JJEH
Member
Had an m/c accident as well and 4x surgery, but luckily no replacement tho.
Keep your head up and good luck!
Keep your head up and good luck!
Total knee replacement... in 4 days
- Thread starter Capt Steve
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Capt Steve
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I'm baaaack....
I was released from the rehab Ward at the VA hospital today, 17 days after my knee replacement surgery. Everyone says the surgery went very well and I cannot begin to convey how good it felt to shuffle out the door on my walker. I was kept in the post op surgical ward for 6 days and then transferred to the Rehab Ward for 11 more.
I had no freaking clue going in as to the level of pain that lay ahead. I'm hopeful that it will all have been worthwhile at some point down the road but as of today I would never have another knee replacement. I got my knee to bend 90 degrees yesterday and still have a long way to go. I'll be starting a new round of Physical Therapy on Monday and will be working my *** off to get the maximum benefit from that. The PT I got at the VA was hindered by severe under medication over the first 3 days of therapy but once they kicked up the meds it became much more doable.
Wasn't expecting a 17 day stay but did not have much say in the matter. Lots of good things and some not so good things to report on the VA but overall I think it went pretty well. Thanks again to one and all for your support.
I was released from the rehab Ward at the VA hospital today, 17 days after my knee replacement surgery. Everyone says the surgery went very well and I cannot begin to convey how good it felt to shuffle out the door on my walker. I was kept in the post op surgical ward for 6 days and then transferred to the Rehab Ward for 11 more.
I had no freaking clue going in as to the level of pain that lay ahead. I'm hopeful that it will all have been worthwhile at some point down the road but as of today I would never have another knee replacement. I got my knee to bend 90 degrees yesterday and still have a long way to go. I'll be starting a new round of Physical Therapy on Monday and will be working my *** off to get the maximum benefit from that. The PT I got at the VA was hindered by severe under medication over the first 3 days of therapy but once they kicked up the meds it became much more doable.
Wasn't expecting a 17 day stay but did not have much say in the matter. Lots of good things and some not so good things to report on the VA but overall I think it went pretty well. Thanks again to one and all for your support.
I'm betting that 6 weeks after the surgery, you will have come along far enough to say it was all worth while. However, my Doc prescribed an appropriate level of medication.. I was uncomfortable but not miserable. I got real well acquainted with an ice pump and that helped immensely with the swelling.
I got out of the hospital in 2 days and was in therapy 2 days later.
The therapist was my age and had a knee replaced too. He was firm but not a dictator. Did therapy for 8 weeks. Went back to the Doc to see how things were going and he said you can quit therapy when you feel like it. He said it will take a year to be fully over it.
I've got until the day after Thanksgiving to make that determination.
I ain't never gonna run a marathon or even a 100 yards, but I haven't used a cane since the surgery and I'm durn sure better off than I was before the surgery.
I will probably have to have the other knee replaced one day, but I'm a long ways from being ready yet.
You hang in there and you will do fine.
I got out of the hospital in 2 days and was in therapy 2 days later.
The therapist was my age and had a knee replaced too. He was firm but not a dictator. Did therapy for 8 weeks. Went back to the Doc to see how things were going and he said you can quit therapy when you feel like it. He said it will take a year to be fully over it.
I've got until the day after Thanksgiving to make that determination.
I ain't never gonna run a marathon or even a 100 yards, but I haven't used a cane since the surgery and I'm durn sure better off than I was before the surgery.
I will probably have to have the other knee replaced one day, but I'm a long ways from being ready yet.
You hang in there and you will do fine.
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JJEH
Member
What ever you do Capt. Steve, take it easy and don't put too much stress on your knee. Wish you a fast and full recovery!
Capt. Steve,
Be patient, and do the therapy as required by your MD. When not at PT use a "Stretrch Out Strap" while watching TV to do knee bending exercises. You will get frustrated at times thinking your recovery is so slow, BUT in 5-6 months you will be doing so much better.
I just returned from a 10 day hunting trip, I did a lot of walking with a light pack and muzzleloader rifle and had help dragging and lifting two wild hogs and one deer into the bed of my pickup truck. I had total knee replacement 9 months ago.
You can do it, be patient.... I was on oxycodone for the first 5 weeks and then switched to Aleve. I always had ice packs ready to put on my knee after PT (2 hrs. a day /4-5 days a week).
Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when walking with your cain, it took me awhile to get my balance with my new knee.
As others have said, in a few months you will be very glad that you had the surgery. Good luck, Gimpy!
