Knee replacement in three weeks and one day

Nothing like sunshine and fresh air. I am supposed to help out at a local Car Show Saturday that we started a few years ago to benefit the Park and Recreation District. Weather looks to be cooperating so I'll see how that goes.

Susan Mené wrote:
   It sounds like we are on very similar timetables! 2 weeks out I'm 95% cane, 1% walker, 4% walking around unaided while  occasionally holding on to walls.
   Yesterday was a big day.  My German Shepherd has been so patient, basically limited to our yard, woods and neighborhood, and yesterday my husband and son took me and my pup to one of our favorite town parks nearby. There's a spot where there's a huge grassy hill and meadow, and we can park right there.  They threw balls for the dog, and I, using my cane, went down the hill (zig-zagging to reduce stress on the knee), checked on an autumn olive tree that is loaded with berries for foraging, went back up the hill.  Walked a teeny part of one of the trails and back to the car. I felt wonderful watching the dog run and just being in a favorite spot of the favorite little 152 acre park the pup and I know so well (We explore everything, not just the trails).  
   This morning I made a decision to up my anti-inflammatory (celebrex) to 200 mg in the morning and what a difference! Max dosage per day is 400mg, so I will be within normal range.  Have my 2-week fllow up later today, so will talk to them about it.

Good for you! Today was the first day I walked down to the barn and back up in years. Progress! Talk with your doctor about upping the meds.

   Hi everyone!
   I had my 2 week follow up on Thursday; passed with flying colors. I still have a long way to go, but I was pronounced a month ahead of schedule for pain management and range of motion!  I drove yesterday.  Driving is no problem; it's the getting out and walking, hahaha!
    I'm finding that healing develops into a routine, a rhythm.  
    I'm so freaking grateful that joint replacement is so much easier than it used to be.  That being said, it is no picnic.
    Look through this thread.  If you posted a reply, liked a post, read the thread, anything: you are helping me through this.  I cannot express my gratitude enough.  
     

Welp, today I am in pain. Both knees hurt--not just the knee replacement one. Why? Because yesterday I went to the farmer's market and did my shopping. Yes, I brought my hiking stick and I dragged around a wagon for my purchases. It felt great to walk the entire length. Until today.

I'm stiff and sore. My knees are protesting with occasional sharp stabs because they hate me. It reminded me how much I need to build my endurance back up. I've been avoiding the serious pain killers and sticking with acetaminophen and Celebrex, because I really don't want to go back to opioids and muscle relaxants. So, I'm just going to have to deal with it tonight and try not to overexert myself too much.

The other knee isn't in great shape, but it's in a lot better shape than the replacement knee was before the operation. Still haven't been able to do my stationary bike yet even though I can use the physical therapy bikes just fine. I need to walk more, but not today. Tomorrow is physical therapy and no doubt my therapist will tell me to be patient.

It's only been two and a half months since the surgery. This is a two year process. I must remind myself of that.  

T. Woolf wrote:Welp, today I am in pain. Both knees hurt--not just the knee replacement one. Why? Because yesterday I went to the farmer's market and did my shopping. Yes, I brought my hiking stick and I dragged around a wagon for my purchases. It felt great to walk the entire length. Until today.

I'm stiff and sore. My knees are protesting with occasional sharp stabs because they hate me. It reminded me how much I need to build my endurance back up. I've been avoiding the serious pain killers and sticking with acetaminophen and Celebrex, because I really don't want to go back to opioids and muscle relaxants. So, I'm just going to have to deal with it tonight and try not to overexert myself too much.

The other knee isn't in great shape, but it's in a lot better shape than the replacement knee was before the operation. Still haven't been able to do my stationary bike yet even though I can use the physical therapy bikes just fine. I need to walk more, but not today. Tomorrow is physical therapy and no doubt my therapist will tell me to be patient.

It's only been two and a half months since the surgery. This is a two year process. I must remind myself of that.  

