Fast Track Your Recovery From A Total Knee Replacement:: How to Eliminate Pain And Pain Medicine The Quickest Way Possible Paperback – August 30, 2013

I'm a 71 yo male into my second post-operative week after a TKR, and I couldn't be more pleased with this book and Michele's guidance. Her strong advice that one focus on range of motion during weeks 1 and 2 had worked out perfectly for me, so much so that on day 11 I have no pain, am off medications except 1x 650 mg acetaminophen before bed, and am walking for 10 minutes twice a day unaided on a treadmill. I use the "track" religiously to measure progress and have gained 7 inches of unaided flexion since day 3 post-op. The flex bar is also terrific in leveraging flexion. (My grandson and I built both aides before the operation, which was a nice project.)One disagreement I would have with Micelle is her warning that a stationary bike should be avoided because it could cause overshooting of the TKR knee by the unoperated side. While that's true, one can ease into the bike by doing half revolutions and moving the seat back to a place where maximal flexion is comfortable. I'm now routinely using the bike as part of my rehabilItiation.My in-home PT and nurse are amazed at my progress (as am I) and will be recommending that I transition to an external PT facility far sooner that was predicted. They were also intrigued by the track and flex Bar and will be recommending both to others.As a medical school anatomy professor for over 30 years, I'm well aware of the knee's structure, what can go wrong in an operation, and how important effective rehab is for recovery. For those reasons, I put off the TKR for years because my knee didn't bother me at night and with the exception of going up and down stairs comfortably, and walking sideways down hills on the golf course, I was navigating OK. Boy, what a mistake! The whole TKR experience has been much less traumatic than I expected, and Micelle's book and aides have made rehabilitation progress quick, measurable and almost enjoyable. I heartily recommend this book.

In two weeks I will have the knee replacement surgery. This book (I got the Kindle format) is just the shot of self-confidence I needed. My knee has felt so good the last month that I had begun to wonder whether I even need the surgery, forgetting how curtailed my activities are now, and that the orthopedists I first saw 2 yrs ago all said I needed a new knee, but 'not yet'. This May all said 'when do you want to schedule the surgery?'Ms. Stiles addressed my knee need when she discusses timing for replacement for those of us with structural issues, like me. I also feel empowered by having a concretely laid out plan for stretching and exercises and rest. I hope to comment on how all of her plans and suggestions worked for me after the surgery and recovery.

This had a lot of good tips and was motivational. Physical Therapy is KEY after a TKR and the Doctors don't educate patients enough. You really have to do your own research before the surgery. Read books like this and also go on You Tube for the Physical therapists there. Get all the info you can because you MUST do PT three times a day seven days a week or you may not ever walk normally again. "It's a race against scar tissue" as my favorite physical therapist on YouTube said!! And that is SO true. The stakes are high but the reward is being able to WALK NORMALLY AGAIN!!!. This book was part of my educational process and I am doing absolutely GREAT since I followed the PT recommendations to the letter. But don't rely on one source. Educate yourself thoroughly and then just DO IT. But yes, I liked this book.

I could not put this book down. THANK YOU Michelle! I am due to have surgery in a couple of weeks andI feel much more prepared mentally and physically to go through with the surgery.I am enlisting more help and changed plans. She always affirmed that I have a great doctor as his post surgery thinking is right in line with hersIt was helpful to learn that walking without the walker right away is NOT a victory, that the flexion and extension is the more immediate goal. I was really upset that he wanted me up ( with the walker), moving my knee, out of the hospital, and in Physical Therapy right away. AND that that taking the medication early on to help with pain is OK..Great book..I just sent it to my friend that had surgery a week ago.. No physical therapy really yet, in lots of pain, and bragging that he was walking without the walker in one week... THAT explains all the pain he is still in... not good.

The print is very small and has faded printing. Not dark black, like the contents page.I find myself straining my eyes to read it.I do not recommend.

I was into week 6 of a double knee replacement before I read this book. Quite a bit of 'filler' in this book among the good stuff. The cutting down of the walker and how to use the item was not clear to me. A lot was made of 'juicing up' the basic exercise of bending the knee under a chair. Encouraging biofeedback by measuring the distance the foot moves back is not a totally novel idea. I'm not sure that periods of extensive exercise as determined by physiotherapists who have 'appointments' where they need to 'achieve' something is as beneficial is moderate self-motivated physio spread throughout the day. In the early weeks depending on painkillers to force extended exercise and more inflammation will be hard for people who prefer to wean off pain medication for digestive health or other reasons. Walking seems to be a key exercise that is not given a lot of emphasis.