This Teacher's TKR

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Kazilla

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I am a high school special education teacher. Have had to put off my TKR on right knee most of the school year to coincide with summer break. Been on crutches since October. Pretty much bone on bone. Have had 4 surgeries to it between ages 21 & 50.

My K-day (knee day) is May 24th.

:wave:Hi All!!
 
You are very dedicated to schedule you TKR during summer! I had to take 60 sick days starting in November and went back to first grade part time the end of January, full time in March. It was just too hard and painful to try to get through the year. By May I was climbing up and down bus steps on field trips. I'm retiring in June so I can have my left knee done without worrying about school.
 
Yes, it has been quite a difficult year. At least the admin and kids are great. It's my first year at this school.

Plus our youngest son graduates high school on May 20th. Nothing will prevent me from being at that.

@KarriB : I taught 25 years in FL, now working on second pension here in TN :ok:
 
This makes year 38 for me. I agree, sometimes you need to plan around important events! I live close to another state, but don't think I could start another career at this point.
 
I just turned 50 late last year. I got tired of them moving the salary 'bubble' of our pay in FL. After 5 years of a shell game, I decided I needed to make a move as I was never going to see the inside of that bubble. I had already lost out on about 100K over those 5 years. I do not regret my decision. I have a bigger home, more land and a beautiful ridge behind my home. All for 1/2 what my other one was. I love teaching SPED kids and found a great school and my caseload went from 70 in FL down to 20 here. Plus....no threat of hurricanes! (I am a Hurricane Andrew survivor)
 
Good luck to you! I'm not a teacher, but work as a para in a middle school. I had my knees done over the summer almost three years now. Best thing I ever did! Good luck!


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I am a speech-language pathologist (41 years) and had to wait until last June for mine. I ended up with a walker from January 2015 until surgery. I also had put this off for 8 years and went through shots and PT as I was frightened. School started August 12, 2015 and I was off until September 29. Full days were too much and I went half days until December 1, 2015. That was the best way to recover. I also have a 504 plan with accommodations recommended by my surgeon. I have had to be my own best advocate. My best to you.
 
Welcome to the forum!! I am a retired educator---I taught for 37 years and, when I retired, I was the district dept chair; I had my BTKR eight years ago---I took off about eight weeks and went back to the classroom too soon---I had my BTKR in November and returned after Christmas break---and that slowed down my recovery.

Ia am sorry about your situation, but you should be pretty much up to speed when you return to the classroom in the fall. A TKR recovery does take longer than we would like it to and longer than we are prepared for---you will still be in "recovery mode" in the fall. We will be here for you!
 
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Thank you @referee54 . Yes, I am aware that it takes more than the 10 weeks for full recovery. My cousin had her TKR about 3.5 years ago. She has let me know a lot about the recovery. Her job also entailed a bit of standing as she is a blackjack dealer at a big casino. She has also been guiding me on questions to ask the doc, as well as what I will need at home post op. I helped her out a bit post op so I remember what she went through. She will probably need a TKR on her other knee in not too distant future :sad:

My admin here at my school is very supportive, so I am truly blessed. I will be keeping them in the loop as to how I am doing as we get closer to start of school year.
 
You should be OK to go back, but your recovery will continue---if you can, try to ice and elevate during the day----see if you can park as close to the school as possible, and see if you can avoid running errands to the office, as such. I had a few students help out with running off papers, etc.

I was able to ice and elevate during my planning period and during my lunch period.

One thing that I did to help out was, on Sunday, after church, I did nothing but ice and elevate and rest the entire day.
 
I am so sorry you are having to walk with crutches. That must be so difficult Hopefully this knee replacement will take care of all of your pain after rehab. I decided not to wait until the end of the school year. I will have a long term sub for about 4 weeks. I teach 4th Grade. I do not have any sick days left so I won't be paid for those days but I did want to have lots of rehab time before the new school year in August. I have 6 schools days left before surgery! It will affect my retirement too but you've gotta do what you gotta do :( Stinks!
 
@tjcteacher I can't do it earlier. Our youngest graduates high school on May 20th. Will not miss seeing that. Otherwise I would have considered moving it sooner.
 
When my OS wrote a script for 6 weeks of part time. I went to school to deliver the script and have a talk with my boss. They wanted me back anyway they could have me. It was in the middle of the polar vortex and all the handicap parking spaces were an icy parking lot away from the ramps. Who plans these things? Anyway I brought this to my principal's attention and then the superintendent, both asked me where I'd like my parking space to be! As it happens there's a ramp running parallel to my classroom with a parking space just across from the ramp. Guess which one I took? It helped tremendously! Now in the winter I can sit at my desk and use my automatic starter! I'll be retired in another 37 days, so I wonder what they'll do with my space...
 
I have temp handicapped placard now. The handicapped parking is on other side of building from my room. But is level ground. Regular parking lot is closer with two small curb steps. Moving my room is not an option as that is where our student cafeteria and lunchroom are.
 
Got my guidebook for the TKR. My doc has it all organized and bound for pre, at hospital, and post. Places for my note, clinical notes and PT notes. I've begun my pre op exercises and started my slowFe to build up my iron for self blood donation. It's finally beginning to happen :egypdance:
 
It seems like there are so many teachers who have knee replacement! I am also a teacher. This is my last week at school before the surgery next Monday. I took 4 weeks off.


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@kweh four weeks then back to teaching or four weeks then summer vacation? I ask because 4 weeks out of the classroom for a TKR isn't nearly enough time off to recover.
 
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