TKR Strange New World
- Thread starter Denny39
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Denny39
senior
First home PT session yesterday, and one of the first things the guy wanted me to do was put my heel on the coffee table, and suspend my knee. I explained to him very carefully, thoroughly, and patiently, “that ain’t gonna happen” 
. So he agreed, kind of. Then , the last thing he did was measure my flexion and extension, and of course, to get a “good” measurement of extension, I should let it hang 
. This time, I just gave him “The Look”, and he said “OK”. The exercises he did leave me with are fine.
They will see me twice a week for 3 weeks. I will have the same therapist I had last time, who is the one that talked me into doing that hanging thing, with catastrophic results. This should be interesting.
Hope everyone is making good progress toward being able to do and enjoy those things that right now we can only dream about.
. So he agreed, kind of. Then , the last thing he did was measure my flexion and extension, and of course, to get a “good” measurement of extension, I should let it hang . This time, I just gave him “The Look”, and he said “OK”. The exercises he did leave me with are fine.They will see me twice a week for 3 weeks. I will have the same therapist I had last time, who is the one that talked me into doing that hanging thing, with catastrophic results. This should be interesting.
Hope everyone is making good progress toward being able to do and enjoy those things that right now we can only dream about.
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Denny39
senior
Yup! But we didn’t! And we ain’t gonna!!!
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Denny39
senior
This recovery was definitely ordered from a different planet that the first one. Nearly 3 weeks out, I’m still using my walker. As of the last 2 or 3 nights, I’m starting to have trouble sleeping. I still can’t depend on being able to place my full weight on it for walking. The sole of my foot feels cold, and last night, I had a foot ache that was worse than my knee ache. I have a constant pain in my hip, which feels like a sciatica problem; I’ll see my chiropractor about that one. Static pain level 3-4 as compared to 2-3 last time. Other than that however, everything’s fine. There are still those neat “little victories” now and then. ROM is roughly 110/4. It just looks like this recovery is going to take longer than the first one did, not of course, exactly what I had hoped for. Has anyone else had problems with the foot; cold sensation and general ache? That one threw me a curve.
I do realize that I’m still very early in the recovery process, and I suspect my biggest problem is, as one member so eloquently stated, “This recovery is NOT for the impatient among us”. I have to admit my sometimes rather obvious identification with that group. Let’s keep these wagons rollin’! Are we there yet?
I do realize that I’m still very early in the recovery process, and I suspect my biggest problem is, as one member so eloquently stated, “This recovery is NOT for the impatient among us”. I have to admit my sometimes rather obvious identification with that group. Let’s keep these wagons rollin’! Are we there yet?
snowdrop
member
I will join you in a recovery that seems to be moving at a snail’s pace! It’s hard not to compare a second tkr to a first one, although I’m sure my memory of the first one must be exaggerated somewhat.
I know what you mean about that cold ache...mine seems to travel from my foot one day, to my thigh another, and then back again. I use a magic bag to put some warmth back into it and it seems to help.
I know what you mean about that cold ache...mine seems to travel from my foot one day, to my thigh another, and then back again. I use a magic bag to put some warmth back into it and it seems to help.
Don't fret about the walker. I started with a cane on week 2 and then paid the price a few weeks later with severe IT band pain, hamstring pain, and inner thigh pain. I found out from my OT observing my walk that I keeping my new knee leg too straight and hiking my hip. She ordered me back to my walker immediately - by that time I had returned to work and was not happy about that. But she was right. I practiced walking correctly with the walker for 10 days and my muscle pains diminished enough that I could sleep without agony. She just cleared me for the cane again earlier this week and I even took my greyhounds out yesterday for a short walk with no cane - yea!
So use the walker and hopefully your foot and hip pain will diminish. You did say that the surgery was fixing the direction of your feet, so I would think that all of the muscles in your leg and foot are readjusting.
