TKR RickSt Post Op

[RickSt]

Whoo Hoo ! A sense of normalcy at last . I took the wrapping off this morning and just took my first shower in almost 3 weeks and it felt good .

All the steri-strips are still hanging in there but my knee looks good . I don't think there will be much of a scar . There's some swelling to be expected but little or no pain yet this morning . I'm getting ready to go get a haircut . My wife has to do all the driving for a few more weeks .

Rick

 

[RickSt]

I think in my jubilation of mobility I may have over done it a bit today . My knee is swollen but not hurting all that much . I'll suck it up, it was worth it to get out of the house and get a taste of freedom .

Rick

 

[icep707]

Atleast you took a shower ! Modesty is out the window for me. Sounds like you will be a success story. Are you using a walker , crutches or cane ?. How the haircut go ? A present for your wife. Ill probably will start powdering up Monday. Take care.

 

[RickSt]

Atleast you took a shower ! Modesty is out the window for me. Sounds like you will be a success story. Are you using a walker , crutches or cane ?. How the haircut go ? A present for your wife. Ill probably will start powdering up Monday. Take care.

My doctor wants me to use my walker but being the hard head I am, I'm using my cane . I'll be sure to use my walker when I go to PT because it's at his office .

I washed up every day so I never smelled funky . I used "Pssst" on my hair and it's ok for a while but not the same as a good shampooing . It coats your hair with powder no matter how much you brush it . We did wash my hair at the kitchen sink before I went to the doctor Tuesday . The haircut was good . They were busy when I got there so I told my wife to go grocery shopping and come get me when she was done . She showed back up just a couple minutes after I got out of the chair .

My haircut was for me but she wanted me to get it . I told her Happy Valentines Day on FB . She got me a card .

Rick

 

[referee54]

I think in my jubilation of mobility I may have over done it a bit today . My knee is swollen but not hurting all that much . I'll suck it up, it was worth it to get out of the house and get a taste of freedom .

Rick

We have all done that ----a "jail break" of sorts---and it feels great to get out of the house---and the excursion is worth it!

We have all overdone things and learned from it (I had a rather lengthy learning curve!)

 

[RickSt]

We have all done that ----a "jail break" of sorts---and it feels great to get out of the house---and the excursion is worth it!

We have all overdone things and learned from it (I had a rather lengthy learning curve!)

My brother says it's the family genetics . Tell us we can't do something and we'll try that much harder to prove we can even if it hurts .

I normally wear a knee high Jobst compression stocking on my right leg . My OS said to wear the TED stockings until Monday but that I could switch to the Jobst today . Because it's prescription, it's much tighter than the TEDs . That may be contributing to the swelling in my knee . I wonder if I were to switch to a thigh high if that would help ?

Rick

 

[NuNe4Me]

For Valentine's Day, I hope you really thanked your wife for helping you through your ordeal.

 

[RickSt]

For Valentine's Day, I hope you really thanked your wife for helping you through your ordeal.

HaHaHa....What could I have done ? I haven't been able to get out if the house by myself in 3 weeks so no card, no box of chocolates, no flowers . I haven't done any cooking since I've been down .

Actually , I thank her all the time . I'd still be working if it weren't for her . Gone 3 weeks at a time and apparently spending a lot of time cursing snow . Thanks to her, the only snow I've seen has been on tv and the internet .

Rick

 

[RickSt]

Behaving myself today . Racing season is starting again so I've been in my recliner watching Sprint Cup practice, the ARCA race then the Sprint Unlimited . I move my leg a lot when I'm in my recliner and get up and walk around the house to keep everything moving . My knee is still a little swollen but looks really, really good .

Rick

 

[referee54]

I wonder if I were to switch to a thigh high if that would help ?

It may help---if you compress the who knee area you should squeeze some of the selling out of it. Combine that with with some ice, and you may reduce some of the swelling.

Then again, if you just sit and watch the NASCAR and behave yourself, the knee may settle down a little bit, too!
Please do not try to re-enact my lengthy learning curve!

