PKR PKR Part Deux: now I’ve got a matching set!<

[MCC]

Thanks @Eeek and @HoneyB! I will look at those! I also found rejuvahealth.com, which has some nice options too, though a bit pricey. I have really skinny ankles, so it’s tough to find measurements that should fit properly, but I’m thinking of it as a “fun” project.

 

[MCC]

Hi all! I’m at 14 weeks on the nose and there’s definitely been a real change for the positive in the last week or two. I’m up to 120 degrees flexion and can tolerate more and more time up and about during the day. I went away with my family for a weekend and was even able to sit on my paddle board and paddle around comfortably for an hour. I’m building up to 10 minutes on my bike, but the knee still doesn’t like more than about 5-6 min.

Today for some reason I woke up with quite a swollen knee. I did some new exercises at PT and after that walked 1/2 a mile home and my knee is angry with me now. Back to taking it slow and no more of those new exercises for awhile. I go back work in 3 weeks and I’m hoping it’s a little more tolerant by then! Things are headed in the right direction though!

I’ve finally reached the point where I trust my right knee more than my left knee. My goodness it feels good to know that life can be different than the way it was prior to surgery!

 

[NavyGunns]

@MCC, I told you there was a new threshold at 14 weeks! Glad you found it! I, too, have found the occasional activity that makes my knee say “What the %}%#*#* were you thinking?” But thankfully they don’t occur too often !

I bet you will be just fine in three more weeks to go back to work.

Keep it up.

 

[SusieShoes]

Listening to the knee will get you to your destination. All it wants is a little respect. All it wants is someone to understand what it needs. You are being a good knee-whisperer.

I agree you should be fine going back to work. It might be a bit challenging until you and your knee are in sync about work demands, but you two have a good relationship and can work it out.

 

[MCC]

Haha @SusieShoes! You’re right! I’ve got to keep letting my knee express itself, and it has sooooo many emotions. Our relationship has had its ups and downs, but I feel like we’re gonna stick it out. I do tell it that it’s doing a really good job and that I love it a few times a day. It seems to help. HA!

And @NavyGunns you were dead on! So weird how it all turns a corner all of a sudden!

 

[MCC]

Hey everyone! I thought I’d give an update since I’m officially back to work and 18 weeks out from surgery (and 7 weeks before surgery #2). Things are going great! I just hit 126 degrees flexion and 0 degrees extension and my right leg is already soooo much stronger and much more comfortable than my left leg. It’s truly astounding what a difference my surgery has made already. I’ve never known what a stable knee feels like until now, and it’s very clear now that I’m going to be able to do more than I’ve dreamt of in a long time!

I found some fantastic thigh high compression socks that have helped with swelling while on my feet at work and I can’t do everything as I normally would, but I’m walking 10-13K steps per day, I can bike up to 30 minutes a few times a week, and I’m back to my favorite dance class (though taking it VERY easy with the dancing).

I still have soft tissue tightness in the right leg as I’m increasing my activity, but foam rolling, stretching, some select yoga poses (so this is where all that yoga teacher training, modifying, and years of PT come in handy!), massage, and acupuncture really help. I just have to stay on top of it. Kneeling is definitely not my friend, so I’ve avoided that totally. My newfound stability is just amazing though! One of my patients yesterday was a 75lb puppy who loved standing up to give full body hugs many, many times and I was able to keep standing comfortably the whole time!

My left knee is painful and unstable literally all the time, so I’m trying to be kind to it. Honestly I give it much more thought than I do my right leg these days.

Hope you’re all well and hang in there bonesmarties!!! See you all in November when I’m back for round 2!

 

[Jockette]

Awesome report!

 

[sistersinhim]

You are doing great!

 

[MCC]

Hello bonesmarties! I’m a week out from surgery on my left knee and have started noticing a new noise in my right. When I squat to 90 degrees or beyond, there’s a cracking sound on the medial part of my knee. During the squat it’s a little tender over the fascia that they cut during surgery and it feels really tight (and I’m building up north medial quad than I’ve ever had!). When I bend it while laying down and put my hand over the knee, I also feel a lot of totally nonpainful grinding, that is really similar to the crepitus I had before. It’s not nearly as loud as it was prior to surgery and it doesn’t hurt a bit, my flexion and tolerance for exercise gets better and better, but these noises are weirding me out! Have any of you noticed this?

