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How my life changed after knee replacement

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Two Weeks Today

bmgallant
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My TKA of the right Knee was on July 19th, 2016. I had an epidural instead of a general, listened to my iPod during surgery . When they told me my surgery was done I was surprised, it felt like I was in there minutes but it was one hour.
My first impression was I do not feel like i have anything foreign in my knee. My second surprise was when they took me to my room and I stood to use the walker, for the 1st time in over a year there was no shooting pain in my right leg. With physio the next day my ROM was 110 everyone including me was pleased, the next day before release it was 102 so I had stiffened a wee bit.
Since i have been home i have continued to improve, went from walker to crutches and feel ready for cane but am waiting to see my surgeon tomorrow to have bandages removed and have him check the knee first. I also feel ready to begin cycling and longer walks.
I have had minimal swelling, no bruising and pain is nothing compared to what my arthritis pain was in my right knee.
To say I am pleasantly surprised,as is everyone around me, is an understatement. I was concerned about surgery, and had delayed having surgery as long as possible. I Normally do not do so good and I don't even feel like I had a surgery.
I am turning 65 this year my left knee i blew out in a race at age 54, had a scope on it and was told i needed both knees replaced by 60. My surgery was originally for the left knee but switched to the right knee 3 months ago when pain was unbearable in that knee. So i have another TKA in my future and can only hope it goes as good as this
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bmgallant
i saw my surgeon yesterday and he said I am healing better than anyone he has seen. I am able to start driving in 2 weeks which will be week 4 post surgery. My ROM was 114 at 2 weeks after surgery, so I hope to improve on that.
Why am I doing so well we can only guess, I lost the ability to walk during an arthritis flare up in 2013 and began exercising in a pool. I regained my walking ability and continued in the pool 3 or 4 times a week until my total knee replacement on July 19th 2016. Maybe being fit, having a great surgeon and using Ice and doing my exercises pre and post surgery made the difference.
My left TKA will be in the spring of 2017, l can only hope it will go as well
bmgallant
Today is 3 weeks since total knee replacement. Physiotherapist measured my ROM at 118, slowly getting higher. I am walking outside in the am about 25 minutes, doing harder Physio exercises weekly, using my stationary spin cycle 10 minutes.
i need to rest and ice about 2:30 daily. In the evening I have slight pain come on and have to ice off and on till bedtime. i i sleep through the night without pain meds until morning. This my week to try not taking pain meds during the day. I can start driving next @ 4 weeks post op so want to be narcotic free.
Alvena
way to go ! and thank you for the inspiration ! :) I'm have mine sept 27 th 2016 and I have been really scared..! I ride and train 1800 - 2000 lb horses.. they don't scare me.. this dose !
bmgallant
Alvena, I was scared too. I actually cried the night before. However if you ride and train horses you must have strong legs, and i think that is one reason I am doing well. I have strong quads and remained active. Remember to ice and if you can buy or rent a polar ice machine or kodak machine. i still sleep with mine every night. Doing the basic exercises and resting lots the first couple of weeks is important too.
You will be back riding and training before you know it
bmgallant
Today is week 4 since my Total Knee Replacement and my first trip to the outpatient Physiotherapy department. My ROM is at 125 and physiotherapist told me it is time to just maintain and keep doing what i am doing. iI am walking 30 minutes outside daily and cycling 17 minutes on the bike , plus doing some basic exercises. i rest every afternoon and ice and also take it pretty easy at night. I am doing light chores and making most of my meals. Physiotherapy told me there is nothing they can do for me to keep up my own plan and come in in 2 weeks so they can check my progress. So I am pleased to be moving forward ib my recovery
Roseamitoo
wonderful story! I am very happy for you! I am having TKR on my right knee on Oct 25, 2016! Nervous and a bit scared but a must do or a wheelchair is next! I am very seriously considering an epidural too for sedation as I am an asthmatic and am quite concerned about the general anesthesia! I am 62 and have a few other health issues! good for you and continued success!
rosemary
Vbaker
I am so inspired by your story. it is so uplifting. I have my surgery on October 11, 2016. I too am scared, staying with the fear but not escalating it with ruminating and thinking the worst. I am 75 years old and have dealt with my knee for about 15 years with two arthroscopic surgeries and Symbian injections which helped the pain. Sometimes it doesn't hurt too much, but the last year when I go on my 3-mile walks or swim laps, it hurts for days. Hoping that my long years of walking, swimming and yoga will be in my favor as I recover. Thanks again for your encouraging experience.
Vbaker
Today is Day 9. first, I'll report my challenges: correcting dosage of Oxycodone to relieve pain, vomiting, nausea and constipation. when we were able to get these under control, I have about a 6 pain level and have done PT with therapist here st home. My ROM at leaving hospital was ROM 90 and I push to 100 at PT time. The hardest PT exercise is lifting my leg from flat without assistance. I walk a lot each day and use an ice machine a lot. looking forward to improving each day.
bmgallant
I had my three month and final check up with my surgeon this week . All is good with my Total Knee replacement. I have had a bit of noise the past week, which is scar tissue harding. The noise creeps me out but does not really hurt. I hope it will disappear over the next month.
At 2 months my ROM was 135, so I am in a holding pattern. Twice I have overdone my exercise once in the pool and once walking. Now i am trying to "go slow mo" especially in the pool, where everything feels easy until 2 days after
patburke
Hello everyone. I'm just on my sixth day of post op. The pain is unbearable, and unless you go thru it yourself, u won't understand. To make matters worse for me I have a hematoma deep inside my calf. So until of the pain I'm in the calf pain which is severe makes it so much worse. Did anyone have a similar situation.? It is good to read these stories as it tells me that how I'm feeling is normal. I got up this morning, in so much pain , it's like I took a step backwards. Big step backwards. I know it's been less than a week, just I guess my expectations was to have at least a little less pain each day. Please stay in touch so we can share our stories. Does anyone live in the east coast area of Florida?
Perrysu
Thank you for your positive inspiring story. I am 67 and still teaching school, so your quick recovery has given me hope to face my upcoming TKN at the end of next month.
bmgallant
Good luck Perrysue, I hope it all goes well for you and your recovery is a speedy one.
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