Knee replacement

[Bull City]

Thanks, everybody. I know there are going to be ups and downs, this morning was a little harsh but right now I'm feeling pretty good. Enjoying a Purdy's chocolate easter egg. Num.

A chocolate easter egg? For a grown man? That sounds like a disgusting substitute for good ol' alcohol.

[Ish]

Thanks, everybody. I know there are going to be ups and downs, this morning was a little harsh but right now I'm feeling pretty good. Enjoying a Purdy's chocolate easter egg. Num.

A chocolate easter egg? For a grown man? That sounds like a disgusting substitute for good ol' alcohol.

Didn't you have to avoid alcohol while on blood thinners?

[Bull City]

Thanks, everybody. I know there are going to be ups and downs, this morning was a little harsh but right now I'm feeling pretty good. Enjoying a Purdy's chocolate easter egg. Num.

A chocolate easter egg? For a grown man? That sounds like a disgusting substitute for good ol' alcohol.

Didn't you have to avoid alcohol while on blood thinners?

Now that you mention it, I did avoid alcohol (successfully, I might add) because I was taking oxy-something. I was on stool softeners, instead of blood thinners.

[Ish]

Thanks, everybody. I know there are going to be ups and downs, this morning was a little harsh but right now I'm feeling pretty good. Enjoying a Purdy's chocolate easter egg. Num.

A chocolate easter egg? For a grown man? That sounds like a disgusting substitute for good ol' alcohol.

Didn't you have to avoid alcohol while on blood thinners?

Now that you mention it, I did avoid alcohol (successfully, I might add) because I was taking oxy-something. I was on stool softeners, instead of blood thinners.

Oxycodone, probably. My doctor called for 6 weeks of enteric coated ASA to keep the clots at bay, I would love a glass of Glenmorangie tonight, but it's not to be.

[Bull City]

Thanks, everybody. I know there are going to be ups and downs, this morning was a little harsh but right now I'm feeling pretty good. Enjoying a Purdy's chocolate easter egg. Num.

A chocolate easter egg? For a grown man? That sounds like a disgusting substitute for good ol' alcohol.

Didn't you have to avoid alcohol while on blood thinners?

Now that you mention it, I did avoid alcohol (successfully, I might add) because I was taking oxy-something. I was on stool softeners, instead of blood thinners.

Oxycodone, probably. My doctor called for 6 weeks of enteric coated ASA to keep the clots at bay, I would love a glass of Glenmorangie tonight, but it's not to be.

Doesn't Glenmorangie prevent blood clots?

[Ish]

Thanks, everybody. I know there are going to be ups and downs, this morning was a little harsh but right now I'm feeling pretty good. Enjoying a Purdy's chocolate easter egg. Num.

A chocolate easter egg? For a grown man? That sounds like a disgusting substitute for good ol' alcohol.

Didn't you have to avoid alcohol while on blood thinners?

Now that you mention it, I did avoid alcohol (successfully, I might add) because I was taking oxy-something. I was on stool softeners, instead of blood thinners.

Oxycodone, probably. My doctor called for 6 weeks of enteric coated ASA to keep the clots at bay, I would love a glass of Glenmorangie tonight, but it's not to be.

Doesn't Glenmorangie prevent blood clots?

The problem is that booze, being a blood thinner, together with the ASA makes your blood too thin. I was willing to take the chance, but my resident nurse (Mrs. Ish) put the kibosh on that concept.

[Orestes Munn]

Hang in there, Ish. We are thinking of you.

[Ish]

There is a similar thread (that someone other than me started) in General Anarchy. Here's a chunk, with expansions, that I posted there.

I went to my post-op physio appointment yesterday, and had the first session. According to their mandate, I already meet minimum spec; he said I was in the top 5% coming in so I shouldn't have too much trouble. ROM, flexibility, strength, in that order. Going to buy a 65cm exercise ball for some of the ROM exercises, keep doing all the stuff I have been doing. And lie down more. Who, me?


I also took off the dressing for the first time. It looks like a cheap zipper on a fat girl. Pictures on request.

New content: I was surprised the bar for "graduation" was set so low. I walked into the office and sat down, and he looked at me and ticked off a box. "Well, we don't have to worry about range of motion". I looked down and realized I had unconsciously sat down with my knee bent in a normal position. The other folks in the program were generally 20 years older than me and could probably not get around very well, if at all, even before the operation. I'm lucky.

[Orestes Munn]

There is a similar thread (that someone other than me started) in General Anarchy. Here's a chunk, with expansions, that I posted there.

I went to my post-op physio appointment yesterday, and had the first session. According to their mandate, I already meet minimum spec; he said I was in the top 5% coming in so I shouldn't have too much trouble. ROM, flexibility, strength, in that order. Going to buy a 65cm exercise ball for some of the ROM exercises, keep doing all the stuff I have been doing. And lie down more. Who, me?


I also took off the dressing for the first time. It looks like a cheap zipper on a fat girl. Pictures on request.

