Total knee replacement... in 4 days

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Capt Steve

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The right knee has been chronic for 36 years, ever since I dropped a motorcycle on it doing 75. Recent X rays showed the arthritis to be severe and so next Wednesday I'll be going into the Tucson VA hospital for a full knee replacement. Now I know it will be a wonderful thing about 3 months from now when I have gotten through the rigors, not to mention the pain, of rehab but right now that sure looks to be a long way off.

I tend to heal quickly and do what the medical folks tell me to do but having fun is not on my list after Tuesday night. In anticipation of a couple of weeks doing sponge baths vs showers I went out and got my first GI, Basic Training special buzz job haircut since 1969 at Fort Ord. Tomorrow I'm going to try out the "Head Blade" for a full head shave. My bride says I look good, even younger... then she goes into the other room and laughs like a maniac. What's up with that??? Oh well this too shall pass (like a kidney stone).
 
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I think you're gonna do better than you think. I've worked in an operating room for more than twenty years and have helped put my fair share of total knees and hips in people. I think you'll be surprised to find that the post operative pain may not be that much worse than the arthritis you are suffering from now. You should be out of bed on post op day two and will probably be home and sleeping on your own pillow in less than a week. Stay away from aspirin and ibuprophin(advil) for a while. The up side to all of this is that you may be able to get more range time in as you recover. Best of luck and let us know how things are progressing.
 
I had a knee replaced last fall. When I woke up, I could tell a difference. There was the pain from the disruption of muscles and tendons, but the dull arthritic pain was gone.
I had the surgery Friday morning and walked out of the hospital Sunday afternoon and started therapy Tues afternoon.

Therapy was unpleasant for about a month, and by the sixth week I could tell a huge change and it got better and better from then on.

It will be easier than you think.

Good luck,
 
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Having had two Hip Replacements
I can vouch for the fact that the Pain of the Surgery & Recovery
is Generally Much Less than the Pre-Op Pain that Required it
 
I know multiple people who've had knee operations. There are two types of people in that group, those that who do the rehab and work hard, they are so much better of than they were before and those who don't do the rehab, they are no better off and in pain. Do the Rehab, next year this time you be in a much better place.

Good luck with your surgery!
 
Capt Steve, Had my left knee replaced May 1. Yes the first two weeks are painful but I will admit that week one I do not remember much. Good meds. Week three, I was able to sleep on my side again. Threw the walker away after three weeks and the cane after 6 weeks. In July, I started bailing hay again and have done about 1200 bails since. I would not put off a replacement for the right one if I needed it. One hint, throw away your old shoes since they will most likely be badly worn from the limp/favoring. I found my old shoes had a 1/2" worn away from the side of the heal and with the new ones my walk was nice and straight.
You have my prayers and empathy, but keep pushing the envelope in PT. Push it to the "hurts some" stage and soon it will not hurt.
Been There Done That,
Larry
 
Have had both done, done the rehab, walk 3 miles a day and can tell you after 2.5 years latter your life will change, some for the better, some for the worst. Legs will never bend the same as factory direct, If you can get by with what you have now I suggest you go till you have to crawl. If you talk to 10 people that have had it done you will get 10 different responses to how their doing now. Steps, ladders and things like putting on your under shorts, not to mention sitting on the toilet will take a new effort. No such thing AS FREE LUNCH and please believe me when I say nothing beats what the GOOD Lord makes! NOTHING!
 
On a monday, I had my left hip done and the right a week later. One hospitalization one rehab. The next year, in 2003 I had the knees done the same way, The only regret is that I didn't
do it much sooner. Good luck and work at the rehab. It's well worth it.

regards

yashua
 
Oldiron said:
Capt Steve, Had my left knee replaced May 1. Yes the first two weeks are painful but I will admit that week one I do not remember much. Good meds. Week three, I was able to sleep on my side again. Threw the walker away after three weeks and the cane after 6 weeks. In July, I started bailing hay again and have done about 1200 bails since. I would not put off a replacement for the right one if I needed it. One hint, throw away your old shoes since they will most likely be badly worn from the limp/favoring. I found my old shoes had a 1/2" worn away from the side of the heal and with the new ones my walk was nice and straight.
You have my prayers and empathy, but keep pushing the envelope in PT. Push it to the "hurts some" stage and soon it will not hurt.
Been There Done That,
Larry
Click to expand...

OldIron and everyone else, thanks for all of the encouragement and support. Great tip about replacing the old shoes, makes a lot of sense. Yes, I'll suck it up and do what I have to do and will end up far better for it but oh man it's going to sting for a while.
 
