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Will new knees be good enough?

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No problem Sunflower, I enjoy hearing about where you are in your riding. You are eight weeks ahead of me so it give me a vaugue target.

I on the other hand at just short of 5 weeks just got home from a slow, flat 12 miles on my local bike trail. Feels good to be riding, every day is a little better.

Looks like I am going back to work tomorrow, can't stand all this lying around. I sit at a desk and will use leave as needed if full days do not seem comfortable.

I hope to continue with rides of 6-10 during the week and then look to strech distance on the week-end. Rest days usually define themselves.
 
BigGene said:
PT is almost fun now. All strength work. Apparently they are done "pushing" rom since I have exceeded120 without pushing or pulling.

I do like the resistance work. They increased some weights today, no problem.
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I do remember those times. The early part of PT for me was frustrating and it seemed too slow. Later on, however, I began to see real progress and PT became a time for me to challenge myself---almost bringing back my college football days---not in terms of the strength etc., but in terms of the mindset.
 
There is no question the KNEES are good enough for riding. It's the rest of the leg(s) and cardiovascular system that may not be ready for longer and harder rides. A good rule of thumb is that for every week not training, you need a month of training to get back to where you are. In my case 12 weeks off = a year to get back to where I was. At least on the bike. The good news is that I just got back from a wonderful hike in the southern Adirondacks with my wife and our 2 greyhounds and it was pain free! This was the reason for the BTKR. I will get my fitness back with time, the connective tissue will become correct with riding and hiking - the KNEES are good enough, to stay with BG's thread theme, in fact they are the best part of my anatomy right now.
 
And when I was discharged from PT, I missed it greatly the first couple weeks. FORCED me to do all I had been doing already on my own. And seeking ways to make up for the loss of that Total Gym exercise... Seated leg press that moves my own weight too is close, but not the same angle.
 
Great news, Rupp! I think it was either John Havlicek or Jerry Lucas who said, "The best way to get into shape is never get out of shape!"

Unfortunately, for those of us with knee replacements, it is what happened when we went from either sedentary due to the pain or active and living with the pain---and then we have to take the time off and recover from the necessary TKR or BTKR.

I wrote in another thread that I feel that I am in better shape now than I was perhaps ten years ago---weight, cholesterol, cardio, and KNEES. Well, Rome wasn't built in a day...
 
I went back to work today. Wow. Besides the 6:00 am wake-up. Sitting at my desk, sitting at a meeting for an hour. Definitely tougher than I expected. Started to tighten up.

Tried to elevate, but not real effective. Only worked 1/2 day then had PT this afternoon. Exhauted when I got home.

I will find a way to ice at work from now on . I will take afternoons off as needed.

I thought I was doing really well but not being elevated most of the time REALLY made a difference.
 
I remember those days well. Both of mine would tighten up and announce to me that they had done their stuff for the day and want to punch-out. Unfortunately, the school day was three hours longer!

Things will get better, albeit slowly, but you will see the improvements.
 
Yup - the reality of all the effort you make to just get to work is usually a bit of a shock.

I think you are very wise to limit things to half days for awhile. Ease into the new activity but give yourself time to rest as well.
 
BigGene said:
I thought I was doing really well but not being elevated most of the time REALLY made a difference.
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That was the biggest thing with me when I went back to work at 2 months - not being able to elevate. Leg pumps and short walks to get the circulation going helped. Also, just not being able to rest/sleep as much caught up to me those first weeks back at work. Sounds like you have a good plan, Gene. Doing work is good for the mental stress, so doing it wisely is a good thing.
 
The time will pass whether or not you have your knees done. So the real choices are for continued and perhaps worsening pain as well as further physical restrictions, or a valid opportunity for an improved quality of life.
 
Third day of work. I am exhausted. Even working half days. I guess getting up early is like jet lag.

Knee is slightly more swollen. Overall knee is ok. Total body is the bigger issue. I have been icing while at my desk and trying to remember to get up and walk frequently.

