Total Knee Replacement, Anyone?

[ticketchecker]

Nice Griz, onward!

I fondled Stryker bits today, I’d post pics but…


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[The Iron Horse]

Yeah. I would post some incision pics, but...

Any significant differences? What did you think about the weight? Lighter or heavier than expected? Do you know what you will get?

This is a roller-coaster. Woke up feeling awful. Went to my son's baseball game, felt amazing being outside in the nice weather. Came home, exhausted. Now my fever is back. Up and down.

[ticketchecker]

I’d say heavier than expected, I’m not a gram counter with my gear in general but in this instance I’d notice weight more than a bike hub. There was another brand that felt like a tank so no way I’d get that one. I got to the gig a little late and the reps were on a break so didn’t get to talk to anyone.

My surgeon didn’t make it so nothing gained there in terms of what he uses or his take on the pre CT scan


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[Shredhead]

I'm Stryker, but I'd go with whatever the Surgeon is most comfortable with. I don't think weight would be a consideration at all.

I'm a huge fan of aquatic therapy. I'm in the pool, as soon as my incision heals.

[garyfromterrace]

With my 2 ACL reconstructions did a shit ton of work in the pool. From walking 5 minutes to pool running 45 mins. I credit the pool for playing ultimate 6 months after ACL recon. Ok, the gym 7 days a week didn't hurt either. But yeah, the pool - I'll be there ASAP after TKR.

[Iowagriz]

Day 25 update - PT was yesterday, and while I was sure I had made progress, it didn't show up on the table measurements. I could hear the concern in the voice of my PT for the lack of getting past 90? (and progress in general). She gave me more exercises to try, so I'll have to really buckle down this week and hit them hard. While I feel like I've made progress, and I can walk with a cane decently and without aids ok, it's not fast enough for me.

Depressing is the word of the day. But, I'm usually optimistic, so I'll keep plugging away.

[Shredhead]

I'm not sure I ever got back to 90.
But I'm skiing everyday, with the best skiers in town.

Everyone's recovery will be different. Make the best of it.

[ticketchecker]

Hope things get moving for you Griz, we need to have a meet up of TKR mags next winter. On skis of course

[Dantheman]

IMVHO, if you're a month out and can't get past 90* you need to talk to your surgeon about a manipulation.

[Iowagriz]

I have a feeling that is coming

[The Iron Horse]

Today is two weeks. Been a heck of a ride. The first week was brutal. I would feel great one minute, awful the next. I was prepared for pain, but not prepared for: mild fever, intense exhaustion, crazy sleep schedule, headaches, back pain, etc. My ACL reconstruction was easier in some ways, more difficult in others.

Stopped the Oxy at Day 7. Since then, I have taken some Vicodin here and there, mainly in the evening. I feel pretty good during the day, and PT has been rewarding, but I pay for a good workout come the evening. I am at 0 degrees extension (was there fairly early) and 80 degrees flexion. Doc wanted me to take the flexion part really slow, however, and I am taking his advice and have not even tried pushing it. I am walking around without a cane pretty good, started going up the stairs the proper way (using the railing, of course).

I think there is a light at the end of this tunnel. I feel like there is still a lot of swelling, but my therapist says I am doing better much better than most. I go back to see the doc next week, so we will see what he has to say.

[Iowagriz]

6 weeks yesterday. Progess is very slow. Made some decent strides in the past 3 weeks, got to 8° extension and maybe 95° flexion. But those are obviously still behind goals. I can make some standing pedal strokes on the bike, but sitting still produces a scream. The progress seemed to come when I added a professional massage each week. They worked on swelling reduction and hamstring tightness.

I saw the surgeon two days ago, he discussed that while I’m behind, he wasn’t concerned yet. I pushed him on my desire to not wait much longer. The plan is to add dry needling and if no real progress in 2-3 weeks, then we schedule the manual manipulation under anesthesia. I’d rather not make minor progress all summer and just get on with it.

Dry needling….what a good experience. $60 out of pocket as insurance won’t likely cover it. We measured my legs without warmup. 10° and 90°, then she placed one needle in a knot in my hamstring that is slightly larger than a golf ball. Six more around other parts of the hamstring. 5min later we are done and the measurements jumped to 6° and 100°. I’m hoping to add that weekly over the next few weeks.

Overall, I’m still mostly positive. We have a plan and with warmer weather coming, I can finally get out for good walks. On the very positive side, I won the local MTB club raffle for a bike. Any “Expert” level trim build from Specialized. Since I bought a new full susp last winter, I’m going to get a fancy gravel bike that will be perfect for rehab. The new Diverge STR.

I hope others are progressing well.


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[ticketchecker]

Everyone’s journey is gonna be their own. Had my online class yesterday, appt w surgeon next week, shop date is May twenty eight.

