Boy, can I relate and I bet others can, too! Many people don't realize how blessed they are to have good health and joints! I do, and I do have joint envy!
Revision TKR Third and final surgery all done
- Thread starter kayow11
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kayow11
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@sistersinhim, I had to chuckle at your post. But it made me feel good to realize I'm not a weirdo for thinking these things. I am rather blunt and detailed, and express a lot of things I am thinking and feeling. Sometimes it gets me in trouble, but that is how God made me, with my mouth partly open. 
You are right that most people don't even think about their health, and take it for granted. But the truth is that as people get older, most of them end up having some kind of issue with their health that needs attention or constant adjustments. So glad you shared that.
Maybe someday, another person may look at my legs and have leg envy too. If they only knew
You are right that most people don't even think about their health, and take it for granted. But the truth is that as people get older, most of them end up having some kind of issue with their health that needs attention or constant adjustments. So glad you shared that.
Maybe someday, another person may look at my legs and have leg envy too. If they only knew
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kayow11
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@liam2015, hope you enjoyed the play. They are fun to attend.
There were several "takes" before I settled on this photo. I am NOT photogenic, and don't seem to be happy with most pics of me. But this will do for now.
I really love seeing others photos, along with their posts, so me adding mine was way past due. It's nice to have a visual connection with the words
I am sloooowly improving, same as before with my other knee surgeries. The main wonderful difference though is, I am not planning any more surgeries. Tomorrow will be 11 weeks postop. And in one week, it will be one year since I started on this knee journey.
My OLD knee is still acting like a 2 year old frequently, but it has been treated unfairly due to my setbacks. I still have a poor bend on both, 95 degrees on old, 80 degrees at most on the new, and residual swelling, but hopefully that will improve as time goes on. Where most people post TKR may feel pretty good in 6-12 months, I feel it could take me 2-3 years.
I just want my function to increase, closer to normal by then. So I just need to be patient and wait, and try not to push too hard, or it just aggravates and causes increased swelling and pain.
My standing and walking tolerance is my main complaint, but I admit I have noticed tiny improvements in this recently. I am thankful for that.
I also rejoined the gym last week in hopes to use a recumbent bike to work on knee ROM, and increase bend. I used it for 6 minutes on no resistance. It didn't hurt doing it, but a few hours later it felt more swelled, and some pain, which lasted for 2-3 days. So I guess it's too soon for that.
I had been trying daily walking outside with my cane for 25 minutes, but I can tell this is also too much. After the knee feels a little better, I will try the walking every other day.
My mind and my knees have totally different brains. They are still feuding and crabby towards each other. I've tried the counseling thing with the two of them, but stubbornness prevails.
I just have to take a back seat, listen, and help them as they allow me.
Thanks for checking on me.
There were several "takes" before I settled on this photo. I am NOT photogenic, and don't seem to be happy with most pics of me. But this will do for now.
I really love seeing others photos, along with their posts, so me adding mine was way past due. It's nice to have a visual connection with the words
I am sloooowly improving, same as before with my other knee surgeries. The main wonderful difference though is, I am not planning any more surgeries. Tomorrow will be 11 weeks postop. And in one week, it will be one year since I started on this knee journey.
My OLD knee is still acting like a 2 year old frequently, but it has been treated unfairly due to my setbacks. I still have a poor bend on both, 95 degrees on old, 80 degrees at most on the new, and residual swelling, but hopefully that will improve as time goes on. Where most people post TKR may feel pretty good in 6-12 months, I feel it could take me 2-3 years.
I just want my function to increase, closer to normal by then. So I just need to be patient and wait, and try not to push too hard, or it just aggravates and causes increased swelling and pain.
My standing and walking tolerance is my main complaint, but I admit I have noticed tiny improvements in this recently. I am thankful for that.
I also rejoined the gym last week in hopes to use a recumbent bike to work on knee ROM, and increase bend. I used it for 6 minutes on no resistance. It didn't hurt doing it, but a few hours later it felt more swelled, and some pain, which lasted for 2-3 days. So I guess it's too soon for that.