Be patient, and do the therapy as required by your MD. When not at PT use a "Stretrch Out Strap" while watching TV to do knee bending exercises. You will get frustrated at times thinking your recovery is so slow, BUT in 5-6 months you will be doing so much better.
I just returned from a 10 day hunting trip, I did a lot of walking with a light pack and muzzleloader rifle and had help dragging and lifting two wild hogs and one deer into the bed of my pickup truck. I had total knee replacement 9 months ago.
You can do it, be patient.... I was on oxycodone for the first 5 weeks and then switched to Aleve. I always had ice packs ready to put on my knee after PT (2 hrs. a day /4-5 days a week).
Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when walking with your cain, it took me awhile to get my balance with my new knee.
As others have said, in a few months you will be very glad that you had the surgery. Good luck, Gimpy!
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Capt Steve
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Update
It has been 6 weeks and I am still slogging through the rehab. I have made a lot progress, especially over the last weeks here at home. Luckily for me our community has several gorgeous pools (lap, therapy etc), and a couple of the best equipped gyms you ever saw. I do Physical Therapy at the VA clinic 3 times a week and everyday at the local facilities.
It took a little more than a month before I could crank the recumbent bike a full 360 degrees and the first couple of times I made a single revolution my eye balls popped right out of my skull. I'd worked up to about 6 revolutions when today I think some of the scar tissue let loose and I was able to crank off 30 revolutions. I'm paying for it now but it hurts so good. I get to start driving again on Friday and have weened myself down to just 3 or 4 pain pills a day. I think the continued progress will increase over the next few weeks and hope to be pretty close to what passes for "normal" by the middle of January.
Almost time to get out to the mountain for some shooting and who knows maybe even a little golf eventually. I have a birthday coming up and haven't had a beer since October 16th due to all the meds I have been on. My B'day treat is going to a nice tall cold one ("one" being a relative term).
The best news is I've lost 19 pounds. Thanks again for all of your support as it has meant a lot. Cheers!
It has been 6 weeks and I am still slogging through the rehab. I have made a lot progress, especially over the last weeks here at home. Luckily for me our community has several gorgeous pools (lap, therapy etc), and a couple of the best equipped gyms you ever saw. I do Physical Therapy at the VA clinic 3 times a week and everyday at the local facilities.
It took a little more than a month before I could crank the recumbent bike a full 360 degrees and the first couple of times I made a single revolution my eye balls popped right out of my skull. I'd worked up to about 6 revolutions when today I think some of the scar tissue let loose and I was able to crank off 30 revolutions. I'm paying for it now but it hurts so good. I get to start driving again on Friday and have weened myself down to just 3 or 4 pain pills a day. I think the continued progress will increase over the next few weeks and hope to be pretty close to what passes for "normal" by the middle of January.
Almost time to get out to the mountain for some shooting and who knows maybe even a little golf eventually. I have a birthday coming up and haven't had a beer since October 16th due to all the meds I have been on. My B'day treat is going to a nice tall cold one ("one" being a relative term).
The best news is I've lost 19 pounds. Thanks again for all of your support as it has meant a lot. Cheers!
I borrowed a stationary bike from the guy across the street. First time I got on it I was trying to force my way over the top for a full 360 rotation when the seat collapsed.
That smarted a whole bunch
Well, that sure took care of bending my knee as far as needed and left the air purty blue for quite a while.
Talk about jerking a bandage off all at one time instead of doing it slow.
I think you will find that things improve pretty quick now. You're over the hump.
I had to drive to therapy after the first week. That was the easy part.
The snow and ice between the parking area and the building was the hard part.
That smarted a whole bunch
Well, that sure took care of bending my knee as far as needed and left the air purty blue for quite a while.
Talk about jerking a bandage off all at one time instead of doing it slow.
I think you will find that things improve pretty quick now. You're over the hump.
I had to drive to therapy after the first week. That was the easy part.
The snow and ice between the parking area and the building was the hard part.Capt. Steve,
Good for you on getting the operation. There are
folks out there that don't get fixed up because they fear
the pain. They're not moving around much, either.
Your world is just starting to open up again.
Hang in there! TACC1
Good for you on getting the operation. There are
folks out there that don't get fixed up because they fear
the pain. They're not moving around much, either.
Your world is just starting to open up again.
Hang in there! TACC1
OP
Capt Steve
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The new knee just isn not working out....
I just reread my last post from November 28th... and I was an incredible optimist. Here I am well into March, four and half months after my surgery and things are not going well. The knee remains severely swollen and extremely painful.
