Bilateral TKR Recovery Diary

[Celle]

Thanks Roy.

Your tibial components go further down inside the bone than mine does, but the rest of my RTKR looks very similar.

Thank you for providing a "normal" progress report - you're right that some of the stories on here can be scarey!

Celle

 

[Josephine]

Are you a tall chap, Roy? I am wondering maybe if that's why he chose the intramedullary type.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Are you a tall chap, Roy? I am wondering maybe if that's why he chose the intramedullary type.

Before surgery I stood 183cm (6' 1/2"); all my friends are saying I'm a little taller now as (a) my legs are straight (b) I stand better.

Mr Ireland selected the long tibial stem based on 'no scientific evidence' that the extra metal/bone contact should minimise the risk of failure.

Week 3 day 24

Bed at 23.00 yesterday, woke at 05.00, 2xParacetamol 1xAdvil, re-awoke at 08.30

 

[sashayinglady]

Roy, you have a good looking set of new knees! Keep up the hard work of recovery.

 

[Josephine]

Ah - okay, sounds like him! :wink1:

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Ah - okay, sounds like him! :wink1:

:th_heehee: Yup; I'm not even sure that now I want to know if it was really a good idea -- what could I do about it?

 

[Josephine]

It's not a case of good or bad, just a different design. It's still a good knee replacement.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Week 3 day 25

Went for my first walk today. Must have been at least 200 yards. No pain, but clicks and pops from the knees. No crutches, but a walking stick helped.

Sleeping even more. 23.00 in bed last night, awoke at 03.00 but the usual two paracetamol and one Advil awoke at 08.45! Got up at 10.00 after listening to Desert Island Discs with Brian Cox as the castaway.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Week 3 day 26

After yesterday's 'walk' I felt wibbly-wobbly and tired all afternoon. What's that about!? The weakness is outrageous. Maybe I'll try just walking up my driveway and see how that goes

I'm bored. But then I suppose that in itself is a good sign of mental recovery; much of the time up to now I've spent sitting watching telly, or just sitting.

 

[sashayinglady]

Frustrating, but normal...it Will get better!!!

Happy New Year!

 

[Jazyb]

Roy, I'm not surprised you are bored with the telly - this Christmas and New Year viewing is dire. I am looking forward to the cricket starting soon . I am dreading the sitting around bit and doing nothing. Keep up the good work!

 

[ruppbike]

Roy - your 200 meter walk was in addition to the metabolic energy being used to repair those wounds in your legs. Even "doing nothing" will.wear you out for some time to come.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Roy - your 200 meter walk was in addition to the metabolic energy being used to repair those wounds in your legs. Even "doing nothing" will.wear you out for some time to come.

I know that in theory, of course -- but it really brings it home when it's in practice! And yes I'm going to bed early because I have to, getting up late, napping in the day, the whole nine yards.

 

[Josephine]

I recognise that well. It means you depleted your energy reserves and stamina and that the next pit stop is lots of rest and mind numbingly boring TV!

Remember this? Energy drain for TKRs

 

[Celle]

Week 3 day 25

Went for my first walk today. Must have been at least 200 yards. No pain, but clicks and pops from the knees. No crutches, but a walking stick helped.

Sleeping even more. 23.00 in bed last night, awoke at 03.00 but the usual two paracetamol and one Advil awoke at 08.45! Got up at 10.00 after listening to Desert Island Discs with Brian Cox as the castaway.

No crutches? You're a wonder! At 2 days behind you, I am still on 2 crutches and not ready to give them up yet. I had 11 weeks on crutches pre-operatively, so I guess it could be harder to wean me off them. I'm told everyone takes a different amount of time, so I'll try to be patient.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Week 3 day 27

Went for my first walk today. Must have been at least 200 yards. No pain, but clicks and pops from the knees. No crutches, but a walking stick helped.

No crutches? You're a wonder! At 2 days behind you, I am still on 2 crutches and not ready to give them up yet. I had 11 weeks on crutches pre-operatively, so I guess it could be harder to wean me off them. I'm told everyone takes a different amount of time, so I'll try to be patient.

Yes, from reading here recovery time varies dramatically.

I never needed crutches pre-op so I guess your knees must've been in worse state than mine. I don't use any walking aid around the house, haven't for a while now.

But that 200 yard walk half killed me and I haven't done it again.

Stayed up after midnight for the new year, very pleased and surprised to make it. Tired now mind...

 

[janlyn48]

About the boredom and TV...

I watched many DVDs that were an entire TV season. I like science fiction so my favorite was Firefly. I often tried to watch shows that had a continuing storyline. I did this when I recovered from my THR too (which was a little rougher than my knee - oddly.)

Funny, now when I watch House, The Gilmore Girls or Superman, the opening music reminds me of recovery pain.:th_heehee:

(I enjoy your informative posts Roy.)

 

[Deeden]

Your recovery sounds very much like mine, Roy. Like you I was off crutches after a week and onto a stick which has hardly been used - but I was reasonably fit from loads of walking up to the day before surgery and didn't use crutches or a stick.

I still get really tired, and my knee aches a bit, but I am able to do quite a lot, and I'm well aware from everyone here that it will get better and better.

I was exhausted by Boxing Day, so have been taking it easy since and feel better for it. I guess walking round Windsor Castle a couple of days before Christmas wasn't the wisest thing to do, nor was shampooing the carpets......................

My New Year's resolution is definitely more rest though! Happy New Year to everyone.

 

[referee54]

This recovery is not unlike a roller coaster---you will have some very good days---days that you feel unbelievably great---and you will feel so good that you do a little bit too much; then, you will have to "pay the piper."

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Week 3 day 28

On another thread

Especially read Roy Gardiner's thread ... as he has had a great recovery and done everything correctly. It's a tough surgery to recover from but that doesn't mean it has to be a nightmare. Being prepared to rest and take things easily and slowly is what has got Roy his excellent recovery.

Pride cometh before a fall! On New Year's Eve I decided to imbibe a fair quantity of that stuff that keeps your arteries clear, you know, red wine. And that watching Jools Holland's show on the tellybox at 00.00 was a good idea. Singing Auld Lang Syne sounded right. A tiny wee gentle dance...

1st January I felt I'd gone back 2 weeks. Back on the paracetamols, plus Ibuprofen, plus Cyrocuff most of the day. It's only now 17.30 Monday I'm recovered a bit.

However, it has to be said his ability to be without prescription pain meds so quickly is extremely unusual and not to be emulated without good reason! As yet, I've only known one other knee member who has done that.

Crikey, I hadn't realised I am that unusual!

I suspect that Mr Ireland has a good hand and is perhaps gentler than most? As I've posted on the knee pix thread he used an old-fashioned form of stitching that Jo identified as 'mattress' which is intervention-free, unlike the more common metal staples.

I used paracetamol (still do -- had stopped during the day prior to Dec 31st but last 2 days have been taking it) and Tramadol at night to sleep. Tramadol I stopped as soon as I could as it had such dire effects on my digestive system, which even now is still not quite back to normal.