Author Topic: NGC. Full knee replacement. 2.5 weeks (Read 1744 times)

sidecarnutz · « **on:** May 28, 2021, 08:15:49 AM »

Hi Folks. Rich Maund here. Had a full right knee replacement done 2.5 weeks ago. Staples out yesterday. Having a bit of swelling. Brutal pain doing the bending PT's. But thankfully the pain goes away once done. And the joint is looser and easier to use afterwards. Down to taking a Tramadol up to 2x a day. Stopped Oxy at the 12 day point. My PT guy tells me I'm ahead of the curve in bending it. I can get it past 95 degrees now. No problem straightening it. Using the cane in the house and the walker at night and outdoors. Leg is still quite weak, but muscles getting a bit better each day. I understand the operation REALLY pulls the muscles out. They were the main pain issue after it was done.
I was very surprised I was back on my feet the morning after getting it done. Did a 50 yard walk and a flight of stairs. Of course the last of the really good pain drugs were still helping then. Day 2 was an eye opener. Got to feel just how sore the procedure makes you. Glad the first two weeks are over! Very grateful for the care from my lovely wife too.
Bike content. I have gotten back to the garage a few times now. Ran the bike for 20 minutes to warm it up well and then put it on a battery tender overnight. I'll do that every couple weeks until I can ride again at the end of summer.
I graduate PT next week and then the Doc will clear me to drive a car again. So that is something.
Really misssing my daily retirement joy rides on the bike. Hope you guys are off to a good start on Summer.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2021, 08:35:22 AM »

I am glad to hear it is going well. It should be all downhill from here! I am 8 months out from my right hip replacement and it is working out fantastic.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2021, 09:09:50 AM »

I go a week from today

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2021, 10:11:30 AM »

Quote from: Dave Swanson on May 28, 2021, 08:35:22 AM

I am glad to hear it is going well. It should be all downhill from here! I am 8 months out from my right hip replacement and it is working out fantastic.

Great to hear! Thank you! It really was time to me to do it. Has having trouble getting leg up on the foot peg. Then it would stiffen. So i could only do rides involving lots of stops to limber it up. VA canceled doing it last year. I was pretty angry. I finally went to a civilian ortho place and paid to do it myself. After using my Tricare insurance of course. Our total cost was under $800 on a $42k operation!

John A · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2021, 10:36:50 AM »

Thanks for the post, good to hear you are doing well with it. I scheduled mine for November 1 and am doing my pre op exercises. I’m scared of infection.... but it’s being done at a civilian orthopedic as well.

mobiker · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2021, 10:49:36 AM »

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2021, 12:36:04 PM »

Great news! I am 7 months out from knee, and 14 from hip replacement. If your doc didn't prescribe one of these, highly recommend. Pure magic.

Interesting to see staples being used. I had staples on my first 3 open knee surgeries, but with both replacements, no staples.

"Donjoy® IceMan Clear3 w/ Universal XL Pad | Buy Donjoy® IceMan Clear3 at MyColdTherapy.com – By Cold Therapy Machines at My Cold Therapy" https://mycoldtherapy.com/products/iceman-clear3-universal-xl?variant=7125616394263&currency=USD&utm_medium=GoogleShoppingNetwork&utm_content=Donjoy%C2%AE+IceMan+Clear3+w/+Universal+XL+Pad+Cooler+w/+Universal+XL+Pad&utm_campaign=SurfacesAcrossGoogle&utm_source=Google&gclid=CjwKCAjwqcKFBhAhEiwAfEr7zfCEGIZkSjm6xHLwZ19mc5F6KjmSqsK3LMe2Mk-__8RcMHibrXbn4hoCTfcQAvD_BwE

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2021, 02:27:58 PM »

Quote from: Bulldog9 on May 28, 2021, 12:36:04 PM

Great news! I am 7 months out from knee, and 14 from hip replacement. If your doc didn't prescribe one of these, highly recommend. Pure magic.

Interesting to see staples being used. I had staples on my first 3 open knee surgeries, but with both replacements, no staples.

"Donjoy® IceMan Clear3 w/ Universal XL Pad | Buy Donjoy® IceMan Clear3 at MyColdTherapy.com – By Cold Therapy Machines at My Cold Therapy" https://mycoldtherapy.com/products/iceman-clear3-universal-xl?variant=7125616394263&currency=USD&utm_medium=GoogleShoppingNetwork&utm_content=Donjoy%C2%AE+IceMan+Clear3+w/+Universal+XL+Pad+Cooler+w/+Universal+XL+Pad&utm_campaign=SurfacesAcrossGoogle&utm_source=Google&gclid=CjwKCAjwqcKFBhAhEiwAfEr7zfCEGIZkSjm6xHLwZ19mc5F6KjmSqsK3LMe2Mk-__8RcMHibrXbn4hoCTfcQAvD_BwE

If no staples, how did they close it? Super glue? Butterfly bandages?

wymple · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2021, 05:03:03 PM »

My wife had a zipper. They glued a strip down both sides of that long incision and used a bunch of tiny zip ties between them. It said zipper right on it.

