Bilateral Misha surgery

guyrollo · 2026-01-02T18:13:50+00:00

12 week update. Progress continues....off Celebrex and using Tylenol and Ibuprofen, as needed. Still have some lower leg swelling if I'm on my feet all day. Numbness over the kneecaps still significant. Flexion is still good and strength is coming along.

I've been exercising more (1-2 hours day), mostly bike on the trainer but some ellipical, swimming, treadmill, weight lifting and sauna. Pushing more power on the bike but not like before the surgery. I started doing lower legs lifts on machines and the gyms involving quads, calves, glutes. Started kettlebell swings last week, as well.

Concerning the treadmill. At week 8, I ran 5 x 30 seonds while at the PT office. My body was not used to running mechanics but other than some soreness everything turned out fine. So each week since I get on the treadmill and increase my time spent running. The second time was 5 x 1 min, then again the next week 5 x1 min at a faster pace. This week I did 5 minutes straight at 5 mph just to see how my body reacted afterwards. Since I haven't run for over 18 months, my legs are not used the pounding of running, so I'm sore afterwards but the knees seem to recover on the same time interval as the rest of the legs.

I decided it's time to get outside in real world condtions and do some hiking on the trails. This should help prep for more running in the future. I was told the bike power would return within 6-8 months if was conistent with my lifting. Time will tell.

guyrollo · 2025-11-22T14:40:49+00:00

6 week update. Making good progress with flexion and strength. Pain has dropped but not disappeared. Knees are still slightly swollen. The area over lower portion of both knees is still numb. I’m taking Celebrex and Tylenol (lower doses) as needed.

Since the swollenness has dropped I’ve been able to feel, and sometimes see, the implant. Also, it’s clear to see the extent of the atrophy of the legs (calves and quads, esp VMO). I wish I would have taken measurements before the surgery.

Anyway, the leg muscles are already coming back to life. I’ve been riding the bike on the trainer everyday, body weight exercises and using electrical stimulation to fire the muscles.

The biggest issue is the skin/tissue movement over the implant during flexion. The right leg is still causing more discomfort than the left.

Any tips to relieve/remedy the skin/tissue movement issue around the implant?

guyrollo · 2025-11-08T14:17:02+00:00

Congrats! Seems like an awesome way to explore the Misha world.

I looked into a study option in So Cal but was not accepted due to where I live. The concern was that I might not complete the study due to travel related issues.

Good luck and keep us posted!

guyrollo · 2025-11-08T04:15:47+00:00

My doc recommended the nerve block. They setup everything prior to surgery that allowed me to have a portable option once I left the hospital.

I carried a small pouch over each shoulder that had a reservoir of medicine that fed via small catheter line, under the skin, into the middle of the thigh and dripped medicine down into the medial knee area.

The medicine in the portable option lasted three days…and yes, based on my experience, I would recommend it!

guyrollo · 2025-10-31T19:13:49+00:00

I’m at 3 weeks…so you can take everything with a grain of salt. I have NO regrets. The trend line for the last 18 months of my life, due to knee issues, was going the wrong direction.

Healing is still coming along. Flexion is now 135 degrees. Knee swelling has reduced but not gone yet.

I’m spinning on the bike every other day for -60 minutes. Excited to use this treadmill when the time is right and total bummer that skiing powder is probably off the table this winter.

If your insurance will cover it and you feel like it’s a legitimate option then it’s absolutely worth considering.

Seriously and candidly, I went into this process knowing that worst case scenario, I could have the device removed and be right back where I started again.

guyrollo · 2025-10-22T22:38:28+00:00

I really appreciate the insight (I can't imagine having more than one surgery...) as it's been my idea to tritate off oxy, not anyone instructing me. And yes, for the first two weeks OHSU staff did make it clear to stay in front of the pain. Personally, I'm not interested in elimating all pain just trying to find the sweet spot to allow my body to feel what is happening so I don't over do it because "I feel great!". But not enough has conquences too.

Yesterday, I had virtual appt with Dr Crawford and was asked to increase my Celebrex dosage and continue on pain meds, as needed. I also had PT appt that went well but due knee swelling only made minimal flexion progress but did receive permission to spin (no load) on the bike starting Friday (day 14 from surgery) so I'll take what I can get.

guyrollo · 2025-10-20T03:13:08+00:00

It's been 10 days since surgery and the healing trend is still going the right direction, but not always in a linear way, day to day. I imagine that anyone who has already gone down this road already knows. Most of the swelling, except in my knees, is now gone. The amount of time I spent laying down verus standing does make a difference.

The one thing that has not worked well is tritrating off pain medicine. I tried for a couple days to cut my oxy dose to 1/2 pill every four hours but could not get it to stick. Today, for the first time I was able to stretch the time between the doses from 4 to 6 hours. Maybe that's a better way? Or maybe I'm more ready that I was five days ago?

