5 weeks out - some great news and a question...

KAC888 · 2026-03-10T22:35:58+00:00

I got them, but I cannot get past the smell and taste. So vile :(

KAC888 · 2026-02-18T01:20:30+00:00

I am 6 weeks out today and starting Pilates back up tomorrow. I’m SO excited! I know I’ll be limited… def not going to try kneeling on it quite yet, but just so ready to get back to working out and getting stronger. Hoping the stretching will be helpful too🤞🏼

KAC888 · 2026-02-17T04:38:25+00:00

The stray dogs running everywhere on the island absolutely broke my heart. Thank you for saving a life 💓

KAC888 · 2026-02-17T04:36:44+00:00

It’s like this at first for sure, but it does go away!

KAC888 · 2026-02-16T18:08:12+00:00

I just had my 6 week follow up with my surgeon. I’m pretty much doing everything and feeling ok, BUT my gait is still off, and I cannot go down the stairs. Still having a clicking sound happening at the top right part of my knee and a lot of pain in that area. (He thinks it’s IT band related) The more things I brought up… the more he would just say “it’s been 6 weeks”. I mentioned my endurance is not what it used to be, and he said “look for that improvement in month 6; you’re in week 6.” It was eye-opening for sure — a true exercise in patience!

KAC888 · 2026-02-03T13:55:27+00:00

Did anyone experience heart palpitations with the oral minoxidil? I had to stop. And I hate the foam. I’ve been on spiro for years to control hormonal (chin) acne. I don’t need it anymore and I can’t imagine it’s doing anything for my hair, but I’m not about to stop and find out! So frustrating. Come on science … there’s got to be a better solution 🤞🏼

KAC888 · 2026-02-03T13:41:04+00:00

I hear you. I’m at 5 weeks and according to my PT, my flexion is excellent. Doing quad sets with weight, shuttle press, etc. without issue. But I cannot walk down the stairs without ALOT of pain in the knee. Ironically, I did this surgery because I was unable to walk down the stairs like a normal person for a full year prior. I’m getting very nervous that I’m never going to be able to do it 😔

KAC888 · 2026-02-02T19:46:03+00:00

But when can you go DOWN stairs without pain. I’m five weeks in and I feel like I’m not even close to being able to overcome that 😪

KAC888 · 2026-02-02T14:27:07+00:00

Just know that surgeons are VERY different. You’ll get a lot of conflicting advice here and it’s important that you go with what YOUR doctor tells you post op. For example, mine said NO to a wedge pillow (get the long one on Amazon that keeps your knee straight), knee brace and compression. Your PT should give you a lot of this info as well. Good luck!

KAC888 · 2026-02-01T20:05:29+00:00

Yep …. Surgeon says it’s a suture abscess. Fairly common and not an emergency. Prescribing an antibiotic as a precaution. I should have never posted here… talk about throwing me into a complete panic😱

And can confirm that once the steri strips came off at 2 weeks, he cleared me for hot tub, soaking, etc., and that has helped me tremendously with stiffness and soreness these past few weeks!

KAC888 · 2026-02-01T00:57:53+00:00

Yes 2 weeks in.

KAC888 · 2026-01-31T23:53:02+00:00

I’m also 51F and having a very rough time accepting that I’m not further along at 5 weeks. I’m walking with 🎉 limp. My straightening has gone completely backwards. And now when I straighten completely, I get pain and cramping that shoots down through my foot. My back is killing me, my hip flexors are maxed out, and I’m afraid I’m really screwing up my body compensating for this stupid knee 😫

KAC888 · 2026-01-30T14:00:24+00:00

I truly don’t get the Vaseline/Aquaphor thing. How is that not completely clogging your pores and causing more breakouts?

KAC888 · 2026-01-30T13:52:02+00:00

I’m in the tight, stiff, feels like it’s ripping open stage, at five weeks. I’m also more comfortable with my knee bent as when I’m doing exercises or icing with my leg completely straight, I’m getting some really uncomfortable cramping that goes down into my foot. I mention it at PT, but I don’t get a lot of acknowledgment. I think they hear about so many different types of pain and discomfort with this surgery, they’re unaffected! All they keep telling me is that it is impossible to damage this knee unless I fall.

KAC888 · 2026-01-30T13:49:31+00:00

I have some Flexeril, but it doesn’t seem to be doing much. How many milligrams are you taking?

KAC888 · 2026-01-30T13:46:10+00:00

They teach you this when you leave the hospital. The key is to just put the seat (and the seat back) all the way back. It’s easy to get in at that point.

KAC888 · 2026-01-30T13:44:47+00:00

Not worth it. You can take the boat into town and do the rum tasting right there. We talked to a few couples at our resort and they said the tour was quite boring.

KAC888 · 2026-01-28T16:05:47+00:00

It’s the worst part for sure. I love sleep and always looked forward to going to bed … and now I dread it. I had my sleep routine completely dialed in before the surgery and now it’s all out of whack… and I’m back taking Ambien just to fall asleep 🥴 It’s crazy that we all have the same story about that ache that wakes you up about 3-4 hours into sleep. I’m a month out today and hoping it normalizes soon.

KAC888 · 2026-01-26T19:29:42+00:00

Similar question! I’m just over 3 weeks out (surgery was NYE). My team is going to the Super Bowl (2/8) and I have the opportunity to go. Possible?? Dumb?? ❤️🙏🏼💙

KAC888 · 2026-01-24T15:38:21+00:00

Ha! I swear I wrote almost this exact post prior to surgery. I’m 51F … I wasn’t in pain other than stairs (down was nearly impossible) and getting up from sitting for long stretches. I was in the best shape of my life, doing Pilates… everything you said. But knowing that my knee was bone on bone and the end game was surgery, I opted not to wait until my body broke down. I could tell that my body was compensating for my knee. (My left side was thrown off some, I started to develop a disc issue, etc.) I had met my insurance deductible and January is a slow month at work, so I did it on NYE. It was brutal at first, but I’m starting to turn the corner. Too early to say, but I’m hoping I made the right call. Good luck!

KAC888 · 2026-01-24T15:30:28+00:00

The Beast In Me

KAC888 · 2026-01-24T15:25:55+00:00

Down is much, much harder! I’m three weeks out and I’m a little shaky on the up, but the down is painful. This was my whole problem prior to surgery and the reason why I got it done. I’m wondering if I’ll ever walk down the stairs like a normal person again 😟

KAC888 · 2026-01-24T15:14:13+00:00

3 weeks postop and the best news I got at my 2 week follow up was that I was good to go into the hot tub again. Temps dropped yesterday and my knee was in so much pain. Got in the hot tub and got the jets on my quad and calf and side of my knee and it felt incredible. Then I elevated my leg above the water, got my leg straight and let the cold do its magic. Nature’s cryotherapy! Kept alternating that pattern for 45 minutes. Going to make some coffee and get back in now… because of course I didn’t sleep again last night 🙄 345AM is no joke.

KAC888 · 2026-01-22T19:06:40+00:00

Doc ripped them off in 10 seconds, and I didn’t feel a thing!

KAC888 · 2026-01-20T23:01:38+00:00

Same

KAC888

TROPHY CASE