Mako Robotic Arm TKR Two Months

Glad I’m not alone with minor knee issues long-term. However, I’m happy to report that I at least have no morning or other stiffness, and the only time I really notice trouble with low seating is when having to use the X-low commodes common in airports and other public places. Still, I definitely am aware of the TKR knee, just in different ways. Now I’ll leave you alone for a while and be content to hear about and applaud your ongoing rehabilitation.

@ellerbracke Well we'll see. When my friends asked if I was happy with my new knee, I said ask me in a year.

@saeternes it definitely is all relative. If I’m sitting for a prolonged length of time, my knee is stiff when I stand. When I overdo exercise my knee is somewhat uncomfortable that night. I don’t consider these to be thinking about them all of the time though. I guess I would say it’s a new normal, and I sort of ignore it! What else can I do? If I let these minor discomforts bother me I’d be less happy. I have too many other things that really do bother me.
JK

@saeternes great response. It takes a year until you think it is your own knee when you get up and walk-across the room. You will make it.

@ellerbracke When possible I use the handicapped stalls in public places, the toilets are higher. I can do the lower ones, it's just more challenging.
JK

Still not there, not sure I ever will be................. sadly.

Ha! Mine’s a year out and it is nowhere near feeling like a “real” knee!

@ellerbracke @clbs @artscaping @contentandwell Final update for this thread. I saw Alex today and discussed the recent bursitis-type pain and overdoing the exercise and not elevating and icing. He said, remember I told you progress would not be linear? Indeed that is one of the first things he told me. I'm still okay to do anything, but, he said, need to ice and elevate after the relatively heavy exercise. All we did today was lymphatic massage, no gait checking or measuring so I don't know how far I slid back. Now I am working out again, and will be paying attention to icing etc. Onward!

@saeternes I am jealous of all of the people who get some type of massage at PT. I have never had that!
After looking at responses from you, @ellerbracke @clbs and @artscaping I am beginning to think that maybe I just had lower expectations than many others, or higher tolerance! I have become more conscious of my knees but honestly, the second one really does not give me any discomfort except when I really overdo. The right one, done either in 2012 or 2013 hurts more easily.
JK

Since this thread is about to close - yes, I would have loved any kind of massage, lymphatic or otherwise, from my PT people. No go. But I had absolute support, yes. Regarding elevating/icing/rest..... did not do nearly enough, I think. At 2 months basically none, unless in real pain. Icing, that is. Elevating, nope. As far as expectations: yes, I did hope for a 90% normal knee feeling (other than the darn impossibility of using it to kneel on), but it looks like I have to settle for a 65% normal feeling. Again, not necessarily painful, not necessarily aching, somewhere in between, depending on what I do, what the weather does, but definitely less than 80% satisfactory compared to my own knee. Do I live with it? Yes, quite successfully. Does it limit my activities? Yes, to a certain extent. Do I regret not knowing about or trying alternatives like stem cells - absolutely.

In practice: whatever activity I do, be it exercise, or yard work, or walking, or hiking, both knees are involved more or less to the same extent. And when the TKR knee, and only that one, each time has aches or pains, and the other one does not, then it is not a question of weak knees in general, it IS the TKR knee that is not as “good” as the original one.