Bilateral TKR The Historian - recovery diary

[TheHistorian]

I was at the gym tonight. I added an exercise to my upper body workout and rode six miles on the upright spin bike, and one mile on the recumbent. The hip machines still give me a problem, as do the recumbent bikes. I'd like to get a recumbent trike for touring, but I'm afraid I'll continue to have pain in my upper right thigh when I ride it. I'm not sure what the problem is - perhaps its the misalignment between leg and hip my surgeon spoke of, or perhaps its that those muscles aren't used to moving as they do when on a recumbent. Anyway it bums me out that I can't ride the bent at the gym.

I am sore in arms, shoulders, chest, back, butt, and legs from my gym workout. I had a good time. My chest is swollen - I can't tell if its pride or water from all the tissue damage I caused tonight. Or perhaps its because all those muscles are now awake and working.

Meanwhile, there's good news for my dropped right foot. I'm finally regaining feeling and motor control over it. I can raise my big toe now. Still have a lot of repair left, but after nine months I'm pleased to see any progress. I was beginning to think I'd never see change.

 

[ElanorG]

Neil, Yes, the rules for men and women and fat are different, sadly. And your "rules" are great if they work for you and help you achieve your goals. I find that my "rules" are mostly a work in progress, trial and error to find what works and what doesn't. But the two that come the hardest but work the best are being kind and compassionate to myself. When I do that I tend to move forward, when I beat myself up I tend to rebel! Thank you for saying I have a lot to be proud of. That is much appreciated! :xmaskitty:

Sounds like you had quite a workout yesterday! That soreness later is a nice soreness. I always liked when I felt that way when I got back from riding my horse, that deep achy feeling that just cries out for a soak in a good hot tub! I hope you can continue to work through your issues with your hip on the recumbent. I have a recumbent trike that I have been riding since I tore the meniscus in my non-TKR knee in 2004. I love riding it as it is easier on your body, but I can't keep up with other people on regular bikes. I have started riding the upright in my club and both knees are doing OK so I have been thinking if I lose some more weight by Spring I might get an upright so I can ride with others. Would any sort of deep massage or acupuncture help with your thigh and hip? I know the upright bike still feels funny on my TKR side, although not nearly as bad as it did initially. Upper right thigh sounds like it might be your hip flexor is tight or weak, but depends on location. Do you do any exercises for those? Congrats on the progress with your foot! Things just take their own sweet time don't they? :tree-miley:

 

[TheHistorian]

Hmm, my first back to back riding day since late August 2011. I put in three miles at the gym tonight. My knees weren't bothering me so much as my butt. Gotta toughen up the posterior.

I continue to have problems on the recumbent, which I've described previously. Only other difficulty today was seeing Holiday Inn this afternoon at the local classic film series. I found myself squirming in my seat, shifting from side to side to ease the discomfort in my knees from having them bent for so long. That's in addition to squirming during the blackface number, which was dated in 1943 when Holiday Inn was released and is downright disturbing now.

 

[TheHistorian]

Two days off from the gym, due to a sore back from not sleeping properly and sore knees from wet weather. But I did another three miles today, and increased my weights in lifting.

I think the time is come to reduce my frequency of posting here. I don't have that much to say anymore.... but I guess that means I'm experiencing success.

 

[ElanorG]

Neil, I hope you will check in periodically and let us know how you are doing and how the biking is progressing. I have resolved that the first reasonable mild weather day we have here after New Year's that I am taking the trike out for a spin! I am hoping by then that getting up from the seat will not be that painful. Have a joyous holiday season!

 

[TheHistorian]

I hiked two miles at Core Creek County Park yesterday, in the cold and the wind. The new knees didn't like the cold. I was stiff and a little swollen at the end of the hike. I suffered a cramp in my inner right thigh a few hours later, which is a sign I overdid something....

However, the compensation was that the light was perfect. I love this shot of seagulls with the afternoon sun reflecting off their wings....

 

[bottomshollow]

Neil, the picture is fantastic---you certainly have an eye for photography---I'm sure I would have missed how great this would turn out. And hiking in the cold and wind---I'm too much of a wimp to even pick up my yard in these conditions.

Wishing you and your mom

 

[nmscienceteacher]

Neil, your picture is fabulous...I hope you have a good holiday season and keep posting in the new year. I am always encouraged by your posts...they give me a sense of what the future can hold for me in the spring of next year. Thanks.

 

[TheHistorian]

I hurt. I walked 4.5 miles in Pottstown, from the Grosstown Road trailhead to Riverfront Park, on the Thun Trail. My friend Dodson dragged me along and I felt like killing him everytime he said "the trailhead is just a little further. 4.5 miles is a personal best and the longest hike I've done since August 2010. My friend made up for it by taking me to the Douglassville Hotel for one of their 79 varieties of burgers.

 

[referee54]

These things take time---recovery can be challenging, but I know that you savored that burger!

 

[TheHistorian]

I substituted grilled chicken for the burger. I had #54, grilled chicken topped with a pirogie, ham, and sauteed onions on a potato roll.

I should add that the Thun Trail in Pottstown is paved, so the entire hike was on asphalt. I wore cross-training shoes that perhaps should be replaced.

 

[referee54]

Are your knees sore, or is it due to overwork and underuse? Bad shoes can cause lots of problems---I agree.

 

[referee54]

I do appreciate your ordering a chicken breast---tasty and much more healthy!

 

[TheHistorian]

Are your knees sore, or is it due to overwork and underuse? Bad shoes can cause lots of problems---I agree.

My knees are warm to the touch, and stiff after sitting. As I mentioned, 4.5 miles is a new personal best. The two miles I did yesterday on dirt at Core Creek County Park also left me stiff.

My athletic shoes I've been wearing since before surgery - I purchased them in 2009, but only used them at the gym. During my time at the rehab hospital I asked if they thought the wear pattern was pronounced enough to be a problem, and in their opinion they said no. So I've worn them pretty much everywhere I could - shopping, to the gym, riding, hiking.... it might be their time.

BTW I can't get enough photos of my putting my feet together....

 

[TheHistorian]

I do appreciate your ordering a chicken breast---tasty and much more healthy!

I'm very overweight at the moment, so it was a natural call.

 

[TheHistorian]

Saturday's hike involved a challenge.... getting on a stone dolphin.





Once on, it was a struggle to get off....

 

[TheHistorian]

BTW, is it vanity or insanity that I have a whole Facebook album of me putting my feet together? Its a reminder that I should celebrate my knee replacement every single day.

 

[Nanners]

Haha....nice shoes!!! Is this Pottsville you are talking about in Pennsylvania? If so, my nephew in law is from there!

 

[TheHistorian]

Not, not Pottsville. Pottstown - near the Montgomery - Berks County border.

 

[RICBAK1]

Looks nice cannot wait for tommorow we are having xmas dinner then, today fajitas grankids dad is working hoping for walk on south downs today but rained all day have good time hope you can increase your walking next year my aim is to lose 2 stone but its very hard .