Knee Surgery.....


delkancott said:
Today has been noticeably better than yesterday or the day before. I was able to sit up (with my leg straight but pointed down) longer than normal. I haven’t used an ice machine, but have iced and that helped. Just been taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen as directed. We will see how the pain is after PT. I still can only crutch a 3-5 minutes before I feel the need to elevate.
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Thats good, yesterday was rough but today is better for sure. Im hoping its trending upwards. But it also does make me curious about how I'll be after PT tomorrow.
 
Good luck with the knee !! Do your PT. I have a high pain threshold, No pain pills, no walker with each knee replacement. Also just had reverse roto cuff surgery in Sept. Sams as knees, no issues. Do PT!! Two weeks ago I broke my clavicle, Dr. said no surgery, bones went back togather. Last week went back to Dr., he said bones are nitting back togather. He also said NO LIFTING !!!DSCN7334.JPGDSCN7338 - Copy.JPG1754949642910blob.jpg
 
Creekwalker23 said:
I was just wondering how it went for you. How did the stairs go?
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Stairs aren’t the worst, but a bit intimidating. My house has 3 old stone steps so I’ve been doing that. Just take it slow and crutch first going down, crutch second going up. More concerned about the ice at the moment.

My range of motion was between about 10 an 35 degrees. First time having the brace bent since the surgery.
 
Yea, ice makes everything difficult. I live in a townhouse so my bedroom is upstairs, as well as both bathrooms with showers so ive been on the couch and bathing out of a mop bucket. Should I get the same report as you, i can try to reward myself with a hot shower
 
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@Creekwalker23 my dressing doesn’t come off until tomorrow anyway so I’ve just been stinking up the place. I do have a chair waiting for me in the shower which is much more exciting than standing up.
 
delkancott said:
@Creekwalker23 my dressing doesn’t come off until tomorrow anyway so I’ve just been stinking up the place. I do have a chair waiting for me in the shower which is much more exciting than standing up.
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That's interesting, mine came off yesterday, you will feel loads better i can tell you that! As far a sthe shower, our main bathroom has one of those stalls that has a built bench, so im looking forward to that.
 
Just finished my first pt appointment. They gathered some information and then adjusted the brace a little. I did several exercises and they showed me how to walk up and down stairs with the crutches. He also seemed pretty optimistic abojt my healing already. I was able to bend my leg about 70 degrees, and straighten almost completely flat. He gave me a list of fairly simple exercises to do. My wifes spirits lifted greatly after we left the appointment as well, which is a huge plus.
 
Not too different honestly. I feel better today than yesterday, but I don't think it was much to do with the dressing. The top of my knee is definitely swollen though.

For exercises, yea I've done 1 set of the ones she sent me home with and they were okay. I wish I could lie on the floor instead of the couch, but I'm not sure how I'd get down well. I also unlocked my brace for a couple hours today while I sat at the table which was nice.

How about yourself? When's your PT?
 
Creekwalker23 said:
Just finished my first pt appointment. They gathered some information and then adjusted the brace a little. I did several exercises and they showed me how to walk up and down stairs with the crutches. He also seemed pretty optimistic abojt my healing already. I was able to bend my leg about 70 degrees, and straighten almost completely flat. He gave me a list of fairly simple exercises to do. My wifes spirits lifted greatly after we left the appointment as well, which is a huge plus.
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That’s great. Much better ROM than I had. Today was better for me. Up to 60, but I can’t get flat yet. I have a lot of muscle guarding which I need to work through to dissolve.
 
delkancott said:
That’s great. Much better ROM than I had. Today was better for me. Up to 60, but I can’t get flat yet. I have a lot of muscle guarding which I need to work through to dissolve.
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That's still pretty good though! My second PT appointment is tomorrow, so im sure ill be humbled, but ive been doing my excersies they gave me to do and I can already tell a difference in the past 24 hours. Hopefully by next week we both will have great news.
 
They worked me a little harder today at PT, even hooked me up to some electrical machine ( a "Tens unit" I think) and that got my leg going pretty good. Still not 100% and the range of motion about like it was the other day. But I can move the muscles in my lower thigh again. He was saying next week things are going to start picking up, which has me hopeful for spring.
 
That’s great. My second session wasn’t much. Apparently I need to get full extension before jumping into much else.
 
