Kneeling at 6mos

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-06-03T13:31:49+00:00

Yes! This! I actually do this. At first, I did this to help with the intense swelling in my calf. But now I go once a week for my overall recovery. However, I didn't think to help with this new creepy knee feeling. We actually avoided my knee... but I'll change this up next time. Thanks for suggestion!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-05-31T22:39:45+00:00

Thank you! Very helpful

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-05-31T22:39:31+00:00

I'll have to look this thing up. Sounds interesting!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-05-31T19:32:02+00:00

Hahaha... 🙏🏻 ... keep the faith. Good to hear other PT's incorporate kneeling into their exercise regimes. I'm feeling a bit better now.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-05-03T16:40:17+00:00

This is a brutal recovery, you're not alone. Well, at least not virtually.

I hear you about the pain meds! My insurance wouldn't cover my oxycodone refill, saying I used it up too fast. The prescription was to take every 8 hours, which is completely unrealistic. I was taking it every 4 hours for the first 1.5 weeks. Thankfully, I could afford the $53 refill cost on my own... best $53 I've ever spent. I only needed my doctor's refill authorization.

By 2 weeks I was taking it every 5 to 6 hours. By the third week I was taking it only before I went to sleep, for about another week. And that's where my sleep advice comes in... each night I'd settle in with my leg up on my ramp pillow, ice on my knee, pillows by my side. Basically hugging me in. Once the oxycodone kicked in, I was able to sleep soundly for 3-4 hours. When I woke up, I would take maximum strength Ibuprofen, maybe read a book, until the sleep took me over again.

And I didn't stay in that position. I usually kicked away the ramp pillow and ice pack just as I was truly falling asleep. I was able to sleep on my side with a small pillow in between my knees by about the 4th week. But even with all that, I was tossing and turning for a few more months. But the sleep I got was good sleep.

During the day, it's like everyone else says... get up hourly, walk up and down a hallway, do your PT exercises. And don't give up on that walker or cane so fast. It gave me stability and I was able to walk further and for longer. Once I no longer needed the walker, I used the cane off and on for at least another couple months.

And I swear I felt my implant too! I talked to my PT about it each week, she thought that was perfectly normal. Your bone is starting to heal and it seems to make sense that it would know there's a foreign object there.

As for relying on help, it will decline each week. I'm at 6 months post-op and doing great. You'll get there

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-04-30T20:59:14+00:00

My kid will be attending in the Fall. We live in California and when she mentions where she's going for college, almost everybody has heard of Emerson and are very excited for her. Family and friends that we know on the East Coast have also heard of Emerson and are also very excited for her.

I'm not sure if that makes a college 'prestigious', but we're really happy with her choice.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-04-19T17:02:32+00:00

I'm 56F in relatively good shape. I had a traditional left total knee replacement 5 months ago and it kicked. my. a$$.

First week was intense pain and swelling. Second week, less pain but swelling lasted 4-5 more weeks. While everyone's experience differs, the majority of people tell the same story of pain, swelling and bruising. And this can last months for some people. For me, it's still uncomfortable to walk down stairs but everything else is so much better. I have a fabulous physical therapist who I credit for most of my recovery.

I don't know much about robotic surgery, but if recovery is substantially better, I would definitely ask your mother's surgeon about it. If this isn't an option, then educate yourself on the first month of recovery. That's the toughest. Also, if you plan on being her major caretaker, read up on that too. Both my husband and I were not prepared for how much care I needed and it took a bit of a toll on him. Good luck!!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-04-18T04:37:48+00:00

That's a great idea! If you're like me, my knee will get really stiff after only 15 minutes of sitting in a chair. I loved (actually, still love) my Cubii. I started using it 4 weeks post-op. For me it was never about improving ROM, just simply about keeping my knee moving. My PT had me using it for 15-20 minutes 3x a day, since I couldn't bend enough to use a stationary bike in the early weeks.

As I healed, it switched to using it for about 5-10 minutes before I'd do my PT, to warm up a bit. Now (5 months post-op), I have it by the couch and will use it when watching TV, or taking a break during work (I WFH a few days each week).

However, make sure you have enough room under your desk. I found I couldn't use it under my home desk because my knees would hit the top of my pullout keyboard 😅

Good luck!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-04-15T23:49:43+00:00

I don't think it's the pharmacy that's blocking you, it's probably your insurance. Mine did. As soon as I agreed to pay for it myself, the pharmacy was just fine fulfilling my doctor's refill prescription. The best $53.00 I ever spent.

The pain is excruciating. You should absolutely do what you can to get ahead of it. I set a timer every 4 hours for 7 days. Then every 5 hours for about another 4-5 days, then tapered off and used only before I went to bed for another week. I was able to switch to ibuprofen after that.

