PKR in 6 weeks ... any advice on how to get body ready?

Bones, joints and muscles
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On January 17, 2017 I had a meniscus tear.  PT and aquatic therapy did nothing to relieve pain.  Finally on May 25 I had arthroscopic meniscus surgery which showed a large tear and arthritis in the medial compartment of my knee. I didn't realize I had any arthritis because I was asymptomatic ... walking 4 to 5 miles several days a weeks.  

Started back on PT.  On Day 5 post surgery, I could walk without pain! It was a miracle! Day 8, after an aggressive PT visit, I had excruciating pain that hydrocodone didn't touch, which lasted for a several days.   

Now, 2.5 months later, pain is greatly diminished, but I can't walk more than four or five blocks without aggravating my knee and experiencing increased pain.  Knee is always swollen but not necessarily painful, unless I aggravate by walking too much. I get fatigued when I have to stand for any length of time.  

I'm scheduled for partial knee replacement on September 14.  Is there any advice you can give me that would prepare me for surgery?  I've been losing weight and I just started doing more exercises to increase quad strength.   

Anyone care to share your partial knee replacement story ... of recovery, I hope. :-) 

 

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Read around here you can read older posts from main menu. Partial recovery is pretty similar to total, basically.

Get a electric socket near to the bed for plugging in tablet or computer, as its good to have plenty to do while resting!

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Hi,

I am almost 5 weeks out from a RPKR. I've had a meniscle repair also and this surgery does not touch it. Even a partial is so hard on the body. Get in the best shape you can before surgery. Strengthen your leg muscles. My biggest problem and I think it's very very common is the lack of sleep you will get. It was almost 3 weeks before I was able to get 3 hours without waking up. Even at almost 5 week, im only sleeping about 4-5 hours a night. The pain is bad. Stay on your meds and ice, ice, ice. Elevate too! You've taken the first step in asking how to prepare. I didn't do that! This surgery is hard physically, emotionally, psychologically etc. Have a good support system at home. Stay on these boards and listen to others that have been there. But remember that everyone heals differently! Best of luck to you!

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Thank you!  It sounds absolutely dreadful! But it's not an uncommon story, from what I can tell.  The orthopedic sites say recovery is so much faster with pkr over tkr.  On really good days I think my knee is okay, but then I realize how little walking I do, so of course it's going to be alright.  The surgeon told me it's very painful.  I've had surgery for two rotator cuff repairs and they were both very painful.  Full recovery was a year.  I'm trying to tell myself that if I can handle that then I can handle nearly anything.  The first rotator cuff repair involved scraping the bone.  The first surgery was much more painful than the second.  So, I've come to believe that "bone surgery" equals "pain!"  Thanks for sharing your story ... 

 

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Thank you, Jenny.  Good idea about the electric socket!  I wish I was well practiced in the art of meditation and could mentally transport myself to another place!  I relating to the old "Kung Fu" tv series ... LOL!  For some reason I don't think they'll be many "LOL" messages after surgery!  Better enjoy them now while I can. :-) 

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Gosh, i remember that TV programme!

Get some comedy shows lined up to watch...you will need a good laugh! Are you in UK?

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Your story sounds similar to mine. Tore my right meniscus in August 2005; had arthoroscopic surgery to repair the torn part....at that point the surgeon told me, "You've got a lot of arthritis in your knees!" He didn't provide any further information, etc., so I did nothing.

The pain never completely went away, and I endured this situation until I had my total knee replacement July 5th. (12 years) I took countless NSAIDs, to the point that I gave myself a peptic ulcer. 

Beginning in 2012 a number of unexpected, catastrophic family incidents occurred which further postponed any corrective surgery.

In May I went for a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon; my x-rays showed a horribly misshapen knee that was becoming "knock-kneed", i.e., right kneecap turning in toward left knee. Total bone-on-bone. I felt I didn't have any options other than total knee replacement.

I AM SO GLAD I DID THIS! Yes, recovery is a long process with its share of pain. Yes, I exercise every single day and have 3 hrs. of PT every week (and will continue PT through the end of Sept; exercise will be a part of my life from now on). Yes, it affects you physically, emotionally, psychologically. Yes, I have had and still have lots of sleepless nights. Yes, I continually rest, ice, elevate my knee--sometimes 3 times a day.

I do not regret ANY of this. The pain I endured for 12 years got increasingly worse and is nothing like the pain of recovery!! I cannot risk another peptic ulcer. You do not want one! They are painful.

What is your tolerance for pain? Take this into consideration. I was highly motivated to get my knee back in a healthy place so I have been able to endure more pain. Do you have a good support system to help you once you're out of the hospital? This is essential too-you can't undergo this without support!! 

