Try putting a pillow on either side of you before you fall asleep. It stops you rolling over in your sleep & so waking up in pain. It worked for me when I had a knee reconstruction.
No coffee after noon helps as well.

Wish you a good recovery T-man

Thanks guys!

I got four hours in more or less uninterrupted on the couch.;)

Shoot, I don't know how I missed this post!?!?:o

Best of luck with the recovery, Tom! My boss has fully recovered from his first knee replacement surgery, has now fully recovered from his shoulder replacement and has started talking with his surgeon about doing the other knee.

I'm getting along very well, thanks!

It was a week ago yesterday morning. I am pretty comfortable now walking around the house with no cane. Longer walks are still more comfy with the cane.

Tom

When are you starting Hydro Tom? You will enjoy it. The other pool users help as well. It is so gentile, no bumps & jarring like gym work. Make sure you have a good physio, they are so important.

The doc will allow me back in the pool as soon as all my wounds are healed.

I don't expect to be getting any "help" from the other swimmers though.

I wasnt talking about getting help Tom, having many other people in an aquatic center is far more interesting than walking up stairs at home!! :D

Me = Dumb @55... :eek: :rolleyes: :o

Oh....sorry to make you explain that!;)

Well I am off to the local (50miles away) aquatic center now, an Hr in the water is great, there is a group of 1/2 a dozen of us with bung shoulders.
I think you would become a bit of a celebrity at your university aquatic center. Probably many more interesting people !!;)

I got a fair night's sleep last night.

I swear now the knee itself is not hurting much at all. It is the side effects of the relatively traumatic surgery that I am suffering from. There is a massive bruise on the back of my theigh and calf and the inside of my foot is the color of egg plant (I am not making this up!).

I am still taking the percoset but the dosage is down to a half pill about every 6 hours.

Half my night was spent sleeping in my lazy boy.

The knee itself hurts most of the time only a bit more than before the surgery.

*** DANGER TOM ROBINSON! DANGER TOM ROBINSON! COLOR IS WRONG! ***
 

Tom: SERIOUSLY...get thee to a doctor and have that checked out...sure...it MAY be bruising from the surgery, but if there's ANYTHING clotting down there...you're pressing the button for "HISTORY" as in "YOU ARE ______!" You should not have swelling or major discoloration...particularly down by your foot...what the heck did they do to you when you were "out?" Get your foot smashed in an elevator door when they were taking you from the ER back to ICU-RECOVERY? That's not a good sign... :thumbsdow

I'll check in with my daughter the doctor. I had discoloration like this from a bad bruise once and I believe from my hip replacement as well. Thanks for the heads up though I will check. It is not swollen much anywhere any more.;)

2 weeks & any bruise should be yellowing off. My knee bruised bad after surgery but was clearing up within 2 weeks. Are you wearing a compressive stocking on your leg?
Do we have a pharmacist in the sand box? Does percoset have any side effects concerning blood clotting etc. Never mind I looked it up!!
Percocet Oral

The following side effects are associated with Percocet Oral:

Common side effects of Percocet Oral:
Abnormally Low Blood Pressure Less Severe
Drowsiness Less Severe
Feeling Faint Less Severe
Dizzy Less Severe
Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe
Throwing Up Less Severe
Feeling Weak Less Severe
Not Feeling Well Less Severe

Infrequent side effects of Percocet Oral:
Widening of Blood Vessels Severe
Dry Mouth Less Severe
Indigestion Less Severe
Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements Less Severe
Spasm of the Ureter or Tube Connecting Kidney to Bladder Less Severe
Fever Less Severe
Excessive Sweating Less Severe
Head Pain Less Severe
Diarrhea Less Severe
Nervous Less Severe