I had been trying daily walking outside with my cane for 25 minutes, but I can tell this is also too much. After the knee feels a little better, I will try the walking every other day.
My mind and my knees have totally different brains. They are still feuding and crabby towards each other. I've tried the counseling thing with the two of them, but stubbornness prevails.
I just have to take a back seat, listen, and help them as they allow me.
Thanks for checking on me.
liam2015
post-grad
i think 95 and 80 are respectable numbers for your flexion, considering all you've been through. it's great you're trying things and experimenting to see how to pace yourself for that gradual improvement; trial and error. i guess you just have to listen to those crabby siblings until they make peace with you. in the meantime, enjoy the ride and the scenic route.
p.s. you are very photogenic.
p.s. you are very photogenic.
This is a perfect way to describe a tkr recovery! You're ready, but not the knees! You are being very smart listening to them. If you don't, you'll be sorry! They always want to be boss!
SusieShoes
Former BoneSmart staff member
As long as you are noticing improvement, tiny or otherwise, that's a sign you are making progress. The every other day for walking sounds like a plan. My knees improved faster than many, but I noticed with them, too, that every other day worked really well for exercise. I would literally have PT for an hour and my knees swelled for a day, then I'd have PT again. I was so happy to quit PT! Then I could just do my own rehab thing. But the day on/day off thing was really evident. I still alternate longer walks with shorter ones on a daily basis.
The same day on, day off might work for the recumbent bike, too, once your knees settle in.
The same day on, day off might work for the recumbent bike, too, once your knees settle in.
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kayow11
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@sistersinhim, and @SusieShoes,
I love hearing what my great friends on this forum have to say! I look forward to reading your posts, it's like I have a whole new set of bone friends
Yes, I do plan to do the exercises, no matter what kind of exercise it is, on alternate days. My knees just cannot handle every day anything! They always need to rest and recover, mostly because of the increased swelling with almost everything. I have tried several things with frequency and intensity of exercise, to see what I can get away with. I always lose that battle.
I did quit all PT also, and don't feel a bit bad about it. I know when I see my surgeon next month, he may not be happy with that, and he probably won't be happy with my bending situation either.
I expect he will mention MUA, but of course I am not going to do that. I will try to convince him that I know what to do since this is my third time around, and that I just want to take my time with the way my knees heal. I will win this battle.
The knees are so bossy and never let me win. But that is OK with me, just as long as I progress and move forward. I am trying to accept the small improvements and be thankful, even though they seem tiny at times. Eventually, I sure hope and pray I can look back and remember this, and possibly give advice and direction to others that may have my same problem.
I really want to do the recumbent bike, but after they settle down from getting so angry, I may try three minutes doing it, and then wait a day or two to try it again. We'll see if they give in on this issue.
I realize I am talking like these knees are their own entity attached to the rest of my body. That is how I feel. I just hope they can learn to get along and cooperate with the rest of me one of these days
I love hearing what my great friends on this forum have to say! I look forward to reading your posts, it's like I have a whole new set of bone friends
Yes, I do plan to do the exercises, no matter what kind of exercise it is, on alternate days. My knees just cannot handle every day anything! They always need to rest and recover, mostly because of the increased swelling with almost everything. I have tried several things with frequency and intensity of exercise, to see what I can get away with. I always lose that battle.
I did quit all PT also, and don't feel a bit bad about it. I know when I see my surgeon next month, he may not be happy with that, and he probably won't be happy with my bending situation either.
I expect he will mention MUA, but of course I am not going to do that. I will try to convince him that I know what to do since this is my third time around, and that I just want to take my time with the way my knees heal. I will win this battle.
The knees are so bossy and never let me win. But that is OK with me, just as long as I progress and move forward. I am trying to accept the small improvements and be thankful, even though they seem tiny at times. Eventually, I sure hope and pray I can look back and remember this, and possibly give advice and direction to others that may have my same problem.
I really want to do the recumbent bike, but after they settle down from getting so angry, I may try three minutes doing it, and then wait a day or two to try it again. We'll see if they give in on this issue.
