my knee, version 2.0

[sundial]

In the month January I had finally come to a place where I knew it was time to do something with my arthritic knee. I could no longer enjoy a simple bike ride without significant swelling and difficulty in completing one pedal stroke. Knowing that the joint would never get better on it's own, I made an appointment with my ortho and I told him that I was ready for joint replacement and together we discussed the game plan.

In mid February I checked into the hospital and signed on the dotted line for my new knee. I had mourned the loss of my old knee and thanked it for being as dependable as it could be, given the arthritic changes that had occurred over a period of 30+ years. My leg was bowing somewhat and I had many bone spurs that kept me from fully flexing or extending my knee, not to mention several foreign bodies floating around and lodging against the nerve which caused intense pain and swelling. I came to realize that if I didn't have it replaced soon, it would soon take it's toll on my joints from overcompensating. I looked at the TKA as an insurance policy in that respect.

I was wheeled into OR and 1 hour 45 minutes later I emerged with a new prosthesis that would afford a better quality of life. As the anesthetic wore off, a smile slowly crept across my face and I laid there in bliss. My new life had begun and I had a new set of challenges ahead of me. I didn't care that there may be a series of hurdles to overcome because for once in my life the pain would lessen with each passing day, rather than increase. Gone were the days of popping ibuprofen before and after a simple bike ride. Or cringing in pain while seated in the backseat of a friend's car. Or limping from the table after enjoying a wonderful gourmet meal. No longer did I have to plan a life around limitations and the amount of pain I was willing to endure as a price. I am now free to explore life with a knee that helps me to walk a little taller and a little straighter.

The morning after the surgery my physical therapist took me for my first walk. As I gingerly took that first step, I remember thinking, "Wow! This knee just glides and works so smoothly!" I walked 500 feet my first day. No joint pain, just muscle stiffness and swelling. That afternoon as the PT worked my knee in passive range of motion, I remember how good it felt to bend it just a little more with each rep. My pain was managed quite well and even during therapy I felt it was a .5 on a scale of 0-10. I was quite fortunate to have had a femoral block as well as a transdermal pain delivery system that all but blocked the pain entirely. The only time I experienced discomfort was when I was hooked up to the constant passive motion machine where it would slowly bend and straighten my knee as I snoozed. For whatever reason, I just could not get comfortable in it and at the end of the session my knee and foot would swell tremendously.

I am now 11 days post op. The days that followed continued to amaze me in my recovery. By the time I left the hospital I could walk the east wing 3 times. My range of motion was -10 extension and and 110 flexion by day 7. I was able to pedal forwards on the stationary bike by day 8. The day that I did 5 minutes of pedaling I just grinned from ear to ear. I can pretty much manage the pain with just ibuprofen but as a precaution I am using the pain meds sparingly just to make sure I don't get behind with managing the pain well. I will get my staples out this coming week and I look forward to pedaling 10 minutes on the bike. Then 15. Then 30 minutes.

I know that part of the reason I have done so well with my post op recovery is due in part to my attitude, my goals, and the prayers spoken on behalf of friends and family. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to change what is broken and to make it better. I feel very fortunate to live in an era of advanced medicine. But most of all, I am thankful for my faith that brought me through this life changing event. I look forward to seeing the little victories of the day that will occur with each day that passes. I am blessed and I pray that if you are facing a similar circumstance that you will consider the risks and benefits by researching joint replacement thoroughly, talking with your doctor, and beginning your new journey of a life without debilitation.

[indysteel]

Congrats on your new knee, Sundial! I'm so glad the recovery is going well!

[sundial]

Thank you Indy! I appreciate you kind words of encouragement. :)

[abejita]

Here's wishing you many pain free and active years to come with your new knee!

[Catrin]

Sundial, it is great to hear that your recovery seems to be going so well! Congratulations, and good luck!

[jessmarimba]

Sounds like everything is going great! Congratulations! You'll be back to way better than normal in no time with that progress!

[malkin]

Happy new knee!
(say it fast and it will make you smile.)

[Karma007]

Happy to hear it's going so well! As a potential candidate myself someday, I love success stories!