Also, could one of the admins change my title to, “snap, pop, goes my knee!”

Thanks!

 

[NavyGunns]

@MCC, hey there! Haven’t heard from you in a while. The sound you describe is similar to what I occasionally experience. In a previous post, Josephine described it as similar to the sound a chicken leg makes when you twist and pull it away from the carcass. She indicated it was just gristle in and around the knee popping and snapping as we bend our knee. Made sense to me. Like you, no pain associated with it.

Good luck with the left knee! Sounds like things going well with your right so far.

 

[Jockette]

Great to hear from you!

I’m a week out from surgery on my left knee

Please give us the exact date and we’ll add it to your signature and change your title to:

Also, could one of the admins change my title to, “snap, pop, goes my knee!”

 

[MCC]

Thanks @NavyGunns! That makes sense to me! And @Jockette, surgery is this coming Wednesday (I worded my last post badly).

A new question for you all though! Yesterday I was attacked by a large dog at work and thankfully my new knee got me out of the way sooooo much more quickly than I could’ve before surgery (yay knee!). The dog left me with a big bruise on my arm and a very, very small scratch, no puncture thankfully. Since then, my right knee has been slightly more swollen than usual, but comfortable, but it’s make a really loud squeak when I go from bent to extended. I’ll call my surgeon tomorrow and see what he thinks...fingers crossed none of this is a cause to delay surgery! Has anybody else experienced squeaky knees?

Thanks!

 

[Celle]

Just to clarify, @MCC - Is your surgery date Wednesday, November 14, 2018? And are you having another partial or a total knee replacement?

I'm glad you're all right after the dog attack.

Your noisy knee may be this:
Clicking/clunking knee joint after surgery

 

[sistersinhim]

I've not heard anything about squeaking knees. Thank God that dog didn't harm you! He shouldn't be running loose!

 

[MCC]

Hi @Celle, surgery is November 14, and will be a patellofemoral PKR, tibial tubercle osteotomy, and lateral release.

My doctor said not to worry about the squeaking for now. We’ll see! And I’ll keep you guys posted on how things go with the left knee!

Thanks as always!

 

[Celle]

Thank you for clarifying about your next surgery. I've added it to your signature.

 

[MCC]

Hello bonesmarties! I just had the left knee done yesterday and was surprised by what a different experience it’s been, but all is going well so far!

I had a spinal and sedation again, and that worked great, but the spinal began wearing off very quickly once I hit recovery. They’ve been great with pain meds here at the hospital and my nerve catheter is working pretty well, though I am feeling more pain now. I had some low blood pressure readings overnight, but that seems to have resolved.

I’m hopefully headed home in the next hour. ready for bed and a nap if I can manage to fall asleep! They’ve got me on hydroxyzine in addition to dilaudid, Tylenol, aspirin, and a scopolamine patch. I didn’t realize that hydroxyzine increases the pain effects (in addition to the drowsiness) of narcotics, but it’s great since my health insurance company is limiting the amount of narcotic that can go home pretty severely due to national opioid crisis.

I’m happy to be on the other side and hopefully done with knee surgeries for a good long while! Fingers crossed I’m hiking again 6 mos without so much pain and with my patellas staying where they’re supposed to!

Admins, will you change my title to “PKR Part Deux: now I’ve got a matching set!”

Thanks!

Mandy

 

[Jockette]

Best wishes for a great recovery!!

 

[MCC]

Day 2 post-op of this recovery is just so different from the right side’s recovery! There’s less pain, less brain fog, and I can actually fall asleep despite having to be in the locked elevated brace. I’m also having an easier time getting up and moving around too. I’m not sure what’s different, except that I was much less nervous going into surgery this time.

I’ve got a couple more days with my nerve catheter, so I’m sure things’ll change a bit when that comes out. I’ve gotta say I’m totally cool if this recovery stays easier than the first...

My OS is planning to take x-rays of my right leg at my recheck in 3 days. I’ll let you guys know his thought about my squeaking right knee.

 

[Jockette]

I’m glad you are doing better this time. I started to write that being experienced at this and knowing what to expect is helping, but lots of members have a tougher time with the second knee, so I guess that’s not it. It does help for better peace of mind. Maybe less work had that be done on this knee.

Whatever the reason, I’m happy for you!