8 week anniversary

Hi all

Today is 8 weeks since my operation and here is a quick update on how I am getting on.

In terms of residual pain I can say that I am able to walk downstairs with each leg normally with very little pain but it is much better after Catharine has massaged the area immediately above my knee and I have completed my exercises. The major area of residual pain is on the outside of my knee cap which changes throughout the day. I still get very tired but I am conscious that I am only 8 weeks in and that I am really very mobile.

Last week I managed to get out for my first race on my yacht! Note that I am in a leg elevated position while helming!

Yesterday I went for a 3 mile walk which included this particular challenge. The Afon Braint stones on Anglesey.

Here is the comfortable angle of movement as I drive my van
















So all in I am very content with my progress and have had an initial discussion with Jurate about the right knee replacement for the now failed partial.

5 weeks since the operation

Wow doesn't time fly... even with the recovery, pain, lack of sleep things are moving at an increasing rate.

This week has seen significant improvements in my mobility, I now walk happily without aids, although I do take a walking stick with me on longer walks but it is a prop not an essential. I am now sleeping better; we're up to about 3  to 4 hours rather than the 2 hour sessions but I am feeling less tired during the day. I notice that on getting out of bed in the morning the knee is stiff with a fair amount of pain but as I move around this decreases and the flexibility increases. After doing my exercises the I am able to walk downstairs normally without pain or support.

I have moved my bicycle on its stand onto the balcony so that I could attempt cycling. Currently I have the saddle at its highest possible position and I have been doing 10 minutes on the bike then 10 minutes of icepack.

Since the operation I have noticed clicking in the knee but when Jen has manipulated the tendons this goes away for a while so I am happy that this is purely an issue of recovery. When doing my exercises there is a noticeable pain on the lefthand side of the knee cap, or what ever is there now, this is a sharp pain when doing the extensor exercises this materialises at various times during the day but goes away if I massage the area.

With my improved mobility I am tending to sit or stand more and this is causing swelling in the ankle so I have to take heed and sit with my leg elevated to mitigate this.

I have been keeping up with the posts on the Facebook page adding in posts or comments to support others; it is a fascinating thing to get an understanding of how other people are feeling and coping with their recovery. I am sure this is a significant factor for people in the pre and post operative periods, and a positive aspect of Social Media.

This last week I have been down to see my yacht which my crew took round to Pwllheli to be lifted out ready for some hull maintenance. I was able to climb the ladder to the gunwale and get around inside the yacht. Yachts are very good for moving around post operation as there are handrails everywhere! During the coming week I am planning to go and anti-foul the hull and prepare for Flair IV for the IRC Welsh Championships over the weekend of 17 - 19th August. I will only take part if the weather is reasonably calm though.

I am now noticing the pain in the right knee more and I am moving towards planning the next operation to remove the failed partial replacement from Feb 2015.

1 month since the operation

It doesn't seem that long but progress continues. I am still not sleeping more more than a couple of hours although the feat of lying in bed is now not painful as such, just a low constant ache. 

The wound has healed well assisted by Catharine's massage with Bio Oil and after a period of itching it is now good and flexible although the knee remains swollen especially above the knee. Most of the pain has gone from the calf although there is still residual bruising and soreness in the thigh. If I spend too long on my feet the leg does swell and it takes some time to dissipate so I have to make sure that I don't over do it. 

I have been going to Anglesey Injury Clinic on a weekly basis for her guidance, leg massage and amendments to my physiotherapy regime and today's session was good. Jen says that she is happy with progress and I now have almost the same flex as on the right leg. I asked her about elevating the leg while sleeping and she confirmed that it is good practice and that the calf should be tipped towards the heart...  

After 4 weeks the frustration of continued limitations to what I can do does become a little overbearing but generally I am keeping in a good frame of mind. I find concentrating on anything for long is a problem, my mind wanders and I find it hard to pick up my thoughts. My exercise regime does causes some grief, generally manifested by sharp pains appearing to be from the inside of the knee joint, so I limit these exercises to shorter sets and then do the next set after a rest. I am still taking painkiller tablets, aspirin, paracetamol and caffeine at 4 hourly intervals, when I remember. Jen has now suggested that I should reduce these during the daytime to increase their effectiveness overnight.

Yesterday I started discussions with a solicitor about the claim for medical negligence due to the choice of the partial replacement on the right knee and the subsequent delays in the surgery to the left knee with this contributing to the early demise of the partial replacement. Along with the refusal to send me out of area or to put me under the care of a pain clinic even though I was on the Urgent Waiting List since April 2017. 

Yesterday I could not countenance the prospect of the second operation on my right knee but today after Jen's session I am feeling much better about everything again.