Is it worth it? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Given a chance to do it all again would I opt for TKR? Yes, yes, yes, yes! If a partial knee replacement is what your surgeon recommends you may want to get another opinion--I got 2 opinions before deciding on my surgeon--but my experience tells me that if your knees have lots of arthritis they are not going to repair themselves on their own. Seriously, seriously consider surgery. I am so glad I finally was able to have mine done.

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Kathleen, Thank you SO much for sharing your story! I'm so grateful you took the time.  It seems like so much of my focus is on my knee ... how's it feeling, did it hurt when I went down that stair, is it hurting now, it's feeling good now, am I rushing surgery?  It goes round and round.  The arthritis is limited to one distinct area of my knee.  I've carried a lot of extra weight over most of my life and have just gotten out of the "obese" distinction for height and weight.  I know this contributed to my knee problem.  My arthritis is at the weight-bearing part of my knee (medial area). I'm 66 and healthy and am not ready to throw in the towel.  

We're a close-knit family.  My husband is extremely supportive and semi-retired so he is available to help.  We've been married 45 years and he's been by my side every step of the way.   My daughter, who lives 5 blocks away, went to the doctor's visit with me on Tuesday.  She and I have a jewelry-making business and work together many days of the week.  My son is in the Nuclear Medicine Technology program at a local college.  Even though he's not around the corner (40 minutes away) he's close ... and especially close psychologically and emotionally.  My house is a small bungalow and the bathroom is about 10 steps from my bed.  I have three steps to go up to get into the house.  

I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, especially if I know what is at its root.  I tend to give myself little pep talks ... "you got through 'such-and-such' so you can get through this" or "one day this will be but a memory."  

I've had two opinions from orthopedists and they were both for partial knee replacements.  Cortisone and Toradol didn't work on me.  One doctor was recommending Synvisc-One, a gel-like substance to provide a minimal cushion/lubricant.  At this point I'm ready for a permanent solution.  I've been dealing with this for nearly 9 months.  I don't like the limitations.  Again, thank you for sharing your story. :-) 

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I'm in Saint Petersburg Florida. I spent all last winter, which is the most beautiful time of the year here, hobbling around, barely able to walk.  I don't want a repeat perforamance.  Summers are miserable here so to be up and running this winter ... or walking fast :-) ... would be great!  Comedies here I come! 

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Barb, you may be lucky & the synovial injections will work for you. I tried them; discovered I was the strange 1 in 1500 people who experience no relief and bad side effects. I had a horrible burning sensation in my knee that lasted about 4 days after injection.

I, too, have been overweight since adolescent. I'm worse that you, because I gain weight/take it off/gain it back/ take it off again...you get the idea. I'm a barista and on my feet every hour of my job (4-5 days/wk, 6-8 hrs/shift) and that was the ONLY exercise I got. I went into this surgery with flabby thigh muscles, etc. I am still glad I did it.

Your family sounds wonderful! That's a big part of your recovery, support from them. I'm 4 weeks post-op and still not cleared to drive and I am going a bit stir crazy but as you do, I talk to myself also and it helps keep me calm. 

Ask your surgeon about going to an inpatient rehab place directly from leaving the hospital. I did this after a 2-1/2 day stay and I truly feel it helped enormously! I wouldn't have had the discipline to push myself as the physical therapists and occupational therapists did. The worst thing about the whole experience was the awful institutional food! Everyone who came to visit brought me food.

I wish you the best of luck! You're optimistic, tired of being in pain, have a good support system. Do you have health insurance to cover the bulk of the cost? Look into that, talk to your family and make your decision after lots of thought. I did, and wow, I am soooooo glad I got this done. 

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I am really enjoying walking now,!

My TKR was in March.

Take a look at my profile and skim through my blog if it helps. The page was written to convey the need for patience, something our cultures in the western world are not really geared up to! It has a lot of useful suggestions and information. Everyones journey is very different but it can be reassuring to read of others trials and tribulations, as well as see progress made...at its own pace, unique to the individual.

I did write a hell of a lot! Best to pick and mix in a reading of it!

Everyone's experience is different and we cope with things in different ways. I found reading about others experience of TKR very helpful before the surgery. It is good to prepare as much as possible in all respects. I also found it helpful to jot down little steps of progress and improvement after the surgery, because it is so easy to not appreciate the improvements which are made. Keeping a journal is a good idea. You can the look back on the experience and the progress you make, and appreciate what a massive and hugh acheivement it is!

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Hi Kathleen,  I wish I could say that I'm a model of health and wellness but, like you, I had years of yo-yo dieting. But, we do the best we can, when we can. :-)  Insurance will cover 80%.  

I decided against the Synvisc-One because of being discouraged by ineffective anti-inflammatory injections ... which are pretty painful and then to have them not work.  I'm going to throw myself on the floor now and do some exercising!  

