72F Only discomfort is going down the stairs. Still gaining quad strength. It's slow going rebuilding muscle for me. Also my goodness but rainy days make it ache. Nowhere near the achiness of pre surgery but it's stiff and heavy feeling.
Still tough to go down stairs. Especially steep ones. Up is ok. Also still can't sleep under covers, sheet blanket etc. Just a light weight comforter. Other than that pretty happy with the outcome.
Has this happened to others? Also more fatigue than usual. I'm sleeping fine. 3rd week into working in the mornings during the week. First week was rough but last week was fine. Have been exercising more as well. Although going to take today off and just do my flexion exercises. Just curious.
I'm currently icing and elevating. Not a lot of pain but definitely swollen. I have been on my feet a lot more the last two weeks. Back to the gym as well. Looked down and there was a definite difference between my good knee and new knee. One plus is I have not needed to ice at night for about a week. But still taking gabapentin at night. It definitely helps.
71F Finally had the energy and it felt great. A little bit slow but have to work back up to it. I really don't care for walking so rowing was always my go to cardio. Yesterday 20min on recumbent bike and 15 on the rowing machine. Interesting it was the first night in ages didn't need to get up and grab an ice pack. Still having IT band issues. I think that will take some time to resolve. Thankfully not as bad as 4 weeks ago.
71 F So had what I would say is my normal week. Back to college chem labs 4 mornings. But I am able to sit and elevate during lab if need be. Came home and was so tired first 2 days. Skipped home PT for a day, did do stuff at gym. Elevated again and iced. It definitely helped. Last night had to get up and get ice packs twice. First time in ages. Today having zingers intermittently. A reminder that this is a marathon...
At 12 weeks. I'm an adjunct chem teacher. First day of summer labs. So on my feet and moving with short breaks to sit. Came home iced and elevated. Definitely more swollen Which I had expected. I've been having IT band pain too so it's a little worse. The fatigue is real though. So tired. This is definitely a marathon recovery.
71F Have been riding recumbent bike for 30 min a day for about 3 weeks. Have done short walks outside. Too hot today. Did treadmill at gym, just a half mile. Oh my it did me in. Tried some of my usual upper body. Amazing how out of shape I am.
I'm at 10 weeks. Just wondered. Have been done with PT for 2 weeks.
When did you feel comfortable enough trying to kneel? I'm still having pain occasionally in the tibia so a little leery. When did the crazy fatigue lift. If I do what I would consider a regular day. Errands and house stuff, exercises etc. If I don't pace myself damn I'm tired. The grocery store, a big shop and I'm done for the day.
71F Almost 9 weeks. Purchased a recumbent bike and it has helped immensely. Use it 6 days out of 7. Also just doing more stuff. Today was last day of PT and we pushed a little, practiced stuff I can start doing at gym. Then too many stairs. Then I am beat. Knee tired and I look down and it's swollen more than the usual. In bed, wedge pillow and ice. For those of us who tend to push ourselves, keep all your pillows handy. I have 4 gel ice packs always at the ready in the freezer. Took my Meloxicam and 2 Tylenol.
71F I did not wake up to get an ice pack last night. First time since surgery. I did get up to pee, but that's normal. Was able to go right back to sleep. I'm able to do light housework, cook easy meals and shop etc without too much discomfort. Sitting for more than a half hour still challenging. Standing without moving around still challenging. Just need to move knee to stay comfortable. Starting to consider walking our dogs. They are both around 50 lbs. Stairs still slow, but I think that's just quads still weak. Up ok, down still not fun but doable, the correct way. I pace myself pretty well, do something and take a break, elevate for a bit. I should have added I am taking Gabapentin at night. It has helped significantly.
At the end of week 8 and I have my ROM. Discharged from PT but got some extra for IT band issues. That's mostly what PT is working on now. Just bought a recumbent bike for home, so that will be every day. Plus the damn steps to get upstairs to use it. Question is everyone still doing heel slides and working with the strap on flexion ? I do those about every day and do strength stuff every other day. Plus every day do IT band stretches.
Also, at night, I'm sleeping thank goodness, but still waking up with enough pain from IT band below the knee that I need to ice. Grab a cold pack and I go right back to sleep. I am taking 300 mg gabapentin to help with sleep and restless legs. That has helped sleep considerably.
Main pain at this point is IT band pain. Just below knee on outside. Does wake me up twice a night. I ice and go back to sleep. Got gabapentin from my primary so the cramping at night is controlled and I think it halps with the burning feeling from the IT band. So finally getting better sleep. Going to PT still for IT band and going to try dry needling in a couple of weeks. Doing flexion exercises almost every day, strength every other and the recumbent bike at least 4 times a week for 30 minutes. Have to say this is the frustrating part of recovery, tend to want to do too much. Have to one big thing a day and pace myself.
Seems random, but might have done too much yesterday. I only do flexibility exercises every day and strength every other now per PT. Yesterday was strength and flexibility and grocery. Also, it's damp and chilly again. Feel very stiff. Pulled out the wedge pillow again. Haven't needed it in awhile. Is this to be expected for a few months?
But, went to primary and am now taking gabapentin because of nightime cramping/restless leg. I still need to get up to ice because of IT band pain, but I am able to go right back to sleep. Going to try dry needling for the IT band issue. Also working with regular PT. It's a more of a burning pain which Tylenol doesn't seem to touch. Ice seems to help the most.
71F was released from PT but got some extra days because of IT band. We have an old house and basement steps steep. Tried going down the right way a few days ago and it was too much. Spent a couple days swollen and a little more pain.
So I have a tendency to do to much. Friday PT told me take it easy on the IT band. Only do strength exercises every other day. So basically today I'm just doing my flexion exercises, hip stretches and I will ride the recumbent for 20 to 30 minutes. Did the same yesterday.
Along with all this not sleeping well still, also insane restless legs at night. Has anyone seen a correlation between too much work/exercise and restless legs? No more pain meds per surgeon so trying various things to figure out the sleep restless legs issue. The middle of the night burning sensation from the IT band I resolve with ice, usually just once thank goodness.
71 F Discharged from PT but got 2 extra weeks to deal with IT band pain. Doc says see you in a year. Everything good. Only pain now is truthfully the IT band which is keeping me up at night. No renewal of oxy, one renewal of Meloxicam. Still taking Tylenol. Doc said full leg spasms at night probably from overuse. So...if have PT, don't go to gym. Listen more closely to body.
Scheduling personal trainer for end of June hopefully. Same for reformer Pilates. So far at gym using recumbent bike and upper body machines.
Hopefully can get IT band resolved soon. Doc says this is very common.
Doing my flexion extension today but did a hard PT Friday. 30 min on bike on Saturday, and at home PT. Today all I've done is flexion extension...I feel guilty but I'm tired today. Just puttered around the house. No long walk. I decided one day off won't set me back.
Close to 6 weeks and discharge from PT. Had a discussion yesterday about IT band and maybe connection to some nerve pain. I've been working on it at home. Yesterday he did some work on it which was painful but, no nerve pain last night. Going to ask for a couple more weeks of PT.