    I quoted your whole post because I related to it completely.  Having stellar days that feel like 5 steps forward and turning a corner, then falling back 4 steps by evening.  Both knees hurting-check!  Here's one: Both feet and ankles hurting, deep intense aching.  What the heck with that?
    I believe now that there is an invisible garden gnome that leaps out like a ninja in the middle of the night to stab my surgery leg in random places, waits till I fall back to sleep, and repeat.  A few of those nights I caved to a low dose narcotic.  Still can't shake the morning-after feeling that when I use them it's a failure, but when it's happing the pain is crazy so it surely doesn't matter then!
    Gratitude, pain, progress, stagnation. relief, pride, joy, depression--looks like life!.  Hang in there, you are doing just fine.  You are not failing or falling short.  This is brutal.  
     You have helped me!  Thank you!

Those poltergeist jabs come out of nowhere. Gaining more flexibility. I would have to say this time around the connection points are a bit more painful.

Susan Mené wrote:
    I quoted your whole post because I related to it completely.  Having stellar days that feel like 5 steps forward and turning a corner, then falling back 4 steps by evening.  Both knees hurting-check!  Here's one: Both feet and ankles hurting, deep intense aching.  What the heck with that?
    I believe now that there is an invisible garden gnome that leaps out like a ninja in the middle of the night to stab my surgery leg in random places, waits till I fall back to sleep, and repeat.  A few of those nights I caved to a low dose narcotic.  Still can't shake the morning-after feeling that when I use them it's a failure, but when it's happing the pain is crazy so it surely doesn't matter then!
    Gratitude, pain, progress, stagnation. relief, pride, joy, depression--looks like life!.  Hang in there, you are doing just fine.  You are not failing or falling short.  This is brutal.  
     You have helped me!  Thank you!

Today is better. I was in a fair amount of pain yesterday (Sunday) the next day after the farmer's market. Saw my physical therapist today (Monday--a scheduled meeting) and I have to admit that I've been in a lot less pain today. My physical therapist says he isn't worried that I have one bad day after doing something like the amount of walking I did. He says he's more worried if my leg swells up like a grapefruit and I'm in pain for 4-5 days. 24 to 48 hours, he's not as concerned as long as my swelling and pain goes down. So, that's the way it's going, huh? Lovely. But not unexpected, really.

I chuckled about the invisible garden gnome because he visits me too. Usually when my muscles are too tight. My hips and ankles complain a lot too, but I think that's just the damage combined with using them properly again.

Oh, and I don't think it's a failing to use a low-dose narcotic. I've used them when I had really awful days or couldn't sleep. I didn't use one yesterday, but I'm rationing in case I get huge pain and stiffness I can't handle. But so far, so good. I slept just fine without them. Hang in there! If you have a lot of pain that lasts more than a day, I'd recommend contacting your doctor, surgeon, or physical therapist to make sure this is normal. Can't hurt to be sure.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and anything I say is utterly trash, so don't take my advice on anything, really. Especially when it comes to medical advice. These are just my own experiences. Your mileage may vary.

Robert Ray wrote:Those poltergeist jabs come out of nowhere. Gaining more flexibility. I would have to say this time around the connection points are a bit more painful.

Ah yes, that's a good term for them too! Poltergeist jabs and invisible ninja garden gnomes with knives. Yep, I swear I've met them both.

Checking in on everyone.
Have been doing "gentle PT at home since surgery, Wednesday was my first official PT evaluation/beginning.  Thursday, quit for a day.  All I wanted to do was sleep, and I did.  Slept great last night, too.  Today I'm back,  Undertow of feeling down but getting outdoors, making phone calls, and doing exersises.

On knee two my skin feels like it is burning or sunburnt over the bruising area. On knee one it was tingly like a limb waking up from being asleep. Walked around the house without a cane or crutch yesterday, not ready to abandon them entirely yet.

Robert Ray wrote:On knee two my skin feels like it is burning or sunburnt over the bruising area. On knee one it was tingly like a limb waking up from being asleep. Walked around the house without a cane or crutch yesterday, not ready to abandon them entirely yet.

   Robert, I'm not ready to abandon the cane either.  I have moments that I still really need it.  No giant leaps forward this week; felt great Friday, did a little too much Friday and ho, boy, did I pay for it in pain Friday night!!!   It's a little difficult figuring out what's too much.