PaPa K said:
Ice and diligent pt will payoff, worked for my left knee partial years back.
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This. I split my patella in half falling on a rock some years ago, tearing up tendons in the process. They put in two screws to hold the patella together and did something called a lateral release to allow the patella to stay where it needs to. I was walking without crutches about ten days later, but it took a good 6 months before I could do body squats. Knee is pretty good now almost 20 years after surgery, never have pain or weakness., but I have to stretch diligently to keep it that way.
 
Today was a good therapy day. Im asked to put a good amount of weight on my knee and walk little bit without the use of crutches. I told my Physical therapist this and although he was impressed, he still wants me to take it easy. He is pretty down to earth and a no BS kind of guy, at least with me. So he doesnt beat around the bush and tells me what to ACTUALLY expect. Given how quickly Ive improved, and now being able to flex my knee past 90⁰, he's saying two more weeks with crutches, and then after that we will move over to the gym and begjn building my strength back. Im not an athlete by any means, but ive always been fairly stout (and stubborn) so once that phase starts it should be a breeze.
 
When for my two week post op with the doctor, she took out my stitches and cleared me to unlock my brace when sitting (finally! I can take a dump like normal again....) and she also instructed me to st start "progressive weight bearing". Every few days ill start adding a little more weight until I can hopefully get off crutches in a week or two. Then at that point ill get an Athletic brace, which will be more conducive for day to day life.

And to make it all the better, it looks like the groundhog may have been wrong this year! We are going to get up to mid 70's next week, which is nice! Im just nervous about all the springtime storms we get
 
Worked my tail off in PT today. But! I can put 25% (probably more) of my weight on my leg now. Im down to one crutch, and am looking at losing the crutches either next week or the week after. Maybe this spring wont be a lost cause after all.
 
Creekwalker23 said:
How has your journey been fairing?
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Been getting a lot better, albeit slowly. Still on crutches and no weight bearing until mid March, but I’m doing harder PT exercises now and I can bend up to 60 on my own (maybe 80 with the PT help). Swelling is mostly gone now too and off all meds.

How about yourself?
 
Thats good though! I feel like i wasnt able to get mine to 90⁰ until a few days ago. Hopefully since your swelling is gone for the most part your mobility will see an uptick.

My swelling stayed until my stitches came out on Wednesday, now its only minor. The doctor and PT both instructed me to stsrt "progressive weight bearing" and Hopefully ditch the crutches in a couple weeks. After my PT appointment today, I actually havent used crutches at all unless its going up and down the stairs. Im still hobbling pretty good. But Im not couch bound so thats always good
 
Creekwalker23 said:
How are you doing?
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Doing well, next week Friday I believe the surgeon will allow weight bearing which is exciting. I’m over the crutches. PT has been going well though, been reaching all my ROM goals, just continuing that work and strengthening my leg muscles.

How about you?

ETA: This morning I definitely pushed my bending too fast and now have a fun ache in my knee. I don't think I did any damage, but the ache is not reassuring. Fun times.
 
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delkancott said:
Doing well, next week Friday I believe the surgeon will allow weight bearing which is exciting. I’m over the crutches. PT has been going well though, been reaching all my ROM goals, just continuing that work and strengthening my leg muscles.

How about you?

ETA: This morning I definitely pushed my bending too fast and now have a fun ache in my knee. I don't think I did any damage, but the ache is not reassuring. Fun times.
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Thats good to hear, hopefully you will be back to Weight bearing. It definitely made a world of difference for me to put the crutches down and not need them.

Im doing good, im only needing the brace when "walking in an uncertain environment" such as the yard, or across a hay field, but I can take it off and leave it off indoors. Therapy has been getting more and more intense as time goes on, im still out of work until the first of May, and trying to deal with insurance has been a nightmare.

I remember doing the same thing. I believe i just iced it, maybe took an ibuprofen or Tylenol and rested and it was fine the next day.
 
Creekwalker23 said:
Thats good to hear, hopefully you will be back to Weight bearing. It definitely made a world of difference for me to put the crutches down and not need them.

Im doing good, im only needing the brace when "walking in an uncertain environment" such as the yard, or across a hay field, but I can take it off and leave it off indoors. Therapy has been getting more and more intense as time goes on, im still out of work until the first of May, and trying to deal with insurance has been a nightmare.

I remember doing the same thing. I believe i just iced it, maybe took an ibuprofen or Tylenol and rested and it was fine the next day.
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I’m glad to hear it, that’s great news. I’d be okay with the brace “in an uncertain environment” which for life on a farm is virtually everything but it’s better than crunching. Glad to hear you’ll be back working soon. I’m self employed so I’ve been working (albeit not physically) since this happened.
 
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