Knee - d an Update?

Yesterday Kari drove me to my first post-op visit with the Orthopedic Surgeon, in which he (Harold Jackson, MD) assured me that I'm doing very well.  He removed the staples (about 25 of them) and said that I could get the incision wet this afternoon.  I have so much experience in Orthopedic Surgery, but not much from this side of the knife!  Having worked in surgery for many years, I know lots about the procedures themselves; but not much, if any at all, about the recovery process.  And, much of the recovery experience is subjective - different for everybody - so it's not necessarily advantageous to compare notes with others who've had this surgery; however, I think everybody does compare, at least a little.

The home health nurse, Cindy, who has been visiting me here at Kari's, is, herself, a Total Knee Replacement 'survivor.'  She had the surgery about two years ago and likes to compare notes with me.  Yesterday, she rolled up her pants leg to show me her scar, which is really not bad at all.  My incision line looks rather yucky at this time; I know it will fade and become less angry looking.

The 'hole' near my shorts is from the drain that was placed during surgery - and removed before I left the hospital.

Dr. Jackson took out his trusty instrument for measuring the degrees of flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) of my knee.  Those torture exercise sessions I've been having a couple or three times each day are really beginning to pay off.  Before surgery, my right knee had developed quite a deformity, where I could not with bend or extend my knee through very many degrees.  When I stood with both legs as straight as I could make them, my right knee jutted out almost two inches in front of my left.  Now, as I stand and look down, both knees are in the same alignment.  Yippee!

More difficult is flexion (bending); Dr. Jackson had me sit in a chair and draw my right knee as far back towards the chair as I could.  He measured the degree of flexion at 90 degrees (a right angle) and said that is excellent progress as this stage of the game.  I'll continue to be diligent about all my at-home exercises to increase that flexion degree to as much as will be possible with  artificial knee components.

I'm anxious to get back to the gym and swimming pool.  Swimming is actually my favorite form of exercise; the doc said I can swim this week and that it's a desirable form of exercise because of the buoyancy provided by water, making all exercises less traumatic.

OK, enough knee news!  My newly-engaged granddaughter, Quinn, is coming home this weekend; she and my daughter, Kari, have appointments to view several venues for her wedding.  As of now, the wedding date is in October, 2015; so, they have lots of time to make decisions and get things done for a beautiful wedding.

This was Quinn Easter morning - before Landon popped the 

big question at Easter dinner

The Duane siblings with Landon, the groom-to-be

L to R: Spencer, Avery, Addison, Holland, Tate, Quinn, and Landon

Two Weeks and Counting

It's nice to be able to say that I've reached the two-week point in my post op course with no set-backs or problems.  The physical therapist was here this morning and says I'm doing well.  I do have to say that a couple of the exercises that I do are really torture.  Vince (PT) says that they're really doing what they're supposed to when, after the exercise torture, within seconds the pain level goes down to '0.' Last week that wasn't the case; after doing a set of exercises I'd have to ice my knee for about 20 minutes before the pain went away.

The proof of the pudding is the measured degrees of flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) of my knee.  The most difficult for me is the flexion; last week I'd attained 70 degrees - not quite a right angle.  This morning that figure was 85 degrees.  Vince says that's great for this stage in the game.  One thing I have to keep in mind is that between the torture sessions, the muscles tend to go back to a 'comfortable' position; I have to increase the number of times per day that I do the exercises to insure that the permanent flexibility will be maximum.

I know I've mentioned all along that this whole experience has been better/ easier than I'd anticipated; I continue to feel that way.  However, beginning now, I'll be heading out for visits and walks outside the house - maybe to the grocery store, coffee shop, etc.  Vince has cautioned me about only going places where I have the option to leave if I get tired or hurting.  For example, he suggests that I put off going to a movie until I'm more comfortable with sitting for long periods.  And, I won't be doing any driving for the length of time that I'm taking pain medication, for obvious reasons.

As I recall, the movie theater was one of the places where I had lots of difficulties before the surgery.  I'd sit in the theater for the length of the movie, and then would have to get myself into a standing position very painfully at the end of the film.  I'd also have to hold the handrail as I walked down the steps and out of the theater.  I always tried to 'appear' like it didn't hurt, but oh boy, did it!

I'm really looking at this rehab as my full-time job right now.  Tomorrow I'll see my surgeon for the first post op visit; although, because Kaiser has all-inclusive care, the home health nurse and the physical therapist have been in communication with him each time they visit me here.  I may sound like a broken record but I can't say enough about how great it is to have Kaiser care.  Every provider has ongoing information about all aspects of my care and recovery.  For instance, anticoagulation therapy is de riguer for post knee replacement.  So, every afternoon I receive a call from the pharmacist who's monitoring my blood levels of the drug therapy; she tells me what dose to take each evening.  

Well, enough of the diatribe of my recovery - for now at least.  As I get further along I start to think about what I want to do when I'm completely ready to get back in my adventurous life-style.  I'm just not sure whether I want to head out for a long distance, or do I want to make several shorter jaunts to places here in California?  I will have to make some decisions in the not-to-distant future as my house is rented; so, when I feel well enough to be completely on my own, I'll have to decide where I want to park my RV when I'm not traveling.  I'm sure the answers will come as I go along.

I'll leave you with a few photos:

 Eleanor getting comfortable in our bedroom - likes to look outside, but has no interest in going outside

Holland and Max at last year's prom.  Holland graduated in 2013; Max will graduate this year.

 Here's the beautiful couple last Saturday evening

 Max was elected Prom King 2014

 And, finally, here's Bailey, with her diaper on, keeping me company

today.

That's all for now, folks!