Rare side effects of Percocet Oral:
Depression Severe
Blood Clot in Vein Severe
Problems with Circulation Severe
Vocal Cord Swelling Severe
A Spasm of the Larynx Severe
Collapsed Portion of Lung Severe
Lung Failure causing Loss of Breath Severe
Significant Decrease in Lung Function Severe
Bronchospasm Severe
Blocked Bowels with No Movement Severe
Hepatitis Severe
Hepatitis caused by Drugs Severe
Inflammation of Skin caused by an Allergy Severe
Itching Severe
Abnormal Increase in Muscle Tone Severe
Hallucination Severe
Rash Severe
Shock Severe
Periods of Not Breathing Severe
Trouble Breathing Severe
Injury Severe
Life Threatening Allergic Reaction Severe
Giant Hives Severe
Reaction due to an Allergy Severe
Decreased Blood Platelets Severe
Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood Cell Severe
Decreased White Blood Cells Severe
Decreased Neutrophils a Type of White Blood Cell Severe
Confused Severe
Feeling Restless Less Severe
Extreme Sense of Well Being Less Severe
Discolored Spots and Small Elevations of the Skin Less Severe
Migraine Headache Less Severe
Lazy Eye Less Severe
Throat Irritation Less Severe
Painful, Red or Swollen Mouth Less Severe
Urinary Tract Infection Less Severe
Hives Less Severe
Chronic Trouble Sleeping Less Severe
Flu-Like Symptoms Less Severe
Chills Less Severe
Visible Water Retention Less Severe
Loss of Appetite Less Severe
Heart Throbbing or Pounding Less Severe
Difficulty Swallowing Less Severe
Cannot Empty Bladder Less Severe
Stomach Cramps Less Severe
Abnormal Liver Function Tests Less Severe

I see that percocet is the same as endone, thats what they prescribe post joint surgery down here.
Best you get off it as soon as you are able. There has been plenty in the media here in Australia with people ending up in rehab to get off the stuff. They sent me home with a pack of 15mg Oxycodone tabs, they are still here. I wont take them not even 1/4 at a time. As soon as I was allowed, non steroidal anti inflammatory did the trick for me, 8X 200mg of ibuprofen per day for about a month, worked it down to 4 per day. After 3 months I changed to 15mg per day of Meloxicam (Mobic), its great, no pain, no inflammation, no gastric related side effects. I found with my knee & more recently with my shoulder a long hot bath gave more relief than any medication. I hope you kept it elevated when you first went home. Your description sounds like much of the bleeding found its way to your foot.
At least you had it done at a good time, towards the end of winter, things always get better quicker as the weather warms.
Having a family member Doctor is a big plus, best do exactly as she suggests.

Down here there is a 28 day ban on driving post significant general anesthetic. I guess one thing we will have in common is that its just not going to happen!!! You feel like the trees are going past at 100mph & thats just at 20mph going up the drive to the mail box!!! That was 3 days post opp.

Good luck & please look after yourself !!!! Let the young bucks pass you by for a while, they are just the next accident going some place to happen!!

I think the bruising and discoloration is pretty normal. The percoset scrip was for 2 pills every four hours. I started out with one every four and now am down to a half every six hours. It is still affecting my sleep though. As you can see I am up now after going to bed at 11 and sleeping for a little while then tossing and turning.

I may try to switch over to just ibuprophen tomorrow.

I'm not driving fast yet.

My first autocross if I feel up to it is April 3 or 4.

If you get any sign of reflux or other gastric stuff from the ibuprophen, go for Mobic equivalent.
Its a much more modern non steroid anti inflam. If you are on asprin for blood thinning, expect bad bruising.
The percoset will do the bad sleep thing to you. That & constipation are the 2 worst common side efects when on low doses. Cool crisp fresh air is good for getting sleepy. My Dr suggested to avoid any mental stimulation, says the internet is out when you should be asleep, a super boring book is better, best stay away from MB FSM's :D.

If any one asks how you feel, tell them to look at this for a while.;

http://www.neave.com/strobe/ :P

just have them click on the "click me to get trippy" link ~ they will give you plenty of space !!:eek:
:rolleyes5:rolleyes5:rolleyes5:rolleyes5:rolleyes5:rolleyes5:rolleyes5:rolleyes5

Still only taking ibuprophen now. I made it through a shortened day but was really pooped at 5 pm.

The knee, last time I walked a few minutes ago, did not hurt at all.

