Second Knee Replaced, 6 to 7 weeks after surgery. Total Knee Replacement

[@robertsuelter4196]

Your videos are encouraging. I am at day 7 post op total knee replacement. I have a long road ahead

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thank you. I made these videos to try and help others. I appreciate it. You will get there before you know it. Keep up the meds and therapy and it will all fall into place. I hope and pray you continue to heal and do well.

[@jimadrian3006]

Thanks, Gary, for your reply.. very helpful and encouraging as I enter week 7 of my bilateral knee rehab.. in addition to PT, Iam doing my stretching and bending exercises 2 to 3 times per day hoping this gets me back!! Trying to avoid medical intervention

[@christiearnold2781]

I am just wrapping up 2 weeks tkr. It has been difficult. Your videos are so helpful for me. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@GaryForgingOn]

I really appreciate that. I was hoping my videos could help someone. I hope and pray your recovery goes well. Keep up those meds and PT. They will really help.

[@christiearnold2781]

@@GaryForgingOn Thank you🙂

[@ArielleViking]

Hopefully your healing continues and you're back to 100% soon. ❤️

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thank you Arielle, It is getting a lot better now. I just don't have a lot of endurance on the leg but it is getting better.

[@herkitblu9953]

Hey Garry. Brent from Perth Western Australia. Thank you, I am at 5 weeks post surgery and it is sonice to hear you describe everything that is exactl the same as me. The sleep, the sitting up and the movementaltough I am not quite up to the 120 degrees. Getting closer. Anyway just wanted to say thanks cos I thought I was going nuts. Thanks again and take care.

[@GaryForgingOn]

Glad you are doing well Brent. I never could get to 0 with either one of my knee replacements. The doctor thought I was at 0 and doing great but the therapist would measure and say I was at 4. Just had to say that was good. :) Getting to the 120 was tough too. Sounds like you will be there in no time. That is great. Hope and pray you continue to improve well. I know about Perth from a blacksmith/bladesmith I watch all the time on youtube that lives there. Take Care. Gary

[@thomastaylor637]

Very Nice Update.

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[@belagaspar929]

Great story. I went through a lot of the same exact things you described. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Hope your knees are doing well now. Mine are getting better over time. :)

[@patcarmody7592]

Keep up the good work.

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thank you , I appreciate it.

[@RustyGlovebox]

Like you say, the exercises are very important after surgery. Good luck on your continued success with the knees Gary

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thanks Lloyd. I hope to be back in the shop soon and doing some project work. :)

[@angelitaedwards8414]

Thanks for your useful information. I am now 6 week post-op. One thing my surgeon indicated to use for sleep is Benadryl. I take Benadryl with Tylenol at night. Looking forward to making it to being fully recovered!!! I hope you are doing well!!!

[@GaryForgingOn]

I hope and pray you continue to do well. I am doing great. It has been 2 years for the first knee and a year and a half for the second. I get around great and walk up and down stairs normal again. But it took me at least a year to feel like I was close to fully recovered. I did fine for months up to that but still felt like I had a little swelling.

[@superadaytwars3592]

Thanks for your information, I am six weeks post opp,still pain where as a lot are of pain meds,like you said we are all different, exercise hurts but I no I have to do it,hopefully six months time we will be thinking differently. 🙏

[@GaryForgingOn]

It will get there. Keep up the exercises and before you know it everything is way better. I hope and pray you do well.

[@wayneheitz8390]

Hopefully your recovery continues to go well. Have a wonderful day.🤞🙏👏

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thank you Wayne. It is getting better every day. I appreciate it.

