Bilateral TKR Recovery Diary

[Diney]

Two wheels on my wagon........
That 's all you need for a spin around the Majorca byways. Have a great trip.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

So Majorca yesterday 30 degrees sunny, Essex today 5 degrees and hissing down. Marvelous...

Did no stretching exercises at all whilst away, and have lost a bit of flexion but no extension, I think. I will be continuing now with stretching so expect the same slow, steady progress as before.

Cycling was successful, marred by bad weather (!) in the first few days. Mileage breakdown is, by days:

13 aborted, bad weather
0 bad weather
54
27
38
0 very slight knee swelling so no ride
61
0 but no knee problems after longer ride
63
0 just tired!
46
27
56
------
385 in 9 riding days


So a bit under 40 miles each riding day.

I was being super-duper cautious because of knees and this seems to have paid off.

The riding went much better than I expected, both in distance covered and in not being absolutely useless despite having done almost no miles this year prior to the holiday. I now feel confident in starting a proper build-up training programme.

 

[bottomshollow]

Welcome home, Roy. We've missed you. Can see you got quite a bit of cycling in and apparently the knees behaved themselves. How about you?

We want a few more details, pleeeease! and some pics! Those of us who can't take vacations have to live vicariously through others, you know.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Welcome home, Roy. We've missed you.

aaaaaaaaaw

... and apparently the knees behaved themselves. How about you?

Oooooh provocative! Now let's see; there were about 130 other people there, maybe 100 men, 15 partners, 15 other ladies. Pretty much all of whom know one another, all living together in an apartment complex. Chances of That Kind of misbehaviour, then, about 0. Not only that, but the guy I shared an apartment with is an old friend who has just recently given up the booze completely, So another good influence

We want a few more details, pleeeease! and some pics! Those of us who can't take vacations have to live vicariously through others, you know.

Didn't take many pix, but here's one of a load of old cyclists celebrating St George's Day with drinks and a sing song. Life in the fast lane.

 

[bottomshollow]

:ThankYou: As always, you bring a smile and a chuckle.

 

[PooShay]

There are so many new posts, I almost missed that one. Welcome home, Roy. Unfortunately, we behaved while you were away!

 

[bottomshollow]

Speak for yourself, PooShay :hysterical:

 

[jerseychick]

Sounds like you had quite a time cycling....lots of miles and I am sure lots of memories.

 

[PooShay]

... Or not! I forgot the wine and the Oreo OD! :hysterical:

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Sounds like you had quite a time cycling....lots of miles and I am sure lots of memories.

Less than half the miles I'd normally do BUT given the fact of two new knees and almost no training miles beforehand I'm amazed at what I could do.

 

[TheHistorian]

Less than half the miles I'd normally do BUT given the fact of two new knees and almost no training miles beforehand I'm amazed at what I could do.

Your statement gives me hope.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Less than half the miles I'd normally do BUT given the fact of two new knees and almost no training miles beforehand I'm amazed at what I could do.

Your statement gives me hope.

Justified, I think, in the light of what I've read of your recovery.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I've just worked out mileages since last year:

Apr: 803
May: 471
Jun: 283
Jul: 177
Aug: 74
Sept: 6
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan: 0
Feb: 45
Mar: 137
Apr: 503

You can see how things declined as the whole thing went to sh went to pot. But I'm amazed having just counted up to hit 500 for April, with no real effort. Now to try for post-decline mileages and maybe a bit of racing again.

 

[Ditzzeechick]

Show off!!! I just want to peddle my beehind around the block ....way to go, Roy!!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

... I just want to peddle my beehind around the block

:th_heehee:

 

[Janet2012]

I've just worked out mileages since last year:

Apr: 803
May: 471
Jun: 283
Jul: 177
Aug: 74
Sept: 6
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan: 0
Feb: 45
Mar: 137
Apr: 503

You can see how things declined as the whole thing went to sh went to pot. But I'm amazed having just counted up to hit 500 for April, with no real effort. Now to try for post-decline mileages and maybe a bit of racing again.

Where the heck are you going??:choc:

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Where the heck are you going??:choc:

Hmm, joke's too subtle for me?

Don't go anywhere, just open my door and ride until I feel like it's time to come home again.

 

[Janet2012]

Hmm, joke's too subtle for me?

Don't go anywhere, just open my door and ride until I feel like it's time to come home again.

Well, that would be me eating the chocolate and being lazy, thinking that one would need to go someplace to ride a bike, and that's a lot of miles, so... Oh, never mind! I need my second cup of coffee. :mornincoffee:

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Six months today​

And in summary all is sweetness and light.

No drugs, no pain, walking isn't limited by knees but by lack of practice over the last 10 years, up and down stairs (two at a time in the local supermarket, not yet at home where the tread rise is greater) without bothering with the handrail and able to carry things, able to ride my bike as much as I want.

I am starting to forget to do my extension and flexion exercises. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it means my knees are going down the priority list.

There are still some issues. Balance - it's a comedy show putting my trousers on standing up, but it's getting better. Walking isn't perfect but is much less like a Supermarionation puppet, almost normal and continuing to improve. There is still some clicking, but again reducing steadily. Some fluid still but (you've guessed it) getting less all the time.

For anyone pre-op reading this who's also read the tales of woe on here, consider that a full recovery is normal. Most people who have successful knee surgery just get on with their lives and aren't boasting and showing off on here like me.

 

[PooShay]

Roy. I find that balance is my challenge too!