TKR Put the right knee in...and then the left.

[kmak81230]

I agree with @liam2015 and @sistersinhim. It sounds as though you are recovering really well. We have to constantly remind ourselves that the recovery is not linear. Some days will make us feel like we're regressing. It's all part of this long journey. Glad to see you are getting out some.

 

[gertie]

Feeling a much brighter attitude on this cool, dry, sunny morning on the back porch. The PT who was coming to the house, as well as various people on here, predicted I'd notice a shift in how the knee felt in the 5th or 6th week and I think that is happening. Although I was frustrated with how short my walk was yesterday, I was also aware of a noticeable reduction in stiffness and soreness overall, which has continued into today.

At one point last evening I was walking around the house, without my cane, and had absolutely zero soreness or stiffness in the upgraded knee--first time in months that I've walked with a normal gait and no pain. And the slight increase in stiffness/soreness I felt after driving or walking went away quickly with a little rest, elevation, ice.

Now to hold myself back a bit so I don't overdo things! I said to a friend that I wanted to use this 10 day interval before the next surgery to indulge in some typical summer activities.

The problem is that most of what I want to do requires more walking/activity/sitting with legs down, etc., than I'm really ready for so I'll need to choose carefully (on the too much, too soon list: long walks in the woods, going to Tanglewood for a Sunday afternoon, taking advantage of local summer repertory theater and local concert series, browsing garden shops and then coming home and planting the purchases, driving over an hour up into Vermont to a gorgeous reservoir for a day of hiking/swimming). Ah well, I can go out for ice cream!

 

[SusieShoes]

You're doing amazing, you really are. It's easy, once we reach a place where our knee settles down a bit (generally that is around week 5 or 6) to think we've reached the hump and should start coasting along, but... we haven't. Not really. There's still a long way to go, and there will be some setbacks along the way, and it's going to feel like our recovery is taking forever. We reach a good place and we think it should be better. That's so human, isn't it? But it's still a good place. Enjoy it and this bit of summer. :smile2:

 

[kneeper]

You're right. Choose short outings with days "off" in between.

 

[gertie]

@kneeper I know that taking days off is wise...but oh, it feels so good to get out of the house under my own steam! But I will limit my adventures to one a day and keep them small (and pay attention to how the knee feels).

 

[cnm1]

You live in one my favorite places - western Ma. I grew up near Albany and loved Tanglewood, Stockbridge and Williamstown in the summer!! Have some fun - but try not to over do it!!

 

[KarriB]

Also look for places you can at least prop your leg up if possible, such as while eating at a restaurant. Just propping it up beside me on the booth seat or extra chair helped.

 

[sistersinhim]

I always looked for a booth first. It was much easier to prop up on it than a chair.

 

[nensi]

Lovely ideas to fill the days and a wise woman who listens to her knees - it's an unbeatable combination @gertie!

 

[gertie]

5 week report on my right TKR
As always, thank you all for your kind replies and suggestions. I did sit in booths for my 2 restaurant outings last week, which let me elevate at least part of the time--not the most comfortable position for eating but it helped my knee.

At 5 weeks I am:
--Off all opioids except for 1 small dose before bed and am going to try substituting acetaminophen for that dose tonight--we'll see how it feels.
--Walking around the house mostly without a cane (except when I get up in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning).
--Short walks outside (down the driveway to the mailbox) without the cane.
--Using a cane for longer outside walks.
--Driving short distances comfortably.
--Doing limited errands (quick trip to CVS or farm market, drive self to local med appt, etc.) and limited out of the house social engagements
--Tending to most daily household tasks--some tidying up, laundry, simple meal prep and clean up, cat care, light floor sweeping when needed, etc. I have someone who comes in for 2 hours every other week to do more intensive cleaning.
--Last had measurements a week ago and flex was 120 and extension 0.

I'm still on schedule to get the left knee done in a week (2 August). I asked the surgeon's scheduler how long I'd need to wait if I postponed and she said late October/early November--and that feels like too long to wait, especially since it means I'd be recovering during winter with slippery sidewalks, etc.

But I do go back and forth on the decision. Yesterday was a cool rainy day and I'd just had a string of more active days so I spent a lot of time on the couch--2 forays out into the world for quick errands and then back to the couch. I'm getting really sick of being sedentary--and my body in general isn't happy about it--low back aches especially.

Yet here I am about to extend that sedentary time. Ugh! But I tell myself that if I postpone, I'm probably setting myself up for even more extended sedentary time as I baby the left knee, which is bone on bone in the medial aspect and has lots of arthritis behind the kneecap.