How was your range of motion going into it? Mine mostly blows but if the swelling is down I can spin comfortably, been swollen since last week so no spinning this week.

Congrats on the win!


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[The Iron Horse]

Iowa, sorry to hear it is a bit slower than you want. Stay positive and just try to move forward a little bit each and every day. My PT does dry needling, and while we have not done it yet for this recovery period, I have had good success with it in the past.

My recovery has been going well. I saw the doc last Wednesday (at three weeks) and he was very happy with my progress. Took some x-rays, and everything was spot-on. Crazy... both of my legs are now straight! I am definitely going to need some new insoles made for my boots next winter. I was at 0 and 105, but he wanted me to be even straighter. So I have been working on that. Prone hangs... fun.

He gave me the ok to start riding the bike, and we gave it a go at PT last Friday. My therapist told me just to rock, but within two minutes I was all the way around. Started on my bike trainer here at home on Saturday, and immediately knocked out 25 minutes @ 100W. Did the same on Sunday, and yesterday got it out to 35 minutes @ 100W. I will keep ramping up time and watts slowly. My flexion has definitely increased because of the bike, and I think it is the best therapy.

I pay for what I do during the day at night, of course, and last night I was tossing and turning. My knee just ached terribly. Some Tylenol quieted it down, which was good. Still using the ice machine regularly, but nowhere near as often as before.

[Iowagriz]

Thanks guys - Ticketchecker, I agree on the individual journey comment. I don't like my journey, but wishing differently doesn't help.Iron, I'm working to get that full pedal stroke. I'm so close...and I believe (as you are experiencing), if I can get full strokes on the trainer that the ROM will increase quickly.

[Iowagriz]

Random thought that might help someone.

I’ve been using my road bike (Tarmac) on a trainer for pedal stroke stretching. It occurred to me that it has a steeper seat tube angle and I should swap out to my MTB with a slacker seat tube. Hoping it would make the last part of my pedal stroke easy to get over the top. I tried that for a day and struggled to make the same progress. I initially chalked it up to a bad day.

This morning I was back on the MTB with about the same movement and it occurs to me that the MTB cranks are 175 and the road cranks are 172.5. I swapped back to the road bike for a test and immediately made complete pedal strokes (1st time). I was stoked…

Summary: I believe that even within that short period of time, the MTB stretched the knee to what I needed as I had been so close the days prior on the road bike.

Or…just a coincidence…either way, I’m happy this morning.


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[The Iron Horse]

Way to go, Iowa!

The bike is the ticket. I knocked out 45 min @131W today. Only stopped out of fear of overdoing it. I think now that you are riding, you'll be on target in no time.

[plugboots]

If I only have time for a short workout, I’ll do 30 min. on my rollers. I call it lubing my knee. It definitely has advanced my progress the most for my hip. Followed by skinning uphill.

[Iowagriz]

9 days ago my post says 6° and 100°. Today was 4° and 112-114° (depending on method of measurement). Reasonable progress.

Cycling has gotten better and, I think, gets me the most bang for the time. 50-60rpm for 10min is a hell of a lot of reps. Hamstring is still holding me up, but I'm comfortable with the plan to continue ahead with the small improvements. Manual manipulation can wait a few more weeks.

Biggest change for me is the muscle soreness as I work on getting back in shape. They have me lifting light weights and even those will kick my ass the next day.

Dry needling photo to test the forum. 2nd session didn't get the same dramatic improvements as #1, but was still worth it.

[ticketchecker]

Nice progression! With the forum exploderizing I wasn’t sure if we’d get any updates. Countdown is on for me, had pre-op intake on Friday and going back on May fifth for an Iovera injection.


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[The Iron Horse]

Way to go, Iowa. Keep charging forward! I pop in here once and I while... when things work... to see if there are any updates.

Getting close, Ticketchecker. Please let us know how it goes.

This coming Wednesday will be 6 weeks for me. I go back to see my doc, but I think all is good and hope he gives me the thumbs up.

Been working my butt off in PT. Up to an hour on the bike @ 172W. Definitely have more in the tank, but do not want to overdo it. Flexion is 0 and... 130! Still sore as heck every night, and the past week, as a result of all the work I am doing, not getting much sleep. But it is feeling good. Starting to plan my summer hiking and next season's skiing.

[ticketchecker]

Great update IH, I’ve been staring down these R[emoji637][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]’s that Marshal sent me.

Talking with the Doc about cementless vs cemented install. Anyone have experience with cementless?


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[ticketchecker]

Great update IH, I’ve been staring down these R Dimes that Marshal sent me.

Talking with the Doc about cementless vs cemented install. Anyone have experience with cementless?


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[The Iron Horse]

Mine is cementless.
Mako Robotic Stryker Triathlon Total Knee. Plus patella.

[ticketchecker]

Not sure if it’s the heat but I’m in Florida and it’s the least swollen it’s been in five months this week.


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