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

[jeano]

@NetballKnees But the horses MISS me! Think of their long, sad, horsey faces!

I'll probably wait til I'm 4weeks out but no promises. Riding won't be the big problem, compared to holding up a fourth of a horse to work on their feet. That is not an Ice Sherpa task, unfortunately. I was able to shame the first Mr Jeano into learning how to trim and even shoe the nags we had, but this Mr jeano, although a superior version in every respect, seems singularly indifferent to my blandishments. He can be persuaded to hold a lead rope and scold the horse when it leans on me but that's about it.

Since we live so far out in the woods and since the current dogs are reasonably obedient I don't have to leash them. My old dogs who did have to be leased yanked all 200pounds of me off my feet more than once. Lesson learned, only have herding dogs. Even when my border collie mutts jump a deer or charge after squirrels they come right to heel in a few moments.

 

[Jane B.]

Dearest @jeano, I have two long haired dachshunds (Fenway Frank and Chili Dawg) who at 14 pounds each, couldn't knock over very much. They travel well under an airplane seat. Chili is in sitting on my lap in my photo.

Our upstairs neighbor's (son, daughter-in-law, and Mr. Baby Virus) galumphing golden doodle spends his days with me. He's sweet, but a tad nervous, and so will be terrified of the walker. I have an appointment with a dog walker tomorrow. Tired dogs, happy dogs.

 

[tiredwife]

@jeano It does amaze me the reaction from people concerning TKRs and PKRs. They are either surprised that you are walking at all, or seem to think in a couple of weeks you should be fine.

@NetballKnees did you know that the bigger the roll under your knee when you do your leg lifts the easier it is, roll a pillow next time instead of a towel.

 

[jeano]

Even stupider, today I got a call from the agency I'm not signed up to work for, asking me in very vague terms if I'd be interested in doing work at the very same facility I already do work for, only in a bigger city (same organization, different campus). Some poor entry level person making what amounts to cold calls on the weekend.

Nice to feel wanted and all that but where the heck were all the offers in July and August after my ankle healed and before the knee surgery?

 

[tiredwife]

@jeano I would hate to call people for a living! I don't like talking on the phone! I kind of feel sorry people that have to do it.

 

[Jozilla]

@jeano and @tiredwife I too hate talking on the phone. I was thrilled when texting became popular.

Strange how you keep getting employment offers Jeano. Isn't that the way life works. I remember being in awe of you your first recovery and have been so happy that this knee is also going well. You may have been in the world's smallest hospital but you certainly have an excellent OS.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday. I am ready for some football!!!

 

[jeano]

Don't care much for the phone, either.
@Jozilla
Funny thing, I worried a bit about abandoning my first OS and letting his new partner do this knee, but if anything it seems to be progressing even more rapidly than the left. Yesterday evening after icing and elevating the entire day, Mr jeano and I went to the vigil mass. I cleverly tucked a little freeze Pak in my purse and kept it pressed to the knee throughout, minimizing my un-iced time . Got home, took my shower, iced and elevated some more while Mr jeano did the chores and got his shower. Then up to the living room for beer and peanuts and noticed a dramatic decrease in swelling and complete absence of pain in the new knee. Noticed also that the tight IT bands in both legs that had been giving me fits especially since the ankle fracture were greatly improved.

I was on a pink cloud for about half an hour. Naturally the leg stiffened back up somewhat but it was like having a glimpse of the Promised Land while it lasted.

Staples come out tomorrow. Feeling like I've got this one sorted.

 

[madinana]

@jeano we all look forward to the promise land, it is quite a journey and will begin all over again for my other knee surprise

 

[HerbM]

An item that I bought, and didn't find THAT WONDERFUL but do find occasionally useful:

"Instant Cold Pack" -- these are chemical 'ice' packs that are kept at room temperature (in your purse etc.) until you need them. Then you fold them in half, breaking a membrane or something, shake and get instant cold pack.

They don't last long (maybe 20 minutes tops) but they are pretty cold, and MUCH BETTER than nothing. I have used mine mostly for when I was too lazy to "get out of my chair" but really thought a cold pack was important. (kept half a dozen on a near by table) so they weren't very essential for *ME*.

Going about your ordinary business it's possible they would be a LOT more useful (e.g., at work, at church, long drives, etc.)

Cost is an issue, maybe a US $1 each in the 24 pack, but the larger boxes can bring the cost down.