[@debraseguin18]

Hi Gary I have had both knees done as well, I get lots of questions still about my recovery. I also made videos of the process and answer lots of questions on here and FB. I had the ice machine for mine as well and that was a great addition to my recovery and pain relief. We all have that sleep issue and it sucks! I had 6 months off for both of my knees I had them 2 years apart, I’m doing great and don’t regret having it done. I’ve got 8 years to go before retirement I hope I don’t have to ever have a revision because that would suck in my seventies. I hope your doing great and have no pain, the stiffness goes and for me the clicking went as well. The only thing I feel now is a slight sliding when I rock side to side when my knees are locked and I’m standing. I’ll check out your channel, my husband was a “shop guy” he did so many different things out there and I loved to sit and watch him work. Have a great day🤓

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thank you for the kind comment. I appreciate it. My right knee is now a year post op and it is really doing good and I have noticed less clicking. The left one was in Sept so it is still a bit sore but getting better as time passes. I wish I could retire now. LOL . But I have a few more years. I like doing things in the shop. Blacksmithing, Welding, fixing things. Just anything that I am out there doing. I got a 3D printer to mess with while I was going through recovery. I enjoy trying to things and figuring out stuff or learning new crafts. Thanks again and I am glad you are doing well. And thanks for checking out my channel. I will check out your videos too.

[@debraseguin18]

@@GaryForgingOn my son has 3 3D printers he has made lots of things. He started making litho’s a while ago and sells them for a good price too. They are beautiful lights and such a personalized gift. My husband was a master plumber/ gas fitter. He also did work working electrical and all the yard work. I loved to watch him create he took so much pride in his stuff. He was 50 that was 10 years ago that’s hard to believe. This might sound crazy but I started watching random videos afterwards of random people making stuff on you tube lol. You tube has helped me out lots since then I’m not used to asking for help and I will have try to solve problems on my own first. I laugh at myself daily but I try😁

[@minijms1]

Glad to hear things are progressing well, just a few points from me, I dropped the ice packs after the swelling on my knee subsided after 10 days I didn't see the benefit after the swelling went. As for sleep, my sleep pattern has changed a little, I used to be a late night person (bed at 11pm/after mid-night) but I am finding I am whacked around 9ish so I go to bed, but I am a wake around 4am, I am still getting a good 7 hrs then I drift off again after an hour or so. I try to remain active during the day but take it steady if I get over tired I will take a nap for 20 mins or so but not every day. Tomorrow I visit my surgeon for an assessment then hopefully he will add me to the list for my left knee, over here in the UK we have the NHS not insurance my treatment is free (paid through taxes) but the down side is there is a massive queue for this procedure, the waiting list is around six months. Anyways, keep posting and best wishes.

[@GaryForgingOn]

Glad yours is doing well. My knee swelling is down a lot but not gone. The orthopedic said it could take a year to completely heal. My first knee was still hot to the touch even 5-6 months after the replacement. But I can't tell now because the new knee is hotter to the touch. I get around a lot more now without icing but if I do a lot I still ice mine some. I am sleeping better too which helps a lot. Please let me know how it goes on the next one. I hope and pray all goes well. My doctor said an orthopedic friend of his practices up in the northwest part of the US near Canada and he has a few days a week for Canadian patients that are willing to pay cash because their queue can be years out. insurance drives me crazy sometimes. If they could work it out where it was more standardized but without long waits it would be better. Take care.

[@minijms1]

@@GaryForgingOn Oh, I forgot to mention, winter is here and boy I have noticed a change, the cold gets into the knees new and old, because of this I am getting lower back pain, I guess this is because the way I am walking it seems both knees are in different ways compensating each other. I have been told this is normal, for me it means I will keep taking pain meds (Co-codamol) but only when required.

[@londoncity1]

Glad to hear things are progressing well, just a few points from me, I dropped the ice packs after the swelling on my knee subsided after 10 days I didn't see the benefit after the swelling went. As for sleep, my sleep pattern has changed a little, I

[@GaryForgingOn]

I don't use the ice pack much at all now. Only if I work it too hard and it swells on me. Glad you continue to do well. That is wonderful.

[@minijms1]

Now then Gary, how you doin'? How about an update? For me, had my second partial done in January (left knee this time). I knew what to expect and got on with it, but I soon realised it was different from my right knee, the swelling was taking longer to subside, the pain was bad, really bad, thought I might have an infection, I went back to the hospital and they ruled out infection which was a relief but sent me home to get on with it. I'm three months in now, I have more or less full extension but still have a little swelling, my biggest pain problem is my tendons around the knee cap, hurts like hell at times, it will pass in time so like you we crack on. I'm 62 and decided I will not be doing this again, it is a big commitment in pain and recuperation I think your videos are honest and frank, I don't regret having the procedures but boy it can take it out of you. Anyway, best wishes.

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thanks for watching and the comment. Hope you continue to improve. It does take a lot of a person. When I did the second one I told my wife that at least I knew what kind of pain and trouble to expect. I already shot a video last week showing how I walk now. Someone asked if they could see my walk now that I have everything replaced. I just have to get it edited and uploaded. Hopefully I can get that out there soon. Mine are getting a little better all the time. Glad I got them done now. Still have to get used to that numbness on the sides of both knees when kneeling. Take care.

[@ceed.6729]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Almost 4 weeks since mine, still swollen. Ughhh !

[@GaryForgingOn]

Hang in there. That swelling will last a while longer. It took about a year before I felt like all the swelling was gone but most of that year was not bad or anything. Just felt like it was not fully healed. I could get around fine.

[@herminarahiman3264]

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I have a similar problem and getting ready have to have both knees replaced. I am really scared and very nervous about the whole situation. I have ignored the idea of having to have my knees done and all I am experiencing now is pain and getting up is not easy. I use a cane to get around. I am worried about how I am going to cope after the first surgery done with my right knee being so bad. Listening to you has given me some hope. Thank you, hope you continue to feel better and take care. Emma from Canada

[@GaryForgingOn]

I am glad my videos have helped you some. I had watched some videos on what to expect before my first rotator cuff surgery and it really helped me out. So I thought I would try to help others. I appreciate you kind words. The recovery after the initial surgery is painful. People told me they all said during the first 2 weeks how they wondered if they made a mistake. But after the first few weeks things started to improve and then they said they wish they did it sooner. Even though my first surgery was in March and my second in Sept. My knees still hurt a little when I go up and down stairs or walk on them a lot. But the doctor said it takes a year to really fully heal. And my right knee from March is way better than my left now. I was on my feet most of the day yesterday and my knees got tired and sore. But the difference is when they hurt from being bone on bone it would take me a few days to get over it. Now I can just sit down for a little while and go again. Just don't try to get off the meds too soon like I did. Stay on the meds and do the physical therapy and you will do great and be walking better before you know it. You just have to prepare for the surgery recovery. And use that ice machine. Hopefully they get you one or you can buy them. They really help. I hope and pray you do well and get your mobility back soon.

[@belagaspar929]

You will be fine. Just give yourself 3-5 months between the two knees. You will need one knee to depend on to get around. Physical therapy is so important to start after about a week or so. The earliest the better. Get the ice cooler for your knees fro Amazon for around 200 dollars. It’s well worth it. Trust me on this one. Everyone will go through the sleep issues. Pain killers also will stuff u up. So maybe taking stool softener will help. We feel your pain! I had bath knees done 3 months apart. So glad I did. I hated my surgeon for the first 4-5 weeks. Now I love him. A little pain, discomfort and sleep deprivation will w]be worth it. My knee pain I experienced for years is completely gone. I’m so happy. I wish you the same. Just keep moving and exercising. Bike rides is what I do now. Best wishes.

[@rondaughenbaugh1824]

Gary nice video brother man I sure do appreciate you doing this this is helping a lot of people including myself this is my first knee replacement well I'm having trouble with my hip now just wondering if you had that problem glad you and God loves from tiffin Ohio

[@GaryForgingOn]

I damaged my right knee in my 20s from a motorcycle wreck, I fell hard on my right hip in my 40s. I thought all my walking problems was from the knee. But when my doc examined me he said a lot of my limping and twisting were from the hip and not the knee. So he said he wanted to do the hip first because you feel hip problems in the knees. So I got the hip done then the right knee. I had to them get the left knee replaced because I wore it out. All I have left is my left hip and it gets a little sore from working it but it's not that bone on bone pain. I hope and pray your recovery goes well. You will be glad you got it afterwards.

[@dixie2675]

That's great you are healing so quickly! Which knee replacements did you have and what made you decide on those. Being a tradesman you of all people know all things are not made the same.

[@GaryForgingOn]

I am not sure what kind of replacements they used. The doctor told me but I cannot recall. They are both working great though and I get around really well. It still feels weird to kneel down on my knees though. it does not hurt as much to kneel as it did the first year but with the outer numbness and everything it is just really different.

[@dixie2675]

@@GaryForgingOn that's awesome Gary! I'm a lineman by trade and it sure is encouraging and thoughtful for people like you to share your stories.

[@GaryForgingOn]

@@dixie2675 I had to have a rotator cuff surgery at first. I had no idea what to expect so I did a search and found other people on youtube that showed week after week what they went through and also how to prepare before the surgery. It was really helpful. So when I had my rotator cuff done in 2018 I thought I would do that same thing since I already had a youtube channel. Then did the hip the next year and later both knees in 2022. I am glad mine have been helpful like those that helped me. Being a lineman you will really work those knees out. Did you get a knee replacement already or are you going to get one? It is rough at first but after it is all healed up it is great.

[@dixie2675]

@@GaryForgingOn I have not yet. I have had a osteochondral allograft and meniscus transplant to buy me some time. It was a brutal recovery two months no weight bearing. I just know knee replacement is in my future.

[@GaryForgingOn]

@@dixie2675 my first knee (right) was from a motorcycle wreck in my 20s. Didn't find out until my knee started having problems that I tore my ACL. Which led to a torn meniscus in half. They cut out that half and I was told to just go as long as I could but would eventually need it replaced. Also fell and damaged the hip on that same leg and it needed replaced years later. The left knee just wore out compensating for the bad leg.

[@cmongimme]

You mentioned the popping coming from the knees, is yours a Stryker manufacturer?

[@GaryForgingOn]

I am not sure the manufacturer. But the popping and clicking is mostly gone now. Seems as everything heals and the swelling goes down and the muscles get stronger it holds it all tighter or something and pops less. Nothing like it did after the surgery.

[@THEFIRSTTIMEGARDENER-mp9vv]

Ive just done my right knee total replacement. Im in day 3 post op. Im able to do most of my exercises but laying down on my back i can't lift my legg without help. How long does it take til you can lift your legg while laying down on your back? You at 6plus weeks, can you do that now? Thanks Ed

[@GaryForgingOn]

Hi Ed, Hope you are recovering well. Sounds like you are doing really good. I remember it was very painful to raise my leg for a while but now that it has been 2 years ago I cannot exactly recall when I could start lifting my leg. I am pretty sure I could by 6 weeks but I remember it hurt for a while even though I could start lifting my leg it was still painful. But all that will go away. Sorry I cannot give you an exact time.

[@MissSherry]

I subbed ya, but don’t know how much forging I’ll be watching, I’m here for the knee info.. I’m 67 and will be having my right knee TKR on August 1st. My question is about the clicking sound from your knees, is it audible to those around you? I’m really not gonna worry about that, just wondering.. heck folks can hear my crunchy knees now.. thanks for making videos, I sure appreciate it!!

[@GaryForgingOn]

Thanks for the sub @MissSherry. My wife could hear the clicking but it has mostly gone away now. Sorry for my late reply, I was out of town for a while. I hope and pray your surgery goes well and you have a good recovery. It is rough at first but worth it in the end. Gary

[@cindylucero3672]

After knee surgery I'm on my 7th week also. I'm still trying to walk normal that's a task in itself ..but ...I find myself after walking maybe 10 minutes 15 slow it swells up and have to ice are you going to the same

[@GaryForgingOn]

Yes. I went through the same. I had my second one done in September and it is still sore going up and down stairs but it is slowly getting better. But don't get discouraged on having to use the ice machine. You will get stronger and stronger as it heals. My doc told me that the swelling and healing will take a full year. I can believe it. I had my right knee replaced in March and my left in Sept. The first one is doing a bunch better now but I can tell it is still healing some. But even after 4 months on my second knee it will get tight and swollen some after walking a lot on it. We took the family to an event and it was a lot of walking and my knees got sore and stiff like they did before the surgery. The difference is that I just sat down for a while and could start over again. When it was bone on bone before it would take me a few days to get over it. Let me know if you have any questions. I appreciate you watching the videos. Take care and I hope and pray you continue to heal well. Sounds like you are right on track so far.

[@earlshaner4441]

Good morning brother from Syracuse NY

[@GaryForgingOn]

Hello Earl, Thank you for watching and checking in. Much appreciated.

[@jimadrian3006]

Gary… watched your video on 7 week recovery on your knee.. I am 6.5 weeks into bilateral rehab and my right knee won’t go flat.. did you have that problem

[@GaryForgingOn]

They never actually got mine to 0 degrees. They would push on it and push and get it close. My doctor told me I was at 0 and flat but the therapist would say I was at 4 degrees. I was like that through my entire time in PT. At the end they said it was close enough. LOL. But even after all the time in PT and even for months after I seemed to get more and more motion from my knees. Just keep using them and pushing it as much as you can and you will do great. In the end they will just log your range of motion and that is it. It took to almost the very end of PT to get to 120 and that hurt worse for me than going to 0. I hope that helps. I hope and pray you continue to improve and recover. Let me know if I can help with anything.

[@jomc20]

I had a TKR lessc than 6 weeks ago. I cannot imagine going through this hell of pain and lack of sleep again! Does this mean something has gone wrong or just that I've not been given adequate pain relief - does anyone know? I'm interested to hear that pain meds can mess up sleep. That explains a lot! I sheep one or 2 hrs, then wake up in awful pain , have an early breakfast at 2-3am am awake for hours, nap off and on and give up 7am to 8 am. Would alcohol help??

[@GaryForgingOn]

Sleep was tough for me. I have heard others had a tough time sleeping. The ice machine helped a little for me sleeping with it during the night. I did pain meds for 4 to 5 weeks. Then switched to combining Tylenol with ibuprofen. But the ice still helped a lot. Alcohol does not help with sleep. Even when not having surgery it helps to initially get to sleep but then makes you wake up in a few hours. Not from my experience but what I was told by my sleep doctor. Hope you get some rest soon.

[@sheiladrengler7352]

1st knee was 5/2, sleep was terrible, woke up every 2 hours. Finally started taking melatonin it helped. 2nd 6/20 and only wake up once or twice and am able to get right back to sleep. 2 very different experiences in all aspects.

[@SuperDannybobo]

Bless you Gary upon sharing. As I texting surgery went great no pain yet. Will at some time when I get home. This is my second one just like yours right first and left currently. Waiting on the drip IV to finish up and I be getting dressed to home. Home is 45 minutes away however we be stopping to pick up my home pills three bottles 81mg baby aspirin, Oxycodone and don't remember third maybe stool softener. Stop at a sandwich place for lunch, however it may work out to have lunch here before we start our journey. Last time we ate lunch then went, however they were willing to send us sooner and I asked to stay for lunch and granted our stay. This way it one less stop. Later for supper we have a brother and sister bringing chicken noodle soup ( they have been a real blessing to our community. My surgery on my right leg was August 1st. So just a week past three months apart. I have a Continue Motion Machine ( CMP ) waiting for me at home. Last leg had the same unit. Two hours at a time ( 3 X ). Oxycodone makes the pain go away, however I become restless and the sleepless wii be like yours and I find my self being busy. Blessings to you and family for better health.

[@GaryForgingOn]

I hope and pray all goes well with this recovery. You are like me on the trip. I was about an hour away and had to stop and get meds. We thought we would be out in the morning and didn't order lunch in the hospital and ended up not getting discharged until the afternoon. I never had the CMP machine. They were going to do mine about 3 months apart but after the first one I said I would wait until the fall. I had my first in March and second in Sept. Let me know how you are doing. If yours is like mine it will be about the same as the first and you definitely know what to expect. Take care and have a blessed day and recovery.

[@SuperDannybobo]

This is what I remember about the first one boocoo PAIN!!! I have been blessed that I didn't have this while I was there. My leg is not exactly having a good time. LOL

[@ceed.6729]

Was your ankle and foot swollen too? Mine is.

[@GaryForgingOn]

I don't recall my foot being swollen. There was so much swelling I would not be surprised if my ankle did swell some but I cannot recall right now. When they replaced my hip my knee was really hurting afterwards and the doctor told me whatever joint they replace the next on closest to it will suffer. So I was expecting my ankles to hurt but they didn't hurt me. I don't think there is as much pounding on the knee replacement as there is on the hip.

[@ceed.6729]

Oh ok, thanks for letting me know. Wow, U have been thru a lot, feel better.

[@myrebornlilliebeth5164]

Do you still have clicking in your knees? I don’t think that’s normal. None of my friends who have had TKR have that and neither do I. I’m at 7 weeks post op. Still dealing with a lot of pain and little sleep and I’m on Tramadol and Gabapentin. Very tired and have to take med for nausea. Supposed to have other knee done, but this has been so very bad, I’m not going to unless I get to where I can’t walk. Sure hope you are doing well now.

[@GaryForgingOn]

I'm doing great now. The clicking went away over time. I think it took a lot of strengthening of the knees and legs. That is my guess anyway. I had the nausea more with the first surgery but the second I was fine with the meds. I was going to get mine done 12 weeks apart. That was the soonest the doctor would do them. But after the pain of the first I waited 6 months. I had the first in March 2022 and 2nd in Sept 2022. Glad I got them both done now. it was not fun or better. I was just more ready for the pain after the first. But I can do long walks now and climb hills and stand for a long time without the pain and limping I used to have. I hope and pray you do well and recover soon. Just know it will not really fully heal for a year. But you can get around well way before that. You will not regret it. At least I do not. Thanks and take care.

[@michelleleebento1888]

When were you OR when can people drive???

[@GaryForgingOn]

The rule on driving is to be off the walker and off the major pain meds for a few days so it is out of your system. My first knee replacement I was off both between 2 and 3 weeks. But it was my right knee and it just hurt too much to try to drive for a while. I probably started driving around 8 or 9 weeks. I can't remember exactly. On my second knee replacement, my left knee, I was on meds for around 4 weeks, so it was longer. But I started driving around 6 weeks maybe a little before. The weird thing that happened to me that I have not heard happening to anyone else is my right knee muscles above and below the knee hurt a lot driving even months after the surgery. It only hurt while holding the pedal at a constant speed. I could put it on cruise and be fine for hours but holding the pedal with my foot turned out a little really started hurting. I found it a bit better if I kept my foot straight up and down. It got a lot better after my second knee. I guess because I worked it so much in rehab. Probably all it really needed was more exercise. I hope that answers your questions. Let me know if you have any other questions. Gary

[@readynow12345]

Yo bro you got everything hip, knee what's next ... start referring to you as the artificial man.

[@GaryForgingOn]

LOL.. I'm getting completely rebuilt. ;)

[@WD-mv1rm]

Gary. We need to see you walking. So we can see the gait and alleviate concerns of a limp. Which is what I’m concerned.

[@GaryForgingOn]

I will try to get an update video out. It has been a while after this second knee replacement. It seemed like I was saying a lot of the same stuff as with my videos from my first knee. But I can work in some walking into it. Because my knees are still a little sore I can sometimes limp if I just give into them or if I am not thinking and limp out of habit. After years of limping I have to retrain myself to walk normal. But when I do I can walk and walk and they get a little sore but I can then sit for a little while and go again. Back when I was bone on bone I would do a lot on my feet and my knees would hurt and it would take a few days to get over it. I will try to get an update out there sometime soon. Thanks Gary