# Ask the gal who just had total knee replacement surgery **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196 "2007-06-07T23:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/1 "2007-06-07T23:31:25Z")
I had my right knee replaced on 4/23/07. Today I drove for the first time since then - boy, are my driving muscles out of shape. So, what would you like to know? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/2 "2007-06-07T23:39:37Z")
You still get to ride your bike? Or is that on temp hiatus? Vroom vroom ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/3 "2007-06-07T23:43:26Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] You still get to ride your bike? Or is that on temp hiatus? Vroom vroom [/QUOTE] I don’t ride a (motor)bike - are you thinking of someoe else? or are you referrencing “Rose Is Rose”'s alter ego? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/4 "2007-06-07T23:48:17Z")
Got my wires crossed, I guess. What did they say about the scar? Is it gonna be a major one or will it fade? What’s your PT schedule like? Can you do it yourself or did they want it supervised (how long)? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/5 "2007-06-07T23:56:04Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] Got my wires crossed, I guess. What did they say about the scar? Is it gonna be a major one or will it fade? What’s your PT schedule like? Can you do it yourself or did they want it supervised (how long)? [/QUOTE] They’ve told me I can apply Maderma (as directed) to help it fade, but I know from my hip replacement surgery 5 ad half years ago, the scar will fade eventually. So far, a PTist has come to my home 3 times a week (tomorrow will be the last one of those sessions); Next week, in the evening after work, I will start out patient therapy two or three times a week. I also have exercises to do at home and a recumbant bike for aerobic purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/6 "2007-06-07T23:58:31Z")
Sick of your friends and family making cyborg jokes yet? ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/7 "2007-06-08T01:41:20Z")
Do you mind if I ask about how old you are? IOW, is this age-related or degenerative disease (rheumatoid arthritis or something) related? Are the joints good for more than 10 years now? ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/8 "2007-06-08T11:00:51Z")
Glad to hear you’re doing ok \*\*Rosie. Keep doing your exercises. I didn’t make it into the MMP this week, so I’ll say my congrats here. M ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/9 "2007-06-08T11:33:33Z")
[QUOTE=Malodorous] Sick of your friends and family making cyborg jokes yet? [/QUOTE] Well, we are callin’ her **BioRosie** over in the MMP. 😃 However, since I’m here right now… Given you’re great progress with the right knee, are you giving any thought to getting the left one done anytime soon? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/10 "2007-06-08T14:51:21Z")
[QUOTE= Malodorous] Sick of your friends and family making cyborg jokes yet? [/QUOTE] They (my non-cyber friends) actually stopped within a year after my double hip replacement 🙂 [QUOTE=Archergal] Do you mind if I ask about how old you are? IOW, is this age-related or degenerative disease (rheumatoid arthritis or something) related? [/QUOTE] I am 48 and have been living with osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis since late in 1995 [QUOTE=Archergal] Are the joints good for more than 10 years now [/quote] The titanium replacement joints they’ve been making recently are good for about 40 years; they (my hips and knee(s) (because in about a year or so, I will have the left one replaced as well) will likely outlast me. [QUOTE=picunurse] Glad to hear you’re doing ok **Rosie**. Keep doing your exercises. I didn’t make it into the MMP this week, so I’ll say my congrats here. [/QUOTE] Thank you. [QUOTE=swampbear] Well, we are callin’ her BioRosie over in the MMP. [/QUOTE] Which is a lot better than some other things I’ve been called thru the years 😉 [QUOTE=swampbear] However, since I’m here right now… Given you’re great progress with the right knee, are you giving any thought to getting the left one done anytime soon? [/QUOTE] Three things have to happen first. A) I need to wait until I can take more short term disability time, b) I need for my right leg to be much much stronger, and c) I need to lose at least another 30 lbs. So, it’ll probably be next spring. Maybe earlier. It all depends on my calendar. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/11 "2007-06-08T15:00:53Z")
