PKR son of textbook perfect recovery; this time I really mean it.

[jeano]

Had another excellent night, took dilaudid and some Tylenol around 9pm and did not need anything until morning, other than strapping the ice wrap on at 4am after a bathroom visit. Got up for the day at 630 and debated whether or not to have more dlaudid. I know this flies in the face of all that is held sacred on BS but I only took narcs consistently for about 3-4 days with the first knee, and I was feeling pretty good. Took Tylenol, thought perhaps today I can delay narcs or perhaps quit taking them.

However. I needed to get my morning chores done and would necessarily be on my feet a good while doing them. Let dogs out, get dogs in, make coffee, dump meltwater from polar care cube, which is a minor ordeal with a walker, fetch fresh ice from freezer, load cube, drag it back to daytime nest, feed dogs, make bed, arrange nest, have some coffee, commune with nature, fix and eat own breakfast. Decided dilaudid was indicated after all, especially after I checked bandage situation. The whole arrangement was looking tired and soiled, stiff with dried blood, and gaping open at the bottom. Time to pull up the big girl panties and haul out the silver bandage.

But, Jeano, you protest, why the heck are you having to do all this alone??? Where is the faithful Ice Sherpa in your hour of need? Why can't he at least fix the coffee, dogs, ice, etc. for you before he leaves for work? Because he leaves for work at 5AM, is why, and today he overslept and, in his haste to get going he completely forgot a crucial task, as I realize as I glance out the back door. I can see our 3 geese milling about in their pen. Oops. Mr jeano has forgotten the poultry. Better have breakfast before tackling this. Poached an egg, buttered some bread, wolfed it down

I get my shoes on and shuffle outside and navigate over the fire ant infested wasteland aka our "lawn" and release the geese and open up the coops so our little hobby flock of chickens can
start their day. This wasn't my first trip outdoors but it was the first time off the porch.

Back inside, more coffee, change the dressing, clean up a bit, put my day clothes on, and At Last, plop on my nest, strap on the ice, prepare to take it easy for the rest of the day.

 

[madinana]

@jeano once again I just love your writing and up dates Rest and enjoy your day

 

[jeano]

Thanks very much for your kind words. I had been a bit apprehensive about this knee, reasoning that I couldn't possibly have another "textbook perfect recovery", especially not with changing as big a variable as the surgeon. (plus the right knee always felt worse even though the left knee showed more damage on radiography and was operated on first.)

My PTs were tremendous for the last knee and my ankle rehab, and reassured me that I would do well, but also cautioned me that knees are like children--you can't expect your second to be anything like your first. So far, though, I'm not seeing any huge differences.

The main reason I post on bonesmart is that I know I'm an outlier on one side of the bell shaped curve. I think its important for folks who find the forum to realize that knee replacement won't necessarily mean doom, gloom, and agony for them. Maybe the analogy of knees being like children is again apt--each recovery is unique, unpredictable, and in its own way, beautiful.

 

[skigirl]

Jean, I also love your posts---I am the same kind of woman---I just do what I have to do---somehow!!

Two weeks ago, I was trying to wrestle out the 400 lb back seat of our van. In the process of trying to move it around, I pulled on a lever and the back of the seat came crashing down on my hand. Owwwww. I just sat there for a few minutes with tears running down my face and waited for the worst to pass. I then wrapped it in an ace wrap and got the doggone seat out of the van. I then loaded it with my art fair booth and work.

When I went inside my husband said---How can you go to a show like that? I replied, I will go there, set up my booth, sell my work, pack up what's left and come home----I will do this because I have to do this!!!

Good work getting the geese and chickens out!!

 

[jeano]

Getting birds out was nothing. I've been reading a bunch of infection and blood clot threads and my hair is standing on end. So grateful I CAN get everyday chores done and am knock on old dodging complication bullets.
@skigirl I trust you are icing and elevating your poor hand.

 

[cjf1222]

@jeano. Yours were some of the first posts I read on BS. Like reading a good short story. Your yard sounds like ours, minus the poultry!

 

[kneeper]

I'm happy for you that you're doing so well, even with the little glitches.

 

[Celle]

But, Jeano, you protest, why the heck are you having to do all this alone??? Where is the faithful Ice Sherpa in your hour of need?