Instant Cold Pack, 4.5x7, 125-count @ $49.95 (shipping included.)​

That's about 40 cents (US) each.

Rather than giving a link to a particular brand, here is the Amazon search I found useful:

instant cold pack
​

Either in "all departments" or within just this area:

"Health & Personal Care : Health Care : Pain Relievers : Hot & Cold Therapies : Cold Packs : "​

They do work, but consider the short life of them, the cost, and your needs to figure out if they will work *FOR YOU*.

 

[jeano]

@HerbM
My go-to instant gratification cold wrap is a 14 buck ace (i think) cloth covered gel thing that I got in the pharmacy section of the grocery store. It is infinitely reusable and can go directly on the skin, and drapes nicely over a knee. I got it for my bust ankle, for which task it was singularly unfit. I would carry it everywhere I go if it stayed cold longer. As it is, it stops working in about 25 minutes and then has to go back in the freezer for half an hour. For intermittent icing when I'm at home but not tethered to the polar cube (like when up for a meal or beer and peanuts) its great.

The cold pack I took to church is one we got with something mail ordered that had to be kept cold, probably horse vaccines. Not intended to be reused but works fine. its about the size of a club sammich and it stayed good and cold for two hours before deciding to leak thru the flimsy bag it was in. I put the whole mess in a quart size Ziploc and will keep it until it gives up the ghost.

 

[tiredwife]

@jeano Hubby would really like a glimpse of the promise land about now, overdid it walking the grocery store yesterday! He knows it will come though, about 8 weeks with the first knee he felt pretty good.

@Jozilla Best of luck tomorrow, keep us posted when you can!

 

[Jozilla]

@jeano way to go! I am getting ready to go to the hospital soon and just trying to keep my mind distracted. Is your incision as small as the first one? @tiredwife hope Steve has a better day. I think we all just can't wait to be normal after this surgery. Thus overdoing is easy.

Hope you both have a great day!

 

[jeano]

@Jozilla
Go go Jozilla! (sung to the tune "Godzilla" of course)
Re my incision, I WISH. RPKR probably twice as long as the left. I swear my first OS can build a ship in a bottle. He closed with 3 stitches and the scar is 2.5 inches.

 

[tiredwife]

@Jozilla Best of luck! Steve was doing better by bed time.

@jeano hubby's incisions are pretty long, but he doesn't care at all. Don't know how anyone can get in all those tools in such a small incision.

 

[jeano]

So, 10 staples are out. The final 3 pinched a little. The nurse and I put steri strips on a couple of gaps and I am good to go for another month. Had a wonderful greasy country ham biscuit with egg afterward and then on to PT. I told my therapist we needed to strategize a simulated panic stop to determine my readiness to drive. At the end of the session he said if I could show him 130 degrees of flexion he'd clear me to drive today. The PTA heard this and scolded him, "don't tell her that, she'll figure out a way to do it!"

As it was I managed 121 with the pull strap and no pushing from him. He said i'd earned my ice. That was a long morning, leaving the house at 8 and not getting home til early afternoon. My plan for the rest of the day is to ice, elevate, maybe catch a nap.

 

[tiredwife]

@jeano LOL I'm surprised you didn't make 130 with that type motivation! You have had a very busy day! Make sure you do rest the rest of the day!

 

[TexasTee]

@jeano - thanks for recording, it's really nice to see a more hopeful account of recovery! It's important that we know that it isn't all set backs or scardy cat's like me might never go thru with it! My OS is going to attempt a partial as well, after reading your account of it, I certainly hope it works!

BTW - I have 2 English mastiffs though only one of them lives with me full time now - but not long after my last procedure when both knees were swollen and not stable and I decided to walk them both anyway, and a kid with a skateboard being pulled by a pit-bull went by...well, I discovered I could fly....I just don't land very well!

 

[jeano]

@TexasTee

Just be aware that although the partial may be "less" surgery, it still involves a similar incision, sawing,, hammering, and cementing just like the full KR. And then you have people who look at you on a bad day and say it was ONLY a partial.

I want to get a dogsled with wheels and drive my collie mutts. Mr Jeano points out that one squirrel would have me and the sled in bull briars up to my clavicle.

 

[tiredwife]

@jeano I believe you might get into a bunch of trouble without Mr. Jeano! Good thing he keeps you grounded!

 

[jeano]

What's really wonderful about the Ice Sherpa is he rarely reproaches me when I get myself into hot water.