Knee replacement

Bugsinrugs · 11-09-2022, 08:03 AM

I had my knee replacement procedure on Monday. In recovery my spinal injection would not wear off. No feeling in my feet and couldn’t pee. Catheter here we come. With the numbness it was painless but I had to spend the night in the hospital. Next day my feet were back to normal but still couldn’t pee. Catheter time! Ok…. If I was. POW I would have talked. They tell me to relax, yea right! That was the worst part of the procedure. I’m home now with minimal pain trying to do the exercises they showed me and I’m walking around with a walker. I’m lucky that my wife is taking really good care of me.

Evans, Marv · 11-09-2022, 08:21 AM

Wow! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Seems like you're having dificulties I haven't heard of from other people. I know lots of people who've had knee & hip replacements - sometimes both knees & hips. Most said it went smoothly. Hang in there.

masraum · 11-09-2022, 08:23 AM

Congrats on the new, upgrade parts! Congrats on the successful surgery.

sansgrats on the catheterization.

keep up the PT!

John Rogers · 11-09-2022, 09:02 AM

I had a total knee replacement in May 2009 and over the past 5 or 6 years the ability to move it has decreased more and more. The pain has gotten worse over time also. When I was driving the 914 in vintage races there wasn't any problems but since selling it, it has forced me into automatic transmission cars and if I am doing any work, I have to take pain meds beforehand. Make sure you keep doing those exercises!
John

Bugsinrugs · 11-09-2022, 09:14 AM

Thanks guys. The exercises are a challenge but I know I have to do them. I’m not the type of person that can sit or lay around all day. By nature I have to keep moving. The bending of the knee is the toughest part so far. Towel or the like rolled up under the knee and bending it towards me. I’m pretty flexible but this one is tough.

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

When my sister-in-law's husband had his knee replaced they had a machine that would work his leg while laying on the couch.
I think his daughter used it too when she had knee surgery (soccer player) one year.
I quit driving sticks when I couldn't walk without pain after enjoying a weekend thrashing my 912 at a group event. Been a lover of automatics ever since then. Made me wish I'd adopted them sooner for my commuter cars. 30 yrs of sticks wore out my left knee so no more fun for me with sticks.

Bugsinrugs · 11-09-2022, 10:13 AM

I had the procedure done at Kaiser. While they gave me an ice machine they did not offer any device to bend my knee. I’m lucky that I have a good friend that is coaching me through the exercises. She is a PT.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Ice is going to be your friend in this deal

Check to make sure you are even, someone else has to measure you. It is fairly simple to check.

The way I like to measure is with the person standing, feet about shoulder width, you know, how you normally stand. Sometimes if they walk in place and then stand, it gives you a better representation of how they normally stand.

Palpate the ASIS(Anterior Superior Iliac Spine) front of your pelvis, about where your belt hits. It is basically the front of your pelvic crest, it is palpable on fairly obese folks, you just need to palpate with more determination,

Put your finger on the ASIS, hold your tape measure there, measure from that spot over the lateral malleolus, bone on outside of ankle, to the ground. Compare one side to the other. Most people are not perfectly symmetrical, but if you are too far out, it is like driving a car with too much camber, you are going to wear stuff out. In a pinch, you can use a string instead of a tape measure. You don't care how long the leg is, just if it is even.

You would maybe be shocked how many people I have watched walk around, measured and put a lift in their shoe and cured their back problem they did not tell me about until after they came back to see me.

Bugsinrugs · 11-10-2022, 06:00 AM

Thanks for that information. My back has been my biggest problem so far. I can’t lay in bed for 8 hours. I’m lucky if I can do it for 6. I’m laying on the floor and doing my stretching albeit somewhat restricted. I do them every morning to relieve the morning back ache. I will get my wife’s help to measure as you recommended.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

You might not get a true measurement until you are farther along in your rehab.

Maybe ice or a heating pad for the back?

Bugsinrugs · 11-10-2022, 01:29 PM

I do have a good heating pad. I’ll try it. Thanks

herr_oberst · 11-10-2022, 01:56 PM

I'll offer this up - I have a friend who had both knees done at the same time; so when you're doing the rehab and the stretching or even just going to the bathroom, you've only got to deal with one, not two!

You've got this and when you're on the other end of the tunnel you'll be glad you did it.

And like John Rogers alluded to above, accept stretching and exercise each day as a way of life for the rest of your life to keep your new parts working for a long time to come.

Willem Fick · 11-11-2022, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

I had my knee replacement procedure on Monday. In recovery my spinal injection would not wear off. No feeling in my feet and couldn’t pee. Catheter here we come. With the numbness it was painless but I had to spend the night in the hospital. Next day my feet were back to normal but still couldn’t pee. Catheter time! Ok…. If I was. POW I would have talked. They tell me to relax, yea right! That was the worst part of the procedure. I’m home now with minimal pain trying to do the exercises they showed me and I’m walking around with a walker. I’m lucky that my wife is taking really good care of me.

My dad (84) had his replaced around 5 weeks ago, and had exactly the same issues post operation. It is amazing how routine the operation has become, and he was mobile again in no time. He is already up and going as if nothing had ever been done to him, and the difference it has made to his mobility, levels of pain and basic enjoyment of life is absolutely amazing!

Best of luck in getting healed up soon!

Robert Coats · Robert Coats's Garage

Had full knee replacement in both knees, left in '08 and right in '12. The left side went quite smooth, no drama, no problems. Because it was so successful, I did not hesitate to get the right side done too.

Recovery was textbook perfect for the left, but the right was a problem child. Could not get the deflection and target angles correct, and had to go back under for 'manipulation.' The doc basically racked the joint back and forth. It was better afterwards, but the overall experience was far less positive than the left knee.

Finally, the surgeon told me the new joints were like new tires; they aren't going to last forever, but, if you don't abuse them, you'll get a much longer service life. Darn! Looks like I picked a bad time to start running marathons.

Bugsinrugs · 11-11-2022, 05:38 AM

My life is hiking and working around my property. I get a lot of exercise and lift weights daily. I do a lot of core strengthening which has really helped me maneuver my leg around especially when I’m in bed. Thanks for all the thumbs up and advice. I think I’m doing pretty good so far!