So use the walker and hopefully your foot and hip pain will diminish. You did say that the surgery was fixing the direction of your feet, so I would think that all of the muscles in your leg and foot are readjusting.
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Denny39
senior
@Rather Yes he did make a pretty significant change in the alignment of my foot, as well as correct a pretty severe bow-legged condition. He told my wife that he had to do quite a bit of work on this one. There probably is a lot of readjusting going on. Thanks for pointing that out, it makes good sense.
@Denny39 we had our surgeries on the same day (June 17). I have been following your recovery thread closely and enjoying your sense of humour! Jealous of that 110 flexion as I’m only at about 65 with a lot of tightness above the knee. Ah well, I know it’s a marathon, not a sprint so am continuing to take it a day at a time.
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Denny39
senior
@TrueNorth I Guess June 17 will be a memorable day for us for awhile. This is my second one, which is interesting because 8 weeks into the first one I very firmly said, “I ain’t doin’ this again”! Which is also interesting because it was about 6 years before the first one that my Doctor, during my annual check-up said, “This knee is really creakin’ and crackin’. You ready to replace it?” And of course I said something like, “Ain’t gonna happen”. Sort of shatters my illusion of control.
This is a brutal experience to be sure, and as I have stated, it was very low on my bucket list. It is said, don’t even think of comparing TKR recoveries of 2 different knees, even your own. I have a very different pattern of aches and shooting pains this time, with a higher static pain level. My home PT therapist explained that since I have Sciatica on the Right side, that could explain it. But there are consistent similarities as well; pain, stiffness, possibly sleeplessness, loss of appetite, constipation, and a tendency to become frustrated, discouraged, depressed, or even fearful. That’s where our Bonesmart traveling companions come in handy. Real handy!
I also draw strength from my now strong and pain-free Left knee, which 6 months ago was just like my Right one is now. Hopefully, you can draw hope and strength as well from my testimony as well as that of many others on this forum. But even now, sometimes in the back of my mind the question and doubt pops up, “Will I ever walk normally again?”.
Short-term recovery is 8 - 12 weeks. I characterized the first 8 weeks incrementally starting with 2 REALLY REALLY rotten weeks, incrementally improving to 2 miserable weeks because improvement during that time is gradual, often easily overlooked. @donnag1108 encouraged us to look for and hang onto those “little victories”.
For me, one was 2 or 3 days ago when I realized I could raise my leg onto the bed without helping it any. Another was when I spontaneously stood up without reaching for my walker. But there will be setbacks as well, some from the natural course of events of this recovery, some from some of the dumb things we do during a moment of overconfidence (this one is a hazard for me, a by-product of my tendency toward impatience).
I don’t know if you are looking at a second one or not. If so, you will know when the time is right. For my second one, while I definitely dreaded it, there was also a background feeling of relief, that all would be OK. I survived the first one, and had a 98% chance of success with the second one, then it would all be behind me and I could look forward to once again enjoying the things I like. I am an outdoor person, and we have much to enjoy down here, but you have to be able to get to it.
We will be traveling pretty much side-by-side on this trip, it will be interesting. I wish you a the smoothest possible journey to a full recovery.
This is a brutal experience to be sure, and as I have stated, it was very low on my bucket list. It is said, don’t even think of comparing TKR recoveries of 2 different knees, even your own. I have a very different pattern of aches and shooting pains this time, with a higher static pain level. My home PT therapist explained that since I have Sciatica on the Right side, that could explain it. But there are consistent similarities as well; pain, stiffness, possibly sleeplessness, loss of appetite, constipation, and a tendency to become frustrated, discouraged, depressed, or even fearful. That’s where our Bonesmart traveling companions come in handy. Real handy!
I also draw strength from my now strong and pain-free Left knee, which 6 months ago was just like my Right one is now. Hopefully, you can draw hope and strength as well from my testimony as well as that of many others on this forum. But even now, sometimes in the back of my mind the question and doubt pops up, “Will I ever walk normally again?”.