The operation has effectively lengthened my left leg by taking most of the bow out. Dang, now I will have to have my right shoe lifted a bit to relevel me!;)

Off to bed to see if I can sleep now.;)

Buy yourself an eyepatch, a trenchcoat and a sailor hat...tell the g-kids you're a pirate now and to "...Get about the kitchen fer yer mudder's chores or I run yee up the stairways' planks to yer bed early...ya little scurrvy dogs and kittens!"

They'll either laugh at you or mess their britches...and unless you're home alone with them, your kid can look at you sideways and thank you, under their breath of course, for making a mess of them.

But then, what are G-parents for except to sugar 'em and shake 'em up, then send them home...just like our parents did to out kids. :thumbsup:

:P

Last night my lovely daughter #4 the pediatrician and I were talking and I mentioned that the bruise on my calf hurt more than my knee area. She became concerned and called my surgeon and they decided I needed to go in for ultra-sound to be sure there were no blood clots.

so after about 3 hours plus at the local emergency room later I went home with the assurance that there is no blood clot.

As I thought but it is nice to hear them all say how great the knee is doing.;)

Good to here !! May help reduce the stress levels & help with sleep.
Any suggestion on the cause of the bruising?

The bruise is from where he clamped my leg down so he could use his little power saw on the bone!;)

Last night I slept pretty much normally in my bed all night. Today folks commented at work that I was not limping noticably. The pain is now minimal and I am taking mostly only ibuprofen and aspirin. Only a very little of the vicoden today.

And no nap after lunch, breakfast or supper.

And I had enough energy to go out to the store after supper.

I am planning to run my first autocross April 3!;)

Better safe than sorry. Last thing you need is a section of blood clot breaking loose and wandering around.

Yep. I thought about waiting til the next day but decided to play it safe.

I hope you are following an appropriate exercise program. Partial replacements need extra care to avoid complications. A good program of Physiotherapy will prolong the life of the partial replacement. A visit to a podiatrist is probably in order as well.

I started pt this week. My exercises on Thursday were so aggressive they aggrivated my left hip (the knee was the surgery) and today I could barely walk.

I am trying to figure out how to give the knee the exercise needed without aggrivating the hip so much!;)

progress
 

We took the truck and trailer on vacation this week. My knee handled the clutch on the big cummins with no problems!;)

It has been a bit over two and a half months now.

I have been noticing the last week or so that if I did not know I had the surgery I would not be able to tell it by the way the knee feels walking on it. The wound is still tender at the scar if I bump it into a desk corner but for using it it feels just like the original equipment on the other side. It still gets sore after sitting for a good while but I can be on it for hours without having to sit down and that is a huge improvment.

Partial replacement is an excellent option at least in my case.

Every time I think about it I marvel at how the heck once he gets the bones exposed he can tell where to make his cut. It is not like a nice rectangular piece of wood!;)

Over the weekend I camped at Turkey Run state park, which is one of the oldest state parks in our Indiana parks system. It is famous for its hiking trails which follow in many cases deep ravines carved out of limestone which wind around back and forth. The deepest ravines must be sixty or so feet deep.

There are many places on the trails where if built today would not be built the way they are....no handrails on a drop of twenty feet to a rocky landing if you fall off. The only real concession to safety on those areas are a restriction which says you will not be on the trails after dusk.

Many of the trails have steps and or walkways along the ravines carved from solid limestone. These were done in the 1930s under the WPA and or CCC depression era federal funfing. We would call these infrastructure investments today.

In my lifetime I estimate that these ravines have gotten at least three feet deeper in some of the critical places. I used to come there with my folks when I was a kid.

I hiked with the kids and grandkids on the world famous trail three which has at least seven sets of wooden steps which go to the bottom of a ravine and back up. At one place the trails goes down a set of three ladders which are each about 20' long. Along with the ups and downs the trail is 1.7 miles in length.

We also did another trail in the morning which was less difficult. I also carried my four year old grandson for a while.

The knee was completely pain free. My only side effect was being tired afterward.

Congrats! Glad you are doing well!

I'm glad you received the surgery that you "Kneeded". :)

Nice to hear when a proceedure with many questions in the patients mind initially works out well in the end. Funny to me at least how we kind of fixate on a part of our body when it is not working well. Just human nature.

