RLE, I'm not weight baring, which is why the instability has been such a problem, and won't be for at least 4 more weeks. Then I will meet with my OS again and probably start PT. Even with doing PT, I will be gradually putting weight on it, so I will still use the wheelchair some. With using the crutches, if my right leg was left down for more than about 3 minutes, it starts to turn purple and swell, so being able to go from place to place while having my leg propped up in the wheelchair has helped a lot with my swelling and pain.I still use the crutches at home, so my upper body is still getting somewhat of a workout. The wheelchair has also helped me be able to work more.

I noticed this morning while taking a shower, how little my calf is getting. I think I was in denial, but I lifted my leg without the brace, and it is looking pitiful. It's all squishy and the muscles aren't there much anymore. I have always had bigger calves and thighs, so for it to look this small, is very weird and I know it's only going to get worse.

slmac, it is wonderful, and I am so much better with it. I took my 2 year old nephew for a ride in it yesterday and it was great. All of the giggles was what I had needed. I haven't been able to hold him or snuggle with him since the surgery, but with the chair, I could. He's just so darn cute

Thankfully, I work at a church. I'm the assistant to the pastor and the graphics/techy person (the pastor's side-kick as some say) and have a recliner in my office. My parents work there too. My mom as the administrative assistant, and my dad is an associate pastor which is nice and comes in handy. But it has it's negatives as well, I live with them and am thankful for that, but working with them means I never have a moment without them. I need some adult interaction without my parents desperately!!!!!

Hopefully, my left one will be scheduled within the next 4 or 5 months. My left knee has been hurting like crazy because of me using it so much lately. It may be pushing it, to have both of them done so close together, but if I don't, I think my left knee is going to give out on me. Right now, the left one is hurting more than the one I just had the Fulkerson on.

I am excited about the thought of being able to do things without pain though. I guess that's what's motivating me right now. When I was growing up, since both knees were crappy, I just always thought that it was normal for them to be like they were. I think that had only one of them was screwed up, it would have been fixed years ago.

Hope all goes well for ya on Friday. Just keep thinking about how much better your knees will be when the recovery time is over!

Well, as of this afternoon, I'm 5 weeks post-op. it still hurts like heck. I have been able to cut back some of the pain meds until today. I was pushing myself under my desk at work and I went to go put my leg under the desk with the leg thing on the wheelchair up and a flip flop on. The flip flop was too high or something and it jarred my leg really bad. I even screamed a little. 

I also have a question. I was feeling around my incision tonight, it's still numb, and I felt one of the screws poking up. It's not poking through the skin, but I think if I bumped it a little, it could. Is that normal to be able to see a bump and feel the screw. I go back next week to the dr. So he will let me know if that's supposed to be there. I also have to call in for more meds tomorrow, so ill ask the nurse while I have her on the phone.

One of my favorite things to do was ride a bike. Before the right knee surgery I had terrible pain, now I can ride without pain! My left one though always pops and gives me trouble. I hope it helps.

Agreed!!! I could never ride long pre-surgery... I knew I was having my left one done (right was done in 2010) this fall so I started in February riding the bike. I think this recovery is going to be better!!

I am 17 days post op and last night I noticed that the right side of my ankle was purple and swollen. Anyone have issues like this?

sarahmae,
I'm 2 weeks post -op myself and I've had the exact thing with my ankle  turning purple and swollen. Also, I've had bruising on the back side of my leg all up and down from the knee on down. I called my OS and was informed by him that this is perfectly normal and will subside in time. He also emphasized elevation and icing as much as I can which I've been doing steadily as well as using a CPM several hours a day.

I'm also very numb in the general area around the incision which I've been told is normal. I get the stitches out tomorrow, but a tad nervous as I have a wicked looking scar and it kinda feels like it might hurt a bit to pull stitiches, like maybe they're not ready yet. Perhaps that's unnecessary worrying???

JC

Well, next Thursday, I will be 12 weeks post-op and hopefully be able to be taken out of the immobilizer brace.  PT is still kicking my butt 3 days a week, but I'm making a lot of progress. I can straight leg raise 2.5 pounds and can bend to about 114 degrees, with 30 minutes of work. My calf still looks pathetic, but it's getting better. I am a little frustrated with this whole thing, just because I was expecting it to be a lot better by now, but I'm still taking heavy pain meds on a regular basis and can only be on it for a few minutes and then it starts to throb and swell. I am able to put all of my weight on it, which is a big plus, but only for a few minutes at a time. As the swelling has gone down quite a bit, my top screw is poking out a whole lot and kinda weirds me out and makes me a little nervous about trying to wear my jeans and it rubbing.


Sarahmae99,

Were you able to get out of your immobilizer yet? I have until next Thursday, which will be 12 weeks post-op and hopefully he will let me out of this dang thing!