 

[RickSt]

My knee looks really good except for the swelling above on the femoral end . It doesn't even hurt . It's just there . Will that go away once I start outpatient PT or am I still too early in the process ? Tomorrow marks 3 weeks post op . Also my OS must be one helluva seamstress because it doesn't look like I'm going to have much of a scar .

Rick

 

[RickSt]

One of the good things about living in a retirement community in Florida is that I although I can't drive my car, I can use my left leg in my golf cart . I stretch my operated leg out to the right and off I go . At least it gets me out of the house for a while .

Rick

 

[icep707]

Slick rick !! Be careful on that cart. In my head ,the absolute worst part is behind us. The immediate days after the surgery. But then I could imagine someone on Bonesmart saying" you darn fool ". Plus I read about people in excruciating pain months later. So im a little confused. Nevertheless I am prepared for whatever happens. 7 days out and I go to to OS on Thursday. Im still doing as little as possiable. Ankle pumps leg lifts. Glute Squeezing and ill put a roll under my ankle or lower thigh and CPM. Other than that im iced and elevating ALL DAY. Good for you with the Nascar! Bye

 

[RickSt]

I do have another small ( maybe ) type problem . I have a filling coming out and I need it fixed soon and I'm going to switch dentist . I talked to my new dentist office this morning and they told me what they need from my OS . I know I need to take an antibiotic 24 hours before a dental procedure . Since I already take Cephalaxen twice a day as a maintenance drug that may work and I need clearance from my OS . Tomorrow I start PT at my OS's office and he's in tomorrow so after PT I'm going to check in with him to get what I need . I'd love to put off going to the dentist but it's a huge filling and I know it's going to come out in the next few days .

Rick

 

[Karringtyn]

Strange I have a toothache as well! :( I hope you get that take care of!! Golf cart! Wow. I was on bed rest for 2 weeks before surgery...so it's been 3 weeks I would love to sneak out! How are you doing pain wise?

 

[RickSt]

Strange I have a toothache as well! :( I hope you get that take care of!! Golf cart! Wow. I was on bed rest for 2 weeks before surgery...so it's been 3 weeks I would love to sneak out! How are you doing pain wise?

Pain's not bad . I take 2 generic Vicodin before bed and 1 or 2 during the day . I have more stiffness than anything but I stay mobile . I walk around the house a lot as per my OS's wishes . I move my leg a lot even when in my recliner . I get tired of my recliner I go set in the garage where I have a mechanics stool on rollers I can prop my leg on . We have tile floors so I can do heel slides almost anyplace in my house .

I just move a lot .

Rick

 

[suzzee2000]

Rick you are another great inspiration on here! It's great to see your progress! I hope I do as well as you!! 3 weeks down seems like forever! My daughter and husband are trying to figure a way to rope me up and tie me down....It's just that I can't sit still EVER.... I don't like wasting time watching tv but guess I will have to learn to slow down and relax because I want to heal as fast as the next person but I am going to try my best not going to do anything my OS tells me not to!!

 

[RickSt]

PT started today . I didn't have to do anything that hurt . My OS was walking into an examining room and asked my PT how I was doing . She told him ..amazing . I have a total of 12 visits, 3 times a week for 4 weeks .

After I got home things got miserable . Without going into details, let's just say I'm switching to Tylenol or something similar for pain .

Rick

 

[RickSt]

2nd day of PT in the books and all relatively painless . What surprised me was right off the bat they put me on a bike . Not to pedal but to extend my knee . It hurt a bit but not my knee . Other than that it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood . I'm even dressed normal in jean shorts .

Rick

 

[icep707]

Rick ! how you doing ? I hope your wife is driving you to PT and that you are not driving the golf cart into town or onto the highway ! Are you using crutches or cane.??? Or walker. its great that your OS dropped in on you while doing PT. Were they gentle with you overall? What types of exercises did they have you do ? How did bike feel ? Well I hope your rehab goes well . During joint class they mentioned dental work post op for awhile. Risk of infection. I would honestly wait perhaps 5 months to maybe a year but that would depend on a few factors. I pray it doesnt end up to be a big lssue. Probably wont be. You are on top of it. Worst case scenario you can plug it with an eraser tip.. Ok Rick hang in there. Wishing you the best.