Thanks for the info! Best wishes on a speedy rehab! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/12 "2007-06-08T15:27:47Z")
Hope you get through rehab soon, **iRosie**. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/13 "2007-06-08T15:51:44Z")
Actually I’m pretty far along, and I’ll be going back to work on Monday - then it’s evening PT 2 or 3 times a week - I’ll be doing that for several months, building up strength and endurance (and hopefully that’ll help me lose weight, too) ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/14 "2007-06-08T15:59:47Z")
My SO is scheduled for one of those next month. She’s getting the Minimally Invasive procedure. How was your pain, post-op? How soon were you able to switch from walker to cane? Were you able to navigate stairs (ie. move to a second floor)? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/15 "2007-06-08T16:16:27Z")
[QUOTE=Ferd Burfel] My SO is scheduled for one of those next month. She’s getting the Minimally Invasive procedure. How was your pain, post-op? How soon were you able to switch from walker to cane? Were you able to navigate stairs (ie. move to a second floor)? [/QUOTE] Is she getting a total replacement? or just orthoscopic surgery? Initially post-op (first few days) my pain level was very high. But a week later, once I was in rehab, it neve got beyond moderately high, and usually stayed between that and moderate. Now, all I am dealing with is muscle stiffness and muscle soreness, but no real pain. I was doing rehab stairs (short risers, long & wide steps, 4 steps to a platform and back down) by the 4th day in rehab (11 days after surgery). I live in a high ranch so I have to do stairs if I want to go outside. Those were tricky, because normal stairs are steeper and shorter than the rehab practice stairs. But I manage them with one railing and one crutch. Around the house, I do not use any support (cane, walker, crutch) but when I go outside, I bring one crutch, just in case (and also for any steps I may encounter, including sidewalk curbs) ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/16 "2007-06-08T19:07:14Z")
[QUOTE=anyrose] Is she getting a total replacement? or just orthoscopic surgery? Initially post-op (first few days) my pain level was very high. But a week later, once I was in rehab, it neve got beyond moderately high, and usually stayed between that and moderate. Now, all I am dealing with is muscle stiffness and muscle soreness, but no real pain. I was doing rehab stairs (short risers, long & wide steps, 4 steps to a platform and back down) by the 4th day in rehab (11 days after surgery). I live in a high ranch so I have to do stairs if I want to go outside. Those were tricky, because normal stairs are steeper and shorter than the rehab practice stairs. But I manage them with one railing and one crutch. Around the house, I do not use any support (cane, walker, crutch) but when I go outside, I bring one crutch, just in case (and also for any steps I may encounter, including sidewalk curbs) [/QUOTE] It’s a total knee replacement. But, the incision is very small. We live in a two story house and of course the sleeping/bathing areas are on the second level. I’m worried about her getting up and down the stairs in the first week after surgery. Her sister lives nearby and has a ranch-style house with shower on the main level, so I can take her there if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/17 "2007-06-08T19:09:13Z")
**Rosie** , I just sent you a private message, but I sent it twice, sorry. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/18 "2007-06-08T23:11:32Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse] **Rosie** , I just sent you a private message, but I sent it twice, sorry. :smack: [/QUOTE] thank you - and I replied (but to only one of them ;)) ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-gal-who-just-had-total-knee-replacement-surgery/407196/19 "2007-06-08T23:13:38Z")
[QUOTE=Ferd Burfel] It’s a total knee replacement. But, the incision is very small. We live in a two story house and of course the sleeping/bathing areas are on the second level. I’m worried about her getting up and down the stairs in the first week after surgery. Her sister lives nearby and has a ranch-style house with shower on the main level, so I can take her there if necessary. [/QUOTE] the first few weeks for her will be very tough - if you have a loo on the first floor, maybe she could sleep in the living room - but I am surprised she isn’t doing in patient physical therapy for a week or so before being sent home. How will she be handling PT (which is essential after any joint surgery)?