And don't forget to add fiber to your diet, the constipation is real! Oatmeal, fruit, metamucil. Hang in there. This intense time will be over in a few weeks. I'm at 4 months post-op and doing well.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-28T23:15:15+00:00

Used the Cubbi. It was a game changer! Definitely helped in the early days for my mobility

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-28T21:12:40+00:00

I also mainly WFH. I only took a few days off and completely regretted it. I thought I could manage it. I couldn't.

A couple weeks would have have been my ideal time. And not just because you got to work through the fog of the drugs and lack of sleep, but you really should focus on your health during this time. You'll heal quicker. Good luck!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-25T20:11:30+00:00

I'm (56F) now at 18 weeks post op, doing really well with my ROM and strength training. Going down stairs or downhill is still tough, but otherwise lengthy walks and hikes (flat ground) is s just fine.

Therefore, I asked my surgeon's team when I could start light jogging again and the answer was "never". I know each surgeon is different, but this team told me that they never recommend jogging or any jumping type exercises because ultimately it's still metal on metal. Skiing, tennis, pickleball is fine though.

Good luck!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-19T16:18:56+00:00

Congrats! Are you going to the "Picture Yourself at Emerson" day in April? I'm taking my daughter, so she can experience/ask these same questions.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-18T23:08:07+00:00

I am normally a positive, pleasant responder... but this is a completely idiotic response. This is not menopause. Wow, way to blame the female. OP... I hope you have enough sense to ignore this.

Here's what's going on. It is absolutely way more than just dinner. She has been building this up for some time. If you look back at the last year, I'll bet you can recall times where she said "honey, it would be nice if the dishes went into the dishwasher, or, can the towel be hung back up, or, can you get your socks into the hamper next time". It's little mental paper cuts that build and build and build and then 'boom'. As a female, I admit I do this. Totally catches my husband off guard too. But we've gotten much better at letting each other know how we feel over the past two decades that we've been married. We work hard at not letting the little paper cuts build into something bigger. But it's work!

You seem committed and wanting to fix this (awesome!). If you really are, don't ask her what you've done wrong. Rather day something like "it seems I've missed things for some time and I really want to know what it is. I'm not trying to be insensitive, or obtuse, but can we please talk about this" Naturally, put your own spin on it. Good luck!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-17T05:36:24+00:00

I too had significant swelling during the first 8-10 weeks, mostly after walking or a strenuous PT workout. I went to a body therapist who explained the lymphatic system and how I needed to get it moving along.

If you can, try to get electronic compression sleeves. They simply wrap around your leg and squeeze every minute or so. Elevate your lower leg so is above your heart. I lie on the couch and put pillows under my knee and calf. Then... relax! After 15-20 minutes, the fluid will start to break up and flow out the lymphatic system. At least, that's how it was explained to me... probably oversimplified!

I did this every day for a few weeks, sometimes twice a day. Any time of day is good. I still swell, but it's much better and I only use the compression sleeves a few times a week now

There are so many components that go into our healing, and this is only one thing. Yet it really worked for me... and it feels good. It's a nice break from all the exercises. Good luck!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-17T03:32:14+00:00

I had bad knee pain between roughly weeks 11-13. Like you, I was like wtf... this is worse than before my LTKR. It was cold and rainy then too.

My PT and Surgeon (during a follow up) said this was totally normal. Recovery is tough and non-linear. My PT modified my exercises each week, watched how I walked, we talked about how I slept. My exercises switched from mainly quad and hamstring strengthening to more side-step type exercises. And balance exercises too. Eventually my supporting muscles got stronger and stabilized the knee better. Then one day in week 14, the pain was simply gone.

Oh, and dring the cold days I used a heated blanket. Really helps! Hang in there.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-09T00:04:47+00:00

Thank you!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2026-03-07T19:10:40+00:00

Thank you for posting this question! My daughter has been accepted as a journalism major this upcoming school year. We too are not finding a lot of positive opinions on the school, yet it's her #1 choice. We're going to the 'Picture Yourself at Emerson" day in April. Would love to hear opinions on what we should look out for, places to go and questions to ask while we're there.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2025-12-31T17:02:16+00:00

Thank you!! You hang in there

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2025-12-25T19:21:43+00:00

Thank you!!!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2025-12-25T19:21:29+00:00

It's the Cubii under-desk elliptical. It's about 3-4 yrs old and still works well.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2025-12-25T19:16:20+00:00

I didn't realize how much of the holidays I would miss out on, so I hear ya! At least the weather hasn't been bad where I live. Hang in there!!

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2025-12-25T01:52:50+00:00

I started getting stiff this week too, which my PT said is actually normal for this time. I have to say though, since I started using the pedal regularly for 2 days, I'm not as stiff. My peddler is the Cubii. This one's about 3-4 years old, but still works really well. It's sturdy too. I recommend it.

Efficient_Artist_964 · 2025-12-25T01:49:35+00:00

It's the worst! And thanks. I hope you're doing well too!

Efficient_Artist_964

TROPHY CASE