My knee-replacement thread; comments and suggestions welcome.

Good to hear you're through surgery and hopefully feeling good. Lots of good advice here on how to help the healing process.
Take care
 
Larry Fine said:
I want to walk some more while I’m still on pain blockers, but they don’t want me to walk much because I’m still on pain blockers.
Click to expand...
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE PAIN MEDICINE!
If your pain gets ahead of your meds it will take quite a while to 'catch up'.
I was whizzing around the ward the night I had my first knee replaced thinking I would walk right out of there.
That was til the block wore off .... ;)
 
Larry Fine said:
I have no idea. I’m sure I’ll be the one who decides when to try.
Click to expand...
I learned a long time ago as a LT from a Captain this cosmic truth.

"Never ask for permission. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission."

I didn't try till I was off narcotic pain killers. As long as it was ibuprofen/tylenol, I was good with it. Riding was a real incentive.

Chris
 
My 0.02 on my knees, 5 and 7 years into my 2 TKRs, couldn’t take opioid based pain killers as it was not a good reaction, but hit 140 degrees on my PT so Dr said I was a rock star, (I wish!). Anyway, glad I did it, sometimes hear a popping sound with deep knee bends, can finally kneel without falling over in the past year, but hell I’m almost 73 and still riding and rocking!
 
I went for a second walk. I want to go farther, but they said I should not overdo it.
Uncle Phil said:
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE PAIN MEDICINE!
Click to expand...
I’m not. I don’t know why some of you think I am trying to avoid them. I have already started taking Tramadol in addition to the Tylenol, anti-inflammatory med and whatever else they are giving me. My only desire is to not take oxycodone or hydrocodone or any other codones.
 
I have been doing the exercises they gave me to do. Im doing ankle pumps, even though Im wearing compression booties that pump up alternatively.

I am also doing heel presses, where I push my ankles into the bed, and knee presses, where I push the back of my knees into the bed, all with my legs straight.

And the best part is heel slides, although I have to lift my feet to get my knees up and my heels towards my butt. My heels don’t exactly slide on the sheet with the non-slip hospital socks and the booties.

I can bend my knees greater than 90 degrees and hold them there, but the bandage is a bit tight. I asked the nurse to press my leg straight, but she said to let the therapist do that tomorrow.

In pre-surgery therapy, they would prop up my heel (which I am doing now) and press down on my knee to stretch the joint. One day, they forgot and I reminded them.

They said nobody else had ever asked them to do it, because they hated it. I am the only patient who ever said that they liked it.

It’s funny that I want to walk more while the pain blockers are still in effect, but they don’t want me to walk more because the pain blockers are still in effect.
 
Last edited:
I was happy for you when I saw several of the likes that you gave me- It meant that you came through this just fine, or is that Fine. Glad to hear it.

I know nothing about knee replacement so I can't help you there. After about a year of physio 5 days a week for a foot injury one of the things that I learned is to not push yourself beyond what the physiotherapist has instructed, or at least not without asking them about it. I was determined to walk again, so I would go home and do the exercises that I was shown more often and forcefully than I was instructed. I thought that the more exercise I did the faster and better I would improve. I only did further damage to my foot and got hell from the physiotherapist- my foot wasn't ready for that level of aggressiveness.

Sometimes what they tell you to do is the minimum, sometimes it isn't. Talk to the physiotherapist before you go rogue and self-prescribe.
 
The biggest challenge on when you ride is when you can hold the bike up safely (not with just one leg).
Once you have flex and can bend your knee enough, sitting there is not a big issue.
Right knee - December 9, first ride January 29.


Left Knee - August 25, first ride - October 21.


That was my experience, however I think the whole process has improved tremendously since I have my knees done.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
I was happy for you when I saw several of the likes that you gave me- It meant that you came through this just fine, or is that Fine. Glad to hear it.
Click to expand...
It’s both, thanx!

Andrew Shadow said:
Sometimes what they tell you to do is the minimum, sometimes it isn't. Talk to the physiotherapist before you go rogue and self-prescribe.
Click to expand...
I have had both hips replaced, so I am familiar with the time it takes.
 
STFlips said:
My 0.02 on my knees, 5 and 7 years into my 2 TKRs, couldn’t take opioid based pain killers as it was not a good reaction, but hit 140 degrees on my PT so Dr said I was a rock star, (I wish!).
Click to expand...
How are you measuring 140 degrees? Do you mean 50 degrees more than 90 degrees bent, your heel approaching your butt?
 
Larry Fine said:
For me, it’s part avoiding the risk of withdrawal symptoms (which my friend went through), part being able to drive (when I can) and part showing off that I can do it like I did with both hips.
Click to expand...

It's good that you're aware of the possible addiction and then also the withdrawal symptoms that usually occur with narcotic pain medications. Lots of people get caught in that cycle.
I've taken narcotics, mostly oxycodone, on and off for many years dealing with low back pain and then subsequent surgeries.
I remember the last post surgery incident where I was weaning myself off them after 4-5 weeks and then one day in bed, I starting to get the "shakes and sweats" and felt like I had a fever. I then realized that my body was addicted to the drugs and I was going through withdrawal. Luckily my brain was still in charge and even though my body wanted more, I kept weaning off them and stopped taking them shortly after.
Sounds like you're in charge! Hope you heal quickly and well.
 
Morning update. I didn’t sleep much, between waking to take meds and not being home. I’ve had breakfast, the surgeon came to visit, and I am about to get up for my first PT.

I walked in the hallway twice last night for short walks, and to the bathroom twice to try unsuccessfully to use the toilet. That should improve.

Okay, I just completed two laps around the floor. Absolutely no limp and very little discomfort. The nurse said I wouldn’t benefit from in-home therapy and I should go directly to the PT clinic instead.
 
Larry Fine said:
How are you measuring 140 degrees? Do you mean 50 degrees more than 90 degrees bent, your heel approaching your butt?
Click to expand...


Was surprised to learn that sitting on your heels is "only " about 120-130 deg. What position do they have you in to get to 140?
 
Hi Larry I'm Tony Tromp fromvSouth Africa I'm a BOER .I'm not English. I'm 73yrs and ride a 1999 ST1100. I've been riding motorbikes since 1969. Not nice to have a hip replacement or anywhere where joints are involved. Pain killers don't help much. I FEEL for you Larry. Be Strong. Three months and you'll be just fine. Take it calm for 3months, but be extra careful to not put too much load on that hip, too fast atleast almost no load for first 3weeks.do chair yoga exercises to keep the blood flow going. I drink a teaspoon full of BICARB (baking soda) in a glass full if Luke warm water, first thing on tge morning, on an empty Stomach. If one's system is too acidic lots of system problems start. Uric acid is a killer,and it will crystalise in one's joints. Gout is uric acid takes few hours to form in in joints. Then it's like rough coarse sand in a balljoint. It starts GRINDING away at that smooth layer over the joint knukkles, then it makes excruciating pain!! If you drink bicarb it will instantly cure Acid reflux or heartburn as some people call it. And it wil make your system more alkalinic. Too acidic is bad bad news pH. Im very Fortunate to still be im oerfect condition all round, physically and mentally. And was never again been sick, since after normal child sicknesses! I drink 1 teaspoo full cayenne pepper with my bicarb every morning and useblots of TURMERIC and bit black pepper, in almost all my food. Take bicarb. Get Well Soon. Regards Trompie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom