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Knee Replacement Diary
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delta1 Offline
#51 Posted: Wed, Dec 3 2014, 12:40 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,772
=d> =d> =d>
Good to see your recovery is going well.
Burner02 Offline
#52 Posted: Mon, Jan 12 2015, 6:38 PM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
Today marks 10 weeks since the knee replacement. Things are progressing but maybe not as fast as I had hoped. Began my seventh week of supervised therapy away from home. Started the session at 113 degrees bend and finished at 120 with some sweat. I have another week and a half of therapy and I will be on my own. Really wish I had another month of the supervised therapy.

I still have some swelling in the knee and lower leg. Therapist indicated that the swelling could be present for up to six months. Probably the biggest down side is that I will never be able to completely kneel on the replaced knee again (did not know that going into surgery).

I return to the surgeon on 02/12 for an x-ray and how goes it.

Originally thought I would be playing golf by 02/01 but 03/01 seems to be more realistic.



Herfing
delta1 Offline
#53 Posted: Mon, Jan 12 2015, 7:29 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,772
My knee and leg felt balky for 8 to 10 months after surgery, but I was able to walk long distances, hike and fish, and ride a bicycle within a few months. It was hard to fully bend my right leg to get on my knees or to lie on the floor or ground. I had to keep my leg nearly extended and use my arms to help lower myself down and to get up.

On the other hand, the biggest benefit was the absence of chronic knee pain. Prior to replacement surgery I would require lots of tylenol, ibuprofen or naproxen to ease the pain and help me sleep. I couldn't walk or bike long distances, and gave up hiking and fishing. Now I'm doing all of that, mostly pain free. Only thing I miss is playing tennis. Doc advised against it. I tried a few times, but my brakes don't work anymore.

Looks like you're doing fine, Burner!
Burner02 Offline
#54 Posted: Mon, Jan 12 2015, 7:36 PM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
delta1 wrote:
My knee and leg felt balky for 8 to 10 months after surgery, but I was able to walk long distances, hike and fish, and ride a bicycle within a few months. It was hard to fully bend my right leg to get on my knees or to lie on the floor or ground. I had to keep my leg nearly extended and use my arms to help lower myself down and to get up.

On the other hand, the biggest benefit was the absence of chronic knee pain. Prior to replacement surgery I would require lots of tylenol, ibuprofen or naproxen to ease the pain and help me sleep. I couldn't walk or bike long distances, and gave up hiking and fishing. Now I'm doing all of that, mostly pain free. Only thing I miss is playing tennis. Doc advised against it. I tried a few times, but my brakes don't work anymore.

Looks like you're doing fine, Burner!




Yep, it could be worse. As you noted the absence of pain is a very big plus.
Burner02 Offline
#55 Posted: Fri, Feb 13 2015, 6:20 AM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
Jan 20, was my last day of supervised therapy. I had four more visits scheduled, but was advised my desired range of motion had been met and they did not want to see me any more.

One thing I learned was not to do any therapy at home the day of prior to going to rehab. If I did any of the exercises at home the knee did not seem to respond as well at therapy and I was catching some chit for maybe not working it as hard as I should. The knee would stiffen up and limit the range of motion. Once I figured this out the rehab visits went much better and each visit was an improvement over the previous.

Visited the surgeon yesterday, 2/12, for the four month visit. I was advised that everything looked great ThumpUp and I can resume normal activities. I have one more doc visit in two months and will be released at that time.



Herfing
chazbo Offline
#56 Posted: Fri, Feb 13 2015, 7:50 AM EST
Joined: 01-21-2007
Posts: 8,160
Good news brother know get ready for golf season.
jackconrad Offline
#57 Posted: Fri, Feb 13 2015, 8:50 AM EST
Joined: 06-09-2003
Posts: 67,461
Burner02 wrote:
Jan 20, was my last day of supervised therapy. I had four more visits scheduled, but was advised my desired range of motion had been met and they did not want to see me any more.

