Six week Knee Replacement Update

Everyone going through a Knee Replacement will have a different experience, but here is mine through 6 weeks and if you are trying to make this decision, maybe this will help.

I will try to keep this short, but if anyone has questions, will be glad to answer. Leaving out a lot of details to keep it brief.

Summary: I am glad I did it, and will do it again quickly when my other knee is ready. I got shots in my left knee for 8 years and finally decided it was time to get it fixed. I put it off because I wanted to make sure I wouldn't outlive the replacement. Turns out they last decades now ,lol. I think getting it done sooner would have made my recovery easier, but you learn new stuff all the time. Follow your PT instructions and you will do great. I tried to over achieve and hurt myself more than once, which has set me back. I am in good shape overall on extension and flexion.

Surgery Day: I was told to be at the surgery center at 10:45, arrived at 10:15. Ended up sitting around till 3pm before they took me back. Got changed and IV. Given drugs to make me relaxed. They came about 4pm and gave me the epidural in my back. Doctor hit the wrong side the first time. I felt a pop in my right side and he asked me "was that on your right side" and I said "yes". He said, "I have to do it again". Anyway, got that done and I waited a bit longer. They finally came and wheeled me through the halls to the surgery room, and the last thing I remember was seeing the bright overhead lights.
They woke me up about 5:30pm after surgery. I was shaking, but didn't feel cold, they said it was the anesthesia. Gave me warm blankets and water to drink. Got me up about 10 minutes later and got me dressed, then walked me to the bathroom. Said I had to pee before they could release me. I finally was able to pee a little with my wife and 2 nurses standing behind me. They sent my wife to get the car, got my pants pulled up, walked me back to the room to get my bag and took me to the car. I was in the car less than 30 minutes after waking up from the surgery. It was Friday at about 6pm so I guess they all wanted to go home.
PT called me and left a VM and I called back when I got home and settled about 7:30pm. They came at 9am the next morning and started my PT. That was mostly painful. I did have a ROMtech bike and pedaling that thing hurt the first few days, but then I got dependent on using it and looked forward to using it. Had it for 30 days.

Weeks 1-2: On pain meds 24/7, but was able to do my exercises mostly without a lot of pain. Slept pretty well. Pain meds and Lyrica kept me somewhat sleepy and drowsy. Had expected difficulty, but used the walker for the first week, and then cane for the 2nd week. Have an ice machine. Going to the bathroom was difficult for those weeks. I had an awful experience on day 4 I will not share. Slept in the recliner only with leg on an elevated foam pad to keep it elevated and straight. They give you a blue foam pad to use for leg straightening, and that thing is painful, but you have to use it a lot the first 2 weeks.

Weeks 3-4: Tried to stop pain meds. Started having nerve pain in knee, and had awful discomfort and inability to sleep. This was during Christmas and New Years weeks so I think my wife had a miserable holiday, as I felt awful and tired the entire time. I was in a constant state of discomfort and could not get any real quality rest. Got my bandage off the day after Christmas and my scar didn't look bad overall. They glued the outer layers together now, so no staples. I did learn a trick that helped with nerve pain and that was to put a paper towel over the incision and wrap with cling wrap. The light compression seems to help the nerves calm down. I could not wear long pants for a few days as the sensitivity of clothing on the scar was very uncomfortable, only the ice pack. Knees feels very tight for most of the first 4 weeks.

Week 5: Went back to taking pain pill at night only, which seemed to help get 3-4 hours of sleep. Finally was able to sleep somewhere other than recliner. Could finally sleep in the bed a bit. Over exercised and popped an internal stitch. Set me back on exercises for a few days. Don't do that.

Week 6: Finally back off the pain meds for sleep. Getting 5+ hours a night. Can go up and down stairs pretty easily now, although still some soreness. I still ice a couple of times a day. I can't run, but I am walking 2 miles a day with the wife and dogs now, and have minimal pain and swelling afterward. Doctor says I'm about 60% healed, should reach 80% at 12 weeks, and could take up to a year for full recovery. Numbness on outer knee is taking some getting used to.

I should start working on strengthening exercises at this point and continue that for about 6 weeks, but should be able to do most of that at home. I will probably do 2 more in person PT sessions, then do the rest of my recovery at home.