Woo hoo....making progress w/o pain.

[John Schmidt]

Walked a block down the street and back this afternoon. Rita on her walker and I just walked along on the right side so I could use it for possible balance issues like a cane, which there were none. She fusses at me for doing too much, too soon. I fuss back, saying I know my strength and condition better than anyone. Felt good to get outside and get some fresh air. Stiffness slowly going away with more activity and time, should be normal by Christmas at this rate. The dr. across the street that had his done the older method claims I didn't have a total replacement because if I did I wouldn't be able to move like I am. I told him he's wrong and I'd be glad to show him the xrays. We're still good friends, but his dr. is stuck in the last century.

Have a dr. appt. tomorrow with my primary care, been with him for at least 30 years so he has a good read on my personal history....both me and my family happenings. The man actually cried when I told him of losing a second daughter four years ago. Tuesday is my 2 week followup with the surgeon's office, at which time I plan to find out about driving and returning to the gym, light duty for the legs for now naturally. Driving shouldn't be an issue since I've been off the narcotics for a week now but my biggest problem will be convincing Rita. Kinda funny, the mother of the two guys that own the gym I attend offered to drive me to the dr. Tuesday. Why??  Because she wants to hear first hand what they say so she can pass it on the the boys, that way everyone will be watching me to make sure I don't go overboard. She and Rita are about the same size, and both just as feisty. Just ain't fair. 

[WoodyFL]

Glad to hear that things are improving John. You'll be up for a ride in no time! 

Bob

[Bighead]

 
To your neighbor across the street he has to realize that everyone progresses at a different rate and with the posterior approach progression is slower. But at the same time at 6-8 weeks should be about the same as with the anterior approach and at 6 months zero difference.
There are many surgeons across the country that do the anterior approach and have the patients walking within 2-3 hrs and home in 6 hrs.
We do our total joints on Tuesday afternoons and the patients typically go home on Thursday afternoon. Every now and again you will have someone not willing to do the PT and won't leave until Saturday but that is not common.


Glad you are progressing as well as you are and tell Your lovely Bride that your body will let you know when enough is enough. The more you walk the quicker you get back to normal. Advice from me would be if you are gonna do a couple blocks take a cane just in case. You don't have to use it if not needed just swing it on your finger and whistle a tune

[John Schmidt]

To your neighbor across the street he has to realize that everyone progresses at a different rate and with the posterior approach progression is slower. But at the same time at 6-8 weeks should be about the same as with the anterior approach and at 6 months zero difference.
There are many surgeons across the country that do the anterior approach and have the patients walking within 2-3 hrs and home in 6 hrs.
We do our total joints on Tuesday afternoons and the patients typically go home on Thursday afternoon. Every now and again you will have someone not willing to do the PT and won't leave until Saturday but that is not common.


Glad you are progressing as well as you are and tell Your lovely Bride that your body will let you know when enough is enough. The more you walk the quicker you get back to normal. Advice from me would be if you are gonna do a couple blocks take a cane just in case. You don't have to use it if not needed just swing it on your finger and whistle a tune

Agreed on the early walking. Went into OR about noon Wednesday, joked with the dr. about no whoopsies allowed and suddenly zzzzzz. About 4:00pm they went with me while I walked to the bathroom, Rita about had a stroke but it was explained to her. The hosp. has a twice/day "joint camp" exercise program for joint replacement people, 9 & 1:15, and I attended all of them. They come get you in the room, walk you down this long hallway and take the long way around to get to the meeting room where they hold the "camp." The PT then runs through a series of 6-7 exercises each session, depending on the joint will determine who does what. Definitely NEVER want a knee job. They wanted to release me the next day but I told them I have nobody at home to help except my wife and the dr. office went to bat for me on that since they knew her situation also. I simply told them I wanted to be as mobile and strong as possible before returning home, making it easier for my wife to help out. Still was a huge burden for a few days. They finally discharged me Saturday, by then I had attended five of the joint exercise meetings and it paid off in spades.

As for walking with the cane outside, that I do if alone. When with Rita today on her walker, I just laid my hand on the handle as though it were a cane but ended doing more pulling for Rita....just no strength at all when it came to pushing the unit. I found if I sit too long I do get rather stiff, still some soreness down the back and side of the thigh mostly in the connective tissue. Less and less ea. day. 

[Bighead]

We also have what we call "joint camp" the hospital will have Pts come in a week or so before their surgery and show them the routine and what is expected of each person then if you surgery is in the morning you go that afternoon and afternoon surgery goes in the morning. It has been a good thing andI think it helps with encouragement from other Pts being thre at the same time.
As far as knees Yep they are tougher to get over but then again everyone is different. I have had Pts come back for post op visit wanting to go to the gym and walking without aid or even a limp and others that take 4-5 weeks to get rid of the walker. My Dad had a knee about 6-7 yrs ago and never even used a can. He refused and said that was for old crippled folks and he wasn't one yet did I mention he is very hard headed much like you 

[Pappy!]

should be normal by Christmas at this rate.

Uh, John? I hate to be the one to tell you this.......you? normal? 

Glad you're up and around and Rita is by your side! Looking forward to seeing you!

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

Thats wonderful John . Glad your able to get around . Keep up the PT.

[OLDFRT]

Very glad to hear that you are progressing so nicely, John. Keep up the good work.

[TJ]

         

[flsix]

That's great recovery time John. Glad to hear you're out and around.

[DDT (12)]

As Andy Griffin would say, "You just beat everything, John, you know that? You beat everything!" Proud of the progress and happy about the reports... Seems you are doing just fine! Congrats...

DDT

[John Schmidt]

Just got back from the dr. office for the two week followup. All looks great, staples out, xray looks like I'll set off a scanner at the airport now. Bruising is ugly but normal, cleared to drive as long as I can get in/out of the car OK, cleared to go back to the gym but keep it light with the leg exercises. Their main advice....let your body tell you what you can do, but keep it reasonable and work up to a higher level of activity. Common sense rules obviously. Feel bad for Rita, this has been harder on her than me and it shows. In less than two weeks I've reached complete independence in an effort to make it easier on her. I figure I'll not try the Valk for another week or so, build up the leg a little more plus I'm not sure I can yet lift it high enough to get over the saddle. They did give me another two weeks of at home PT for which I was thankful. That will be another six visits plus two left this week. Things appear to be getting back to normal.....well, sorta! 

[Grumpy]

Welcome to the bionic club, like you I am packing a bunch of titanium around now.  Glad you are progressing well, things have sure changed. I remember my neighbor getting a replacement years back  .  It was a painful 6 month process before he could even get close to normal activity.