Hot Diggity's knee replacement thread

Here we go again. After a very successful hip replacement in March of this year I had a total knee replacement (knee arthroplasty) today. I also got a new knee cap, whatever that's called.

This knee had been going down hill slowly since I had the leg crushed in 1982. I haven't been able to straighten the knee since then, and the doctor measured the angle at 19 degrees. The new knee has only a 1 degree bend. The muscles and tendons are all accustomed to the old bend and they'll need much stretching to give me full use and movement.

I'm totally up for aggressive physical therapy and dedicated stretching, even while sleeping.

I'm up walking with a walker already, but the nerve block in my thigh hasn't worn off, even after twelve hours, so I still have to move carefully.

Food is good, nurses are nice, and I've watched more television today than I've watched in many years. I go home tomorrow morning and start my extended holiday vacation.

My lighted pulse oxygen sensor looks like something from ET.

"ET phone home."

 

Rest easy and heal up.

 

Like a night light?

 

Might work on both!

 

Best of luck to ya ,, you did well thru your hip replacement ,, hopefully the knee replacement will be a piece of cake for you .

 

Had my left knee replaced 2 years ago and just had my right knee replaced 5 weeks ago. This knee replacement seems to be going better than my left. I do PT 2 times a week gotta do the exercises and push through the pain. I really let my right knee go, surgeon said my knee was in really bad shape said I don't know how he walked on it.
You will do fine -do the exercises and lots of ice on it to reduce the swelling 5 weeks in and I am still icing after exercising. Good luck keep us posted

 

Headed home in about an hour. Physical therapist has given me instructions for exercises four times a day and get up and walk around for ten minutes of every hour then ice for 20 minutes.

I can organize my walk time to include answering natures call and going to the refrigerator. Big thing to work on is getting my weight bearing and stride equal and placing my heel on the deck first.

Big stabbing pains if I move too fast, and no strength to lift the leg off the bed yet. Same as with the hip replacement, it'll come back.

Worst thing about this whole deal so far has been hiccups. I hate them. Had to go to the ER for them after 48 hours non-stop. I get them very infrequently and can usually get rid of them quickly.... But not today!

 

Hardest thing will be trying to get in a comfortable position to sleep wake up frequently and have to try and find a spot where my knee doesn't hurt. Muscle relaxant and pain pills help some. Good luck

 

Not looking forward to having the knees done!
Had my left hip done a couple years ago, went better then I expected, and while I admit I pushed things a bit to get back to being normal, in the long run it was the best thing I could have done! Betweent that and finally getting the blood flow issues all sorted out finally, it's likely I'll actually keep the leg now! Ultimately, I still gotta do both knees though, that should be all kinds of fun!

 

There doesn't seem to be a position that doesn't hurt. Between the burning pain and the itching I doubt I'm tired enough to get any sleep like this.

I got the hiccups to settle down and thought I was getting somewhere, but the pain at the incision is pretty extreme with the knee propped up. It's not so bad with my feet on the floor but I'm supposed to keep it straight and elevated.

Don't want to get clots in the legs, but it sure feels better to let them down for awhile.

 

I finally got into a properly supported position after the 0245 alarm for meds, and by the time the 0315 alarm went off for the Tylenol I was just battling hiccups. Sugar cookies seemed to work at settling them, and after the sugar wore off watching Nazi War Trials on YouTube I was ready to turn off the light and cover up for a decent sleep.

Hiccups are back and stronger than ever now. Maybe doing my breathing exercises with the spirometer will help.

 

Try a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water.

 

Had my 6 week check with the surgeon today says it's looking good come back in 2 months. Asked for more pain meds he said doesn't like to over prescribe --I can start taking advil. Had pt almost got my leg to straighten and it can almost bend back like my left leg. I feel your pain at not sleeping My knee still wakes me up just going to take time. I found sleeping I had to bend the knee keeping it straight was too painful. Good luck it will only get better

 

The medical term is Patella.

 

QUOTE="chelloveck, post: 701642, member: 4405"]The medical term is Patella.

[/QUOTE]

Yes, and the fancy medical term for the button that they placed on the inside of the patella is patella button. I was expecting something Latin.

 

Yes, and the fancy medical term for the button that they placed on the inside of the patella is patella button. I was expecting something Latin.[/QUOTE]
Overhauled Patina man and no pictures of hot nurses? You're slipping!

 

Got to see the x-rays, when I accompanied my sister to her post-op consult with the surgeon, after her first knee replacement (RA chewed up both of them, eventually). When they got in there, the surgeon discovered that the end of her femur was so ate up from the RA, that he ended up cutting back about 4 inches, threading a rod into her femur, then attaching the upper portion of her new knee to that. The x-ray was pretty funky to look at!

 

I saw an x-ray. Looked very nice. I should be able to get a copy on the 29th.

The big news for today was that I had one hiccup. ONE! Just one, and I was waiting for them to start up again, but it ended with just the one. Haven't come back all day. Made it a very happy Thanksgiving.

 

As a candidate for a knee replacement, due to Osteoarthritis and RA. Following this to see how you fair through it.