[OakLeaf]

Wow! I'm so impressed it's going so smoothly for you! I have only my mom to compare, and she is extremely motivated and compliant, was in great shape before the surgery, but she had quite a bit of pain nevertheless. Hope your recovery continues to be just as great. :)

[sundial]

Thank you everyone. :) Your words are soothing and encouraging as I travel down this new path. When I was preparing mentally for the surgery I compared it to training for Mt. Everest. According to experiences of other knee patients, I knew there would be hurdles to overcome and s l o w progress. When I entered recovery, the only goal I had was to walk 8 feet in my first walk with assistance. What a pleasant surprise to learn that I could go further than my hospital room and hallway. I don't necessarily set goals per se. Rather, I just go with what feels natural and I listen to my gut feeling. Today after my PT I came home and decided to vacuum the house. Then after that I wanted to climb on my bike that is sitting on the trainer and I did so. I pedaled a half stroke forward and a half stroke backward slowly and did it for a few reps and then got off. Next, I climbed 16 stairs normally, albeit slowly. While trying to pedal the bike and walking the stairs, the only sensation I had was the feeling of tightness above my knee. I feel so very fortunate that is my only chief complaint. My mother had a TKA 7 years ago and she still experiences swelling, pain and limited range of motion in her knee. She is very motivated to go through a revision since I did so well with my knee.

Oakleaf, I came across a discussion board on hips and knees and a patient presented the same symptoms that my mother has and it turns out that her body was sensitive to the metal used in the prosthesis. Once the patient had it revised, her symptoms went away. Perhaps our mothers are experiencing the same problem? There is a prosthesis now available that is made with hypoallergenic metal. I will ask my OS about it when mother makes her appointment to see him.

Tofu, when researching area hospitals or surgical clinics that do TKA's, look for one that offers a knee camp. With the knee camp I learned that the staff is trained specifically to work with hip and knee patients and will offer a service that makes pain management a priority as well as the physical/occupational therapy. My knee camp also encouraged us to dress in street clothes and the floor catered only to hip/knee patients as they were very proactive about minimizing infection. (In surgery, they wore the space suits which can cut the infection rate to 0%.)We all attended PT together twice a day along with our designated "coach" who sat across from us to keep us encouraged. The staff worked 2 12 hour shifts so that you saw the same techs, nurses and PT's. The average length of stay is 4 days pending lab results. My doc made rounds every morning and I was able to communicate to him any problems or discomfort I was feeling. This system is in sharp contrast to other med/surge floors in which you may or may not get adequate pain control, meds, PT, etc. I remember having only one bad night in the hospital and it was when I had to wait 15 minutes before getting assistance to go to the bathroom. :o

[sundial]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/DSC00690.jpg

My knee, 12 days post op

[sundial]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/DSC00682.jpg

My knee pre-op, twas bone on bone for 17 years.

[redrhodie]

Your post makes me want one, and there's nothing wrong with my knees! :D Your attitude is awesome! It really sounds like you've been given a new lease on life. Best recovery to you!

[azfiddle]

So happy to hear how things are going for you. You have a great attitude- hope the recovery continues to progress well.

[malkin]

Your post makes me want one, and there's nothing wrong with my knees! :D Your attitude is awesome! It really sounds like you've been given a new lease on life. Best recovery to you!

lol!

I'm not exactly coveting any joint replacements, but I'd do anything to catch your attitude!

[sundial]

Redrhodie, your comment means alot coming from someone who is pretty upbeat about most everything. :) Thank you everyone for your kind words and well wishes. They really help!

I now have my staples out and have a few steri-strips covering a small section on my incision. This weekend I will be able to shower normally and will no longer have to rely on my hairdresser, aka DH, who has been washing my hair in the kitchen sink. :cool: My swelling is improving with each day and I am able to putter around without joint pain. What a neat thing to experience for the first time in years! :) I try to walk up and down the stairs once a day to improve strength and flexibility but the area above my knee still feels very tight when I try to bend my knee past 90 degrees. I know the 120 degrees flexion will eventually come so I try not to push it too hard. Still it's hard not to.

I haven't experienced the blues that comes with using narcotics for pain management as some knee patients have experienced. I got weepy once in the hospital and that was because of lack of sleep the night before and I was feeling more pain and frustration as a result. I was weepy again last night and it was due to feeling so vulnerable and achy, probably the result of a big thunderstorm that was moving in our area. Even though I was feeling down, I would not hesitate to have my knee replaced but it does come with a price--a long rehab process, and that is what made me somewhat sad. I can't be available to others who might need help. I can't drive or take my parents to the doctor or even the emergency room if they need to go. I have to rely on others for that and it's difficult to do so as I consider myself to be a fiercely independent person. I am thankful that I am progressing rapidly but I also think about what if I had been one of the patients who experienced a rough recovery with limited range of motion and lots of pain post op? There are some patients who have had a TKA that still experience pain and swelling years after the surgery. :(

Another thing I've experienced is the lack of empathy or understanding from those who have not had a TKA. People think that if one has a TKA that he or she will be up and at 'em and back to normal within a short time--and it seems especially true if you are young for a TKA. I had a family member that was surprised to learn that I had to use a walker to get around. They are surprised that I still sound tired on the phone just 2 weeks post op. (Anemia!)

