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TKR Sandi's knees, take 2

I was addicted to ice! Not a bad thing to be addicted to. Not only does ice help with pain, it also helps to reduce the swelling which will reduce the pain!
 
That's exactly how I've been managing to sleep too!! Until my shin on my TKR leg decides to ache (deep bone ache) then I have to change positions. But yay for side sleeping again, I was missing it.
90% of the time I have ice/cold water on my knee, it's definitely helping with the pain [emoji16]


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I had shin pain for at least 6 months. Even now, the upper shin bone with the implant goes in will ache is I have an extra busy day. My OS says it's completely normal. I found that icing that shin bone helped, too.
 
Good morning and happy Easter Day to all! I woke up very encouraged today and am looking forward to a great day with family. I plan to go to church this morning, which will be my first non-medical related outing since surgery (4 weeks tomorrow). I am so looking forward to it. After, I intend to elevate and ice and then participate in what the family is doing as much as I reasonably can. It's going to be a good day :)

On another note, my knee is doing very well with bending but I am struggling with extension. I am taking it slow, stretching it, etc. but it is always on my mind. I can't walk as straight as I would like to, either. So, that is what I seem to be thinking about most of the time. This morning, however, I bent down to pick up something off the floor and as I straightened up I realized that my left knee didn't hurt for the first time in many, many years. I think I am going to like this new knee after all! From now on I am going to start looking at the positives of my recovery (of which there are many) and just do the work I need to get the rest better, instead of focusing on the negatives.
 
Good attitude. Extension is slow coming for many of us. I found that walking with long strides helped me the most. You, when you are able, can lay across your bed on your tummy, with your thighs on the edge and the rest of your legs hanging off of the bed. I could do this only for a short time at first. But, as time went on, I was able to do it longer. Then, I just stopped doing it and stopped worrying about my extension. Before I knew it, it came in without me thinking about it. Yours will, too.
 
Good morning! Yesterday was my first day with everyone off to work or school, so I was alone for about 9 hours. I was pretty busy on Sunday, drove to church (first time driving since surgery), sat for service, helped some with Easter dinner (frosted and decorated cupcakes), went outside to watch the kids hunt Easter eggs, and generally moving around a lot more with a house full of people. I expected to be more swollen and sore yesterday, but it wasn't bad.

I was able to move around pretty well yesterday, too. I went downstairs and finished up some laundry that my daughter had carried down. While on the basement stairs, I took the opportunity to practice taking some steps sequentially. I depended on the rail a lot and was really slow, but I can do it without my left knee hurting. I will need a lot of practice to convince my head and legs that I really can do it after so many years of taking one step at a time, but I am feeling confident that I will be walking steps "normally" within a few weeks.

Another first yesterday - I took an online class (continuing professional education) and was able to concentrate and finish it and pass the test! My ability to think is coming back! I really feel like I have turned one of those "corners" that the OS and PT talk about. Yeah!
 
Driving wow!! You're doing so well, even with some set backs they seem minor overall.
I didn't think of the steps sequentially, have been doing one by one for so long, that will be great when it eventually happens.
Glad your first day alone went well and getting back to being more independent is great [emoji16]


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@zakmick I didn't seriously think about trying the steps until PT last week. My PT had me step up and down on a stool and said if I had a stool at home, I could start practicing. I don't have an appropriate stool, but I do have stairs, so I thought why not? I am VERY slow, but it is so cool thinking about taking stairs normally and fast some day.
 
Doing the steps like an adult is a thrill! I'm still rejoicing over it, after not being able to for over 25 years!
 
Went to PT today and was discharged. My insurance only pays for 20 appointments a year and I have used 11 as of today. Since I plan to have my 2nd knee done later this year, PT decided that my at home routine was working well and I don't need to come back until I get the other one done. Flexion was 118 today and extension is still hard, but getting better. I believe I can finish this up on my own, my knee and I :loll:I bought a recumbent bike from Amazon last week and I absolutely love it. It is so nice to be able to peddle it at home and I'm hoping it will help build up my stamina as well. Actually, my knee doesn't hurt when I am peddling, but my calf muscles let me know they have gotten lazy. Still making myself take it slow every time I do the stairs and walk sequentially. I figure eventually I will get good at it, and it doesn't hurt my knee like before surgery.

The last few days I have been noticing how often something that would have really hurt before (like bending down to pick something up or the stairs) doesn't hurt now. I am very excited and happy I did this. I hope everyone else is having a good day. Thanks again to everyone for giving me someone to listen to my ramblings. I appreciate all of you.
 
I bought the bike, too. I think it helped me a lot. Isn't it wonderful to not have that arthritis pain anymore?! What a huge blessing!
 
@sistersinhim yes! It is a wonderful feeling. A few weeks ago I couldn't even make myself think about doing the other knee, and now I'm thinking about what it will be like when neither one of them hurts :)
 
I went to Spokane with my daughter yesterday (about 1 1/2 hour drive). We went to a mall to a movie theater to watch a 2 hour movie and then to take my granddaughter to a birthday party. I did the most walking and car riding that I've done since surgery. The theater had these great recliners, which was fantastic and really helped my comfort level. The car ride (especially home) was long, but I picked up some frozen peas from the grocery store on the way and then on the way back and that really helped. It was nice to be doing regular things. I did take and use my cane. I think it would have been too much without it.

I was expecting to be pretty uncomfortable today, but other than a little more swelling than usual and tired muscles in my legs, it's not bad. It's good to know that I can start getting out and do things, within reason.
 
Wow! I can't believe how well you are doing for just a month out! What an inspiration you are to those coming up behind you!
 
Recliner seats in the theater are awesome, especially if you're recovering from a TKR! I'm happy to hear you suffered no extra pain from the trip.
 
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