I realize I am talking like these knees are their own entity attached to the rest of my body. That is how I feel. I just hope they can learn to get along and cooperate with the rest of me one of these days
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kayow11
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I like your idea of every other day. I did the same. And started with very few minutes of whatever exercise and waited to see how it felt later and the next day before increasing at all.
KarriB
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Great photo! Just listen to those knees and and if an activity doesn’t agree just X it off the chart.
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kayow11
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@KarriB, Thanks for putting it so simply regarding exercise and what is Acceptable for me.
I did go to my gym yesterday and spoke with a trainer there about nutrition and a couple other things. Before I left, I got on the recumbent bike again, for just five minutes, not stressing the bend at all, no resistance, and last night and all day today it feels more swollen and extra sore and painful.
I do get so disgusted about this, but I should know better, because this is not abnormal for me. So I guess I will X that off my list for a month or so and then maybe try it again. Maybe I won't need it after all, but I just thought it could assist me in increasing my bend and just overall fluid knee movement without strain.
I need to concentrate on functional things like walking and building up my tolerance for that. Those things are more important than five minutes on a recumbent bike.
The other sad part of this is it's also my one year-old knee that's acting up along with the newest addition.
It's hard to believe this is going to end someday, but I need to profess that and pray for that. I am thankful for some good things and healing that I know is occurring, but bending and overall function really lags behind.
My left low back keeps acting up too, not terribly but enough to remind me that it's just not right. This problem started with my misaligned knee last September. So be aware @Hood1980, of the secondary symptoms caused from the crooked knee, and realize the possibility that residual problems may take awhile to resolve. Don't let things get too out of hand for too long.
My left hip also feels weird and not very strong so I might have to try to do some laying and side lying hip abduction to strengthen my very important hip muscle called the glute medius.
But I can't lose heart, I need to press on and be happy for my life in general. I have many things to be thankful for.
I know many other people have some incredible situations in their life to overcome, but I do feel like I am living in a kind of prison. The same problems keep cropping up, and my focus is always on my legs.
Everything I think, say, and do usually involve my legs, and all of my daily activities need to consider this fact. I can't blame anybody for my situation but me, but all of us did this because we really didn't have much choice.
Like many of us, we go into this with a plan, and with high hopes, and believe that this is going to make our lives much better. But there can be many BOULDERS in the road along the way.
This sure isn't for the faint at heart or "weak in the knees" kind of person.
I did go to my gym yesterday and spoke with a trainer there about nutrition and a couple other things. Before I left, I got on the recumbent bike again, for just five minutes, not stressing the bend at all, no resistance, and last night and all day today it feels more swollen and extra sore and painful.
I do get so disgusted about this, but I should know better, because this is not abnormal for me. So I guess I will X that off my list for a month or so and then maybe try it again. Maybe I won't need it after all, but I just thought it could assist me in increasing my bend and just overall fluid knee movement without strain.
I need to concentrate on functional things like walking and building up my tolerance for that. Those things are more important than five minutes on a recumbent bike.
The other sad part of this is it's also my one year-old knee that's acting up along with the newest addition.
It's hard to believe this is going to end someday, but I need to profess that and pray for that. I am thankful for some good things and healing that I know is occurring, but bending and overall function really lags behind.
My left low back keeps acting up too, not terribly but enough to remind me that it's just not right. This problem started with my misaligned knee last September. So be aware @Hood1980, of the secondary symptoms caused from the crooked knee, and realize the possibility that residual problems may take awhile to resolve. Don't let things get too out of hand for too long.
My left hip also feels weird and not very strong so I might have to try to do some laying and side lying hip abduction to strengthen my very important hip muscle called the glute medius.
But I can't lose heart, I need to press on and be happy for my life in general. I have many things to be thankful for.
I know many other people have some incredible situations in their life to overcome, but I do feel like I am living in a kind of prison. The same problems keep cropping up, and my focus is always on my legs.
Everything I think, say, and do usually involve my legs, and all of my daily activities need to consider this fact. I can't blame anybody for my situation but me, but all of us did this because we really didn't have much choice.