There is not only the physical healing but the psychological healing as well. There is on occasion the fear or frustration of not being able to have the strength or endurance to accomplish a task, such as cooking a simple meal, driving a short distance, or walking in a large, crowded store. There are days when I seem to take one step backward and I feel emotionally spent. My mind can't seem to focus and process alot of information and I get overwhelmed, frustrated, become weepy and I know then that I have to rest more. There are days when I see a lot of progress too and it's those days that gives me a boost and gives me something that I can think back on when I have a down day.

Having a good support system makes all the difference in the recovery process. I could get by with just me if I had to but it's nice that I do have DH available to make sure that I'm safe, that I'm without a lot of pain, and without a lot of undue pressures that comes with life. Having that has helped me tremendously and I can rest easier because of his efforts. :)

[emily_in_nc]

Sundial,

Your post-op emotionality and frustrations really took me back. When I fractured my pelvis in 2005 in a cycling accident and had surgery, I experienced the same sorts of reactions as you. It takes awhile to feel even close to your old self, and I really do think you need to go easy on yourself and not fret about what you can't do or what "could" happen while you're recovering. Chances are, no one is going to need you to drive them to the ER in the next few weeks. And if by chance it happens, then things will work out. I couldn't drive for 9 weeks, so I just had to relax and realize that the world would somehow manage to revolve on its axis without me taking care of things. And it did!

[jessmarimba]

You seem to be pretty aware of what's going on and what you need to do to get through it, but I just wanted to chime in that the psychological part was the worst for me too. Physically once I was able to start rehab the progress was really apparent, but being tired and achy and having activity restrictions was just too much to take some days. And the narcotics gave me some crazy dreams (usually me doing things I couldn't do, like skiing in a bikini or something nutty) so sleeping wasn't always the break I'd hope for!

We're all here for you when you need support :)

[sundial]

Emily, you certainly had unique challenges to face during your healing process and your words of wisdom bring comfort to me. You were very fortunate to have had a good support system as well. A fractured pelvis is pretty serious and even more debilitating than a joint replacement. I'm thankful that you had a full recovery and that you are able to return to the things that you enjoy--including bike rides. :) You suggested that I let go and let it heal, that I probably won't be contacted to drive someone to the ER.

I have to share with you something that did transpire.

My dad called me in a panic to tell me that he had lost vision in both eyes and without remembering that I just had knee surgery, asked me if I could drive him to his doctor. He knew that he had a stroke. I reminded him that I couldn't drive and he was surprised. I knew then it was serious. My mother, who is crippled with arthritis and has vision problems, had driven little in the past several years so she had to take him to the doctor. I just held my breath hoping that they wouldn't get into an accident. He was seen by the doctor and they made arrangements for an ambulance to transport him to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile I'm lying in bed, unable to do anything much less think clearly. Hubby couldn't get off work to help and mother had to wait until DH got off work in the evening to take her to the hospital. I had to call some of their friends to ask if they could bring dad home from the hospital when it was time for his discharge. He still has 50% vision loss in both eyes and I can't help but worry about them while I am facing my own set of challenges. :( I had to make arrangements for home health to start working with them and try to find medical transportation for them since their doctors are out of town.

It is such a trying time and I would not wish it on anyone.

Jess, thank you for your comforting words my Fargo friend. ;) Narcotics are funny thing. I've not had vivid wild dreams like skiing in a bikini but I have had cold food cravings for things like yogurt, fruit smoothies, cold turkey sandwiches, and chilled granny smith apples. While I was in the hospital hubby came across some Girl Scout cookies so he stocked up on the peanut butter cookies for me. I guess I timed my surgery and recovery just right so that I can indulge in a few special cookies here and there. ;) It's odd that the only time I lose alot of weight is when my body is trying to recover from a big injury. :rolleyes: Not exactly a weight loss plan that I would want to endorse.

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, Sundial... I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad's health emergency, and sorry if I sounded flip. The odds of something like that happening while you are incapacitated were probably fairly slim -- and yet it did happen. I am so sorry!