I try to warn young people to kind of go easy on their bodies as they have to last a long time. I carelessly seriously bumped my knee a few too many times over the years. Now I canot carry more than about thirty pounds without my automatic weight scale of a knee informing me it is heavier. Otherwise it will have to do.

Good to hear it was a success.

- Peter.

Thanks guys!;)

Feels like the original equipment. If I did not have the scar I would not be able to tell if I were to get amnesia and forgot about the surgery.

Occasionally it will pop or something if I cross my legs and sit for a while but when walking there is nothing to indicate any more.

Wonderful!

Original equipment as in when you were younger?

It feels the same as my right knee which is pain free and yes like when I was younger and pain free most of the time.;)

I had my left knee half replaced and my right hip was done about six years ago or so.

The hip is totally pain free most of the time too. Occasionally I will get pain down through the center of the femur where the hip prosthetic device is embedded. This happens if I lift or carry things that are too heavy. And occasionally the hip will act up a bit when I sit a certain way and feel like it is coming apart a little. But if I get up and walk around it goes right away.

I expect within five or ten years to have my left hip replaced too as it acts up occasionally when I exercise too much.;)

Other than my joints I am pretty much healthy as a horse.

Do you do resistance and/or cardio?

Does the bone grow and muscle further integrate the device or does the body see it as foreign?

It's pretty amazing that you have near-normal joint use.

Do you have a genetic cause for all these joint replacement, exposures to something, etc?

I'm not a medical person but it seems most folks do not have any joint replacement and I think you say you are having three.

Medical implants are non hypoallergenic, the knees, the upper part is driven into the bone with a glue that bonds to bone, same with the bottom part, the bone atleast the one that I'm familuar with dosnt grow around the implant nor into it, however new technology comes around and things could have changed since I've seen the surgery done.

But even us older guys when we exercise we are inducing bone growth.

How's the device respond as the living bone grows around it?

Ultimately what I wonder is this: is exercise good, bad or neutral when it comes to the artificial joints?

it's beneficial, the bone will grow to an extent around the implant, helps secure it and make it permanent, it's encouraged usually hours after surgery to get things moving around again and back to working.

That's what I'd hope you'd say.

Thanks.

I'm going swimming today. I will walk on the tread mill about 1,2 miles in twenty two minutes. I do pushups, lift weights and do stretching exercises. I work on my cars and other physical things and I hike with the kids and grandkids. If I have less time I walk around the neighborhood to save the drive to and from the Y.

Apparently my joints arent the best. I have run or done other exercise all my life. They simply have worn out with artheritis. But I have none or very little in my hands and arms.

So far I have had the hip and a half knee replaced. The left hip bothers some and eventually will probably have to be replaced.

I had the replacements done to permit me to continue to exercise.;)

Day before yesterday I lifted the Cadillac transmission which I was shipping and walked it out to my car and put it in the trunk. About fifty to sixty feet of carrying a 95# object. I expected my back to hurt the next day because I have a damaged disc. The discomfort was minimal. Nothing from the knee or hip either. Now that I think of it my back is better than it has been in decades too.

Amazing.;)

Indeed. That's an aspect of medical technology that is truly wonderous. Glad to hear it's worked out so well for you.

- Peter.

Right knee partial replacement
 

So I have mentioned it other places but decided to pull up this old thread and add to it. I had the right knee done now two weeks, two days ago. It is pretty much the same as the left knee was in all respects.
I had a fair amount of skin itching around the general area of the leg near the wound. that seems to be subsiding now too. I am down to a low level of the percoset now, about a half tab every four to six hours. Sleep is again the biggest problem. I am in my own bed now for at least half the night.
It does not hurt to walk much now but if on the knee for a while it gets pretty sore.
The swelling is nearly all gone now.

I've been watching this show on Netflix called Heir Hunters. It is a reality show in England where they search for heirs in cases where the deceased leave no will. If no heirs are found the government gets all of it.

If the Hunters find the heirs they get a share of the inheritance. I enjoy it but don't feel bad if I fall asleep and miss parts.

The Mrs. thinks its totally boring so is not interested in watching it in the first place.;)

Howdy Tom,
How is the back?