Like many of us, we go into this with a plan, and with high hopes, and believe that this is going to make our lives much better. But there can be many BOULDERS in the road along the way.
This sure isn't for the faint at heart or "weak in the knees" kind of person.
KarriB
Former BoneSmart staff member
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I understand what you’re saying, I had a tricky recovery at best, but even 3 months after I was still happy I had the surgery. Happy, but my knee didn’t feel like MY knee. It took a while for it to feel fluid and a part of me body. Everyone is different and heals on their own time frame. Some swellers have found compression hose helpful and others lymphatic massage has helped.
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kayow11
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@KarriB, I always wear very tight thigh high Jobst compression stockings, every day and all day. They only come off in bed. I even frequently put an additional ace wrap, but not too tightly, around my knee area too, under my pants. I have been wearing the very tight compression stockings for at least 10 years now.
It is amazing how much this extra compression really helps decrease my gross swelled up symptoms.
I have a lymphatic massage machine that is very good for moving the lymph tissue fluids, but I don't feel I can use it yet on my newest knee. I was using it quite regularly before my last surgery, three times a week or maybe a little more. It did help some.
I had terrible varicose vein's for many many years long before I had any real knee issues, and I did get oblation procedures on both legs on several different occasions. I thought it would make my legs feel better, but not really much if at all. But I am still glad I got rid of those big ugly veins, (one of those hereditary things you know).
Once I can get to the point where I actually feel as good with my legs, and function wise, as before my first surgery, I will be happy then, because I will know I am better than before.
I don't have the bone on bone pain, but my knee pain in general still hurts almost as much as before, but only with extended standing or walking, or if I have done some exercise such as extra bending, or using the recumbent bike or elliptical. I still haven't recovered to that point yet.
It is amazing how much this extra compression really helps decrease my gross swelled up symptoms.
I have a lymphatic massage machine that is very good for moving the lymph tissue fluids, but I don't feel I can use it yet on my newest knee. I was using it quite regularly before my last surgery, three times a week or maybe a little more. It did help some.
I had terrible varicose vein's for many many years long before I had any real knee issues, and I did get oblation procedures on both legs on several different occasions. I thought it would make my legs feel better, but not really much if at all. But I am still glad I got rid of those big ugly veins, (one of those hereditary things you know).
Once I can get to the point where I actually feel as good with my legs, and function wise, as before my first surgery, I will be happy then, because I will know I am better than before.
I don't have the bone on bone pain, but my knee pain in general still hurts almost as much as before, but only with extended standing or walking, or if I have done some exercise such as extra bending, or using the recumbent bike or elliptical. I still haven't recovered to that point yet.
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No worries, double posts happen to all of us. Computer Gremlins!
Second one has been deleted.
Second one has been deleted.
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kayow11
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I spoke with a friend on the phone today, and she asked how I feel in my brain, about my life and my health etc. I expressed that I feel this past whole year almost feels LOST.
I know a lot has happened in the last 12 months, and not all has been bad, but my whole being, energy, and thought process has dealt with my legs and their problems.
I find myself frequently looking forward to the future like one or two years down the road, in anticipation of total healing and normal function.
I know no one knows what their life and future hold, but we all have plans and dreams. What always brings me back to a reasonable mindset though, is being thankful for my life and all things.
I am very fortunate to have many blessings, and people that care about me, and all my needs met.
I know a lot has happened in the last 12 months, and not all has been bad, but my whole being, energy, and thought process has dealt with my legs and their problems.
I find myself frequently looking forward to the future like one or two years down the road, in anticipation of total healing and normal function.
I know no one knows what their life and future hold, but we all have plans and dreams. What always brings me back to a reasonable mindset though, is being thankful for my life and all things.
I am very fortunate to have many blessings, and people that care about me, and all my needs met.
KarriB
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Looking at your signature I can see how you feel like you’ve lost a year. You’ve had a rough year. During my recovery I felt as though my life stopped while everyone else’s moved on. It took a while, but eventually I stopped focusing on my knee and got on with living.
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I’m looking forward to that day! I think it’s still far in the future.
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