New content: I was surprised the bar for "graduation" was set so low. I walked into the office and sat down, and he looked at me and ticked off a box. "Well, we don't have to worry about range of motion". I looked down and realized I had unconsciously sat down with my knee bent in a normal position. The other folks in the program were generally 20 years older than me and could probably not get around very well, if at all, even before the operation. I'm lucky.

Go Ish!

[Tucky]

Congratulations, sounds great. I suspect a shoulder of mine which is currently complaining will be the joint that gets me to face what I hope will be the first surgery of my life, but that's a ways off, I hope.

[Bull City]

There is a similar thread (that someone other than me started) in General Anarchy. Here's a chunk, with expansions, that I posted there.

I went to my post-op physio appointment yesterday, and had the first session. According to their mandate, I already meet minimum spec; he said I was in the top 5% coming in so I shouldn't have too much trouble. ROM, flexibility, strength, in that order. Going to buy a 65cm exercise ball for some of the ROM exercises, keep doing all the stuff I have been doing. And lie down more. Who, me?


I also took off the dressing for the first time. It looks like a cheap zipper on a fat girl. Pictures on request.

New content: I was surprised the bar for "graduation" was set so low. I walked into the office and sat down, and he looked at me and ticked off a box. "Well, we don't have to worry about range of motion". I looked down and realized I had unconsciously sat down with my knee bent in a normal position. The other folks in the program were generally 20 years older than me and could probably not get around very well, if at all, even before the operation. I'm lucky.

Ish, it's good to hear that you're doing so well. How is your extension?

Bob

[Ish]

There is a similar thread (that someone other than me started) in General Anarchy. Here's a chunk, with expansions, that I posted there.

I went to my post-op physio appointment yesterday, and had the first session. According to their mandate, I already meet minimum spec; he said I was in the top 5% coming in so I shouldn't have too much trouble. ROM, flexibility, strength, in that order. Going to buy a 65cm exercise ball for some of the ROM exercises, keep doing all the stuff I have been doing. And lie down more. Who, me?


I also took off the dressing for the first time. It looks like a cheap zipper on a fat girl. Pictures on request.

New content: I was surprised the bar for "graduation" was set so low. I walked into the office and sat down, and he looked at me and ticked off a box. "Well, we don't have to worry about range of motion". I looked down and realized I had unconsciously sat down with my knee bent in a normal position. The other folks in the program were generally 20 years older than me and could probably not get around very well, if at all, even before the operation. I'm lucky.

Ish, it's good to hear that you're doing so well. How is your extension?

Bob

Thanks, Bob. I'm pretty much at the point I was with my OEM knee, about 5°. I should be able to shave that down in the next while with exercise, but I'm noticeably taller and walk without a limp (when I work on it...habit dies hard).

Yesterday afternoon was a noticeable turning point. Thursday and Friday were pretty bad, shooting nerve pain and major skin hypersensitivity on that leg. Saturday morning was a bit more of the same, but in the middle of my afternoon exercises, everything suddenly felt better. Last night I slept well, the first time I have really slept since the operation, and this morning it still feels good. "Good" being relative, of course, but the process of getting out of bed and standing up was much less painful than it was before the operation. I also didn't reach for the meds every two hours through the night. I was worried I was going to have to source some more Dilaudid since I have only enough to last through Monday and the surgeon is apparently strict about not prescribing more...but I should be able to survive on Tylenol. If not, I have an understanding family doctor.

[Bull City]

There is a similar thread (that someone other than me started) in General Anarchy. Here's a chunk, with expansions, that I posted there.

I went to my post-op physio appointment yesterday, and had the first session. According to their mandate, I already meet minimum spec; he said I was in the top 5% coming in so I shouldn't have too much trouble. ROM, flexibility, strength, in that order. Going to buy a 65cm exercise ball for some of the ROM exercises, keep doing all the stuff I have been doing. And lie down more. Who, me?


I also took off the dressing for the first time. It looks like a cheap zipper on a fat girl. Pictures on request.

New content: I was surprised the bar for "graduation" was set so low. I walked into the office and sat down, and he looked at me and ticked off a box. "Well, we don't have to worry about range of motion". I looked down and realized I had unconsciously sat down with my knee bent in a normal position. The other folks in the program were generally 20 years older than me and could probably not get around very well, if at all, even before the operation. I'm lucky.

Ish, it's good to hear that you're doing so well. How is your extension?

Bob

Thanks, Bob. I'm pretty much at the point I was with my OEM knee, about 5°. I should be able to shave that down in the next while with exercise, but I'm noticeably taller and walk without a limp (when I work on it...habit dies hard).

Yesterday afternoon was a noticeable turning point. Thursday and Friday were pretty bad, shooting nerve pain and major skin hypersensitivity on that leg. Saturday morning was a bit more of the same, but in the middle of my afternoon exercises, everything suddenly felt better. Last night I slept well, the first time I have really slept since the operation, and this morning it still feels good. "Good" being relative, of course, but the process of getting out of bed and standing up was much less painful than it was before the operation. I also didn't reach for the meds every two hours through the night. I was worried I was going to have to source some more Dilaudid since I have only enough to last through Monday and the surgeon is apparently strict about not prescribing more...but I should be able to survive on Tylenol. If not, I have an understanding family doctor.

