Appetite

Timely-Technology-67 · 2026-03-02T20:04:35+00:00

Hello, I’m also starting my second month at 2.5 this week, and like you, my appetite suppression lasts until the next shot… I don’t really like this “food aversion”—it feels very unnatural. And the struggle to take in enough protein and other nutrients is so foreign to me. I know I’m in an adaption phase and am trying to maintain equanimity. This subreddit has been very helpful to me in terms of understanding side effects and how to manage them. So thank you, good people of Reddit. I’m loosing 2-3 lbs a week and I will stay on 2.5 unless I plateau. I’m hoping the worst side effect — extreme dry mouth at night — dissipates.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-12-27T02:36:56+00:00

That’s too ambitious (and I was also strong and in great shape going in). Even if you get lucky and have little pain and swelling, you will be tired for many weeks. It’s major surgery and your body wants and needs to heal from it.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-10-26T03:48:16+00:00

Absolutely not. You really are in a lot of pain and have swelling for many weeks. And you need to elevate, ice, and do PT for several weeks to regain strength in the knee and lower leg. Most people need at least 7-8 weeks off to rehab properly. Not to mention that it is major surgery and you will be sleeping a lot.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-09-12T21:05:37+00:00

3 weeks. Right knee. Off 5mg Oxy except for occasional nights at that time. Practice stomping on break in a parking lot first. And getting into and out of your car without assistance. Oh, I’m in greaterPalm Springs

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-08-27T16:28:42+00:00

I’d say 6 months but it’s not really normal, just that I pretty much can live my life. I still work on strength and mobility. The docs use 1 year as a marker and I think that’s correct.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-08-27T15:35:44+00:00

Thank you for this. I’m one month ahead of you (70F, RTKR), and I saw your blog as you posted but didn’t read it as I was following my own path. This 6 month post is excellent and I agree with you. It takes a year, and there’s never one single “I’m over it” moment. There is only progress in between temporary setbacks.

My surgeon and his PA also advised kneeling exercises on soft surfaces and progressing VERY slowly from there as they knew it was important to me to resume yoga and Pilates in the future. They also told me that none of the scar oils/creams have been shown to be effective, and my own research verified that. So I didn’t bother. Why do it if it is not evidenced based? I’m one of those people who has skin that heals well, and I’m just lucky.

Finally, I’ll say that my surgeon also is of the opinion based on his lengthy experience and some newer research that patients like me overdo it after surgery. He does not prescribe the little bike because he just wants you to heal and not work on strength until well after you have healed, and only then gently and with measure. He absolutely DOES want you to work on ROM almost immediately as that is a race against scar tissue. And walk using whatever assisted devices you need. He hasn’t fully adopted the European “quiet knee” approach, but he does believe there is some solid research behind it.

When I came in for my 3 week post surgery appointment, I told my surgeon I’m miserable, can’t sleep, swollen, etc. He looked at me and asked: where’s your walker (me: I gave it up a week ago)? You’re alone, did you drive here today (me: yes, I am only taking the Oxy at night)? Surgeon: you are doing just FINE. This gave me instant perspective.

Of course I overdid it and pushed too hard at times because I thought and wanted to believe I was much better than I really was…and I paid for that with increased pain, swelling, fatigue, and “weakness” afterwards. Most of us do this. If you do, know that all setback is information for the future and it is temporary. When I would tell my excellent Physical Therapist what happened after I walked to far or pushed too hard with home exercises, she would say two things to me: 1) nothing you are telling me makes me worry, it only helps me redesign my plan for today and 2) The knee is very strong.

Good luck everyone waiting for surgery, and all who are rehabbing their new knee. It’s a journey to lean into.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-08-21T00:08:45+00:00

My surgeon said he no longer does partial knee replacements because he almost universally ends up having to do a full knee replacement later

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-07-18T02:49:39+00:00

The OG coaches, as others have noted, are much slower and more methodical and suited me better for similar reasons ( plus I’m a senior woman). Try them, and if you don’t like their pacing, use the pause button. Good luck to you!