Lefty has never been as painful as the right was and so far hasn't inhibited ADLs (which the right knee did) but she does get in the way of things like riding a bike, climbing stairs, walking on hilly terrain. And it's hard to assess how bad it is right now since I've been so limited in what I do--a 5 or 6 minute walk doesn't really test it.

And so I continue to dither. I have a preop appt with the surgeon on Friday and that will be my deciding point.

 

[nensi]

Progress sounds great, Gertie. Wishing you clarity and judgement for your decision this week. I have always found it useful to write down (longhand or in a spreadsheet) all the pros and cons of pending decisions - just listing things made them tangible and got them out in the open instead of bonking around in my head befuddling me...

 

[Pheebs52]

I'll just echo what Liam and sistersinhim said. All movement is cumulative and will come back to haunt you at day's end. You. Did. A. Lot!

 

[Pheebs52]

@gertie, given our New England weather, I vote for the August 2nd date. Late Oct or Nov would mean a very long "house prisoner" status....you don't want that. I had my hip replaced in late November and it was a huge mistake; pffft!

Your summery ideas are lovely and if you can squeeze in just a few, that would be great! I'd go for Tanglewood (a personal fave) on the lawn with a decent chair and a cooler to prop your leg up on, the ice cream, and some woodsy walks. I'd leave the reservoir in VT until next year....but, that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Canada35]

Wow Gertie! Your bend is amazing at this point. No membership for you in our Slow Benders Club! A few activities will make you feel much better about your decision ahead. I am with Pheebs and would opt for the Aug date as the weather will still be good when you want to be going on a few outdoor walks or excursions. And then you will be feeling great for the Christmas holiday season!

 

[liam2015]

terrific 5 week report gertie. enjoy the next little while before your 2nd knee replacement. let's hope for a beautiful autumn you can enjoy with 2 strong knees.

 

[gertie]

@Pheebs52 Oh, I'd love to go to Tanglewood but it's not on for this summer--at least an hour in the car each way (I live in Amherst so not quite in the Berkshires)--possibly more with traffic jams--and then more walking than I'm ready for. But next year! And yes, you and @Canada35 are right about the weather aspect of the decision. I had a hip replacement last fall at the end of October and luckily the nasty weather didn't hit until later in the winter (at least around here) when I was feeling more steady on my feet--I had a few weeks in December and early January when I could get around outside easily and enjoy the new hip before iciness took over. But there are no guarantees about that.

 

[Jajakio]

I'm interested in what you decide, Gertie. I'm in the exact same situation. Right knee just replaced, left on not nearly as bad for daily living but probably going to prevent me from doing the big things. My doctor told me I was not a good candidate for bilateral and asked me to wait and let this one heal and see where I am. No doubts left knee will need to be done eventually but he wants me to get up on this one carrying weight evenly and see where I want to go from there. But he's ready when I am. I'm nearly 3 weeks out, in great shape and thinking this one will work well. Left one hasn't hurt since surgery but that's probably just a combination of being so much more sedentary and pain pills. I'm tylenol in daytime with a percoset to get to sleep on.

It is a hard call, isn't It? On one hand I would love to get it over with and get on with life with 2 good knees. On the other staring over is .....

 

[gertie]

Left one hasn't hurt since surgery but that's probably just a combination of being so much more sedentary and pain pills.

Yes! It's only been since I got off the daytime pain meds (except for Tylenol) that I've started to get twinges again in the left knee--which is the really good news since that's the leg I've been relying on through the early recovery on the right knee. But the past few mornings, when I first get out of bed, the left knee has hurt more than the right--nothing extreme but letting me know it's not happy.

6 weeks is the shortest interval the OS I see will do the staged approach and we'll see if he thinks I'm ready when I see him on Friday for the preop appt. His PA, whom I've seen for my 2 follow up visits, thinks I am but the surgeon might have a different take on things. At 3 weeks out I seriously doubted that I'd be ready to go again at 6 weeks but it does seem more possible (if not more desirable ) now.

Good luck with your decision making @Jajakio. It is a tough one.

 

[sistersinhim]

I know what you're doing through with your decision. My OS said to let my pain be my guide. Right now lefty is wonderful, so I elected to not do anything until it demands to be changed. My new knee is still painful sometimes and I want that pain gone all the way before I put all my weight on it! I'd say to you to also let your pain be your guide. If you think you new knee can handle all the work and your old knee is being angry, then it's probably time.

 

[gertie]

@sistersinhim It is a balancing act isn't it? I'm curious to get the surgeon's assessment of my readiness. I'm pretty comfortable with full weight bearing on the new knee, some soreness with more extended time on my feet but nothing excessive, so we'll see!