Here's some encouragement to you early post op people.
12 weeks today, age 72, arthritis to some degree in most joints.
This week has been the first time that I have definitely felt it was all worth while!
Yes my leg aches and feels stiff after a longish walk, and yes I still seem to find it necessary to sleep with a pillow between my legs.
But, no pain killers, no knee pain, can nearly bend it as far as the other knee, can walk around town without constantly wishing I could sit down. And they say it goes on improving up to a year!
I can honestly say that if the other knee ever gets as bad as this one was I will certainly have the op.
So, light at the end of the tunnel for all you new people...hang in.
How lovely to hear from someone who is happy with their new knee.
I am eight months post op with my first knee and about to have second TKR on 18th March.
It has been an extremely long haul, but am now able to foresee a time when I will be pain-free. Can't wait to be able to shop again with my daughters without constantly looking for the nearest seat!
Thanks for your posting.
Lynn
Thanks Ruthie, so seven weeks today I will come back on here to let you know how it feels. Really want to walk around town for hours, I am going stir crazy, but as my son has just told me at least at the moment I am not out spending! No I do my retail therapy on the Internet instead!
Very pleased for you,, hope it stays good for you regards Bev
Seven weeks, 70 years old (feeling older at the moment, but hopefully only for a little while longer!) . . the first three weeks are rough, but I suppose in many ways I'm lucky because I don't have a great deal of pain in the knee and I know many people do. Hope I shall be as successful as you at twelve weeks, although somehow I doubt my bend will be as good as yours . .still only barely 90 and a struggle to improve on that! Trying to lessen my dependence on tramadol, and I think feeling withdrawal symptoms today, so must get off them soon or I may become dependent on them! thanks for your very positive contribution. it certainly helped to put new heart into me!
We must be at the same stage . my op was 9th January. Thank heavens for the internet, or we would be so cut off from life!
This is really good news Ruthie, hope it all continues to go well for you.
12 weeks here to and delighted with my knee. there were days I couldn't walk up my drive to collect the mail, couldn't walk the dogs, and needed a mobility scooter to go anywhere. Today, I walked into my local garden centre, and the manager spotted me and said she would get me a mobility scooter. It was wonderful to say, I don't need one, and then to walk around the entire centre and carry heavy things back to the check out completely unaided. I am back to normal and it's wonderful. If my other knee went I wouldn't hesitate to have it done.
wow! Two twelve weekers with great success stories! Roll on twelve weeks. . and if it isn't so good for me, then I'll keep going until it is. Congratulations!
Hi Lynn
Good to see you here again too! Your "due date" is almost here for your other knee! I'm sending good thoughts your way my friend!
I'm curious as to how your other knee is doing at 8 months? Any problems?
Take care, Betty
Good to hear from you, too.
No problems with knee number one. Still feels 'alien', but I can live with that. It can take one to two years for full recovery.
God willing, as we speak, my daughter is driving to Denver International for a flight home! Arriving tomorrow morning! Beyond excited. Have been so concerned about the weather in the Cimarron area, but the snow seems to have abated today at least.
Thanks for the good wishes for knee number two.
Lynn 8 months post op
Bit later than you, five weeks tomorrow, so I was saying to Ruthie seven weeks time I will be 12 weeks. I had my op on 26 January so you must be seven weeks now. Yes it is awful for me not to just go out either walking into the local shops, which I can do but so slowly and I live on a hill, or getting into the car and just going further afield. Oh well we will get there! I intend to try my driving after I see the consultant on 9 March for my six week appointment. Might get in the car and try it, is my right leg so need to be able to do emergency stop.
Yes, sorry,misread your post! Saw seven weeks and jumped to the wrong conclusion! I've noticed a big difference between five and seven weeks . .a definite improvement. I put the car in the garage today . . but my husband drove us to the supermarket! It's a very difficult garage and a narrow road, and he has problems with it. I'm a bit reluctant to drive because of taking tramadol, so that's why I'm trying to wean myself off it! But the leg is hurting rather a lot this evening! Fortunately, we drive an automatic, so as it's my left leg, driving should be easy. We also live on a VERY steep hill! 500 yards of about 20 per cent (one in five) not sure how you say it now in England, I've been away for so long!
I remember feeling imprisoned at your stage so I did go out in the car, having tried the emergency stop (right knee) in the driveway...it was no problem. The problem i did have which i had not foreseen was that I parked in a car park and when i returned to the car having had enough and just wanting to sit down, the car adjacent to me on the drivers' side was so close I could not get in because i couldn't bend my knee enough! I tried sliding over from the passenger side but that was impossible too, so I just had to wait, on my crutches, for the offending driver to return.
The difference between 5 weeks and 12 is like chalk and cheese.
at 7 weeks i was moaning to everybody, not at all sure I had done the right thing having this op.
I was taking codeine and paracetamol and went on doing that at least twice a day right up until a couple of weeks ago and then realised that i didn't think they were doing anything so I stopped and had really quite nasty withdrawal for 3 or 4 days....sleeplessness, anxiety, jittery. I had to be firm with myself not to go back on them, but I was right, once the withdrawal was over I really did not need them.
Ah, yes a common problem which I had not considered. I can usually just squeeze in or as you say climb over. I will remember that when I eventually go out. Well perhaps shop when it is very quiet or do shopping online and get deliveries for a little bit longer. I keep telling myself that it is only the end of April, not long in the big scheme off things!
that's interesting ruthie! My hands are trembling so much I find it hard to type . .breathless, nausea, no appetite . . . but I'm not sure if I should try 'cold turkey' as they say you should slowly reduce the amount taken. Difficult when they are capsules, though, and very specifically say you MUST NOT open the capsules . . . so just leaving longer between doses rather than lowering the strength . . . But i have to say that this evening the whole leg is hurting more than it has for weeks. Last tablet was 13 hours ago . .perhaps time for another one! . . ..
Bless your heart for sharing your cheerfulness, Ruthie! You deserve shrug x
Oh dear,I meant a HUG!!!! Lol x
How wonderful to have your daughter visiting! I wish her a safe journey and hope spring has sprung by the time she returns to NM.
Please keep us posted on how you are doing with "knee #2"!
Betty