I was indeed very lucky in that my DH was available to take care of me (he was early retired) and could have taken care of family situations too, unless they involved leaving the state or something (in which case he couldn't have left me). I was also lucky in that nothing else transpired in either of our lives during that recovery period that was stressful and required us to move our focus away from my recovery.

Still, I was weepy at times, and frustrated/angry at times too. On the "silver lining" side, I did enjoy the naps, the reading, and the outpouring of kindness and offers for help from friends. I got lots of visits from friends and neighbors, people brought food, and I felt very cared for.

I hope that your dad will have no further setbacks and that the rest of your recovery time will be a bit less worrisome! Hang in there....

[sundial]

Emily, I didn't take your words as being flipant. As you've pointed out the odds are that stuff like that WON'T happen but in my case it did. So I am just learning to take it one day at a time.

I was thinking on the way back home from PT about the mental state changing after a traumatic injury. I don't know what you would call it. As you've encountered there are moments of feeling blue, of becoming weepy at the drop of a hat, of becoming angry or restless. I want to think that meds can contribute to it but even the days when I don't take my pain pills something is affecting my mental state. I fight the feeling of being overwhelmed. Then I go take a nap and I feel better. The body and mind work together in odd ways sometimes.

[OakLeaf]

Don't forget that pain itself works on your emotions a lot - with or without the meds - as does inactivity by itself, even when it's not enforced.

Hope things settle down with your dad and that your parents are able to find the help they need. Be gentle with yourself. Cry when you need to. Sleep when you feel tired. Vent with us here. Know that your body is healing at its own pace and you will get there.

[sundial]

Thank you Oak, your words mean alot to me. :) Pain does affect my mood and my mind more than I realize. Before I had my knee surgery I had chronic pain for years and I know now that it made me feel more negative as a result. Since I've had my surgery I feel as if a burden has been lifted and my mood is more cheerful. :) So many of the feelings of frustration, anger and sadness have diminished greatly and I feel as if I have a new personality. For once in my life I feel optimistic about everything. :)

Today is week 3 since my surgery and my swelling continues to diminish.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/DSC00691.jpg

I hope to soon turn my road bike pedals forward. I want to be able to ride my first ride in April.

[celticgarden]

Hey Sundial, thanks for sharing your story. I have knee pain daily, especially the right, lots of grinding noises. I have wondered about this surgery and I appreciate you writing down the details. You have my well wishes for a swift recovery and I hope your parents get the help they need. The stress of not being able to help them must be awful!

Remember that the narcotics will act as depressants. I personally have zero love for them. Having had a tonsillectomy two years ago (with subsequent complications that the ENT said he'd never seen before) I took my fair share. They hardly touched the pain and in the end I switched to NSAIDs to reduce swelling, halt pain.

There's rumor in natural circles that bone broth can be helpful in healing. A google search will give you info should you be curious about it.

Hoping your positive attitude stays with you and the healing time flies by!

[sundial]

Celticgarden, you are welcome. My post may be unpopular for some of the readers and for that I apologize. When I was researching cyclists with total knees few hits came up and I thought that perhaps my personal account may prove to be helpful for those who are contemplating TKA and specifically how it affects cycling. It is an adventure in itself and if I can share my experience to help someone else, than it is worth the cyber space it takes to post my progress. ;)

This afternoon I will have my first check-up with the ortho doc. I'm a little nervous because I've seemed to have plateaued in terms of flexion. In fact, I've lost a few degrees this week. Yesterday I was unusually stiff and I made a point of stretching thte knee on the stairwell before PT but it didn't seem to help. I want to think it's weather related. I hope anyway. I want to be able to flex my knee well for him.

As for the narcotics I take one during the day along with an NSAID and two at bedtime. I'd prefer not to be on them but when I cut back at bedtime, the night time pain would kick in and at 2 a.m. I would fumble for the prescription bottle. So for now it's 2 at bedtime.

Natural remedies are something to consider and I will consider alternatives to pain management. Chocolate seems to help. And thin mint Girl Scout cookies.
And since my body is working in overdrive I can indulge here and there without dire consequences.

[sundial]

I had a great visit with the OS. When I told him I was unusually stiff he said that I will experience that from time to time. He also reassured me that I will plateau from time to time and that it's a period of healing that I'll encounter. We went over the before\ after x-rays and it was incredible the difference the surgery has made. He wants me to use my knee and wear it out. What a cool thing to say! I also was given the ok to use my hot tub. :) The trip of going to the doctor plus a late lunch has not made me too tired surprisingly. So I've built up to a 4 hour excursion. Yay!

