My knee-replacement thread; comments and suggestions welcome.

Larry Fine said:
Today I had the urge to get out, so I went to Walmart to pick up my Tramadol refill. Then I decided to go to the hospital to thank the nurses, and show them how well I'm walking already.

It was a hike from the parking deck to the main entrance, so I carried my cane. Through the lobby area and to the elevators, up to the 5th floor. Alas, none of my nurses were there today.

So, I decided to take a drive to what is called the Pony Pasture on the James River. I walked around for a while and petted several dogs, then I took the long way home and picked up Arby's.

For the outdoor walking, I still like to have the cane with me in case I need it for balance or to avoid getting tired. However, I didn't find myself slowing down like I usually do after walking.

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I still like the to bring the cane outside, though I find I'm not really putting any weight on it any more. I think it also serves as a notice to others to provide a little extra clearance if you will. I was at Lowes and there were a couple of rambunctious kids running about. I kinda stood back to see what they were going to do before attempting to walk past them. The mother, on sighting me with a cane, immediately reined them in, to which I expressed my thanks. Last thing you need is a collision and possible fall with an out of control child.
 
Well, nothing to report, really. I went to Costco and bought three bags of chocolates, and to Dollar General and bought a Thank You card and a plastic bowl. Then I went to the hospital to the nurses' station and left them. They were amazed at my progress.

I don't need the cane anymore, but it's in the car in case I want to have it for a longer walk. I still have initial tenderness when I first stand up. Otherwise, I feel just almost equal to pre-surgery now, but my knee doesn't seem to tire as quickly from walking.
 
I'm back! My first PT was more of an evaluation. The therapists were very impressed.

I can reach almost full straightness, which will improve, and 110 degrees of bending.

I did over 10 minutes on the pedal machine, and I did sit-squats and a low step-up.
 
Made it a little past 108° yesterday. I’ve experienced a step drop in pain when flexing. Still stiff, just less pain which is helpful for PT. Another outpatient session tomorrow morning. I’ve still got work to go for full extension. This was the same case with my left knee 2.5 years ago. Took a couple months to get there.
 
So, what is considered full extension? Somewhere past 140°? Knee bent far enough for the leg to touch your bum? If so, I guess that it is a different number of degrees for everyone.
 
wjbertrand said:
Last thing you need is a collision and possible fall with an out of control child.
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Shoot, man. If it were me, I'd look for the little kids to cushion my fall.
"Come here, children. I'm going to walk from here to there..."

There's a thread on ADVrider where an 80yo woman passenger has undergone her first TKR, the last few weeks she comments on her process. She takes photos from the pillion seat of their West Virginia county home, and all the sweet roads across the state. The thread is Pillion Viewpoint (PVP), and here's today's entry.

Pillion Viewpoint (PVP)

Scroll to post #2363 for today. You may find it interesting to browse through, if you have nothing to do while resting, and her photography is outstanding, her commentary insightful and brief. As a bonus, she briefly mentions Itchy Boots in this comment; her husband she calls Rider was not familiar until recently.

EDIT: changed "sweet roads across the street" to "sweet roads across the state".
Autocorrect is a bully.
 
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wjbertrand said:
Made it a little past 108° yesterday. I’ve experienced a step drop in pain when flexing. Still stiff, just less pain which is helpful for PT. Another outpatient session tomorrow morning. I’ve still got work to go for full extension. This was the same case with my left knee 2.5 years ago. Took a couple months to get there.
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I found icing the knee after PT helped keep the swelling down, also took a T3 about an hour before PT as well. 2nd knee I had one of those ice water pumps & pad, that was pretty good too.
 
Andrew Shadow said:
So, what is considered full extension? Somewhere past 140°? Knee bent far enough for the leg to touch your bum? If so, I guess that it is a different number of degrees for everyone.
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Extension is used to describe straightening. The long-term goal is completely straight, 0 degrees, or even a degree or two beyond it, like when you lock your legs when you're standing at attention.

Flexion is used to describe bending. The short-term goal is 90 degrees, long term is more. My personal goal is to be able to keep my right foot on the peg for an hour or more without it burning in pain.

These limitations to the natural range of motion are a normal part of knee replacement surgery. If you don't overcome them in the first six weeks or so, you likely never will, and you'll limp forever.
 
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I did something new this evening. I went up and down several steps using both legs.

I held onto the railing tightly and leaned against the other wall, and stepped carefully.

But, I did it! So far, this has gone quicker and easier than either hip replacement did.
 
Danke. New to report:

I can get around virtually pain-free. I can go up the steps holding just the railing, but down is still difficult even when I hold the railing and the wall. Getting in and out of the car and driving with my right leg are no problem.

I have already cut back to one Tramadol 3x a day, along with one Naproxen 2x a day, one ex-strength Tylenol 5x a day, and one low-dose aspirin 2x a day. I have my second P.T. session tomorrow afternoon. I'll let you know how it goes.
 
After a few more trips up and down the 14 steps inside and 15 steps outside last night and today, I can go all the way up and down using both legs, as long as I'm holding a railing on my left. Since my inside stairs only have a railing on the left going up, I still have to put my hand on the wall going down.
 
I ran a couple of errands today, then I had another small electrical job, which took a little over an hour.
After that, I went to P.T. and they gave me a real workout today. I did pedaling, stepping, and stretching, and reached another five degrees of flexion. Then I took a nap for about three hours when I got home.
 
Larry Fine said:
... I can get around virtually pain-free.

I have already cut back to one Tramadol 3x a day, along with one Naproxen 2x a day, one ex-strength Tylenol 5x a day, and one low-dose aspirin 2x a day. I have my second P.T. session tomorrow afternoon. I'll let you know how it goes.
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;) I'm confused. You're "virtually pain-free", ........... but you're taking enough pain killers to put a horse asleep. Tramadol. Naproxen. Tylenol. Aspirin. :D A little single malt Scotch or Tequila would really help you feel better.

Glad you're doing well. ;)

Chris
 
To be fair, while I am walking early, it has still been only two weeks.

Walking with the meds is still better than not walking without them.

And you would not want me driving after drinking enough alcohol.
 
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I didn't exercise today, but I did move. I rode with my son to look for some small furniture and add him to my Costco membership. We went to a couple of used goods stores and looked around. We then went to Costco, added him, we both shopped, then we had dogs 'n' drinks.

After that, we went to a Goodwill store, where I looked around and found what I was looking for. I got a bench with shoe cubbies for the foyer, and a long, low table for my laptop and other stuff by the sofa. Then we went to Kroger and shopped for stuff for each of us, then home and in.

With the multiple stops with a lot of walking and getting in and out of the car multiple times, I think it's fair to say that I got a workout today.
 
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