" Bilateral Total Knee Replacement/ Post Op Week 7 "

Well folks it seems like awhile since I've posted or read other blogs. Although I don't think it's been much more than a week. Time flies as they say.

The truth is that I have been gradually getting my energy and stamina back. A little here and there but none the less, I have been feeling much better.

I went back to work this week. I have been cleaning a house for a family for years now and it went better than I expected. I had the option of doing it all in one or two or even three days if I wished but I managed to get it done in one day. It only took me a half hour longer than usual. But I hadn't been there in a couple of months so there was extra work to be done.

Usually I wouldn't be able to do anything for two days after cleaning that house. But even though I was tired afterwords I managed to clean my car inside and out the next morning. Something that never would have happened before the surgery.

 

I have noticed that I have acquired  some new followers that are interested in information about the bilateral total knee replacement. I remember before the surgery, trying to find info on the web about it. There was very little. That is one of the reasons that I decided to do this series of posts.

As of this posting I will say that my biggest challenge is the stairs. Going up is easy enough especially if you remember to stand straight and lift each leg as if you are marching. I learned that on my own the hard way. Going down is quite a different matter. I was still going down using the same leg first, step by step as I had before the surgery. Part of the reason being that I still had pain in the right knee. But I also discovered upon experimentation that I was being too hard on myself. Each set of stairs in my house were different heights. So what I didn't realize until I started to experiment again was that I could go down some stairs normally and others would have to wait until I healed more.

This is all trial and error folks. I've never had a knee surgery let alone two so I have nothing to compare it with. I can say that I am happy that I did them both at the same time and except for a few hiccups, things are going very well. My legs feel very strong.

Afghan that I am trying to finish before Christmas for my son, I have my doubts!!

For anyone who is thinking of having this surgery, my biggest suggestion would be to do your leg exercises religiously BEFORE the surgery. I know that exercising is a drag but it will help you TREMENDOUSLY post-op. I am still doing them daily. The muscles that surround the knee are what is going to get the new knee moving. Without that muscle strength it's going to be far more difficult.

Now a few of my regular followers expressed some concern about me taking Celebrex since I have had two strokes a few years ago. Not to worry my friends, it's only for a few weeks and I am almost done with them. They never did help my arthritis when I tried them a few years ago so I never took them but they have helped with the swelling on my right knee tremendously.

I have to see my surgeon in two weeks. As you can see in the above photo, my stubborn scab is almost gone so I don't think we will be going back to the hospital for it's removal. Thank God, well I think it will be gone within two weeks.

So there you have it. I am almost to the 8 week mark and am doing very well. I am actually able to do things that I couldn't do before the surgery. I still get very tired and worn out in the evenings and my knees do ache in the evenings as well. But not enough that I need any medication. I can stand straight and walk without limping which is really awesome.

I am leaving you today with a photo for my friend, Naida from "Crochet mama's blog" 

It is a photo of my dog Roxy. She likes to cuddle under the covers with her mama too!!

As I said previously, I have been busy trying to get back into the groove of my life. However, I think I will have time this weekend to visit all of you. And to my new followers or any of you that may have a question about this surgery, feel free to ask. I will answer as best I can. Have a great weekend.