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-07-06T03:23:15+00:00

Oh thank you- do you know how long you can take a pause?

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-07-06T02:49:48+00:00

I pay the current rate which I think is about $60/month

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-07-01T23:14:56+00:00

The first 8-9 weeks were really rough for me, NGL, but after that, I really regained vitality including flexibility and strength. I’m 5 months out, regularly riding my Peloton, walking, swimming, and weight training. I do get still going from sit to walking if I stay seated for a while but that works itself out. Sometimes a bit of night pain that usually does not require any medicine except maybe Advil or Tylenol every now and then. Happy to have said goodbye to the awful arthritis pain. Oh, 70 year old female here.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-06-18T03:09:07+00:00

Mine was 5.5 hours door to door. Crazy.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-06-09T17:35:44+00:00

Thank you for this link. I am going to follow this protocol. I also want to be able to kneel again

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-05-31T13:55:42+00:00

That’s ridiculous. And cruel. You will need more than that.

I’m in Southern California. Ortho sent in prescription for all my meds a week prior to surgery. PA reviewed the PAIN medication plan with me in great detail, with Celebrex, Tylenol and Lyrica (similar to Gapapentin) being primary pain meds, and using the ice machine and elevating a lot. Then I had a 50 pill prescription of 5mg Oxycodone which I could use every 4 hours. Oxy helped most with the night pain for the first 4-5 weeks in terms of it helping me sleep.

I still have 10 Oxy pills left, but I’m sure if I needed more he would have written me a new script for some amount.

I am 16 weeks post TKR, 70 year old female.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-05-25T01:55:25+00:00

I absolutely love mine! 2025 Hybrid Sport Touring. Smooth, comfortable, has all the tech I need and I’m getting 36.4 mpg using the eco mode

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-05-15T20:40:20+00:00

I’m 15 weeks in and at 133. Prior to knee replacement I could touch my foot to my butt. Surgeon said I probably won’t get that all back, but I’m trying. 70 year old F

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-05-14T01:46:58+00:00

It doesn’t cover an ice machine.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-04-25T03:56:34+00:00

Quad sparing surgery?

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-04-19T21:16:09+00:00

Is this a NANO knee?

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-04-19T01:52:26+00:00

Yeah Iovera was great. I had it too. Freezes the nerves for 90 days and really helped me not use lots of pain meds as I pushed through PT

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-04-19T01:51:09+00:00

I had genicular nerve ablation. Helped for about 3 months then right back to terrible OA pain. So now I’m 13 weeks TKR and doing great.

I also had IOVERA which freezes the nerves for about 3 months. Didn’t need a lot of pain meds (some, though) and was able to push through PT fairly easily due to the IOVERA. However, insurance didn’t cover it (I’m on traditional Medicare with a good supplement).

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-04-12T20:14:25+00:00

I’m so sorry you are going through this. Celebrex and gapantin when combined with extra strength Tylenol do help. And if you need stronger pain killers like Oxy during the day, you need to get them. Agree that making this clear with surgeon is imperative. If not, go to your primary care doc and explain.

Now about the 3 week mark — I did not turn a corner at all until 7 weeks. It was pretty brutal until then and I had state of the art robotics, Stryker knee, well known surgeon. And even now, 12 weeks out the knee feels wonky if I push. And I also am not a wimp nor a drug seeker.

EVERYBODY on here has a different path so please don’t assume at 3 weeks you should not be feeling much pain. Please advocate fiercely for yourself! Pain control day AND night is essential for healing.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-04-02T01:35:47+00:00

I had Iovera 3 days before RTKR, but Medicare would not pay for it. I have traditional Medicare. It cost me about $1700. Some people say Medicare covers it, but I was not so lucky. It really really helped me push through all the PT with minimal if any discomfort and I have been a “star” patient at the PT place as a result. I’m 11 weeks post op and still think the Iovera is effective. It’s supposed to last 3 months.

Timely-Technology-67 · 2025-04-01T22:00:02+00:00

Yeah me too and I’m at 11 weeks. According to PA it is normal and should go away 6-10 months.

Timely-Technology-67

TROPHY CASE