The Radiologist who read my last set of X rays at the end of January noted as follows: Primary Diagnostic Code: "ABNORMALITY, ATTN. NEEDED" and yet I did not even get a phone call from my doc. Three unreturned calls later I finally managed to through and get an appointment.
Today I met with my surgeon and let him have it. He can find nothing wrong but looks at my knee and agrees there is something wrong. When we finished our little chat I left the VA with a full set of X rays (the large hard copies) and all of his patient notes. They are scheduling me with an orthopedic surgeon outside of the VA on the VA's dime. I should hear from them by the weekend.
My pain levels following a workout jump up to around 6 and though I've managed to get down to just one happy pill a day that usually means about 20 hours of miserable out of every 24. I have worked my *** off in rehab hitting the gym 7 days a week and up until a month ago was getting PT at the VA clinic 2 or 3 times a week. My Physical Therapist is afraid to touch me due to the "abnormality" so that source of therapy has disappeared like a virgin on prom night. I ride the bike 3 miles, hit the leg press aggressively and then lift weights for 30 to 45 minutes every day. I follow up every afternoon with a walk with my bride and da pooch. Every other day I swim 40 laps (1,000 meters) in under 30 minutes.
The good news is that other than the knee I'm in the best shape I've been in since basic training. Still down almost 15 pounds and feeling pretty good. Oh well time for a cold one, sigh.
I just reread my last post from November 28th... and I was an incredible optimist. Here I am well into March, four and half months after my surgery and things are not going well. The knee remains severely swollen and extremely painful.
The Radiologist who read my last set of X rays at the end of January noted as follows: Primary Diagnostic Code: "ABNORMALITY, ATTN. NEEDED" and yet I did not even get a phone call from my doc. Three unreturned calls later I finally managed to through and get an appointment.
Today I met with my surgeon and let him have it. He can find nothing wrong but looks at my knee and agrees there is something wrong. When we finished our little chat I left the VA with a full set of X rays (the large hard copies) and all of his patient notes. They are scheduling me with an orthopedic surgeon outside of the VA on the VA's dime. I should hear from them by the weekend.
My pain levels following a workout jump up to around 6 and though I've managed to get down to just one happy pill a day that usually means about 20 hours of miserable out of every 24. I have worked my *** off in rehab hitting the gym 7 days a week and up until a month ago was getting PT at the VA clinic 2 or 3 times a week. My Physical Therapist is afraid to touch me due to the "abnormality" so that source of therapy has disappeared like a virgin on prom night. I ride the bike 3 miles, hit the leg press aggressively and then lift weights for 30 to 45 minutes every day. I follow up every afternoon with a walk with my bride and da pooch. Every other day I swim 40 laps (1,000 meters) in under 30 minutes.
The good news is that other than the knee I'm in the best shape I've been in since basic training. Still down almost 15 pounds and feeling pretty good. Oh well time for a cold one, sigh.
Steve, I have a good friend who is a fishing guide, WWII vet(no spring chicken) who has both knees replaced and he's still climbing around on boats! And he's far from the only one here in my home town. You'll do fine, God bless ya, amigo. We just don't heal up as fast as we used to. Hang in there.
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badguybuster
Member
My ex wife had both done. The recovery is pretty quick. Good luck
I have a friend who's had both replaced 2x, and he's no better off today than the day before either surgery. Good luck to you.
Steve, Hang in there and wait until the ortho surgeon looks at it. The ortho guy has probably seen this before and knows exactly what is going on. He will tell you what needs done to correct the problem. I am a COTA and it sounds to me like you are doing the right things as far as therapy. I have not seen anyone with complications such as you describe. Hopefully everything gets fixed and you get down the recovery road. My thoughts will be with you and I wish you the best. Oh by the way, sorry, I am no bathing beauty!
Actually, most women in the therapy field like to see us guys. We get to deal with the retired, ex gunny that listens to no woman! I usually have no problem with those guys either.
Actually, most women in the therapy field like to see us guys. We get to deal with the retired, ex gunny that listens to no woman! I usually have no problem with those guys either.
Oldiron
US Veteran
Steve, I hate to say it but there are some folks around here that have had to have the knee replacement redone because their body was rejecting the joint. The husband of one of the women my wife is in a quilt guild with in particular. Even then they had to put a pump on his new one once for swelling, it is doing well now. The VA told my B-I-L that he didn't need his knees replaced and after one trip to an orthopedic doc after he got on medicare he was told that he needed both knees replaced because he was actually splintering the joints from them rubbing bone on bone.