One thing I learned was not to do any therapy at home the day of prior to going to rehab. If I did any of the exercises at home the knee did not seem to respond as well at therapy and I was catching some chit for maybe not working it as hard as I should. The knee would stiffen up and limit the range of motion. Once I figured this out the rehab visits went much better and each visit was an improvement over the previous.

Visited the surgeon yesterday, 2/12, for the four month visit. I was advised that everything looked great ThumpUp and I can resume normal activities. I have one more doc visit in two months and will be released at that time.



Herfing

Probation is going Well !! Good News !
Gene363 Offline
#58 Posted: Fri, Feb 13 2015, 9:54 AM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,781
Burner02 wrote:
Jan 20, was my last day of supervised therapy. I had four more visits scheduled, but was advised my desired range of motion had been met and they did not want to see me any more.

One thing I learned was not to do any therapy at home the day of prior to going to rehab. If I did any of the exercises at home the knee did not seem to respond as well at therapy and I was catching some chit for maybe not working it as hard as I should. The knee would stiffen up and limit the range of motion. Once I figured this out the rehab visits went much better and each visit was an improvement over the previous.

Visited the surgeon yesterday, 2/12, for the four month visit. I was advised that everything looked great ThumpUp and I can resume normal activities. I have one more doc visit in two months and will be released at that time.



Herfing


Thank you for posting this thread, there is some great advice here.
Burner02 Offline
#59 Posted: Sun, Sep 20 2015, 5:26 PM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
I planned on doing a 6 month update but forgot. So here goes with the 10.5 month update. The knee has been doing great and I have had no swelling in the knee since the 5.5 month mark. I'm able to do pretty much what I want except kneeling on the knee in question. For the past couple of months I have been doing 6,5 miles, 4 - 6 mornings a week on the bike. I plan on stepping up to 9.5 miles a ride this coming week.

Only negative is that I get a new left knee in the next couple of months. The other negative is that the golf game still sucks.
delta1 Offline
#60 Posted: Sun, Sep 20 2015, 7:48 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,772
Hope the surgery goes well and that you have a speedy recovery. I've avoided having to replace my left knee by doing the pt exercises I learned while recovering from right knee replacement, along with walking, hiking and biking. Had to give up tennis, though. Left knee only bothers me when I walk or hike down hill, go down stairs or maneuver over uneven surfaces, like a boulder strewn path.
Burner02 Offline
#61 Posted: Sun, Sep 20 2015, 8:07 PM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
delta1 wrote:
Hope the surgery goes well and that you have a speedy recovery. I've avoided having to replace my left knee by doing the pt exercises I learned while recovering from right knee replacement, along with walking, hiking and biking. Had to give up tennis, though. Left knee only bothers me when I walk or hike down hill, go down stairs or maneuver over uneven surfaces, like a boulder strewn path.




Left knee for the most part is not bothering me that much since I scheduled the surgery. If I cancel, I will be icing every day and taking pain meds most days.

The life of a FOG.
oldefuzz Offline
#62 Posted: Mon, Sep 21 2015, 8:39 AM EST
Joined: 08-21-2003
Posts: 19
Burner,
Within the last several weeks, I visited a Dr. outside of Phila. because of my knees. They both need to be rebuilt.
After his examination discovered I also had a hip that needs replacement. Surgery scheduled for Oct. 01, knee surgery planned after that. Thanks again for you journal, I've printed out your 12 suggestions - it's good information.

oldefuzz
Burner02 Offline
#63 Posted: Mon, Sep 21 2015, 9:21 AM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
oldefuzz wrote:
Burner,
Within the last several weeks, I visited a Dr. outside of Phila. because of my knees. They both need to be rebuilt.
After his examination discovered I also had a hip that needs replacement. Surgery scheduled for Oct. 01, knee surgery planned after that. Thanks again for you journal, I've printed out your 12 suggestions - it's good information.

oldefuzz



Neighbor across the street recently had a hip replacement and he was up and about in no time. Hip is supposed to be the easiest, then the knees and the shoulder being the worst.

I would recommend not doing both knees at one time. I know a couple of people that did and I don't think they knew what they were getting into. My surgeon will do them 6 -8 weeks apart but no sooner.

