Knee Replacement Surgery - Post your thoughts/Experiences

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Only the Tuesday therapy this week, so been working on Jessica ... mostly from a chair.

Today was sunny, 50's and no wind ... so I took Jessica for a ride ... only like 8 mies round trip ... not bad .. 17 days from surgery to riding ... ... it was just a quick fix ... won't be able to lots of that again for awhile ... next week is spend my life at the VA week. Allergy shots, therapy, Audiology, lab work, annual physical, x-rays and more therapy ... glad I'm retired ... that kind of schedule could really upset a boss ...

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Woke this morning and had to run an errand.

Here's what we had by time I got home.



Compared to yesterday ... this was pretty depressing. Also made the knee ache pretty good. From 50*+, sunny and no wind to 26, snowy and blowing to beat the band ... just depressing. Oh well ... It is still winter.

I think the Texans could use some moisture ... maybe I should send this stuff there ...

[RedOregon]

I think the Texans could use some moisture ... maybe I should send this stuff there ...

Screw that! You keep that nasty stuff away from here! 😃

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Well ... It did get to 45*+ this afternoon ... and there is only white stuff in the mountains and the shadows ... where it belongs.

I thought you Texans where tough ...

[RedOregon]

Well ... It did get to 45*+ this afternoon ... and there is only white stuff in the mountains and the shadows ... where it belongs.

I thought you Texans where tough ...

Hehe...I grew up in Oregon (thus the name), and there's a big difference between CAN deal with that crap and WANT TO deal with that crap! 😝

[Trail Blazer]

Not sure if anyone cares ... but as a two time survivor of this, thought it might help someone to decide to do it or not, or, just give them a clue what to expect.

This one was different from the first. With the first one, I could hardly walk with a walker on the day of the surgery, two hours later. The reason was i Had a bad knee and a new surgical knee. Both in pain, but, for different reasons. With this surgery, I walked the halls several times a day, mainly out of boredom. The last one I was gone from home 12 days, this one I was home after two.

I keep trying to compare home+4 days this time and last ... I need to remember to have a common reference. For example, home+4 last time was surgery+16, Home+4 this time is surgery+6.

Okay, what should you expect? Gonna be some pain. Given. Before and after pain are quite different. After surgery there are weird things your body could go through. Last time, my quad on the operative leg went into something called "Protective Muscle Syndrome" (Why can't they just say the quad locked up). My right quad basically was flexed for 8 days. But, it felt really good when it released ... . This time I brought Thera Worx (cramp "cure" that works for me), but I had no muscle issues. The more I talk to docs, the more I realize they really don't understand the body, or at least mine. They are clueless about this muscle syndrome. No idea what causes it or why it goes away.

Other things that could happen, I woke with some pretty good soreness in my jaw on the right side. like I'd been hit (I'm betting my doc got tired of my lip ... LOL). I was told with a spinal, you can get some "unforeseen" nerve pain.

Anyway. Where am I at surgery+7. In my home I am walking with a cane that clamps around the forearm and my hand supports my weight on a grip. This goes on the opposite side of the "new" knee. When I walk, the new knee and cane move out together. The the "old new" knee. This forms a triangle base and is pretty stable.

When I go out into public. I used a wider than normal walker. And I use it like a cow catcher or brush guard. Basically, it is there to tell the public to get out of my way ... LOL.

I do therapy, with a therapist twice a week ... and twice a day every day at home. Knee replacement and knee surgery in general, the success is directly proportional to the amount of work you put in. After 11 knee surgeries, including 2 replacements, I finally get this .. LOL. Foot Ball was not good to me.

So what's next? Monday the 11th, I get the 36 staples out (most of these replacements are done with what they call a zipline. From what I understand, it's a zipper looking thing they glue to your skin that wears off in like 2-3 weeks). Since I'm allergic to the adhesives in steri strips, they decided to not take the chance and go old school with staples. No reaction to them.

