6 month check up

Today's gonna be a good day....Yep, I had my six month checkup with my surgeon. Good news..he gave me carte blanche for all activities except running and jumping or any jarring actions. I can start riding my horse this week, golfing is a go (even though I've been doing it since 3 1/2 months out). The xrays show the knee caps are tracking perfectly and the new joint is perfect, my ROM is 127 on both legs. I still have swelling and the scar tissue in my right knee requires some 'aggressive' massage but that should all be gone by my one year anniversary. He told me that these knees should last at least 15years and some have lasted 20 years. At that point it will require a new plastic spacer and that surgery isn't as invasive and has an easier recovery than the TKR. I'm really excited that my surgery was so successful. My knees can only get better from here on. I can now attend all the fitness classes I have had to avoid over the past 5 or 6 years, and I'm looking forward to how I'll feel when I ride Cody this week with my new knees. Look out, Cody(my horse), I'm baaaack!! I'll let you all know how it goes.

Meilus Precision Therapy

This week while my husband was at a conference in Florida, we had the opportunity to have a treatment at the Sarasota Meilus Precision Therapy clinic. I had several issues due to the I.T. Band syndrome and the surgery on my knees and Don has had a bad shoulder for years. The P.T. who runs the clinic is a childhood friend of my husband, who did standard physio therapy for many years with major league baseball teams. He now owns two Meilus robots which take the place of his hands with much more precision and without tiring. This was an amazing experience. I was stiff and sore before I went in but when I left there I could walk easier and had a great deal of relief from the pain. My husband had a treatment on his shoulder and for the first time in years he was pain free. The following day we both went golfing and Don was able to swing freely with his shoulder, that nite he slept well without the usual apres'-golf shoulder pain which would normally keep him awake. I was just happy to be able to walk around without stiffness and pain and I managed to swing my clubs. Now I am looking forward to more of the same. this treatment is relatively new and is really worth it, I can't believe the change in my stiffness, tightness and pain. Please take a moment to link to the website for more information. http://www.sarasotameilustherapy.com I wish I had found this place earlier, I may have been golfing a month earlier!! You can also try www.meilus.com for center locations near you.

Happy New Year

Hi, and hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year, I sure did. I guess my first challange since my last blog was the company Christmas party on Dec 12. I found that I couldn't sit for long and had stupidly worn heels which made it difficult to walk much too. Unfortunately the knees blew up and we had to leave the party early. I resolved to make sure I ice, ice, ice prior to any event and wear flat shoes. The next dinner we went to I did just that and was in much better shape and was able to enjoy the dinner and stayed for about 3 and 1/2 hours. Since then we have been off to the farm for the holidays. Every day I seemed to gain a little bit, the progress has been slower but steady. These knees still don't feel like they belong to me yet. The muscles are really causing be grief. I have I.T. Band syndrome and have to work real hard to stretch those babies and massage them. I have started back to the gym and swimming pool this week, as we have returned from the farm, boo-hoo. Over the holidays I managed to feed my horses and play with them some - no riding yet. I didn't drive my tractor, Don did the tractor stuff. There was lots of snow at the farm and the weather was pretty cold for the most of the holiday. We did some serious shopping in the United States for 3 days and I managed very well, in fact, Don said he had sore legs and was surprised I kept up to him. So I start the New Year with a good attitude, sure that things can only get better and better. And I will try not to be too impatient to be a super athlete right away (never was one - but you never know - I have super knees now ... all things are possible!!)

6 week checkup

I have been to my surgeon for the 6 week check up and he is very pleased with my knees. They bend well and are very stable. I got to see the xrays and they look very bionic. At physio today they measured 120 bend, both sides, which she thought was great (hooray). I have been doing all the exercises they gave me at home as well as walking the dog at least 30 minutes a day. The PT recommended that I keep up the stretching exercises, because the bend can reverse and I don't want that!! I still find it difficult to sleep at night so I have to take a couple of tylenol extra and a sleeping pill before bed. I only use a couple of tylenol through the day, but I still use plenty of ice. I am driving myself around, no need for canes or walkers anymore, except on dog walks and unlevel ground. I'm looking forward to Thursday's hydro-therapy, which is challenging but I enjoy it.

5 weeks post surgery

Hi, everyone,
I am now on my own as my mom had to return home on Sunday. Just my dog, Jasper and I and the place seems to be missing something (Mom's morning coffee for one!). Today, I had my first hydro-therapy session at Physio. One hour of continuous water exercises, and the therapist seems pleased with my progress. Lots of walking, squats, straight leg swimming, and it seemed to be less painful than doing these things on land. I went home, had lunch and even though the PT recommended I don't have a nap, I couldn't stay awake. So I snoozed for an hour and then took Jasper for a nice long walk along the lakefront. The knees are still swollen and get stiff after walking, I still have difficulty standing or sitting for any length of time, but I am improving a little every day. The Physio therapist says that I am quite advanced even for a single knee patient, so I really can't complain. I still have a ways to go to get to 'normal'. I see the surgeon on the 30th so I'll update again afterwards.

Quick update

Hi, I'm 3 and 1/2 weeks out and had my first physio since my rehab hospital stay. The PT is very pleased with my ROM 116 in both knees, she says that's unusual to be the same in both knees. She says my swelling is the cause of the stiffness and suggested tensor braces while walking and during elevating and ice. We did some quad strengthening and then ice and some exercises to strengthen the outside of my thigh. So far I am pleased, but still I wish I were back to normal. Luckily for me, I have my mom helping, and keeping me company.

knee photos (viewer beware)

My old knocked-knees



My new frankenknees - 3 weeks after surgery