I'm glad the turning point has you headed in the right direction. Sleep is sooo important in healing and recovery. I had occasional twinges for a 2 or 3 months after surgery; not bad but were enough to disturb sleep. If I had any in the evening, I would take a pill before bed.

I have my one-year check-up (actually 11 months) in about 10 days.

[Orestes Munn]

Whoa! There's a lot between dilaudid and Tylenol. I hope you get the control you need.

[Ish]

Whoa! There's a lot between dilaudid and Tylenol. I hope you get the control you need.

Me too. I'm sure my regular doc would fix me up in an instant.

[Jamie]

Glad to hear the speedy progress.

Have you found the grease nipple they put on the back? Maybe that might speed things up even more.

[Ish]

Glad to hear the speedy progress.

Have you found the grease nipple they put on the back? Maybe that might speed things up even more.

Sealed bearings, no extra nipples besides the two standby units on the front.

[LarryHoward]

Glad to hear the speedy progress.

Have you found the grease nipple they put on the back? Maybe that might speed things up even more.

Sealed bearings, no extra nipples besides the two standby units on the front.

Ok. You are getting better. Sense of humor coming back.

[Bull City]

Ish, have you been walking? It takes some doing to get a half way normal gait back. Is there any pain?

Dr. Bull

[Ish]

Yes, I have been walking, but only briefly without some support, be it walker or cane. I can still see and feel the benefit of having a little load sharing.

I'm working on the gait, I can walk quite normally when I want. The pain comes after the adventure usually. I had to get up at 5 AM this morning to ice. Sleep is still a stranger.
I had the staples removed yesterday, the scar looks good. Physio this morning, I'm still ahead of the curve, picked up 20° of range over the last week. I'm working it just hard enough that I don't bleed too much. Last thing I need is problems with the incision.
I saw my regular doctor's office for more Dilaudid just to make sure I was covered. It was just as well, my follow-up with the surgeon yesterday was about 3 minutes total and he asked nothing about pain, but he did seem very happy about the knee. Good surgeon but the bedside manner of a morgue attendant.
Yes, still some pain. Nothing like the first week, but enough to make me appreciate modern chemistry. I'm tapering off, should be off them entirely in a week or two.

[Ish]

Update from the field:

Had a PT session this morning, the physios are very happy and suggested I pull back a bit. First go at the excercise bike, piece of cake. Flexion of just over 115°, still on cane assist but walking better every day. Down to 3-4 Dilaudid per day along with Tylenol Extra, still not sleeping well but a lot of that is the hypersensitivity of the skin on that leg. It is driving me nuts at night, can't stand to have sheets touching it sometimes. Easing off on the PT should help that, I hope. Still too cool at night to sleep totally uncovered.
I moved my car last week to make it easier for my wife to park. No problem getting into the Celica or driving the manual trans. Now I just need doctor clearance.

Looking back at Bull's experience, I see he was prescribed three 5mg oxycodone every three hours. I'm doing one 1mg Dilaudid (hydromorphone) every four hours and tapering off. To the medics here: how does that compare? Just curious.

[Ish]

I looked it up myself, and thanks to drugs.com I got this information.

Oxycodone:

Initial dose in opioid-naive patients:
-Immediate Release: 5 to 15 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours
-Oral solution 5 mg/mL: 5 to 15 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours
-Titrate according to patient's pain response and tolerability

Dilaudid:

ORAL:
Immediate-release tablets: Initial dose: 2 to 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours
Immediate-release oral liquid: Initial dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally every 3 to 6 hours
Maintenance dose: Gradually increase dose if analgesia is inadequate, as tolerance develops, or if pain severity increases.

So it looks like Bull was on a pain-control regimen slightly over the max, and I'm on one that is half of minimum. No wonder I have some pain almost all the time.

[BeauV]

Ish,

Great to hear about the progress!

I'm no expert, but I have personally noticed a great deal of variation between pain killers and their efficacy withing my own experience. I've ended up sorting through different one until I found something that worked. No idea why, I'm guessing that our body chemistries are all a little different.

[Ish]

I'm cured!

Well, not quite yet, but I'm out of physio. I had my last session this morning. It wasn't going to be my last, but the sight of me walking normally, without a cane, seemed to surprise them. So they ran me through the wringer and pronounced me graduated. 125°ROM, 5/5 strength was hard to argue with. And I can drive again!
I still have a range of exercises to do, but they apologized that they were so easy. I'm still going to do them, I need to build up more flexion and strength, but it feels pretty good. Maybe I can get out to the boat this weekend!

[LarryHoward]

Excellent!

[JoeP]

Way to go Ish!

[Panope]

Start now and you'll make it to Bob's by noon tomorrow.

Steve

[kimbottles]

Or just drive down Ish, it won't be the same without you and Anne.

[Ish]

My physio told me short trips to start, like around the block. I think that's wise...

[Tigger]

Well done!