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Woot!
Great news!!
That's great, Pax! The beach is a great healer. :)
I've been through the "wish I'd never done this", the depression, loads of pain and meds (ongoing), moments of hope... but the one thing that's still hard to grasp is having been told I'd be mostly recovered in twelve weeks when the truth for this surgery is a one year recovery.
Working at eight weeks is awful, so painful and tiring, my heart goes out to people who have physical jobs! The big plus side is by the one year mark I should be able to do things I haven't been able to do in years. I should be walking for miles and riding my bike wherever I want... VERY exciting!
Twelve weeks?! Who TF told you that (rhetorical question, I can guess pretty easily). That just makes me mad. Doctors have given me similarly ludicrous estimates on more minor things, but that's just so wrong. I guess whatever they tell you, whether it's three days or three months, multiply by four. No wonder you've been frustrated and discouraged! Why in the world would they tell you it takes half the time to recover from a TKA than it does for a "simple" ACL repair???!!!
Anyway - hope it's more manageable now that you've made some progress, and now that you know you're in for the long haul, but it WILL be worth it. The beach is waiting!
Thanks, Oak. Over the weeks I kept looking at my honey and saying tearfully "what am I doing wrong???" Now I know I'm doing fine, recovery is not linear, and I'm right in the ballpark. Stupid doctor.
Stupid doctor indeed.
My friend had partial knee replacement in early December and he's still recovering. And that was a partial.
Head of HR had her knee done a few years ago, when I saw her today she told me "you'll be much more comfortable at six months and really good at a year, until then it's pretty sucky". Not sure why the docs aren't more up front, it's not like any of us go into this for fun, if we had another choice we'd act on it, so it's not like they're going to lose patients/money???
This is the same experience my step-father had. In fact, one of his two knees got better, then worse, and now he may have to have a revision as his kneecap is "drifting". He's been through a lot. Because of his experience, I am much better educated about the surgery and would NEVER take it lightly.
Hang in there!
When I had my knee ligament reconstruction, my PT had said it would take 6 months to gain most functions, and over a year to be normal.....if I was careful and doing according to protocole. Did not matter it was just me or an athlete....timing was same. She was 100% right. And I too had highs and lows before reaching my final goals. That was 10 years ago.
I forgot to tell you gals, I walked down four stairs at work this week!!! My knee worked just like a real one, haven't been able to do that in years!
That is great news! I can imagine how good it feels to walk down the stairs without thinking about it.
It's really weird, I was debilitated for so many years before this surgery that I have to relearn basic movements. I really don't remember how to properly take stairs or get in and out of a car.
:D:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Pax
Lots of big warm healing/feeling positive hugs!!!! I’m in Palm Springs doing the Coachella music festival with friends. I’ll think of your spirit dancing wildly with me tonight :)
…and if you’re still going, two months until SF Pride….that should fill you with sisterhood, gaiety and a fun time!!!!
Thanks so much, Rebecca! SF isn't happening since the knee replacement, too many hills and miles... But we plan to go in a year or so when I can partake of alllll the festivities! :p
:) :) :) Go Pax!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
Woohoo!
Yayyyy Pax! That is awesome, and am sure it felt even better than it sounds!
Yeah, it seems like such a small thing, but it was monumental in my recovery. I just stood at the bottom of the stairs and grinned like a little kid. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Catrin
We're living in Florida now, yay!! I'm not as active as I'd like to be since the move pushed my recovery back a bit, three days in a car created a swelling/pain cycle that has been hard to break. Kept wondering why I wasn't recovering from the move after almost a month so I started suspecting that the pain meds were doing more harm than good, did some research and found tramadol can give you a pain rebound effect that keeps the cycle of pain/meds/pain/meds going on ad infinitum. Quit my pain meds this week (hadn't read the part about weaning off, d'oh!!) so went through withdrawal, gotta say that sucked a LOT, shakes, sweats, crying, GI issues, WHEW! Seem to be done with it now and am starting to feel human again... and strangely enough have very minimal pain now.
Ow, that sounds awful, glad you're getting back on track. Hope you're enjoying the beach!
Thanks Oak, this has been a unique experience. Gotta say, never thought I'd like being a junkie, I was right.
Sounds terrible, but glad that you are rebounding and hope you enjoy Florida! It looks like I've a knee surgery coming up later this season myself but certainly nothing like what you have endured. Hope things continue to improve and you can start ramping up your activities soon!
Catrin, you've been smart to stay in shape, it makes knee surgery so much easier! Good luck with yours.
A good friend of mine had both replaced at once in December and she said the same thing. She's had to work really hard with the PT to walk correctly. Very happy for you, opens a new world
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
I hope things goes well with whatever decision you make
Feeling better every day now! Yesterday I walked through three different stores, when I was still on the pain meds I was using an electric cart at the grocery store... it's hard to believe those pills could cause so many problems!
That's great!! I"m glad you're making progress.
Enjoy the beach!
So glad to hear you are continuing to feel better! Yeah, it is pretty amazing what pain meds can do to us - it is about finding that right balance between everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
Seems recovery from knee replacement is a series of one step forward, two steps back, followed by the occasional burst forward, then a plateau. I seem to have had a forward burst this week! I walked around yesterday and for the first time in four and a half months I didn't notice my knee, it was magical.
Yayyy! Here's to more forward bursts!
Fantastic!!
I think your description is spot on -- recovery can be unpredictable and sometimes in the wrong direction. It takes much patience and perseverance.
Here's to many more magical days ahead!!
Thanks, I'm sure hoping this continues, the whole limping like im 90 was getting very old.
Just had my one year checkup on my knee implant... it is perfect!!! So happy about that!
The pain and swelling I've been dealing with are caused by some relatively rare kind of scar tissue on my quadriceps tendon, I can live with it or have more surgery to try and correct it. Now that I know what it is and know that exercise ameliorates the discomfort, I'll live with it.
Congratulations!
Interesting about your scar tissue, hope you can find some relief. You might want to consider finding someone well skilled in the different types of active release techniques, including Graston (uses a tool rather than just fingers) to see what they can do about releasing that scar tissue in your tendon. I've had similar work done with scar tissue in my right hammie and quad a few years back (the year I tried to ride a gazillion miles) - and while it's not pleasant, it did wonders.
I don't know if you have a qualified practitioner in your region skilled enough to take something like this to - but if you are interested I can ask when I see my chiropracter in a couple of weeks. He is one of the most skilled around in these techniques, specializes in high-level professional sports players (he has been on the sidelines of a couple Super Bowls), and may well have an idea who in your area might be appropriate. Given your situation you certainly need the best/most qualified!
Great news, Pax!!
That is wonderful. I agree with Catrin... check out those release techniques.
Glad to hear it, Pax! Hope you can find your "sweet spot" for activity and that your mobility keeps improving.
Thanks all!
Not sure if it can be released since it's under the kneecap but I'm considering going to a chiropractor I know and seeing what she can do for the tightness in my hips (I'm guessing from my slightly altered gait).
One thing the doc emphasized was to keep riding, he thinks that will be my best form of exercise now, so YAY!
Now that's some good news!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax