TCR Rider

Same as you I enjoy the "process". I use Trainer Road for workouts and Zwift for fun. I completed the TR Sweet Spot High Volume base program and the Mid Volume Build program. I've been working on the Mid Volume HIT program. I've been known to take a Trainer Road workout outside into the real world and use the Power Meter on the bike to hit the proper intensity.
I was due for another FTP test but since I'm looking at surgery in less than two weeks I don't see the point. I'm still riding and will continue to ride up to the day before the knee replacement. The only positive is that I can still ride without issues - I did 191 miles last week, it's walking and stairs that are a beotch.

bowzette

TCR I know it is a disappointment to get fit and then have health issues that are a set back-thus the process and not the end product. got to love it or it isn't worth it. I bet you will be riding soon after the surgery. Light spinning to regain range of motion and better blood circulation. I've all but ridden the bike to the surgery room-might as well :-) I wish you well with the surgery.

TCR Rider

Thanks bowzette. Hopefully this old dog has yet one more comeback in him.

bowzette

I bet you have plenty of teeth for a good bite

TCR Rider

Best teeth money can buy
I just banged out a pretty tough interval workout on TR, Spanish Needle, today and it went better than expected. Makes it even harder to have the surgery.....than I went out to get the mail and got a reality check on the stairs. No way around it it's the knife for me.

bowzette

My experience of which I'm acquiring far too much is to have the doc cut as soon as they agree to.

RonH

If you're lucky the doc will have you on a trainer in only a few days as part of your physical therapy. Good luck.

McBTC

Interestingly, there was a debate about the pros and cons of drainage for TKAs. Those who now choose not to have drains probably are among the greatest number of those who do a lot of revision cases due to infection. Only a small number of cases go awry but with the total number of TKAs being so large, even a small percentage results in 50,000 revisions per year (e.g., on TKAs done as many as 3-4 years earlier). So, the revision docs generally are the youngest and most knowledgeable of the latest thinking. There also has been changes in localized anesthesia, the use of which has become more common now that we have magnetic imaging, which enables precise location of the catheter, providing a micro drip in the area of the hip that intercepts pain signals before they ever get to your back.

TCR Rider

Thanks. At this point I just want to get the surgery behind me so I can get on with the rehab.

TCR Rider

A week from tomorrow - Sept 7. Just had the pre-surgery work up. It's getting real

bowzette

Morphine is my drug of choice. Sherlock concurs

TCR Rider

Accept no substitutes

RonH

Post surgery ask for Norco for any pain. I got some from my pain doc for my spinal stenosis and it's awesome.

metalheart44

After my second TKR I had some severe pain from a botched spinal and it was much worse than the surgery site. At one point I could not lay on my back or side and I was just beside myself. Morphine barely touched the pain and after a few more hours I received a shot of dilaudid. Almost as soon as the stuff was in my veins the pain just disappeared, the best pain relief I have ever had from anything. I'm not a fan of morphine because of how it makes me feel, but it does the job.

Norco is effective pain relief after surgery, but you probably know to taper down your dose as your pain allows. I weaned myself quickly after TKR#2 and switched to tylenol and that worked well. Any you probably also know about the constipation side-effects, so be prepared to deal with that.

Good luck next week with the TKR. I rode right up to the day before surgery, put in about 50 miles for my pre surgery ride.

TCR Rider

I still have some Norco left over from my last surgery to repair a mal-union of a pelvic fracture and revision of a hip replacement. I couldn't get off that quick enough. As mentioned the constipation was brutal. From the TMI file I had to have an enema to get the bowels back on line. Right now I'm managing the pain with Tramadol and Diclofenac which is doing a pretty good job. That and icing after rides.
I also plan on riding right up to the surgery just as I have been up to this point.

metalheart44

After the second TKR I drank lots of water as well as prune juice and ate a dose of prunes and other fiber like grapes, apricots, and whole grains. I also started taking a stool softener and Miralax right away and all of those things seemed to help since I had no issues the second time. But, you are right, limiting how much you take for how long is the key to staving off the adverse effects!

RonH

I forgot to mention that when I take a pill I also take an over the counter stool softener.

philbob57

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid. It can have constipating side effects. See Tramadol vs. Hydrocodone: Differences, Side Effects, and Interactions, for example.

TCR Rider

I realize that Tramadol is an opioid but for whatever reason it doesn't affect me the same way norco does.

McBTC

I'm a bit over a month ahead of you (July 28th for me). I was told by the therapist yesterday that you've got the first two months after surgery to get what ROM you're 'gonna get (perhaps some in the 3rd month). For me, they're shooting for 120°. I'm at 100° up from 98° last week (generally, they shoot for 7° /week but that'll be harder in my case due to swelling). My action item over the weekend involves use of a stationary trainer, continuing to bring the seat closer to the pedals as I get close to turning the cranks over the top, and using by hands to elevate the knee and holding for 5 sec. at a pain level of "6" and do this for 5 minutes 3X /day. After that, I can put the seat back if I want and rev the cranks tor 5 minutes to work the muscles. So, hopefully 107° by about Tuesday...

TCR Rider

Everything I've read or watched on youtube agrees with that. It's a race against scar tissue and it starts to form quickly. I plan to really work on extension and flexion asap. I watched a video of the surgery and I've got to say it made me a bit queasy.
I'm planing on going to a rehab from the hospital if possible. I did that after my hip replacement and pelvic surgery and it really helped getting my recovery going in the right direction. The main problem with this plan is that I'm now on Medicare so we shall see if I can swing it. In the meantime I'm still getting my rides in, just got back from a 52 miler. Might as well ride as long as I can.

Sounds as if your recovery is going well - best of luck to you.

metalheart44

Depending on which Medicare plan you have and your home situation, it is possible to have a PT come to your house for rehab work 2/3 times per week. That is what happened for each of my surgeries. I asked around a bit before surgery for recommendations for companies and specific PTs and I was pleased with the in-home treatment and then I went to an outpatient PT clinic. Eventually, I knew what to do and it was just as easy to do the PT exercises at home. I have other friends with Medicare who went to a Rehab facility for the first week and that was a good transition that worked well for them.

TCR Rider

I can have PT come to the house and I intend to have that when I get home but I really want to go to a rehab first. I spoke to the case manager at the hospital and she said that it might be an issue getting Medicare to cover it for a single joint replacement. I'm still going to pursue that option and play up the fact that I have some other orthopedic issues that should be factored in. Can't hurt to give it a shot.

Grunts

Yep, I'm in at 65!

RonH

Glad you made it. Now tell us about yourself and your bike(s).