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2021, 05:10:45 PM »

Quote from: wymple on May 28, 2021, 05:03:03 PM

My wife had a zipper. They glued a strip down both sides of that long incision and used a bunch of tiny zip ties between them. It said zipper right on it.

They put some kind of wicking bandage over the incision, look like internal stitches and sealed with some kind of super glue. The original bandage was completely sealed and didn't remove for 10 days. I was shocked when I took the bandage off.

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #10 on:** May 29, 2021, 06:02:09 AM »

My 20 cm incision was covered by a water proof strip of adhesive bandage. That stayed on for ten days. Even though they had shaved my leg, when the nurse pulled it off, it was the single most painful thing I have felt in my life. Picture all the pain of raising your teenagers condensed into 30 seconds. I saw stars.
Doing really well on it now. Using a can now. No more walker. Stairs are no problem. In & out of a car easy. Not driving yet, that'll get certified next week. I can lift that leg over a foot high now so muscles are getting stronger again. Just gotta keep up the PT and leg exercises.

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2021, 06:14:19 PM »

Saw the surgeon this afternoon! X rays looked good. They were impressed and reminded me to concentrate on the thigh exercises to build the quad muscle. They also cleared me to drive! Just three weeks out of surgery. Its healing well and super glad I got this done. Who knows, another month and I may ride again!

LowRyter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 02, 2021, 09:09:27 PM »

Hope all of you have a successful procedure, get well and are back on the road soon.

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2021, 05:40:52 PM »

PS; They cleared me to drive a car again yesterday. Riding the bike will come after I strengthen that thigh up more. I spent this afternoon cooking and doing dishes. (Gotta make myself useful around here!)

kingoffleece · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2021, 07:33:34 PM »

Had mine at 6:30 this morning. Only needed a partial on the medial side, which was VERY good news. Allows me to keep all of my ligaments which are 100% fine. They tell me tomorrow will be "the day" as the nerve block will be totally consumed. It's ok, the bone on bone was killing me. Glad it's fixed.

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2021, 08:05:17 AM »

Kingof
Get well soon! Yeah, a partial IS less invasive. Quicker recovery too! Enjoy the rest of that initial block. I found I got a lot more sore the afternoon of day 2. But the pills every couple hours do make it manageable.

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2021, 07:54:42 PM »

Coming up on 4 week mark soon.
Found myself walking in the house with no cane this afternoon. Still getting a bit stronger each day. Taking the dog for walks again! And I'm in less discomfort now than I was before the operation. If you need this, I recommend it. My share of the cost after insurance stands at $800 and it was a $42k operation. The level of care i got was super professional on all levels.

kingoffleece · « **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2021, 08:02:25 PM »

Had my first PT today. Went well. Almost 70 degrees of bend. Swelling is going down a bit and it looks pretty bright right now.
Glad to hear the others in same boat are doing well, too.

greer · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2021, 05:08:20 AM »

Nice to hear how you all are coming along

You'll be back at it in no time

Sarah

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2021, 04:53:19 PM »

Glad to hear you're doing well. 4 weeks for me tomorrow! bends 110 degrees and straightens well. When I was walking the dog this afternoon I went 20' down the road without using the cane!

LowRyter · « **Reply #20 on:** June 08, 2021, 08:39:06 PM »

jrt · « **Reply #21 on:** June 08, 2021, 09:12:01 PM »

I'm glad you hear you all are doing ok. Keep it up!

sidecarnutz · « **Reply #22 on:** June 09, 2021, 11:32:42 AM »

Four weeks for me today. I can walk across the house with no cane. Hoping to lose it completely in another week or so.

I can't help but LOL as more and more of us old guys get this done. I can just see the future conversations on it.
"What oil is best for your artificial knee?"
"What aftermarket pipes are best for the bike to not annoy the new knee too badly? But I DO want max power!"
And of course Guzzitech will come up with new programs to download to make the knees run better. ;-)

Endless humor possibilities here.

News:

Author Topic: NGC. Full knee replacement. 2.5 weeks (Read 1744 times)