Another day, another challenge.

My new knee is doing well. It is, after all, only 5 weeks + since TKR.

Between being tired and all the thunder storms here in the mid-atlantic I have not gotton in the bike since Sunday. Maybe I can get a 5-10 mile ride in tomorrow.

My 1st new knee is getting closer and closer to GOOD ENOUGH.
 
Gene, I remember that after my surgery, I was tired until about 8 weeks--then, it was like the sky opened and sun came down on me. I think you are a little early to be back at work--I am glad that you are working half days. I think you will have to schedule some serious rest time ont he weekend. Sounds like you are doing well, the tiredness will pass as you get stronger. Kel
 
I can easily remember going to school---I would wake up in the AM and the knees would feel great! I would wonder---"Is this the day that normalcy returns?" Bu lunch though, I realized that it would not be the day---I would be stiff and sore.

Weekends were a period of rest for me---I might go to the gym or ride the stationary bike, but I didn't push much too hard---ice, rest, elevate.

Let me tell you, it was certainly frustrating.
 
ruppbike said:
the knees were tight feeling and sore - not swollen and still had flex, but did not feel 'right'.
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I call this the 'clamp on the knee' syndrome! There's nothing really wrong, it's just plain, common or garden, and mild, post-op pain and should be treated as such with some otc meds like ibuprofen or paracetamol (Tylenol). I was experiencing this up till about 5 or 6 months out and then suddenly - pooof! - it disappeared! :thumb: Yours will too eventually. Until then, please don't fret about it, just take some mild pain meds and carry on with life.
 
I went back to work at 5 weeks, whole days. But I was allowed plenty of time for rest (mandated actually!) and had a couple chairs to stay elevated. Since we have an ice machine in the hallway, no trouble staying iced. But we also work 10 hour days, I ride a vanpool and its 5 miles each way, so all told, between the nearly 13 hours up and about, and then the long van rides, I was WHOOPED at the end of the day. But then, in the previous weeks I'd been spending all day in the hospital with my wife, so work was a pleasant respite of sorts... And since I was stuck indoors, I got to do a lot of paperwork for others. *I HATE PAPERWORK!*
 
TGIF. Never thought I'd get to the end of my first week at work. Worked MWF half day followed by PT. T,TH worked full days.

I have been exhausted. No extra walking, did not get on the bike,(It did rain a lot this week) But I was just too tired.

Iced some while at work. Tried not to stay in one position too long.

Overall, not too bad. Knee feels a little "tight" or maybe slightly more swollen.

That said, Mr ROM is fine at 125+. The PT's don't even measure anymore, they just ask me to bend and straighted and they eyeball. All is good.

Strength wise, I am going up and down steps like a normal person. I use the rail some but less than last week for sure. The cane is just a prop. I forget it most of the time.

Clearly the knee continues to improve.

I'd be happier it it look "normal" in size but I am only 5 + weeks out.

Saturday I will go for a bike ride. Target distance will be 15 miles. Last sunday I did 12, so 15 seems reasonable this week as a goal.

I did pay up for the fully supported Vermont Bike tour in the Lake Champlain region starting July 3rd so I'd like to be riding a comfortable 20-25 by then.

So summarizing the week, all is good. A little more tired than I would like but strength performance and normality have all moved forward.
 
Glad you had a good week. My PT constantly laughed at me for being concerned about the swelling. It WILL go down. I still have a little bit even now at just over 27 weeks. Not enough for most people to notice, since they fixate on the scar instead...
 
Gene, sure hope you are able to get some rest this weekend! Sounds like your work schedule is a bit hard for so early out.
 
I still have a little at two years! But then, I do swell easily. The other day my feet were blown up like puddings! :snork:
 
This morning was a beautiful day. I went for my bike ride. Goal was 15 miles. Got home at 17 miles. Great ride, took it easy , three stops to rest, averaged 10 miles an hour.

I will now rest the rest of the day. Ice and elevate, of course.

My new knee is going to be good enough.
 
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