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TKR Sandi's knees, take 2

Yesterday was 5 weeks since surgery, and I am sitting here thinking about what it was like 4 weeks ago and how much has changed. I was so worried I would always be in pain, swollen, etc. even though I knew better from everyone else's experiences. One of my granddaughters said to me this morning, "I'm so glad you can walk well now, Grandma" and it occurred to me how far I've come in such a short time.

Now, it's not perfect, I am still working on extension and consequently have to work on walking correctly, I still get sore (but no serious pain now), I still need to ice (but not as often), and I still don't have nearly enough energy :) Overall, though, I feel so blessed to have come as far as I have and so blessed to have those on the forum who have helped me so much. Thank you and wishing everyone a fantastic day.
 
It makes our day when we read that we have been a help to someone! We are blessed just as much as you are!

It's also a blessing to know that each week you will see little improvements! Your recovery will be an inspiration to those coming up behind you!
 
Reflecting was an important part of my recovery too. Even today I feel I am blessed to have a painless knee knee that allows me to live my life without pain.
 
You are doing well. At this point you will find yourself doing more and more activities without thinking about it. I remember needing to quickly go up a flight of steps and I went up foot over foot without even holding onto the rail! Just remember that you can still hit a few momentary bumps in the road but they will get to be fewer and farther between.
 
Although I have been working as a substitute teacher this school year, I spent more time at the school in my daughter's 1st grade classroom. I kinda feel bad that I spoiled her with all the help and then deserted her for my TKR, although I have helped with some grading and cutting at home. Anyway, I got really close to her 1st graders and have been missing them a lot. Yesterday I went to the school to visit and I was so happy to see them and encouraged to see how happy they were to see me, got a week's worth of hugs! I answered some questions about the surgery and read them a new book and after about 45 minutes I was totally exhausted. I don't know how anybody could go back to work this early. I hope the next time I go I can stay a bit longer, but it was so good to be back anyway.
 
Yay and getting another step closer to your normal life! Doesn't it feel great?!!
 
I was a first grade teacher at the time of my TKR and went back mornings only at 12 weeks and full time 6 weeks later. I could not have done a full day at 12 weeks. First grade is a very physically and mentally exhausting grade to teach. I retired last year with 38 years of teaching, 37 in first grade.
 
sandi4213 said:
Went to my first PT appointment today. I was really worried after reading horror stories on here about aggressive pt's. I still like the office :) I saw them a few times before the surgery for strengthening, and I am happy to report that I still felt listened to and saw concern for my well being. I did some heel slides, short arc quads, quadricepts strenghtening (pushing my knee toward the bed) and "sags" (putting a roll under my ankle to allow gravity to help straighten the knee. While it took some effort, nobody pushed on me or forced anything, which was a relief.

Between getting dressed and ready to go, navigating the 14 stairs to the street, the car ride, the PT, and then the trip back, I was totally exhausted. Some ice, elevation, and a nap helped a lot. I think the PT 3 days a week will be my job for the next few weeks.
Click to expand...

With my RTKR, Sags were the hardest for me. I practice at home 10 seconds a few times a day. Slowly! Worked my way up to 2 minutes. They had wanted me to do 2 minutes right from the start. Uh, no...


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@mom2fencers yes, I HATE sags. I now extend my leg onto an ottoman with a cushion on top that makes it level with the chair seat. I started with 2 min at a time and am now up to 10 min at a time. I think it is really helping.
 
@KarriB I have been following your story and knew you were a first grade teacher. Believe me, I understood why you couldn't go back till 12 weeks and part time then. That job is exhausting. Whenever I sub in 1st grade, I am EXHAUSTED! I love those kids, though.
 
Relief teacher here too!! Geez can't even think about going back yet eek


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Thumbs up on the cane encouraging better form than the walker. After both my THR and my TKR I got off the walker as soon as possible precisely because I found myself leaning forward when I walked.

For me, I also stopped using the cane inside the house a day or two after I got home and abandoned it completely within the house after a week and just focused on form. That may be too aggressive for some, but it worked for me. I still took the cane when going outside for a couple of weeks as insurance against uneven surfaces.

I had to chuckle at your comment about not being able to do some of the home PT exercises at first. I remember the first time I tried to do a leg lift. My brain sent the message to my muscles to lift the leg...and it just sat there.

Sounds like you're doing great! Just remember you still need more rest than usual. Continue to ice and elevate, and don't overdo on exercises. Now that I'm 4+ weeks out I've gone back to the gym, and I agreed with my PT during my visit today than every other day needs to be a bit more rest focused because I'm trying to push too hard on ROM.

Best of luck!
 
@sandi4213 when I put my letter in for sick leave I originally asked for only 8 weeks, but if you've read my thread you know I had a second surgery etc. which made going back at 8 weeks impossible. I still think I was very blessed to be able to return part time 2 months after infection surgery and 1 month after being allowed to bend.

First graders are the best! Teaching my students to read and think brought significance to my life. I'm grateful everyday for my career and now for my retirement as well!
 
@KarriB that is what I am doing now. I'm pretty sure I got the ottoman one from one of your posts, and @sistersinhim suggested the hanging off the bed one which I just started this week. I was afraid that one would hurt my incision, but when I finally tried it, it didn't bother it at all. The ottoman stretch is so much better than the towel under ankle and I can tell it is helping.
 
So, my son in law asked me what I meant by "energy drain". I tried to explain that the knee is taking the energy from the rest of me for its healing, but I don't think he really understood. He has been back at work for a couple of weeks now, working long hours, and I think he is jealous that I can "lay around all day" (my words, not his!). I am so tired of being tired that I would love to be able to work long hours. Even though my knee still hurts (though MUCH better), it still swells sometimes (I have to ice and elevate about 3 times a day now), I'm still working on flexion and extension, the thing that I hate the most is the energy drain. I just want to do what I want to do, and not be exhausted for hours afterward.

I know that I am doing really well and probably shouldn't be complaining, but I really am frustrated that I can only do a few things a day before I am exhausted. When did the rest of you feel a marked difference in your energy levels?
 
Unfortunately, the energy drain can linger for a long time. I think it was a about 6 months before i felt I had as much energy as before my TKRs.
 
It is very frustrating to be wanting to do things and your body saying, "No." I would do something extra one day and then rest the next. Before long you can extend the time of extra activities and lessen the rest days.
 
I was still feeling energy drain at 3 months when I returned to teaching part time. I spent most afternoons resting, icing, elevating. Then when I went full time 6 weeks later I felt the energy drain again. It wasn't until 7-8 months I noticed I had some energy when I took my 1st graders on a field trip (up/down bus stairs 4-5 times) and still had enough energy on that Friday to ride my bike. Then when I went back to lap swimming a few weeks later, whew! I could only do 3-4 laps before getting tired and achy, but I believe a lot of that was from using a different set of muscles and asking my TKR to do something it hadn't done before.
 
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