Two weeks after that, I get X-rays to ensure the spike on the new joint pieces are "cured in place" (they actually pound the joint pieces into the bone with epoxy). After that, another week or so of therapy and at the one year point, have a check with X-rays again ... my doc does annuals from then on.

So what are my expectations? Next week, driving the truck and doing the ceramic paint sealing on the bike. Week after that ... maybe riding short rides. And start installing the accessories on Jessica so by mid March, I'll do my first meander ride on her. Maybe just a mesquite ride .. will be warm there.

All in all, this one seems to be going better. It's nice to be able to count on the solid knee. So in a nutshell .. that's the update.

If anyone is contemplating this or has questions, PM me, we can discuss it or talk on the phone. So I hope that helps someone

Hay Alan, Daughter has had Knee replacement Feb 6 is doing the home therapy now, she goes back to the Dr. the 21st then i thank she will go to town for her therapy until all is good i guess. she is getting around with her walker now, they say maybe a cane next week. she will do the other when this one is good enough.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Hay Alan, Daughter has had Knee replacement Feb 6 is doing the home therapy now, she goes back to the Dr. the 21st then i thank she will go to town for her therapy until all is good i guess. she is getting around with her walker now, they say maybe a cane next week. she will do the other when this one is good enough.

Only advice I can give her ... work at it ... the more she works the knee ... the more she will get out of the replacement.

[Mrmri]

Had appointment with orthopedic surgeon last week. Long story short will be getting left knee replacement in April. Doing it as an outpatient. Severe arthritis only thing they can do is surgery.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Had appointment with orthopedic surgeon last week. Long story short will be getting left knee replacement in April. Doing it as an outpatient. Severe arthritis only thing they can do is surgery.

I'll be praying for a very positive experience for you. If you have any questions ... feel free to ask, pm or here.

[paws]

Some good Texas hill country BBQ like I had today makes it all better...just say’n..

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Some good Texas hill country BBQ like I had today makes it all better...just say’n..

That it ... rub it in

[FuzzyWuzHe]

So today marks the three week post surgery point.

i am walker free, cane free and doing great. I've taken Jessica for a couple rides ... nothing long, just to get a fix. The knee is still not where I would like it to be, I'd like another 5* of Range of Motion (if you've ever had a physical therapist, that is always their goal 5* more ... LOL).

I heal really well ... when you consider that I had a 9" incision running straight down the knee just 21 days ago with 36 staples that where just removed 7 days ago ... and today it looks like this:



I am doing well ...

[ol' school]

Looks good Fuzzy! Glad you are doing so well! Keep it up!

[frankj]

Make sure you get a metal allergy test before surgery, hard to believe, but some doctors don't have you get one.

Frank

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Make sure you get a metal allergy test before surgery, hard to believe, but some doctors don't have you get one.

Frank

Good point ... I didn't need one ... I set off metal detectors even before the knee replacement knees ...

[Philip R]

I am glad your post surgery is progressing so well.

[Zammy]

So happy for you Fuzzy, you're doing fantastic.

[hogcowboy]

Make sure you get a metal allergy test before surgery, hard to believe, but some doctors don't have you get one.

Frank

I didn't know they tested for that. Too late for me and the plates and screws(39 before they had to remove 6) and my total ankle replacement. I often wonder if the reason I have zero energy has anything to do with all the metal I'm carrying around.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I often wonder if the reason I have zero energy has anything to do with all the metal I'm carrying around.

I wonder about that too, but, I think somewhere along the way I got fat and old ... LOL ... with a plate and screws in the elbow, screws in the shoulder, two metal and plastic knees ... I wonder if all that has an affect on my speed .... hmmmm ... I'm not sure I'd notice any change ... right now, I'd give a 3 toed sloth a run for his money ... ... one thing is for sure ... I stay away from metal detectors.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Today was my annual physical at the VA ... I got basically the same report President Trump did. I'm in really good health for an old fat guy. The big difference ... I have way less cholesterol ... my total was 142.