[spokewench]

Sounds like you are doing great Sundial. I have a friend who had a total knee in her late 40's early 50's. Before that she was in a lot pain, after, no pain, except of course, thru rehab. She says it is the best thing she has ever done. She is quite active, hiking the Grand Canyon with us all; riding bikes, she just did a 24 hour race on a 4 woman team; scrambling the rocks at Joshua Tree, etc., etc.

I'm sure you will find that you are so much better off now that you had the surgery. Hang in there with the rehab. Give it another few months and you won't even remember it cause you'll feel so good!

[redrhodie]

Excellent! Maybe you should keep a photo journal of the knee healing. It would be a cool flip book.

[sundial]

Thank you Spokewench. It's very encouraging to hear of others who have had a successful surgery and who are now enjoying an active lifestyle again. It's people like your friend who serve as an excellent role model for a TKA. :cool: When I got up to walk the first day after my surgery, I remember how smooth my knee was and how well it worked. I had little pain other than muscular pain at the incision site. I told my doctor then how I loved my new knee. I think about the cycling season that is upon me and I am already thinking about how the hill climbing will be easier now that I won't have the joint pain to contend with. There is so much I want to explore and do with this knee. For once in a long, long time I will be able to do so much more and not be held back by inflammation and swelling. I won't be the slow poke on wheels either because I am going to be lighter, stronger and faster. By the fall I plan on riding a self-supported century. I'm thankful that I have this knee and I can't wait to begin living again.

[sundial]

Today I turned the pedals forward on my road bike for the first time! :D :D :D

[OakLeaf]

Woohoo!

I guess I missed your last post - my mom is an encouraging story for you. She had bilateral TKA in the late fall of I think it was '08. Her physical therapy was super painful for her, but she gritted her teeth and powered through it diligently.

By the next summer she was back to her avid birding ... including climbing trees to check nests and band chicks. :cool: I'm pretty sure that's against her ortho's advice, but she is fine doing it.

[sundial]

By the next summer she was back to her avid birding ... including climbing trees to check nests and band chicks. :cool:

What a powerful testimony of a TKA survivor! My OS would be pleased as punch with what your mother is doing. :cool:

[redrhodie]

Yay! That's huge! I hope it gets easier and easier!

[sundial]

I dusted off Frank and we headed outside for a little adventure. I rode 5 hilly miles--s l o w l y. :)

[OakLeaf]

Yayyyy!!! :D :D

[emily_in_nc]

Yippee! That is great news! So happy for you. :p

[sundial]

Thanks Oak and Em! :D I celebrated my 5 week anniversary with a 5 mile ride and I plan on doing 6 miles next week--weather permitting of course.

[redrhodie]

That's great! It must be a huge relief, to know you can ride again, and soon you'll be pain free.

[sundial]

It's been 3 months now since my surgery and I continue to make progress little by little.

I have been riding gravel alot lately--partly due to the flooded streets and partly due to the need to smooth out my pedal stroke and to take in the wildflowers that are now in bloom. :) I feel really comfortable on 10-15 mile rides and my speeds are not unlike that before the surgery. :cool: I feel like I am finishing the ride on a good note and when I ride the shorter miles I am ready for another one the next day as I feel I have had enough recovery time.

Just recently I cycled my first 30 miler. I finished strong and I felt pretty good but I was looking forward to resting with an ice pack afterwards. On Sunday I decided to test my legs on the hills and dusted off the road bike and did 11 miles with 912 feet of climbing. I was really impressed that I didn't have to walk any of them and didn't max out my low gears either. This new knee really rocks! It is getting stronger with each ride and it is s l o w l y flexing more with each passing month. I still have some swelling and I suspect I'll have it for at least a year--if not more. It doesn't bother me, though, considering that I am no longer experiencing debilitating pain. I don't have to limp anymore and my new knee is taking a load off my other knee. :)

If there's a downside to this new knee it is the feeling of fatigue that sets in after about 6 hours or so. I am usually stretched out on the couch by mid afternoon watching a few episodes of my favorite series on DVD. After that I'm good for a little while and then I'm ready for bed by 8:00. As much as I would like to, there is no rushing this recovery process. My OS has suggested that it will be 6 months at the earliest before I feel pretty good and 1 yr to 1 1/2 before I'm completely recovered. In the meantime, I like to dream about treating myself to a special something as a celebration for completing this fascinating journey.

For those of you who are thinking of having joint replacement, talk with your doctor, research it, talk with a PT and then do it! I can honestly say that I have never regretted the surgery and if it means sacrificing several months of activity for a better quality of life, it is well worth it.