I have had 2 partial knees replaced (Oxford) one in CA 2006, $90,000.00 workers comp paid. Last Dec. had the 2nd. knee done in S.C. insurance paid $49.000. First one(L-K) Dr. was o.k. and expensive,Dr. in S.C. fabulous, I have done paramedicine for 20+ years and have never seen or had as good care as I did at Self Regional Med. Ctr. in Greenwood S.C.I was off crutches 10 days after surgery and walking 2 mi. I had home therapy from the best PT's I have ever had until I could drive,2 weeks.Done with all of my P.T. after 5 weeks. I have had 6 knee surgeries from the incompetent, money sucking health care in CA.That includes UCSF,the worst orthopedic group ever.Elk hunt next week and been walking 7 mi. everyday since April.
If they want you to do 15 reps. of any exercise do 20, I had 125 deg. of flexion within a week(normal is 140+-).you will have a numb knee for several years until the nerves reestablish,Iggy has it, right both knees were much better right away, different pain. ICE,ICE,ICE, much better pain reliever than drugs you will need the drugs for a bit but give them up A.S.A.P.
 
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Cpt Steve,

Iggy got his knee done just a few weeks before me last year & was kind enough to offfer info on his surgery that gave me considerable comfort.

I agree with Buckeye 08 that it is never quite the same (how far you can bend the knee and that it doesn't always feel natural). But I'm able to put weight on mine again & have gotten that leg stronger than it has been in years - and it works beautifully for walking & stairs.

The first few weeks are rough, and after that it's still no picnic. But mine has continued to improve - you just have to put in the work.

I'll be prayin' for you buddy. Take care.
 
Good luck, and you'll be back among the "mobile"
before you know it. Work hard with the re-hab and
you'll be fine. No worries !!!

Chuck
 
Had both knees replaced. Little rough for a week or so afterwards but well worth it. Do the therapy. Try to get a young pretty therapist. She'll make the therapy a lot easier than having some dude that looks like a professional wrestler.

Good Luck.
 
In 1973 I was heavily into Motocross. Got my left leg broken out sideways at the knee. Shattered the tibial plateau. They put it back together as well as they could. Total replacement in '94. Total revision in '98. I have had to learn how to walk 3 more times than most people.

But let me assure you that the procedure for the surgery, the technology for the new knee has come a loooong way. I wish you a successful surgery and a complete, speedy recovery.

One bit of advice though. DO THE THERAPY. It doesn't matter how great the doctors did. If you don't do the therapy you will not walk. Best of luck to you!
 
OFT II said:
Had both knees replaced. Little rough for a week or so afterwards but well worth it. Do the therapy. Try to get a young pretty therapist. She'll make the therapy a lot easier than having some dude that looks like a professional wrestler.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...

I swear that some schools have a bathing suit contest before a young woman can sign up to become a PT. ;)

As to the knee, I haven't had to do either hips or knees so far, so my experience is from seeing others who have. Some people bounce back quickly, others don't. Attitude seems to have a lot to do with it, and that's reflected in participation in the process.

I think weight has a something to do with it too. Thinner people seem to do better, but that might not be directly related to weight, but to the more sedentary life style that many heavier people seem to have.
 
Capt. Steve,
I had total knee replacement surgery on March 3, 2012. I did physical therapy at a rehab center, two-hours a day, four days a week, for 5 months and finally got my right knee to bend 120 degrees.
The only thing I can add to what others said, is that you get out of physical therapy what you put into it. Do all the exercises that they tell you to do. I used a "Stretch Out Strap" made by DKSA every day while sitting on the couch watching TV.
The only things I notice now is it's hard to kneel on my right knee and a pair of cowboy boots that use to fit me, no longer do.
My orthopedic surgeon told me that it takes up to one year for the knee to totally heal after surgery.
I have no problems climbing ladders to get into my treestands while hunting and the arthritc pain is now gone for the knee. The only thing I was told not to do is RUN; I have no problem hiking three miles with a 50 pound pack right now.
Good luck with the surgery!
 
Good luck to you, Capt. Steve!

I know that you'll do well by doing the rehab.

Looking forward to your next set of camping/hiking photos
taken in the Arizona desert that I miss so much.
 
Had an m/c accident as well and 4x surgery, but luckily no replacement tho.

Keep your head up and good luck!
 
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'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.
 
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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!
 
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!
 
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.:eek:

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.:rolleyes:

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.:cool: 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
 
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.
 
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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