TKR What I did on my summer vacation

[newlybionic]

My OS told me I could have some swelling for up to 18 months. It should slowly decrease over time. Continue to ice at the end of every day and after exercising.

 

[KarriB]

I have a pocket to the left of my knee. It was there before my TKR and the revisionist said it was full of dead fat, he cleaned it out. While I was in an imbolizer it was gone, but as soon as I started using my leg more the pocket or lump came back. It's still there and bothers my vanity, but my OS nor my ID are worried about it.

@Timetolive still experiences some swelling. She has seen a lymphatic masseuse and wears compression hose to help the swelling. As Marian said, it can take longer for some individuals.

 

[KarriB]

I have no idea what implant I have. I believe Josephine says they're all basically the same and the ability of the surgeon is the telling factor. Try searching BoneSmart, if there was a recall it may be here.

 

[birdwatchr]

@KarriB
PA said to wear bike shorts, but they won't come down to where pocket of swelling is. They wouldn't drain it before surgery because it was too close to having surgery. Now it's fear of infection on the "other side" of surgery. They always got quite a bit of fluid out and it always felt better. Plus I could bend knee much better. I thought Dr said it would be gone after surgery. Overall swelling and heat seems to be subsiding. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. PA was much nicer this time. Advised me to wait 6 months before getting tooth fixed, so wouldn't give me antibiotic now. I'll try, but may not be able to. It has 2 corners broken off, with a filling covering it, and has started throbbing again. I don't go back til next May/June. So I guess I've basically been released. She said to start building up the muscles now. And the thigh pain was a pulled muscle. I think she would like me to give up my cane, but knee still gives out some. Plus I use it more for my foot. Probably won't be able to have the foot surgery. Lost my second job and won't have the money.

Work is going ok. Able to sit a lot and ice knee at lunchtime if I remember ace bandage! Only problem is that it is 2:45am and it is turning into another sleepless night. Probably be half dead tomorrow! Or sleepwalking! Hate these nights. And AP will be in library tomorrow finishing up testing. Must remember to look busy and not yawn!

 

[birdwatchr]

Summer vacation is over. I don't see a way of changing my title. Can someone change it to Minimally Invasive Outpatient TKR please? That way maybe it can be found a little easier for those wanting to know how it went without hospitalization. Thank you.

 

[Jaycey]

I changed your thread title for you but I really like your first title. Somehow there is nothing "minimally invasive" about TKR. Even though you may have had a short hospital stay it's still very major surgery.

 

[birdwatchr]

@Jaycey
Well, I thought and thought about it, and thought people might be able to find it quicker through a search if it described the way I was told. I like the other title better too. So, if it isn't too much trouble, can you change it back to "What I did on my summer vacation" and I'll leave it like that. And it sure did hurt like full blown surgery!! I've never been knocked down by a surgery like I was for this one! Thank you so much.

 

[Jaycey]

No problem, title changed back for you.

And it sure did hurt like full blown surgery!!

It was indeed full blown surgery. Just because your stay was short does not mean they did less. In fact, you were probably pushed to do more early on as they rushed you out the door!

 

[birdwatchr]

@Jaycey
Yeah, I think so. But I'm OK now!! Thank you so much. Sorry for being wishy washy.

 

[newlybionic]

You can try running compression tights for the swelling. There are ones that are Capri length and others that come to just above the ankle. I bought some from amazon. I picked out the ones that the reviews said people could see through because I thought they would be lighter under my pants. The compression worked really well. I couldn't get them from any nearby store because I'm overweight and no one carried them but on line it was no problem.

 

[birdwatchr]

Not that anyone has been wondering....... but here I am 36 weeks out (8 months) and doing fine. Some pain persists, but I deal with it. I am back to the treadmill and dance/stretch workouts. Doctor is happy with what I can do. Looking forward to spring and nice weather to walk outside. Treadmill does get boring! Wouldn't say I wish I had done it sooner, etc, but it is much better. I did try to skip once, but for some reason was too unco-ordinated to get it right!! Don't want to try running, much as I would love it if I could. Uphills are easier than downhills, but Gatlinburg trip at Christmas was fine. Yearly checkup is in May!

 

[KarriB]

Thanks for the great up date. I'm happy to hear you've gotten on with living your life with a new knee.

 

[sistersinhim]

Hi there @birdwatchr. It is so good to hear from you and how well you are doing. Isn't it wonderful to get back to normal living! For the ones coming up behind us to know there is hope is so important for them to read and to know. I am a week behind you and am getting back to some of the things I love to do. I make little goals and check them off as I'm able to do them. Keep up your wonderful, and soon to be full recovery.

 

[Pumpkin]

Great to hear you are doing well, thanks for coming back and updating your encouraging report.

 

[newlybionic]

I'm glad to hear you're doing well. It's nice to get back to normal activities.

 

[birdwatchr]

@sistersinhim yeah, don't see many of my buddies still here, so guess we are all getting on with life. Glad to see you are doing better!

 

[Celle]

Great to hear you're doing well!
Thank you for coming back and updating us. It's so encouraging for people who are early in their recovery.

don't see many of my buddies still here, so guess we are all getting on with life.

Yes, that's what usually happens. People get better and they move back into their real lives. It's a good result when they feel they can manage without our continuing support.

 

[sistersinhim]

@birdwatchr, I'll be around here for a while yet. My heart hurts for so many that are going through that awful torturous PT when they don't have to. I have lots of experience I can share! I don't want it to go to waste. This site, though restrictive on what we can talk about, has helped me so much. It's not perfect, but for me it was close to!

 

[kneeper]

Great to hear you're doing well @birdwatchr

 

[birdwatchr]

Had my one year checkup this morning. Been having more pain the past couple of months. While Dr said my x-ray looks perfect, he also said my muscles have atrophied. He wants me to do exercises 100 times a day. So I went next door to see the physical therapist I used and asked for some suggestions and a handout. With summer coming up, I should have more time to do them, although I've been walking every day and using the stairs a couple of times a week. Don't understand how my muscles have atrophied though. Additionally, I told him about the time my entire leg from the hip to the foot had no feeling at all twice one day and I went down; and that my knee has been catching and giving out. For the no feeling, it is the pinched nerve in my back and I need to see another dr. For the giving out, it is atrophy related.

I don't go back for a year, and I asked how likely my other knee would need replacing. He said not very likely. Yay! So strengthening, here I come. And other dr, here I come too.