Good luck and hope all goes well!

fog
jackconrad Offline
#64 Posted: Mon, Sep 21 2015, 11:10 AM EST
Joined: 06-09-2003
Posts: 67,461
Good luck to all who go through surgery..
delta1 Offline
#65 Posted: Mon, Sep 21 2015, 12:26 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,772
Burner02 wrote:
Left knee for the most part is not bothering me that much since I scheduled the surgery. If I cancel, I will be icing every day and taking pain meds most days.

The life of a FOG.


Luckily, the left knee is not in constant pain, like the right one was pre-surgery. It doesn't cause me to lose sleep and take otc nsaids every day for pain control. Because I have histories of kidney failure in my family, that is a recipe for disaster. If it ever gets to that point, I'll have it replaced too.
Burner02 Offline
#66 Posted: Sun, Nov 8 2015, 10:30 AM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
370 days out from the right knee replacement and 13 days in on the left knee replacement.

To quote Yogi Berra, “It's like deja-vu, all over again.” To some degree anyway.

I don’t know if it is due to change in medical protocols or me knowing what to expect but I feel 15% to 20% better at this point than I did last year. Still not something I would recommend to change up the work week.

This time around I was only in the hospital two nights rather than three. I was sent home with an upper leg block with pain meds that did help. It was to remain in for approximately three days but I removed it early due to it leaking. They also have increased the amount of PT on the front end. Yeah!

It has also dawned on me that I'm running out of excuses for crappy golf.
DrafterX Offline
#67 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 8:31 AM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,534
I guess I'm doing pretty well.. 5 days since surgery.. I'm able to sleep nights and eat... BMs aren't an issue.. 3 prior back surgerys taught me to prepare for the worst.. I took alot if different drugs at da hospital but have only taken Norco and Flexeril since I've been home.. I had both at home and haven't filled the scripts they gave me... Home physical therapy starts tomorrow... I know I have a long way to go still....Mellow
Burner02 Offline
#68 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 9:39 AM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
I'm sure the back surgeries helped with the prep, guess there is always a silver lining. I don't think it was the Norco that affected the BMs but I gave all the credit to the oxycodone for that grief.

Main thing I recommend is do the therapy and ice. On average I was using 15 lbs a day for the first 3 - 4 weeks and that was with an icing machine and not an ice bag.

Good luck and if you have any questions let me know.
DrafterX Offline
#69 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 9:49 AM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,534
Thanks man.. I've had an ice chest for years but prolly shoulda let them give me a new one.. padding came off the application side but no big deal...
Think I'll shave today.. was early Friday since the last one.. Laugh
Burner02 Offline
#70 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 9:56 AM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
One other most important thing, when at rest keep that knee elevated as high as practical and do so until your surgeon advises it is no longer required.
delta1 Offline
#71 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 11:58 AM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,772
+1 ^

I didn't elevate correctly for two days and by the third day my right leg was swollen the size of an elephant leg...scary as hell but once I propped my leg up above the level of my heart, it drained within a few hours...frozen bags of peas really helped while sitting around elevated... as did the ice machine during sleep...
DrafterX Offline
#72 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 12:44 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,534
I'll try a little harder.. we're in kinda a jam really.. wife has her right arm in a sling right now so I don't ask for much.. my ice chest needs ice but I'll wait till I get up again.. of course she'll hurt herself trying to help me but I don't want that to happen... Mellow
delta1 Offline
#73 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 12:51 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,772
you chose a bad time to break her arm, dude...
DrafterX Offline
#74 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 12:52 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,534
Yep... Bad timing for sure.. Mellow
Burner02 Offline
#75 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 2:48 PM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,876
delta1 wrote:
+1 ^ ... as did the ice machine during sleep...


Instructions stated no more than 20 minutes at a time. For me it was never off for more than 20 minutes at a time and that was around the clock. Did keep a hand towel between the skin and pad.
DrafterX Offline
#76 Posted: Wed, Aug 23 2017, 5:11 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,534
Ya.. I leave mine on for hours at a time... Mellow
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