it to hold on for many years more

Definitely agree. I don't want any more surgery if I can avoid it. I definitely have a bit of arthritis in my unoperated femoro patellar compartment- but the crepitus/ slight pain at times is being ignored!
It is so inspirational that you are riding so much again. I want to get back to longer holidays and trips abroad.

 

[InkedMarie]

Good update!

Marie

 

[EalingGran]

I will be one year post my PKR next week and here is probably my only update for a few months. I will try to do one in maybe 6 months- because I think it is helpful to others to have a longer term perspective.
Perhaps my title could be changed to One Year Out and pleased with my Outcome?
I was in the park this weekend with my son and two of my grandkids. They met up with a friend who I also knew. I was chatting to her and she told me her mother was visiting ( had been an active rower) but she hadn't been able to walk to the park that morning because of her arthritic knee and sciatica. She was taking loads of painkillers and still not sleeping- but was too scared to have knee surgery. I told her that I was pleased with my PKR and that straightening my leg had pretty much cured my excruciating sciatica ( still get the odd buttock twinge on long car journeys).
My knee remains pretty good- 90/ 95% better than pre-op.
I can walk any distance I choose ( up to 7 miles/ day) at a reasonable speed for my age ( 5.3 Km/ hour- age 67). I don't bother with lifts and walk up and down lots of stairs at tube stations. My only discomfort is maybe 1 out of 10 in the unoperated femoropatellar compartment on getting up from really deep flexion - say getting out of the bath. I take no painkillers and haven't for maybe six months. I look after an active 2 year old 2 days/ week - with help from my husband. I can get up and down to the floor with just a little care and thought.
My ROM remains excellent ( 150 plus flexion). I can't quite hold my foot for standing quad stretches- like I can on my good leg. However, I can bring it back far enough to slip on shoes easily. I can almost sit back in child's pose- just nervous about full weight back.
Kneeling is getting better although I still use some padding. I can do a group pilates class and do pretty much everything. I just take slightly longer moving between positions.
The warmth and tightness have pretty much completely gone. Very occasionally there is one spot on the lateral/ operated side which I think is still fractionally warmer. I have no swelling- apart from a small residual Baker's cyst ( much smaller than pre-op).
I scar poorly but my scar is flat and parts are whitening ( some bits still purplish).
I manage my chronic lumbar arthritis and spinal stenosis with pilates. Since straightening my very ( over 20 degree) valgus knee my arthritic hip and sciatica are much much better.
I am seeing my surgeon in June 2024 to review the hip but currently it is too good for any surgery.
It took a lot longer than I expected but my result is good. I think it is useful to give my perspective as a lot of people disappear from BoneSmart as they get better.

 

[Jaycey]

@EalingGran Thanks for the update. Indeed, hearing from someone who is one year out will be encouraging for those who need a bit more time for recovery.

Sounds like you are seeing fantastic results - well done!

Thread title changed for you.