I am at 10 months with mine and other than some scar tissue I am still fighting I am doing great. Hope the new Doc has some help for you without further pain. Maybe you just need to have a pump on it for a few days.
Will keep you in my prayers,
Larry
I am at 10 months with mine and other than some scar tissue I am still fighting I am doing great. Hope the new Doc has some help for you without further pain. Maybe you just need to have a pump on it for a few days.
Will keep you in my prayers,
Larry
Modern medicine
Medicine has come a long, long way. Hope you have little pain and a lot of good luck.
Medicine has come a long, long way. Hope you have little pain and a lot of good luck.
charlie sherrill
Member
Had one done in 05, the other in 08. Both are doing fine and it's the best thing I've ever done.
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Capt Steve
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this just gets better and better....
We just got home from the VA where I got a second opinion on my knee from a different surgeon(I am 5.5 months down the road since the surgery). We had been telling my original surgeon for the last three months that I obviously have a serious infection given the swelling, very warm to the touch, high pain levels etc.. He kept saying no, it was not an infection but at the same time claimed he had no idea what could be wrong with my knee all the while acknowledging that "something" was wrong. My new surgeon, took one look at my knee, laid his hand on it and announced that I have a serious infection. He drew some fluid from my knee (oh that was fun), and sent me to the lab for blood work.
The bottom line is I go back to see him next Monday for the lab results.... and to schedule the surgeries (yes, as in more than one), to fix my knee. I asked him to call me this week when he got the lab results but he refused. He said that conversation is going to have to be face to face because "you are going to freak". Can't tell you how much I am looking forward to that little chat. Because the infection has been there for 3 months it will take at least that long to clear it up. Antibiotics just won't do it. I'll find out on Monday just how they go about it but he is anticipating two additional surgeries. First the new knee has to come out (as soon as possible), but they cannot put another new knee in until the infection is gone. So long as the infection is kept out of bloodstream I should be OK but if it gets in there I will be in serious trouble. They will replace the old "new Knee" with a "spacer" which will keep my leg straight and probably stiff as a board for three months while they clear out the infection. Once the infection is gone they can go back in, remove the spacer and do a whole new knee replacement. If I am really lucky it will only take about 6 months give or take a month. The last 6 months of pain and misery have all been for absolutely nothing!
Obviously our dream trip (May thru September across the western US in our travel trailer - which we'd been planning for 5 years), this summer has disappeared like a fart in the wind. With a little luck I may be up and around by October or November. Looks to be a long hot summer as I will be on crutches and or a walker for months. Just hoping for a decent Monsoon to pass the time.
Other than that.... Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
We just got home from the VA where I got a second opinion on my knee from a different surgeon(I am 5.5 months down the road since the surgery). We had been telling my original surgeon for the last three months that I obviously have a serious infection given the swelling, very warm to the touch, high pain levels etc.. He kept saying no, it was not an infection but at the same time claimed he had no idea what could be wrong with my knee all the while acknowledging that "something" was wrong. My new surgeon, took one look at my knee, laid his hand on it and announced that I have a serious infection. He drew some fluid from my knee (oh that was fun), and sent me to the lab for blood work.
The bottom line is I go back to see him next Monday for the lab results.... and to schedule the surgeries (yes, as in more than one), to fix my knee. I asked him to call me this week when he got the lab results but he refused. He said that conversation is going to have to be face to face because "you are going to freak". Can't tell you how much I am looking forward to that little chat. Because the infection has been there for 3 months it will take at least that long to clear it up. Antibiotics just won't do it. I'll find out on Monday just how they go about it but he is anticipating two additional surgeries. First the new knee has to come out (as soon as possible), but they cannot put another new knee in until the infection is gone. So long as the infection is kept out of bloodstream I should be OK but if it gets in there I will be in serious trouble. They will replace the old "new Knee" with a "spacer" which will keep my leg straight and probably stiff as a board for three months while they clear out the infection. Once the infection is gone they can go back in, remove the spacer and do a whole new knee replacement. If I am really lucky it will only take about 6 months give or take a month. The last 6 months of pain and misery have all been for absolutely nothing!
Obviously our dream trip (May thru September across the western US in our travel trailer - which we'd been planning for 5 years), this summer has disappeared like a fart in the wind. With a little luck I may be up and around by October or November. Looks to be a long hot summer as I will be on crutches and or a walker for months. Just hoping for a decent Monsoon to pass the time.
Other than that.... Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
doublesharp
Member
tough news. prayers sent for a speedy recovery.
