zjrog
post-grad
Bravo sir! Bravo!
Will new knees be good enough?
- Thread starter BigGene
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ruppbike
senior
Glad your trip has worked out so well Gene. You have had great weather as long as you have dodged the T-storms. Safe travels home.
skigirl
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Gene, a fantastic report. Now people will pm you for support as they consider knee replacement!! Kelly
Wow, Gene.....I'm just catching up with your thread and I'm so impressed at what all you're doing. Keep up the great work.....and keep havin' fun!!!
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BigGene
graduate
So, I'm back at work. Rested,I barely got out of bed since getting home from Vermont, and have gotten back to my weight loss eating plan. Voila, 28! lbs. Down from my pre-trip weight even with the rich, deserts with the fancy presentation art.
I am thrilled, today is 3 the month aniversary since RTKR and I am down 52 lbs since surgery,. 28lbs more and I am no longer obese. I'd like to do that before my LTKR schedule for 9/20.
Biggest issue on my bike tour was my inability to get up those "rolling" hills. Stamina and cardio were my weaknesses, not my new or old knees.
Continued weight loss is a must. Conditioning before and after my LTKR will be critical.to regaining the ability to make use of my new knees in the way I hope to.
I guess I am a little surprised that, at least at my weight and for me, conditioning is a bigger issue in my recovery than ROM, leg strength or knee pain..
We all recover differently!!!
I am thrilled, today is 3 the month aniversary since RTKR and I am down 52 lbs since surgery,. 28lbs more and I am no longer obese. I'd like to do that before my LTKR schedule for 9/20.
Biggest issue on my bike tour was my inability to get up those "rolling" hills. Stamina and cardio were my weaknesses, not my new or old knees.
Continued weight loss is a must. Conditioning before and after my LTKR will be critical.to regaining the ability to make use of my new knees in the way I hope to.
I guess I am a little surprised that, at least at my weight and for me, conditioning is a bigger issue in my recovery than ROM, leg strength or knee pain..
We all recover differently!!!
skigirl
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Gene, I found the same thing at about your level of recovery. I ride every Thursday with a group--about 25 miles. Last year, I used to think about going up hills--and sometimes I also had to walk. this year, I just whiz up them without even a thought. Sometimes I look for the "big hill" of last year and then realize that I have already gone over it.
Don't worry, you will get there--be kind to yourself right now. It is enough that you are attempting what you are doing and riding---even if you sometimes have to walk. Kelly
Don't worry, you will get there--be kind to yourself right now. It is enough that you are attempting what you are doing and riding---even if you sometimes have to walk. Kelly
referee54
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I found that the more weight that I lost, the easier the hills (go figure, Tim!:hysterical
Seriously, cardio is the first to go and the slowest to return!
Your cardio will come back---it will take some time, but you have shown the wisdom and the patience to understand that all will come in due time.
Seriously, cardio is the first to go and the slowest to return!Your cardio will come back---it will take some time, but you have shown the wisdom and the patience to understand that all will come in due time.
Gene - you are really an inspiration! Weight loss is a biggie. Weight loss and recovering from TKR is massive! Well done.
So glad you enjoyed your adventure. I am sure there will be many, many more trips. Thanks for sharing with us!
So glad you enjoyed your adventure. I am sure there will be many, many more trips. Thanks for sharing with us!
zjrog
post-grad
Wow Gene! I am impressed. I too am having a battle with regaining cardio. No real strength or stamina issues, and the knee gives me no pain. Good for you, riding season isn't over yet!
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BigGene
graduate
Tomorrow I will see my OS in preparation for LTKR. It is already penciled in for 9/20/11 but this appointment officialy focuses on knee number two.
It is interesting that now 13 weeks post RTKR and having had a relatively easy and sucessful recovery I might think the final weeks and decisions would be easy, a no brainer.
But wait, I've lost 50+ pounds since surgery and my remaining arthritic knee doesn't seem so bad anymore. I can go up and down stairs now without using a handrail. Couldn't do that before. Both knees used to hurt a lot, especially going down. Not so much now.
Excercise, cycling, night pain was expected, nt so much now.
I begin to think..."why am I doing this now, can't it wait?"
The truth is I start to go back to all the anxiety of my first decision regarding bad results, or difficult recoveries. I have to keep reminding myself that the x-rays still show bone-on-bone. The knee still cracks and grinds upon movement and I am not getting any younger.
Most importantly, I want and need TWO NEW KNEES THAT ARE GOOD ENOUGH, not one and a "not so bad" arthritic knee.
I need to just get it done, do the recovery and get on with an active life and an active retirement once I make that decision.
Just some thoughts as I prepare for the OS visit.
It is interesting that now 13 weeks post RTKR and having had a relatively easy and sucessful recovery I might think the final weeks and decisions would be easy, a no brainer.
But wait, I've lost 50+ pounds since surgery and my remaining arthritic knee doesn't seem so bad anymore. I can go up and down stairs now without using a handrail. Couldn't do that before. Both knees used to hurt a lot, especially going down. Not so much now.
Excercise, cycling, night pain was expected, nt so much now.
I begin to think..."why am I doing this now, can't it wait?"
The truth is I start to go back to all the anxiety of my first decision regarding bad results, or difficult recoveries. I have to keep reminding myself that the x-rays still show bone-on-bone. The knee still cracks and grinds upon movement and I am not getting any younger.
Most importantly, I want and need TWO NEW KNEES THAT ARE GOOD ENOUGH, not one and a "not so bad" arthritic knee.
I need to just get it done, do the recovery and get on with an active life and an active retirement once I make that decision.
Just some thoughts as I prepare for the OS visit.
chuck172
member
When you're bone on bone, all the grinding results in loss of good bone material. The more good bone material left in that arthritic joint will aid in a good base for stronger knee replacement.
Sometimes waiting isn't the right idea in the long run.
Sometimes waiting isn't the right idea in the long run.
old goat
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I am sure losing weight has been a big help, maybe even a key point. I wish I had not waited so long for the second knee replacement. The metal is not like the original, and you can be sure the second one will be different. I think in awhile I will be really glad to have this done. Already the second one does NOT have the pain I had before the surgery. Good luck in your decision. I know I had doubts, but not now.
I think you have already said it Gene! No one likes to go through this. But why spend what is supposed to be your retirement in pain?
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BigGene
graduate
I am back from my appointment with my OS for knee #2. It was a good meeting. We discussed progress on my right knee then got on with the left knee review.
We had a good discussion about the state of the left knee. I reported that the problems had eased up from the way they were pre RTKR. He said TKR is a primarily a patient decision. His job is to reduce pain. We discussed the fact that the biological state of the knee is bone-on-bone and that will not get better. He clearly felt that my knee was replacable but that the timing was my call based on pain and activity limitation.
I pulled the trigger and said let's do it. We discussed my prior problem with severe total body itching imediately after surgery, the possible causing agent and what to do differently next time. We talked about post surgical pain control, what worked last time and what we might adjust this time.
Also had some discussion about the nerve block, I told him that I am not convince it did much except prevent me from raising my leg for 24 hours, my pain only came under control when the pain med cocktail got adjusted correctly. He maintained that I probably did get some benefit and that the pain might have been worse without it.(Hard to imagine but...) He conceded that every patient is unique and pain control post surgery is a case by case individual challenge.
It was a good discussion. I thought it confirmed what the Smarties tell us on this site. It also gave me further confidence in the OS and his treatment of patients as individuals and not simply a "case" to be handled by some magic formula.
Anyway, decision made, or at least confirmed. It was a whole lot easier a decision this time than last time. I want to get this done now and then move on without arthritis controling my quality of life.
Waiting until some magic moment does not make sense to me. Yes, there are risks. But every day we live is a risk and (bad)stuff happens. Their may be fewer tomorrows than we think.
We had a good discussion about the state of the left knee. I reported that the problems had eased up from the way they were pre RTKR. He said TKR is a primarily a patient decision. His job is to reduce pain. We discussed the fact that the biological state of the knee is bone-on-bone and that will not get better. He clearly felt that my knee was replacable but that the timing was my call based on pain and activity limitation.
I pulled the trigger and said let's do it. We discussed my prior problem with severe total body itching imediately after surgery, the possible causing agent and what to do differently next time. We talked about post surgical pain control, what worked last time and what we might adjust this time.
Also had some discussion about the nerve block, I told him that I am not convince it did much except prevent me from raising my leg for 24 hours, my pain only came under control when the pain med cocktail got adjusted correctly. He maintained that I probably did get some benefit and that the pain might have been worse without it.(Hard to imagine but...) He conceded that every patient is unique and pain control post surgery is a case by case individual challenge.
It was a good discussion. I thought it confirmed what the Smarties tell us on this site. It also gave me further confidence in the OS and his treatment of patients as individuals and not simply a "case" to be handled by some magic formula.
Anyway, decision made, or at least confirmed. It was a whole lot easier a decision this time than last time. I want to get this done now and then move on without arthritis controling my quality of life.
Waiting until some magic moment does not make sense to me. Yes, there are risks. But every day we live is a risk and (bad)stuff happens. Their may be fewer tomorrows than we think.
zjrog
post-grad
Gene, great to hear how you and your OS discussed the situation. I hope I never have to have the same discussion with my OS about my other knee, but have already stated that I won't wait as long, and I won't hesitate if I really need it done. I wish all the same great luck with less pain management problems with the second TKR!
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BigGene
graduate
Thanks Zjrog, The management issues only really lasted 24 hours, just wanted to avoid it, if possible, next time. I really had an easy time with pain post surgery. The meds worked well and I stopped using those completely by week 4.
It sounds like a good decision to me, Gene....well thought out and I especially agree with your point about never knowing how many tomorrows there will be in life. Good for you!!!
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