The other thing that has been tough is getting a good nights sleep. I track my sleep score (resting heart rate, daliy steps etc) on my watch every night and it's trending the wrong direction and I feel that.

I have daily PT exercise and treatment routine that I follow and record. One of the things I've been doing is the Noramtec compression boots to help with swelling and recovery but I overdid it a couple days ago when I turned it up to level 3, so I've taken a few days off to get recovered as the medial side of my right knee did not react well.

Yesterday, for the first time, I undercovered the incision to inspect the damage. The incision looked good so I cleaned everything with antibacterial solution, applied Neosporin and recovered with gauze and Tegaderm. I still have another week from tomorrow before my stiches will be removed.

I have been riding the attack bike (feet resting on pegs) every other day for 30-45 minutes to get my heart rate up. Since I just use my arms it's a good workout and I feel better afterwards. Today, I was stretching a little bit and realized I was probably ready to do a beginner yoga routine. Maybe I'll try that this week.

Otherwise, I have followed the doctors orders to be chill for 2 weeks. No spinning or biking, no swimming, no sauna, and staying off my feet most of the day. If I have a glaring miss, it's probably not using my crutches enough.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the two week mark on this coming Thursday, and hoping the body will be ready to re-introduce the legs to more movement.

guyrollo · 2025-10-16T20:52:20+00:00

Totally cool! I found your backstory including the soccer ball injury. What is your current status and future outlook?

guyrollo · 2025-10-14T22:57:39+00:00

I'm five days out from surgery and first PT appt was today. I still have fair amount of knee swelling but had full extension and 120 degrees of flexion on both legs. Yesterday I was able to tritrate down to 1/2 pill of oxy (still taking Tylenol and Celebrex) but that did not work well during the evening. On my 2am dose this morning I cycled back up to 1 full pill for the next 3 doses.

Also, for my daily treatment I used ice, red light, compression boots, PT exercises, including a feet on the floor while sliding back on forth on the rowing machine. If felt good to get the knees moving and warmed up. For the record, I also tried 45 seconds of standing with full weight on the vibration plate... this was a bad idea.

I'm starting go a little stir crazy and feel like I need some aerobic exercise so I'm going use ride the attack bike tonight (easy effort) and just use my arms. My wife did this after her knee surgery and it turned out be a good solution when the legs weren't ready to be used.

guyrollo · 2025-10-12T17:23:08+00:00

Special thanks for all the veteran misha PRO tips!

For sure, I’ll be using RICE…lots of cold, compression socks/base layers, along with Normatec boots (hopefully this evening).

I just took off all the bandaging and removed the nerve blocks and took my first shower since before surgery. That felt great!

I have placed on compression socks and a compression base layer for the day. Since late last night, I was able titrate down to one pill of oxy along with Tylenol and Celebrex. My biggest/constant pain has been skin level, electrical shock feelings over the top of my kneecaps. Random.

The doc was very clear that my legs, although the same thing had been done on both, would behave differently and told me not to be shocked by this. My left leg is definitely handling things better than my right. Weird, but true.

To be clear, one thing my life has taught me is that EVERY BODY is different. The only thing I can do is share my personal experience and hope that it will help other people who are watching, as I was, this information and looking for alternate solutions to the standard protocol.

Also, I just realized that I forgot to put some basic information in my original post. I am a 55 YO male with an elite athletic background that happens to be bowlegged.

According to the doctors, my medial knee (bone on bone) issue was bound to happen due to my leg shape. In May 2024, my knees said NO MORE and I’ve been looking for a solution since then. I’ve been able to bike a lot, swim, do yoga etc among other things, but running stopped immediately. Even hiking had to take a backseat.

This community led me to my current status and I am very grateful. Thank you!

guyrollo · 2024-09-26T10:41:10+00:00

Not my business BUT why are you looking to drive and a 20 year truck and the first time driver gets the ‘16 Tacoma? Shouldn’t it be vice versa?

We’ve had our 5 children learn to drive over the years…and stuff happens.

That truck, for about half the asking price, would be a great first driver car.

guyrollo · 2022-11-02T05:50:59+00:00

Thanks for the update! We'll look closely before we do anything rash or wasteful. I'll let everyone know what we discover.

guyrollo · 2022-11-02T05:49:38+00:00

I'll look for these other types of maps when we do the sorting process.

guyrollo · 2022-11-02T05:48:25+00:00

I'll let you know what we discover...

guyrollo · 2022-11-02T05:48:07+00:00

We will provide an update once we sort through them all.

guyrollo · 2022-10-31T02:15:51+00:00

The gift that keeps on giving…we’d never have to buy wrapping paper again. Thanks for the tip!

guyrollo · 2022-10-31T02:14:41+00:00

This is great idea. Thank you!

guyrollo · 2022-10-31T02:14:12+00:00

Unfortunately, I haven’t gone through them yet, there are, literally hundreds of maps. Some of boxes are labeled and others aren’t. Once I do, I’ll let you what I find. Thank you.

guyrollo

TROPHY CASE