Short-term recovery is 8 - 12 weeks. I characterized the first 8 weeks incrementally starting with 2 REALLY REALLY rotten weeks, incrementally improving to 2 miserable weeks because improvement during that time is gradual, often easily overlooked. @donnag1108 encouraged us to look for and hang onto those “little victories”.
For me, one was 2 or 3 days ago when I realized I could raise my leg onto the bed without helping it any. Another was when I spontaneously stood up without reaching for my walker. But there will be setbacks as well, some from the natural course of events of this recovery, some from some of the dumb things we do during a moment of overconfidence (this one is a hazard for me, a by-product of my tendency toward impatience).
I don’t know if you are looking at a second one or not. If so, you will know when the time is right. For my second one, while I definitely dreaded it, there was also a background feeling of relief, that all would be OK. I survived the first one, and had a 98% chance of success with the second one, then it would all be behind me and I could look forward to once again enjoying the things I like. I am an outdoor person, and we have much to enjoy down here, but you have to be able to get to it.
We will be traveling pretty much side-by-side on this trip, it will be interesting. I wish you a the smoothest possible journey to a full recovery.
OP
OP
Denny39
senior
3 weeks today! Half-way through “REALLY rotten” and half-way to “miserable”. Can’t wait to get there! Certain things are moving along slower than last time, but still moving forward at the pretty much standard snail’s pace. I just wish that snail would stop taking rest breaks.
A friend asked me if this one is better or worse than the first time. While I am certain from all the posts I have read, many people would have a very definitive answer for that, one way or the other. I do not. Some things are clearly better and easier, some are not. I think trying to average them out and determine a “better or worse” status wouldn’t really help much. It’s just “different”. I find more peace and less stress in just accepting it for what it really is, and taking it one day at a time. Someone said there is an amazing difference between the first and third week. Yes. And as time moves on, the differences will start to me more noticeable over much shorter periods of time. So . . . “Keep them wagons rollin’’. We’ll get there.
A friend asked me if this one is better or worse than the first time. While I am certain from all the posts I have read, many people would have a very definitive answer for that, one way or the other. I do not. Some things are clearly better and easier, some are not. I think trying to average them out and determine a “better or worse” status wouldn’t really help much. It’s just “different”. I find more peace and less stress in just accepting it for what it really is, and taking it one day at a time. Someone said there is an amazing difference between the first and third week. Yes. And as time moves on, the differences will start to me more noticeable over much shorter periods of time. So . . . “Keep them wagons rollin’’. We’ll get there.
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Lindylee
post-grad
How's the first knee holding up Denny? My right knee is beginning to give me real grief now I'm doing more, but still holding out at present. The left is painful at times coming downstairs still, especially if it has to come down many and I wonder how it would cope if it had to do every step.
OP
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Denny39
senior
@Lindylee, My first knee is doing very well, it’s strong and rarely gives me any pain, normal walking on level ground. However, right up to the time I had my second surgery, it did balk at doing too many stairs, especially coming down. There are 16 stairs going up to my office, and if I came down them normally, it was beginning to object about 2/3 of the way down. You’re not quite 6 months yet, so I really don’t think you should be concerned, just careful. It will continue to improve.
I had the same problem with my Right knee. As the Left one got stronger and I began to do more, the Right one started feeling sorry for itself and got stubborn. When you do have the other one done, your will find it very nice to have the other one strong and pain free. On my first one, I had horrible back pain for about 4 1/2 months. This time, almost no back pain. I’m sure that is the result of a much improved gait and balance.
I had the same problem with my Right knee. As the Left one got stronger and I began to do more, the Right one started feeling sorry for itself and got stubborn. When you do have the other one done, your will find it very nice to have the other one strong and pain free. On my first one, I had horrible back pain for about 4 1/2 months. This time, almost no back pain. I’m sure that is the result of a much improved gait and balance.
marieltha
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Welcome.
