u/Due-Falcon-590

I’m about 7.5 weeks post op and my PT offered to talk to my PA about possibly having me go back to work at 8 weeks instead of 12. I have a very physically demanding job, and still doing PT twice a week. Today alone left me swollen from my knee to my ankle. I don’t think I’m going to take her up on the 8 week plan. For 1 I’m enjoying my time off and for 2 I think it would be too easy to do too much at work and it would be like working backwards. Even going back at 12 weeks I had planned on asking about going back light duty.

Also that spot on the outside of your knee that feels weird, numb, dead, that will always feel like that.

How long does it take once oop is met to not have copays or anything?

I had surgery 7 weeks ago and a lot of appointments before that and got my statement in the mail that my oop has been met last week. I’m still getting charged copays however at PT and with my psychiatrist.

Does anyone know what’s going on with losing VJ Day and gaining a PH? Was that suppose to happen this year? Or is it happening next year?

I’m 5 weeks post op tomorrow. Had my 6 week follow up today. The PA said it looks like I’m doing amazing and I insisted I feel like I should be further along. She said you should see the people who come in here for their 6 week follow up. I told her I’m not a stranger to knee surgeries. Gave me the clear to submerge finally, which will be great for pool time.

PA and I discussed work (I’m due to go back 9/18) because my next appointment isn’t until 10/2. Told me to call her a week ahead of time and she can either extend my leave if needed or write up my release with light duty. I work a very physical high impact job.

PT goes hard on me. I’m going on vacation next week, and she told me if I do nothing else do my stretches daily. That we had all those issues with stiffness and tightness in the beginning and doesn’t want me to get that way again. She also insists I’m doing amazingly and I also tell her I feel like I should be further along.

It’s been really rainy lately and I’ve been more achy than normal. And it’s the day after PT which I always seem to be more hurty the day after.

Do you also use audible? Or another audiobook provider?
I try to save my audible credits for books so long I know I won’t finish in the 21 days on Libby (example The Witching Hour), and plan on listening to The Stand soon which will also be on audible. I also save my credits for books I can’t find on Libby.

I’ve been doing decently. Walked around the mall this week, sat through a 2 hour movie, and sat through a 3.5 hour concert. The movie was easy with the reclining seats. The show was a bit tougher to sit through.

Ive been doing good with PT and this week we started strength work. Still working on active flexion. Passive flexion I can bend all the way.

I woke up this morning not really able to bear any weight and was reminded that recovery is not linear. I’m hoping this fades as the day goes on.

Had my first post op appointment. The PA unwrapped it and said it looks great for only 2 weeks. Said I’m ahead in rehab. I have full extension. Decent flexion, it depends what position I’m in with how far I can bend it. Can do full rotations on the bike. Hate the back of knee massages. Everyone says I’m moving great, and I’m ahead of schedule for recovery and I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. Like I should be further along. Go on vacation in 3 weeks and hoping I’ll be good for that.

I’m 11 days out. Last week I had a PT appointment but it was just an evaluation for after surgery. Today was my first real appointment. I’m almost full extension and my therapist is very concerned about that. We worked mostly on extension stuff, she massaged the back of my knee and my calf. It was not a pleasant massage. Told me to start using heat especially with extension stuff. Hooked me up to a machine to work my quads while doing assisted leg raises for 20 minutes. Then put me on a bike to pedal as far forward as I could do and as far backward as I could. I couldn’t make it all the way around in either direction. What kind of surprised me is she didn’t ice me at the end. I did ice as soon as imaging home though.

I’m a week post op. And compared to the first 2 days and now completely different. I’m not really in pain anymore, but an extreme level of 24/7 discomfort. Taking pain meds twice a day now, before morning PT and before bed. I elevate, ice, move around, but it’s so hard to get and stay comfortable. I’m also very stiff and tight. I’m struggling to walk heel to toe from the stiffness and tightness. I can do all my PT (at least half way) and starting to be able to do leg raises at least a little bit. My quads seem to be activating just not working to their full potential. I only had 1 PT session this week because scheduling was tough being a holiday week. Starting next week I go twice a week.

I am staying with my mom right now and hoping to go back home next Friday. I can do small tasks around the house. I even cooked myself a grilled cheese sandwich the other day and was so proud of myself.

The bruising is intense. I’m bruised on the outside and completely under the knee and half way down my calf.

Showering is ok. I can get in easier than I can get out. The waterproof bandage is holding up well. I honestly can’t wait to get the bandage off because I itch so badly. And I’m hyper aware of the incision.

I’m on the 3rd day since surgery. I finally have the pain under control. It was really rough for a bit. It still hurts but I went from a 10+/10 even with meds, to an 8-9/10. Still high but when it was 10+ it was unbearable. No one really prepares you for that kind of pain. I cried twice already because of how bad it was.

My surgeon called me the night of surgery and adjusted my doses and called in a refill. He also said my knee was completely destroyed. Much more extensive damage than he expected to find in there. Which I think is why he sent in the refill for pain meds and adjusted my dose.

I’m doing what PT I can do but can’t do all the exercises. I still can’t do a leg raise. Can barely do quad squeezes. Hopefully by the time I see my therapist on Tuesday my quads will wake back up.

Got my LTKR done today. There were issues with the spinal they just couldn’t get it in the right spot and they had to call in back up. I woke up on the operating table while they were closing and wrapping me up.

Everyone at the surgical center were unbelievably nice and helpful.

This is the worst pain I’ve ever been in in my life. I don’t know why I didn’t think it would be this bad. Getting up and moving kinda helps ease the pain a very little. In recovery they gave me a pain killer, muscle relaxer, and Tylenol through my IV and gave me a pill pain killer as well. Really hoping the pain subsides quickly because this is just way too much.

I’m now elevating and icing and getting up every so often to get some movement. The walker I feel is just a hinderance, but I still use it.

I was originally suppose to have PT Monday but they canceled and now I’m having it Tuesday.

I had my first preop appointment today with PT and the nurse navigator. It kinda made it all seem much more real. That this is really going to happen. The PT stressed that this is going to be much more painful than my previous surgeries and not to get discouraged by that. The nurse navigator answered all my questions and said I’m one of the most prepared patients she has seen.

I have my CT on Tuesday and my preop appointment with the surgeon next Friday. Then surgery on the 26th. I’m finally starting to feel ready for this.

Visiting Old Orchard Beach for 5 days in August. We went 2 years ago and it was great. The issues this year is I will be 5 weeks post op from a knee replacement. So far we have a whale watch planned (not scheduled yet), and of course the pier.

My question is what are some low impact things we can do 3 adults, 2 kids 10 and 12. I’m really worried going that close to surgery will be very limiting and I don’t want to be the reason vacation is ‘ruined’ for my family. We don’t mind traveling if need be, but I’d like to keep things within an hour away. We’re trying to stay away from amusement/water parks because of the excessive walking.

I’m having a total knee replacement in a month and I’m reading and being told by people I know who have had it done that insomnia happens. Sleep hygiene is a huge part of my mental health, as I’m sure it’s for many of us. I’m not sure if I should ask for sleep medication from my prescriber or rely on pain meds to help me sleep. I don’t want to deal with being laid up and a manic episode at the same time.

I (44f) am having a tkr on my left knee in 5 weeks. I live alone and there’s 19 steps into my apartment so I will be staying with a family member for a week or 2 in the beginning. My plan is to go back home when I’ve transitioned from the walker to a cane.

Any advice? Or anything you wish you had known before hand that would have made life easier?

I’m having tkr in 5 weeks on my left knee. Give me your best advice and tips. I live alone and up 19 stairs so staying with a family member for the first week or 2.