4 weeks in and am off the cane. Just need to build up the strength in my quad. Being able to sleep in a fetal position or on my side without it screaming at me is so nice. PT in an hour we'll see how he treats me. Tylenol on board just in case.

Robert Ray wrote:4 weeks in and am off the cane. Just need to build up the strength in my quad. Being able to sleep in a fetal position or on my side without it screaming at me is so nice. PT in an hour we'll see how he treats me. Tylenol on board just in case.

   Sleep is a huge pain in the butt. Inner portion of knee is very tender, so I sleep best on a sofa, lying down with my leg throw up on the back portion.  I wake frequently.  Again, it could be a lot worse.
     Feeling sad for no reason at times, that is the hardest thing I've ever written in a public forum. However, I promised myself I would be 100% honest here because it can help other people going forward.  People right here in this forum told me it might happen.  I have to admit that the sleep disruption definitely plays a part.  
     When I'm really sore after PT, should I still do the exercises the next day?

Susan Mené wrote:  When I'm really sore after PT, should I still do the exercises the next day?

Yes - maybe fewer reps, maybe break the exercises up with short rests, maybe alternate an "easier" one with a "harder" one (if they aren't *all* hard), but my guess is that to take a day off completely, will undo a lot of the good that the PT did.

Giant, squishy, virtual hug in an effort to chase the "sad" away. I often start to feel that way as the "big dark" that is Nov, Dec, and Jan in my climate arrives. Sitting in a sunbeam may help a little. Finding some sort of small project you can do to help feel like you're accomplishing things despite being in pain, might also help (it helps me some days).

Hang in there!

This is my take on pain after PT. Normal activity and movement. First day after, if it hurts I back off. For me the pain is usually less on day two and I resume normal stretching and exercises. It is easy to get depressed from the current lack of mobility and pain. Pretzel  sleep positions to get comfy are interesting.  Try and keep my thoughts on the end results and try not to go to the dark side.

After the surgery and all the while that I was in the hospital I was given strong pain meds and was prescribed strong meds to use "as needed". I didn't use them at all at home because in 1974 I had a right hip disarticulation amputation and was in the hospital for 60 days. During that time I developed a strong addiction to opioid painkillers. Ten days before my release, the Doctors stopped my pain meds cold and I went through severe withdrawal to the point of having to be strapped down to the hospital bed for several days. After that experience I have a strong aversion to pain killers or any other kind of addictive drugs.

I think that a large part of the pain that I experienced after knee replacement was the result of favoring my old knee for years to the point of atrophying the muscles, tendons and ligaments around my joint. With the new knee in it's place with the proper alignment and the muscles, tendons, and ligaments stretched back to where they belonged, the physical therapy with movement of my leg into positions that hadn't assumed for years caused my poor little unused parts to really complain at first.

I let the therapists do all the manipulations of my leg on the schedule that they'd worked out with my surgeon. My regimen was modified because of the fracture and it hurt but I figured they all knew what they were doing. I grimaced, and grunted, and sweated but I didn't have them back off or let up at all.
It was totally worth it.

Hang in there Susan, in a few months you'll look back on this as a good worthwhile experience.  

Thanks to all!  So far, this whole process has been fascinating and totally worth it.
Steve Mendez. I hear you!  Purdue Pharmaceuticals, they were expert, evil liars.
I have a history of alcohol addiction from youth, and it was insidious, never saw it coming, but was happy to leave it behind.  There's some great non-opioid pain meds out there now (journavx).  And as for the physical therapy,  I have to borrow from John Mellencamp:  It hurts so good!
Robert Ray.  I'm doing what you said: I back off and stay gentle the day after PT if I am too sore.  I actually encouraged by the soreness because it feels like progress; only one of the "after" days was misery.  No problem with the bike.  Before PT started (exercise at home the first 2 weeks), I thought I was getting the knee perfectly flat (NOPE!), but with PT, the manipulation to get the knee flat is...interesting! Very painful!  I have a weird reaction to that pain and get the giggles.  
Jay Angler.  Just thank you!  Oh, you gave me some spoons today, and I could almost feel the hugs. Oh and, yes,
alternating easy  exercises with hard is a big help.

How is the progress? My only issue now is the lower leg that still feels like it is sunburned. Just have to continue to build up the strength.