Sleeping is challenging.
The things that have improved my post-surgery sleeping experiences are these (no order):
-adding an adjustable bed;
-sticking to a routine (eating, showering, and sleeping times);
-icing when I get in bed and again in the night
-no tv, internet, iphone, ipad, etc at bed or in the night;
-reading using a Kindle paperwhite (its lighting doesn’t interfere with my sleep stages)while icing in bed;
-making sure my husband doesn’t get sleep deprived (as you described, the caretaker role is exhausting) which means sometimes he sleeps in a different bed—when we do this, I use the phone to call/wake him to come help me to the bathroom)—an exception to the no phone in the night;
-scheduling about 90 minutes of rest (do nothing) after lunch for the first few weeks or more—sometimes I nap;
-getting up in the night and walking a bit, wearing shoes always (safety), even if only a few steps—seems to relieve stiffness and calm jumpy nerves;
-eating no sugar (if I must, it has to be early in the day)—w me, it makes the limbs/nerves jumpy
-monitoring drops in barometric pressure (ice on top of knee w moist heat underneath when pressure drops & the joints ache)
When you are able to walk, you will be glad you did this.
Sleeping is challenging.
The things that have improved my post-surgery sleeping experiences are these (no order):
-adding an adjustable bed;
-sticking to a routine (eating, showering, and sleeping times);
-icing when I get in bed and again in the night
-no tv, internet, iphone, ipad, etc at bed or in the night;
-reading using a Kindle paperwhite (its lighting doesn’t interfere with my sleep stages)while icing in bed;
-making sure my husband doesn’t get sleep deprived (as you described, the caretaker role is exhausting) which means sometimes he sleeps in a different bed—when we do this, I use the phone to call/wake him to come help me to the bathroom)—an exception to the no phone in the night;
-scheduling about 90 minutes of rest (do nothing) after lunch for the first few weeks or more—sometimes I nap;
-getting up in the night and walking a bit, wearing shoes always (safety), even if only a few steps—seems to relieve stiffness and calm jumpy nerves;
-eating no sugar (if I must, it has to be early in the day)—w me, it makes the limbs/nerves jumpy
-monitoring drops in barometric pressure (ice on top of knee w moist heat underneath when pressure drops & the joints ache)
When you are able to walk, you will be glad you did this.
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Lindylee
post-grad
Thanks Denny, that's reassuring. My new knee is fine doing most things, but still some sharp pain on the lateral side when I put pressure on a bent knee, as in stairs or standing from sitting and sometimes when lying on my side. It makes sense that the back improves after the second op when the gait is more even.
I saw a new PT last week who has given me three exercises to help with the IT band pain and the internal rotation of my hips so I'm hoping they will help. I'm working on both legs in the hope I can stretch both bands in preparation for the next op.
Hey ho, it's all good fun! I'm glad that your recovery is going well. You'll be at the miserable stage before you know it!
I saw a new PT last week who has given me three exercises to help with the IT band pain and the internal rotation of my hips so I'm hoping they will help. I'm working on both legs in the hope I can stretch both bands in preparation for the next op.
Hey ho, it's all good fun! I'm glad that your recovery is going well. You'll be at the miserable stage before you know it!
OP
OP
Denny39
senior
@Lindylee my first knee also occasionally still shoots me with a little jab now and then, like just to remind me not to get too pushy just yet. It hit me with one yesterday as I was getting out of the car. But, they are getting milder, shorter, and further (farther???) between. As of today, I am more than half way to miserable. YES_S_S_!
Moving right along here.
Moving right along here.
I’m in both your timeframes and so appreciate being able to follow the saga. My right new knee, now starting to show what pain free feels like, makes me so aware of my left knee that has to be done too. I’m anxious to get the whole thing over with and just do it. Bilateral folk have done it. But I’m not sure my right knee is ready to help like my left knee needed to. If this makes sense?
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