I hope you get clearance to drive soon.  Life can get really small.  Getting out would be a great thing.  Have a great weekend! 

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See a PT for prehab exercises and hydotherapy exercise to strengthen you up. 

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My advice is in the picture!!!

No really...  I had four knee scopes many years ago and then started on SynVisc which took away the pain for years and years.  Moved to Texas from Jersey; the warm weather really helped.  Finally needed a TKR in '16.

Recovering from a partial is just as painful and long as recovering from a full TKR.  Consider that.  You don't want to do this twice.

Recovery, again, is painful and long.  Gotta be prepared for all of it, especially when PTs break down the forming scar tissue...not fun.  Click my picture and then "See All Discussions".  Start with the "...Kidney Stone" post and check out the rest.  You'll get an idea of what you're facing.  Also see posts by OldFatGuy1, WaffaloBill and other #6 Oracles who are pretty active on the Forum. Jenny has a great off-site blog. Lots of great information out there.

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Did I see Errol Flynn in that photo? LOL!  I had a really good day today and am thinking, hmmm, maybe I don't need that surgery after all ... and then there will be a revelation a coupla days from now ... "I really need that surgery!"    :-)  I haven't had any joint surgery below the waist yet, but had two rotator cuff surgeries and a frozen shoulder.  PT said it was the worse frozen shoulder they had ever had so while they were working on me, I started swimming.  I made a two-hr round trip drive, but it paid off.  You always have to do at least as much for yourself as the other guy is doing!  Recovery really did take a year.   I remember one day, near my year anniversary of surgery, realizing that I wasn't feeling any pain. I keep telling myself if I could handle the shoulder deal, I could handle this ... but I'm really pretty terrified!  

Thank you for sharing your story. I'll check out the discussions you reference. Have a great weekend!

 

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Thank you, Cheryl! I've recently started doing some exercises from Healthline website called the 10 Exercises Before Knee Replacement Surgery.  I've been doing some water walking in the pool and some other exercises.  Since I can't run, as recommended by Chico's photo, I'll have to swim away! 

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Good for you, that's great!  Water walking can be ok, but hydrotherapy is lots better. Great you're doing these already!

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Hi Barbara

​Your story is a mirror of mine. I am 62 and had anthroscopy on the knee for a torn meniscus in February 2015 it was painful and didnt really work. I was walking 5 to 7 miles at a time but gradually I could only manage 1 mile. Eventually it was bone on bone and although like you when you are resting or not putting too much stress on it I thought I wouldnt take it any further. But, I was beggining to look bow legged (not a good look!) and sleeping became an issue so 20th June 2017 I had a partial knee replacement right medial.

​Today at just over 6 weeks I can't say I did the right thing yet (being totally honest here) the pain is worse than before but I am hoping that with time it will get better. The surgeon admired his handiwork at my 6 week visit but was surprised I was still in pain. I couldnt get to grips with pain meds right from the start they made me very sick and boy do you need them. I too have had a torn rotator cuff and that was awful, unfortunately this is as bad. That said some people dont experience too much pain at all. I have a friend who was off meds in four days and went skiing after 8 months.  You do ned to exercise right from the start it is a race against scar tissue.  I have religiously done my exercises and have got a good range I can completely straighten my leg and bend to 125 degrees but I have no strength and stairs are an issue (I have 17 very steep stairs to negotiate to bed and any other time I need upstairs so I get plenty of practice)

​Its probably not helped you at all but I will keep you informed of my situation in the next few weeks. I have been told to walk half a mile a day and swim and walk in the pool to build up stamina, eventually getting to one mile a day. (LOL) there will be no time for anything else, its a good thing I no longer work this recovery is a full time job.

​I am determined to be as fit as I can be and wait for this - my goal is to wear high heels again. I have more than two  dozen pairs and just dont like flats!!! I think because i am not very tall. (Hope that makes you smile) I am in the uk and have a holiday booked in September to go to the states so I need to be able to walk miles by then. I have everything crossed for that.

Good luck with your decision, one only you can make. I am still on the fence.

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Thank you, Jenny!  I love your artwork! ... and will spend more time reading about your knee experience.  Thanks for sharing!  

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Hi Tricia, Thanks so much for all of the good information!  I do hope you'll keep me posted on your progress and that your recovery continues to improve.  The recovery stories are so varied. At least the pain you experience is while you're heading in a positive direction. 

I think wearing high heels again is a worthy goal!  I've never been able to wear them. :-(  Felt like someone was stabbing me in the ball of my foot!  You'll be leaving for your trip to the states knowing that your metal knee can withstand the walking!  I'm crossing my fingers for you too!  BTW, where are you headed?