Hi @jeano
You bet I protest!
Still, you know what you're doing, and you had a good reason this time. However, please, for the sake of your knee, do encourage the Ice Sherpa to be his usual, helpful self from now on!

I love your stories. Hope I can be as upbeat in mid September, when my second knee is done!

 

[jeano]

@Celle Darn tag links don't connect with this tablet--anyway, i'll be cheering you on and hopefully up in September when your knee is done.

Mr jeano and I arranged for his early return to work for several good reasons. I am grouchy as a bear when I'm on narcs, he missed a lot of work with my bust ankle, ferrying me and my ancient mother everywhere until I could drive, and he has to leave work early now to get me to PT starting Tuesday until I can drive again, again. Not to mention extra trips to town with mother, because of the logistics involved with PT appointments late in the day making it just too crazy to drag her along with us. Neither she nor I can safely be accommodated in the back seat, and if both of us sit up front it's because I'm the driver.

Poor ice Sherpa has a lot on his plate, and honestly, all I do 85% of the time is ice, rest, and elevate. Which is what I am doing now while hubby takes mother to the grocery store, bless him. And yes he fetched the ice as soon as he got home yesterday and again this morning. Good news, I haven't taken any narcotics since 6 AM yesterday and am perfectly comfortable on good ol' Tylenol.

 

[Jozilla]

You really are amazing! Glad to hear you are doing so well!

 

[jeano]

It must be genetic. Memo to self, ask 90 year old mother about this. Seriously, I wonder how much is due to my unique protoplasm and how much is due to the good care (albeit of very brief duration) at Man's Smallest Hospital, or the skill of two different rinky tink no name small town Orthopod, (both of whom I like very much, don't get me wrong), or some other, unquantifiable factor? Perhaps its all in the love that comes with what the Ice Sherpa totes. That or there's something in the well water here.

 

[Jane B.]

@jeano, why did you have partials instead of total knees done? Or is that too personal.

 

[gr82cu2]

@jeano This is too good not to follow. Thank you for your sense of humor and great writing style. It's (sense of humor) badly needed around here at times. Congrats on the great recoveries.

 

[Jamie]

Jeano....I have to agree about your writing style. I LOVE reading your comments!!!! Hon, I hope you stay with BoneSmart for a very long time!!!

 

[jeano]

@Jamie, I'll stick around until I run out of things to say or y'all kick me off!
(tags will NOT work with the tablet even when employing the keyboard, sorry about that.)
@Jane B., did partials for a couple of reasons. It seemed a better idea to me when I first met up with my first OS, roughly a year before I bit the bullet for the first knee. At that time he was dismissive of pkrs, said back in the day he'd done some and they had not worked well, which he attributed to the fixed bearing used. When I was ready to discuss surgery he said, lets see if you're a candidate for a partial and determined I was, based on the relatively good appearance of the outer compartment and kneecap. I reminded him that he'd thrown cold water on the idea previously and he said he had begun using the Oxford implant and liked its design and track record better than what he'd had available in the 80s.

So that was one reason, surgeon preference, with some arguments being less surgery, quicker recovery, more natural "feel" to the knee (dunno, that mobile plastic bearing surface doesn't seem awfully like a real knee to me, but whatever. The other reasons have to do with my family's tendency to live forever. and my unwillingness to delay surgery to the point where I could reasonably expect the implant to outlive me. My uncle had terrible knees but never got his first replacement until his mid to late 80s, and by the time he was ready to have his second knee done he was a bit too far gone mentally and physically for the second knee replacement. He soldiered on and died at 94. My parents are 90 and 89. My mother would be much better off if she had 2 good knees instead of 2 bad ones, but doesn't want to be bothered at this point. Anyway, lets say my partials are good for 10 or 15 years, then I need both revised to totals, and that the totals last me another 15 years or so--that's all fine by me, since I would likely need totals revised after 25 years anyway. Of course I could be hit by a beer truck in 5 years, in which case I'd be glad that I had a less surgery, faster recovery etc.

woo hoo, tags ARE sticking, awesome.
Had my first trip off the place yesterday--went to church (vigil Mass) and showed off shamelessly by strolling in with a cane instead of the walker. I'll try the same stunt at PT day after tomorrow and catch hell for it, I bet.

Mr Jeano wanted to leave early so as to go to confession. I told him I expected he needed to go, and went on along, but it meant 3 hours nearly of not enough ice or elevation.. although I did prop my leg on the pew until the church filled up, and grabbed a freeze pak and held it to the knee during the ride home.

Our little section (left side of church, front 4 rows or so, its a tiny church that holds fewer than 100 people unless they open up the social hall and turned on the closed circuit
tv) has become the defacto Knee Section where one can sit with a fighting chance of not having to endure getting cracked on the shins by someone lowering the kneeler, because mostly we are old gimps and several of us have had or need knee replacements.

One couple did a double take--the husband had his second tkr done a couple of weeks before mine, but I hadn't seen them at church since before his surgery. Evidently they had had a terrible time with him having pain so bad he stopped eating and drinking, even though his first tkr went really well. They couldn't believe it when I waved my cane jauntily and said "Tuesday!" I swear I drum up business for my OSs every time I get a knee done.

 

[Celle]

@jeano

I had an Oxford PKR in my right knee back in 2000. It lasted me for 11 good years, during which time I led a very active life. I don't regret for one moment that I had that PKR. It was right for me at that time.

I wish you well with your PKRs and hope that they work as well for you as mine did for me.

My PKR failed suddenly (and all too dramatically) when I was on holiday in Quebec, Canada. I was walking extra fast - almost speed walking - when the plastic spacer between the metal components broke. Pain. Unable to walk! Apparently, one piece shot out the front, hitting my tibia and part of my kneecap. The other half sneakily buried itself in the "tiger country" (Josephine's description) at the back of the knee, where it still resides, encapsulated and causing no problems.

Because I was on holiday, after 24 hours at a Quebec City hospital (where they all spoke Canadian French ) I was discharged on crutches, non-weight bearing. I continued my holiday and had to return to NZ for Revision to TKR. 4 months on crutches in total, which I could have shortened, had I been willing to fore-go my travel.

What happened to my PKR was, apparently quite rare. Most people get some warning if their spacer is loosening, but I did not.

 

[Jamie]

One couple did a double take--the husband had his second tkr done a couple of weeks before mine, but I hadn't seen them at church since before his surgery. Evidently they had had a terrible time with him having pain so bad he stopped eating and drinking, even though his first tkr went really well. They couldn't believe it when I waved my cane jauntily and said "Tuesday!" I swear I drum up business for my OSs every time I get a knee done.

Maybe the surgeon should start giving you a commission on those referrals!!!

 

[jeano]

@Jamie i'll make a point of telling them that when I get my staples out next week.. boot camp aka PT starts tomorrow afternoon. We asked for the latest appointment of the day--4 pm, so Mr jeano can (hopefully) get out of work early enough to take me. so my task for tomorrow will be to be rested and ready to rumble. Still debating whether to take the walker, knowing I will be scolded if I show up without it. But I'm not using it at all at home other than to lean on for a second when first getting out of bed.

So, here I am, one week out. I've been able to get full revolutions on the pedaling contraption since Thursday so ROM has to be reasonably good for this early. I sit in my living room chair a couple times a day and pedal for a few minutes, do a few slides and leg lifts when I think of it, otherwise not making any heroic efforts. No narcs since Friday and i'd like to stay off them. PT may well change my mind about that, not to say they will hurt me, they won't, but it will be more strenuous and I know there will be some episodic discomfort that Tylenol won't cover. Ice and elevation ALWAYS have done as much/more for me than strong pills, without the drawbacks. I am already sick of laying around so much and longing to get on a horse again. About 3 weeks from now, I think.

 

[Jane B.]

@jeano, are you trying to not take narcotics on purpose? Husband (psychiatrist with an interest and years of work in substance abuse) and son (older fourth year medical student, help me please!) want me to take as few narcotics as possible. I don't feel that abuse or addiction will be a problem. When I take half a 5/325 hydrocodone for knee pain or migraine pain, the world looks a little too rosy for my taste.
I've been so worried about the surgery, that I'm thrilled to be worried about the grandson giving me his cold, and delaying surgery. Colds are an easier thing to worry about. So well known.

 

[kneeper]

Our little section (left side of church, front 4 rows or so, its a tiny church that holds fewer than 100 people unless they open up the social hall and turned on the closed circuit
tv) has become the defacto Knee Section where one can sit with a fighting chance of not having to endure getting cracked on the shins by someone lowering the kneeler, because mostly we are old gimps and several of us have had or need knee replacements.

Yes, those kneelers can be hazardous.