“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Dickens
A year ago, last August, I had a total left knee replacement. Knowing my other knee could give out at any moment, I had the right one done exactly one year later. Mercifully, this time was different in several ways.
To be clear, this surgery is no walk in the park. Those first weeks are harrowing. Bending and lowering my leg had my eyeballs twirling. One trip to the bathroom and that was it for the day. The fatigue was real. It takes fortitude plus strong painkillers to survive this initial phase.
And then there was the helplessness. Luckily for me, my husband is a kind man. He waited on me hand and foot, literally. Since my surgical leg was not moving on its own volition, he was responsible for lifting and lowering it. To prevent blood clots, I wore full leg compression socks, a challenging feat to don in the best of times. Under these conditions, it was a two-person job, requiring strategically placed pillows, gloves for traction, and lots of patience. We were a sight to behold. While he pushed and maneuvered those socks up, I pulled and tugged. It hurt so much, I wanted a strap of leather between my teeth. Add to that, he cooked and served my meals, and only once did I catch him rolling his eyes at me. It will be a long time before I lodge any complaints against this man.
But it was different this time.
For starters, I understood the mission. Once that spinal block wore off, I knew I was not in Kansas anymore. I had my pain meds lined up like toy soldiers and charted the time and dosage of those pills like my life depended on it. My doctor warned me to stay ahead of the pain, and I took that advice to heart.
I was prescribed Journavx, a non-opioid alternative for pain relief. This was a welcome substitute for the cocktail of drugs I took last time, namely Oxycodone and Tramadol. These narcotics wreaked havoc on my physical and emotional state. I fought off depression and tears for weeks. Fortunately, there were no side effects from Journavx, so no emotional rollercoaster this time.
My rehabilitation was different as well. Rather than starting physical therapy immediately, my orthopedist recommended the Quiet Knee protocol. The goal was to keep the knee calm to promote healing and reduce swelling. Studies indicate patients mend quicker if they focus on gentle strengthening exercises, icing, elevating, and resting. This was a welcome change from the medieval torture I endured last time, when my well-meaning therapist endeavored to bend my surgical knee back as far as humanly possible without rendering me unconscious.
Another important factor involved using the range of motion (ROM) bicycle for in-home therapy. The bike was calibrated to bend and extend the knee according to self-indicated levels of intensity. I rode the bike three times a day for fifteen minutes at four-hour intervals. This Quiet Knee protocol combined with the ROM bicycle produced an even greater range of motion than all the tugging and pushing I underwent last time. Best of all, the slow rotation on the bicycle provided soothing relief.
Finally, just knowing the results from last year’s replacement assured me that in time my right knee would heal too. After years of physical therapy, injections, and debilitating pain, I could look forward to a future with two healthy, albeit titanium, knees. It was truly a tale of two knees.
Total knee replacement surgery is a challenge. Recovery is slow and rehabilitation is a commitment. If this procedure is in your future, be certain to discuss the treatment plan and rehabilitation protocols with your surgeon. Take it from someone who has been there and done that, not once but twice.
Have you had a knee replacement? Are you or someone you know considering having one? Please share your experiences in the comment section below.
Bit by bit, that’s all she wrote…