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

Forgetting your cane is a good sign that you're getting stronger! I think each week you'll see some improvements!
Send us some of those chilly days down here!. We've been in the 90s for a couple of weeks with high humidity. It hurts my old knee and new ankle!
 
Gertie, *forgetting* the cane is actually huge, so congratulations on hitting that milestone. I expect you'll forget more and more frequently.:yes!:

Driving again is such a mood-booster! I began at 5 weeks, but just short trips. Still, that feeling of freedom and independence made me feel like a teen again and boy, did I need that. I didn't thrive as a homebound prisoner; pffft!

I see you had your right knee done, so you'll probably have to wait a bit longer than I did to get behind the wheel, but get there you will.

I see you are planning to replace the left knee; when will you be doing that?
 
@Pheebs52 Ah, driving--can't wait! The PA I saw for my 2 wk follow up said I could drive as soon as I was off daytime pain meds and felt like my knee was strong enough. I haven't tested it out yet in the car but I can easily do the needed movements and my flex is adequate--right leg feels as strong if not stronger than it was pre-op and I've had a functioning quad from early on--but even though I'm spreading doses out more and more I'm still taking at least one daytime pain dose and feeling spacy as a result so no driving yet. I'm scheduled to have the 2nd one done on August 2. Very soon!
 
Ooooh, so you'll be driving for about a week or two and then, back to Square One, eh? I really admire those who can see their way through that scenario. It's a toughie, no question about it, most especially in regard to the energy drain and, I feel, the psychological impact of having a longer than normal recovery period. I knew I couldn't put myself through that, so have chosen to wait the other knee out. My OS tells me I have 2 years, tops. I'll be happy to get a year, but am also aware that anything could happen that may make it necessary to go for it sooner. So, I keep my fingers crossed and admire the strength of others who choose your route. Many here have done remarkably well with phased knees, and there's no reason why you shouldn't be one of them. :SUNsmile:
 
@Pheebs52 I think it's the psychological piece that's hardest--knowing that just as I'm starting to feel a bit more independent I'll be back to full dependence again. I tell myself it's just for a few weeks but...My left knee generally hasn't been painful during this recovery, even though it's had to do a lot of work, so I do start to second guess my decision but I've also been taking pain meds which I'm sure have muted the left knee's pain. As I back off the meds I'm starting to get twinges in the un-op knee again.
 
@gertie, I admire your courage in getting the second knee done so quickly. I can't even imagine doing that! Frankly, I'm still waiting for fabulous to happen with the first knee. If knee #1 turns out wonderful, then I'm more likely to want knee #2 done.

I hear you on the humidity! July in Virginia is hot and sticky and both knees let me know about it! I'll take it over cold and damp, though :smile2:
 
I totally understand Gertie. My "good" knee has been acting up quite a bit since I am now only taking Tylenol. Funny how it works well for my tkr but not the natural knee at all.

While mine is certainly not actually good by any measure, it's not as yet anywhere near as painful in comparison to how my tkr knee was pre-surgically. I have had several other surgeries and medical issues to overcome in the last few years and that's a large part of my decision making process on Knee #2. I simply need a protracted period of feeling halfway decent. [emoji849]

I like your thinking with respect to "It'll just be a couple of bad weeks," and really hope that proves to be true for you! I'm saving that piece of wisdom for when I am ready to take the plunge again!






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I really respect you folks who get your second knee done soon after the first. One recovery was more than enough for me. I wouldn't want to do it twice (having both done at once was my way around that). So you get all the props.

Tylenol never touched my original knee pain. I was surprised it helps so much with my TKRs, but it does. The original knees, though... nothing. You're probably right that the stronger pain meds you've been taking have muted the pain of your left knee. Getting it replaced and beginning your new life with two new, fully functional knees is probably your best move. It's just such a daunting prospect, isn't it?
 
