Become an Insider

TKR Well, hello

You've had good advice about increasing your walking gradually, Dave.

The other thing is to concentrate on how you walk, striking the ground first with you heel and gradually rolling your foot forwards, until you push off with your toes. This picture gives you an idea of what I mean.
[Bonesmart.org] Well, hello

If you lengthen your stride a little, it will also help you to extend your leg fully.
 
@hawk2go Isn't it funny how that perception of good and bad knees turned right round?
Yes,I fear pushing too much on my own "el Jefe" then paying not only that day and maybe a couple more,but possibly a reluctance to start again.
Although I hope to hear from more Smarties,I think a consensus is already forming.
Also,I've always had more trouble with declines than inclines.About 7 years ago I had one of my worst spills,ironically on a handicap access ramp at a curb:)

Thanks
Dave
 
@Celle Thank you.
So strange to have to think about how to walk!
I just grabbed that image and will print myself a little reminder off of it.
 
Hi there OldHippie!
This is my first surgery as well, and although that can be a good thing, it`s hard to start off with the one that is reputed to be the most painful!
I`m sorry to hear that you had to have the additional work done to correct the patella, and glad that all is well now.
I too try to visualize the knee healed and healthy - overcoming my image of a hunk of hardware between femur and tibia!
In thirty years, treatment options for osteoarthritic joints have not changed much at all - and the thought that a joint must be replaced by metal and plastic components, inserted and hammered into bone seems a bit barbaric in 2016. I`m following stem cell research, and gene editing with interest. Although there may not be kinder solutions in time to help us, at least there may be gentler treatments for the next generation.
By the way, after my surgery I was on Xeralto for 30 days. Just to be on the safe side, I waited 2 weeks to start Aleve again for all those other complaining joints. But Xeralto has a pretty long half life in the system, so I was pretty careful.
I wish you lots of good wishes on your journey - it`s quite an experience, and a lesson in humility for sure!
 
Ty @lilbit As wondrous as the 21st century promises to be it does seem a crude way to fix us doesn't it?
But as you say those who need it later may get things we can't imagine yet.
Yes those darn other joints just kept complaining,not caring what else was going on.
Funny,although I don't remember if I said,waking up in the recovery room after the repair procedure was my worst bout of pain.Not sure why.
Good wishes to you as well,and yes I'm humbled.


Dave
 
OldHippie said:
@Celle Thank you.
So strange to have to think about how to walk!
I just grabbed that image and will print myself a little reminder off of it.
Click to expand...
"Mechanics is muscle memory." what is actuallynnormal may take some time and some focus---until it bcomes natural again.

Many of us had somewhat dysfunctional gaits due to pain and limitations---so it took some time---and some concentration---to get the "real thing" back again!
 
I guess what I forgot to say was that what is dysfunctional now feels normal, and what is actually correct and functional will feel abnormal for a while, and when we concentrate on it, eventually, the mechanics and the functional feels absolutely normal.
 
Well,here I am with another sporadic update:)
I'm now down to my last 3 PT sessions,tomorrow then Tues.and Thurs. of next week as well.
My plans right this minute are to start a walking regimen around 10 days from now.As discussed earlier I plan to use time as the limiter in sessions,not distance.
I had a pretty darn bad RA flare last week,and when I went to pick up my prednisone I walked in and out of the pharmacy with just my cane.Not a marathon,but I did pretty well and it was a good measuring stick of what to expect.
I will have to start slow and I will have to restrain myself and stick to my plan.

Best wishes,
Dave
 
You've done well, Dave. :yes!::happydance:
It's very sensible of you to plan to increase your walking only slowly and gradually.
 
I hope the pred calms things down for you @OldHippie . Sometimes the unoperated (bad) knee acts up because it's helping the operated knee. But it may calm down (slightly) as the new knee takes on more of the work. We can hope. :)
 
@Celle thanks it really just makes sense and falls in line with what I've learned from the Smarties and experience.
I hope to get the right knee done sometime in the next few months and I'd really like a matched set :-)

@kneeper yep the pred is doing it's job.not my favorite,but effective nonetheless.At least the unoperated knee will act as a check if nothing else
Earlier I forgot to mention my therapist(s).I feel fortunate about them for a couple of reasons.
The Smarties really hammered home my PT is mine.So when the unoperated knee gave trouble in certain exercises,we adjusted and moved on no problem.
And darn it,they were just nice,caring,professional people.

Dave
 
Wait is that a right TKR scheduled in my signature?
It is!
Saw the OS today and after a little chit chat started discussing the right knee.
That it needs to be done is not in question.But I have some other stuff going and we finally settled on Monday Aug 29th.
So yeah it was a good day :)


Dave
 
I'm glad you have a date for your second TKR. We'll still be here for you when you have that knee done.
 
@Celle @referee54 Thanks and celle I'm counting on the smarties being here.Sometimes I just come here and read.It all helps.
Funny I was so apprehensive in January,and now can't wait for the summer to go by.:yay:
 
Isn't it something when we know how much relief we'll get from our TKR and actually look forward to having it done again?? Mine were only six weeks apart, but I couldn't wait to get the second one done and just get on with my life. I'm glad you've got a date for your right knee. Just think....by this time next year you won't be giving your knees much thought at all!


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart®
 
@Lovestoread As I mentioned,I've got a few things to do that will occupy me,all medical but not related to the surgery.I've hardly thought of anything but the surgery since yesterday,lol.
I can't imagine not thinking about one or both of these knees and the pain that's been my constant companion.
When that day comes I'm not aware,and then realize I'm not,I might get emotional :-)


Best wishes,
Dave
 
Hi all back with another sporadic up date.
Now's a good time to mention my walking plans went awry.The walking I did,combined with PT put my right knee out of the game,so to speak.I was a little taken aback at first.But I do all the walking around the house I can handle and trips to market,doctor,etc,I am using just a cane and get along pretty well.
But extended walks just aren't in the cards,after 30 mins or so the pain gets to be too much.And as I mentioned I do get to get out,but I'm done for a few days after an expedition.
Friends & family all comment how good it is to see me standing tall,not leaning on crutches.
I had a bit of a scare when I started getting sharp pains in the calf of the operated leg.Of course the first thing I thought was clot as that's been drilled into me from the start.In the end,however it turns out I needed to stretch that muscle more and so I do.
Got a sleep study this weekend(4th),rheumatologist appt on the 9th,back for sleep study results on 15th.Drop off my referral for a colonoscopy(also the 9th),set the consult appointment then hopefully get that done in July,if not sooner.Of course that will depend on the clinic's schedule.
These things were all warming up in the bullpen when I consulted with the OS back in December,and of course when they said knee replacement I kicked all these other procedures down the road.
Now I'm trying to flip that on it's head,and get them out of the way for my RTKR.Crossing my fingers it all works out,I'm just 90 days away right now.
I do go on don't I?I bet you all were just dying to read all this.
I didn't intend to write this much but you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and Hippies :-)


Best wishes,
Dave
 
Great news that you got your date for your 2nd knee.
This time next year you shouldn't be having to worry about making short trips and wondering how much the knee(s) can handle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 2,641 (members: 0, guests: 2,641)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom