TKR Slow but steady

[DLR]

@Jacimarble awesome...glad you have given yourself a recovery day. I am amazed at how much of a balancing act this recovery is, trying to move on with normal but being cautious of the ODIC

 

[Jacimarble]

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@CAB I'm wondering if it is worth trying the 4 doses of regular panadol instead for my OA???

Oh, you don't want my opinion on it then, Jacimarble?

Yes please @Josephine

 

[traceys]

Thank you @Jacimarble ! I am 6 wks and feeling the frustrations you wrote about then. You are giving me so much hope for my turtle like recovery now. Please keep posting

 

[Jacimarble]

A long overdue update!

So, its almost 6 months since my RTKR. I did OK with recovery from 0-3 months – things were pretty much on track with what I expected. Between 3 and 5 months though, things slowed right down, then plateaued (is that a word?), then regressed. I was having difficulty in walking without a limp, difficulty in sit/standing, avoided stairs whenever possible and was generally pretty miserable about the lack of returning to “normal” life.

I developed pain in my hands, and shoulders, then my feet and elbows, in addition to my knees– I was tired and in pain ALL the time. At first I put it down to the end of the year stresses and busyness, but resting over the Christmas/ New Year break did not help at all. So off to the doctor I went. Blood tests show I now have Rheumatoid Arthritis and was in the middle of a pretty significant flare up. The RA had been affecting my joints and very much affecting my recovery from the TKR.

The good news is I am currently on steroids to reduce the flare and I can move again. In the last two weeks I have been able to walk “almost” normally – a little slow but hardly any limp, I can sit/stand without thinking about it, I can go upstairs foot over foot and am improving at going downstairs. I see a rheumatologist this week to work out my management plan for the RA. I did have blood tests for RA back in June before my TKR, but at that point they did not show up anything significant, so we just put the pain down to Osteoarthritis, as the x-rays showed I was down to bone on bone.

I am so happy to have my knee back on track and be more positive about being able to move and do things again.

 

[Jockette]

It’s good to hear from you but I’m sorry there is some unpleasant news.

I’m glad the medication is doing it’s job and relieving your RA pain and that once again your knee replacement is back on track.

I’ll tag @kneeper, she’s has/had RA and a knee replacement and she will understand all you’re going through.

 

[kneeper]

Hi @Jacimarble I'm sorry to hear about your RA diagnosis but am glad you are seeing a rheumatologist. RA can be hard to diagnose as blood tests aren't always positive. As you may have heard that is called "seronegative." Mine is that as well so it took a while to diagnose--particularly since I was a kid at the time.

It sounds like the steroids are helping but I know they try to get you off those as soon as they're able to and put you on other meds for the RA.
As far as your tkr, I would just do as much gentle daily ROM as you are able to without causing more pain.
Keep us posted.

 

[Jacimarble]

Almost 7 months update. Good news!!!!! I am feeling great!! RA meds have kicked in well and I am pain free!!! I don't know how long it has been since I have been able to say that. I can walk - normally, at a decent speed - I even overtook some people last week. I no longer avoid stairs - going up is generally no problem, coming down sometimes I go step by step, sometimes one foot on each step - depends on the height of the stairs and how tired I am. I've been doing regular aqua aerobics and indoor cycling and have been seeing an exercise physiologist who has helped with some exercises to strengthen both legs.
I'm travelling again for work and it is so much easier to board planes and get in and out of plane seats with two working knees.
I still get stiffness, particularly after I've done a work out, but it's not as restricting as before. I can't flex as much as the other leg but that is also improving - I'm at 120+ so plenty good enough for ADL. I can't kneel comfortably at all - not even with a pillow under my knee, so I work around that.
All in all I'm feeling much happier with my new knee and looking forward to all the things I will be able to do. Next on the list is high intensity cycle classes and getting on the outdoor bike again, along with some camping and hiking before Winter hits.
Hang in there Bonesmarties - there is life after TKR!!

 

[sistersinhim]

What a super recovery post! You are an inspiration to those coming up behind you.

 

[KarriB]

Great to hear how well you’re doing!