[sundial]

I experienced my first shuffle type jog. :)

It's been 20 years since I last jogged regularly and I want to work towards being able to jog again. It's going to be a challenge because I don't have quite the extension of my new knee so my foot can't land the same way. I have to concentrate to land on my heel first but it's my entire foot that seems to be making contact instead. And my knee does not want to work as fast and I have to watch to not trip and fall. :o My OS said that I have a lot of scar tissue so I may never fully extend/flex the knee but that makes me even more determined to make it happen. ;)

[OakLeaf]

Curious ... why do they want you to heel strike? It's so likely to cause injuries in people with previously healthy joints.

[sundial]

I think it's due to proper technique for a normal gait. Before I had my TKA the ball of my foot was striking the ground first but then I was shorter on that side because of lack of cartilege so I kind of had to improvise that way.

[sundial]

It's been 5+ months since my surgery and I'm now experiencing fewer days of fatigue and I'm riding my base mileage at least once a week. Although I don't have joint pain, I do have mild muscle pain when I am on my feet for extended periods of time or when I have been riding lots of hills. When it starts getting stiff and unhappy I put on my nifty frozen gel packed knee wrap, pop a couple of Tylenols, lay down and watch the tour, and I'm good to go in a couple of hours.

I've found that riding a mountain bike is the most comfortable and my knee agrees. I don't know if it's because I'm sitting more upright and there's less tension on the muscle groups or what but I am not nearly as sore after riding my mtb as I am when I ride my road bike. I am having to pedal slower for the time being as I don't have the flexibility of my old knee just yet and cannot ride at a higher cadence. So I'm happily mashing the miles away.

Riding with platforms is my only option at this point and I'm happy to do so. The first several dozen pedal strokes are awkward as I begin the ride with more of my heel on the pedal. Eventually as I warm up I am able to center the the arch over the pedal--but that's as far as it will go at this point. Some days I think about my Frogs and my carbon soled mtb shoes and wonder if I'll ever get to use them again. I know that losing some flexibility is nothing compared to what I could haven encountered post op--like a staph infection, or too small of a spacer in the joint, or failure of the replacement joint. I know that I am very, very fortunate to have had the surgery go without a hitch. So if this is as bad as it's going to get, it's pretty darned good.

The new knee is giving me back my life and I am taking it all in at a more relaxed pace. I have an appreciation for the little victories of the day and it serves to remind me just how far I've come. Gone are the days of limping when I walk, or popping ibuprofen like M&M's, or experiencing gout flare ups that would sideline me for several days. Those days are thankfully behind me now. I look forward to the fall season when I will be turning a new corner in my recovery and will hopefully enjoy longer periods in the saddle. But for now, it's a season of long, hot summer days filled with shorter rides on the lonely, dusty roads of the back country.

[bmccasland]

Sundial - I have a friend that had bilateral total knees done, in May I think. She's not ready to walk far at all, but is getting around the house better. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and it isn't the oncoming train.

I'm recovering from ACL repair, and am happy to hear that in a couple more months my knee will have forgiven me. Looking forward to life without a cane, soreness, and otherwise too gimpy or like you said "popping ibuprofen like M&M's." :p

[sundial]

Beth, your friend is brave for having both knees done at the same time. I would have waited at least 3 months between knees just so I have at least one that I could put more weight bearing on it. I remember my surgeon telling me it will be at least 6 months before I feel pretty good and at least 1 to 1 1/2 years before I'm fully recovered. I look at it as my personal Mt. Everest. I've learned that pushing the knee only slows my recovery process. In this instance it's no pain, more gain.:)

Are you doing well in your recovery? It takes those muscles at least 3 months to recover and it's hard waiting on new and improved knees to get there. Are people pretty accommodating to your needs at work?

[OakLeaf]

Glad you're making progress sundial, thanks for keeping us up to date. :)

[bmccasland]

Are you doing well in your recovery? It takes those muscles at least 3 months to recover and it's hard waiting on new and improved knees to get there. Are people pretty accommodating to your needs at work?

Things are going OK. My PT says I'm ahead of things, doing really well. But after a morning PT session, things stiffen up pretty good. I do force myself to do the stairs (1 story) down to lunch and back up now. The big thing I have to beg off is field work. I don't have endurance on flat, I certainly can't be out on rugged terraine. Fortunately much of my job now is at a desk. My goal right now is to be a local tourist in 2 weeks when a good friend flies in for vacation.