Daunting with a capital D, Susie! But...I love Gerties attitude re: Just a couple of weeks in the really bad zone!:yes!:
 
Hope your recovery is going well. I like how you mentioned those times when you really feel that improvement. I enjoy that perspective also. Pre op I am just trying to accept the declines in function, while now post op we get to experience improvements!
 
It takes courage to do the two knees so close together. I didn't have that much courage, so I'm waiting. Yours will be over with before you know it and nothing but improvement will be headed your way! Getting it over with is the right idea!
 
Probably more denial than courage at play here! And I may still chicken out! I wanted to do a bilateral but no one locally does them anymore--used to but haven't done so in a couple of years. So, staged is the next best option.

Today is my first day without any daytime opiates--so far, OK, although still sleepy, even without the meds. Might be the heat/humidity (and recovery of course). Have done some puttering around the house and a very short stroll around the yard to look at some of the garden beds. Might do another short outdoor stroll later when it cools off.

Am walking a lot in the house w/o the cane--sometimes forgetting, sometimes a deliberate decision. This morning I was in the bedroom, stripped down and ready to head for the shower when I realized I'd left the cane on the back porch--oh dear.
 
Other than the heat and humidity, this sounds like a pretty good day @gertie! Can I assume you managed cane-free on your way to and from the shower? LOL!:heehee:
 
@Pheebs52 Ha! I wrapped a towel around myself and fetched the cane--feels like a security blanket at this point--even when I'm "using" it in the house I'm often just carrying it. It does feel like a good thing when I'm outside though.
 
Forgetting the cane means you're close to not needing it. Your brain is confident of your new knee. It's a great and liberating thing. Definitely a good day.
 
After my mostly "cane free in the house" day yesterday I felt muscles I'd forgotten I had! Nothing serious but I'll use the cane more today and transition more slowly off of it.
 
Yahoo! Last in-home PT visit (until I get back on this merry go round in 2 weeks)! This therapist was fine--more obsessed with ROM #s and window of opportunity, etc., than I liked but didn't put her hands on me and was overall encouraging and supportive. Today's stats: extension 0 (which it's been since day 4) and flexion 120 (sitting in a chair, minimal effort). Knee still has some swelling and stiffness but that's par for 4 weeks out. Bruising is just about gone.

She's been coming 3 times a week and the only time I do any pushing at flexion is when I'm with her ("give me a little bit more, just a little bit more...") and even then I take care not to hurt myself. In between PT visits, I walk around, take care of myself, and do gentle bending throughout the day--the BS way. When she asks if I'm doing my stretching exercises I smile and nod. At one point she chided me on my elevation pillow stack because it allowed for a slight bend. I sweetly reminded her that my extension has been 0 since day 4--and showed her that it was still at 0 in spite of elevating with a slight bend--so she backed off of that. I'm so glad to have the BS support and accumulated knowledge.

I tend to be physically cautious and I'm on my own so it was good to have her encouragement in moving toward independence ("yes, you look ready to move to a cane" etc.). Today I wanted to try using my op knee to go up steps since I know that will be one of the determining factors in whether I can come home after the next surgery or go to rehab. I have 4 shallow steps to get into my house. So outside we went and up I came with absolutely no effort. Whew! Standard height steps would be a bigger deal of course.

Since there's such a brief time before starting this party all over again, I'm not going to do anything about outpatient PT until after the second knee--which gives me time to shop around a bit to see if there's anyone locally with a BS perspective.
 
What great strides you're making. It's tough after living with painful, arthritic knees, and after having gone through so much pain post-surgery, to trust our new knees to lift us. When my PT introduced me to the step up, I was sure my left knee would fail me. "I'm not sure this is going to work," said I. He urged me to try. And left knee lifted me just fine. I was truly surprised. I'd expected terrible pain and failure. Knee was ready... I was not. It took a demonstration to wrap my head around it. Physically cautious is a good way to describe that.
 
120x0 rom! Great numbers! Why would PT be talking about the window of opportunity? It doesn't make sense. You are already way ahead of the normal recovery ROM! And good for you for sticking up for yourself about the elevating! I loved how you put her into her place!
 
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