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Will new knees be good enough?

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Quite so, ladies! It's got to be unmedicated post-operative pain, Gene. Are you taking you meds on time? Resting, elevating and icing enough?
 
Waiting for my rides to come and take me to PT.

Tough staying engaged, knee verrry tight. Nothing specific to report. Have been walking about .5 to .75 miles a day. Feels good.The only grinding going on is the left knee.

Want to do more. Still early, I know"

I want to start a new list:

My new knee is good enough to:
1. Walk on without grinding.

I'll talk about PT when I get back.
 
Hi Big Gene,
I am Parla. Wow going for walks already is wonderful. I haven't read your whole story yet but that is fantastic. I had my TKR revision on 4/11/11 and still am trying to find the balance between rest and activity.
I see you are from Maryland! My favorite food in the world are blue crabs from Maryland! You are lucky!!! Hope your pt goes well.
Parla
 
Your knee is "tight" because it is swollen. I know you want to do more, but perhaps you are doing too much this early on. Believe me- I was the same way and overdid it in the early stages with my first tkr and that only set me back a bit. Take time to relax. Elevate and ice.
 
OK, so here is the PT report 8th day post surgery. Usual stuff, then back on the horse that through me. The exercise bike. Monday I screamed when I unknowingly forced my way "over-th-top" Finished with 5 minutes of rocking back and forth.

Got on today with "fear" and "hope" Started rocking and then tried a backward over the top as suggested by smarties here at the forum. Peaked at frontwards but couldn't seem to take the heat of the strecth over the top.

At five minutes of continuous backward rotation the bell rang. I took a quick pass at going frontwards and it worked. Took a couple more rotations. Tech came to get me and I asked if I could do a couple more minutes now that I was going the right direction. She put 5 more minutes back on the timer.

Did the full 5 minutes feeling on top of the world.

PT came over and I was expecting the dreaded "flextion/extension" quality time. Instead he brought a cane and said "let's walk" we took a couple llaps round the room and then out the hall to the stairs. A flight up and down and I was released from my walker. I must say that he must have been excited because he announce to all my 1 week past surgery gait.

I know their are tough times still a head. I have always been motivated by the success stories from this side of the forum.

To those thinking about this surgery and balancing the risk/reward analysis. Read my thread I was a sceptic just 4 months ago.

We are all individuals my story we never be the same as anyone elses. But there is no greater feeling that this was in deed worth it than that first 10 minute bike ride this morning.

Like the name of this thread asked:

I am beginning to truly believe that my new knee will be good enough. (At least they were this morning)

Now it is time for the BoneSmart themesong " REST, ICE and ELEVATE". This is where I have spent the overwhelming amount of my time since getting home on Thursday.

Thanks Smarties for listening, chiming in, and telling your stories.You are my support system.
 
Hey Gene - you are truckin' now! Well done on the bike! Isn't it amazing when you realize how much you have accomplished!

Good for you - keep chanting the Smartie mantra. I predict there will be some long and lovely bike rides for you in the future!
 
Gene, ½ to ¾ mile each day is way too much for the first week or two. A couple of hundred yards is plenty. You've heard us saying this ad nauseum - this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. There will be plenty of time for all the heroics. Right now be kind to your knee and let it heal. That means lots of rest, elevating, icing and pain meds (especially when it feels 'tight' which is simply pain) and some exercise 2-3 times a day. Other than that, your trips to PT will be enough exercise for now. Please take better care of yourself. I know you are keen to get going but you only risk setting your progress back by getting excessive swelling and pain.
 
Gene....I'd like to know how your knee does through the night and into tomorrow. I hope you (and your therapist) didn't push too hard. I was cringing when I read all you did. That was a real workout!!!
 
Jamie,
Did pretty well the balance of the day. Followed my now typical routine of sleep, sleep more sleep and ice before during and after sleep. The night went reasonably well and continued through Thursday.

I have been using the cane since Wednesday. I won't miss the walker.

Just got back from PT today and things continue on a good pathl. He added a couple exercises, the cycling went well and is a big boost mentally for me. I am now icing at home and will try to devise a plan for the weekend.(when I am not sleeping.)

I look forward to getting these staples out of me on Wednesday.
 
Well done Gene! Sounds like you are tolerating the new activity well. The icing and sleep are certainly helping.
 
Way to go Gene! I guess I will have to challenge you to a bike ride one of these days as I am really starting to like "biking!":yahoo:
 
:yes 4:
 
Cool.....it sounds like you are fine with that level of activity!!! But you did a great job taking care of yourself after the exercise. That helped a lot, I'm sure.
 
Got up today feeling pretty good. Seem to have found a new balanced, schedule for my pain meds that adjusts downward significantly from what was needed in that first day or two but continues a program that leaves me pain free and does not allow breakthroughs or the need for catch-up.

That said I took a walk outside with my cane for the first time and got to the community clubhouse and spent a comfortable 15 minutes on the indoor bike.

Went home, raised it up, iced it down, and took a looonnng nap. After nap still felt very good.

I hope it continues. Can't wait to get rid of these staples.
 
It can take some time to get the balance right but when you do - bliss! Enjoy Gene!
 
I think I should change my username to BackToBed because that is my main post-op activity. Sure there is wake-up, take meds, eat, icc, elevate but what I do most and best is to Go
BackToBed.

This morning I have done some exercises, caught up with the forum and now it's time. an't keep my eyes open so off I go.
BackToBed.
 
Good news Gene, sleep brings on healing. You just went through some major trauma. Rest easy. There will be plenty of time for activity later.
 
Gene...
It's a fact. When we sleep our bodies product Growth Hormone which is our body's healer. No sleep..no hormone...poor healing!..Sleep on!
 
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