TKR Game On

[Raithtaxi]

Long time lurker, first time poster.
Just had my right knee replaced yesterday. Couldn’t be happier with the team I chose.

Didn’t sleep well, last night. Hoping for better sleep tonight. Swelling is already starting, mind bone pain and soreness. Home PT came by today and was impressed I can left my surgical leg up without assistance. So win?

How are you guys handling the stiffness in your calf? Mine is hard a rock.

 

[Vee jitsu]

Hi sure your going to do well. I massaged my calf throughout the day, little by little it got softer. I followed ice compression and elevation and prayer. Hope it helps

 

[Jockette]

Hi and Welcome!

That hard rock feeling is swelling, ice and elevation will help.

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary

2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

​

If you want to use something to help heal the incision, ​

BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

​

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

​

​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

​

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity Progression for TKRs​

6. Access to these pages on the website

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Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

 

[mendogal]

Hello!
I hope you're prepared to live for a while with your leg way up and nearly continuous icing - punctuated with short walks - it's how most of us spent the initial weeks. It's tedious, but it truly gives the knee time and space to heal... As my ortho team told me, in the initial weeks "less is better!"

 

[Raithtaxi]

Sadly my surgeon said only ice for 20 minutes every two hours. Before my procedure I got the Iovera injections, I also have On-q pump catheter- this should be coming out tomorrow. Today is day 2. Woke up pretty stiff and sore, but not terrible. I’ve sleep in my bed with out any issue.. the pain was no different than before surgery.

 

[benne68]

my surgeon said only ice for 20 minutes every two hours

That's the protocol I used during the early days of my first TKR in 2021. For my second (which was in December), I iced and elevated virtually around the clock -- 45 minutes each hour -- for my first two weeks post-op.

What a difference it made in pain relief and a reducing inflammation! I can honestly say that it made this second recovery much easier.

I encourage to try it.

 

[mendogal]

Some PTs believe that under 45 minutes of icing creates rebound swelling. I honestly don't know that's a fact, but the empirical evidence for many of us is that 45-60 minutes of icing seems to be the "sweet spot." As long as your knee is protected by a layer of fabric, you're safe.
In the first weeks I had the ice machine on except when I was on my hourly walk or up for meals and hygiene.

 

[lrj]

I bought some of the things that squeeze the calf off of Amazon. Similar to the squeezy things they use in the hospital to reduce the risk of blood clots, but a bit different. I found those to really help with achiness.

 

[Layla]

Hi Raithtaxi,
Thanks for coming out of the shadows and joining us. I was a lurker also and learned a lot while lurking.

Obviously icing is your choice and I do understand it's difficult to veer from your surgeons recommended protocol. After all, we research and place a lot of confidence in our surgeon. I will add that I iced liberally also and found it very helpful in easing the pain.

Icing for up to twenty minutes only is what most of us have heard or been advised to do following an injury. Following joint replacement, ice is a critical part of pain management and should be used not only on the joint, but any surrounding areas of discomfort for as often and as long as you're comfortable doing so, always placing fabric between your skin and the ice source. Icing helps bring relief from the soft tissue trauma and internal swelling. Icing is a great natural pain reliever and best of all, it's free. While some care providers do put a maximum time on icing, others suggest you ice as often as you see fit.

Icing after therapy, exercises, or prolonged activity that challenge ROM and endurance should help ease any discomfort, or preventively keep pain at bay. You may find relief through icing for weeks to months post op.

I wish you an easy uneventful recovery. Lots of comfort to you!
@Raithtaxi

 

[lrj]

If you have an ice machine with a timer, you can try running it 20 on 10-20 off for a few cycles at a time. I think I was told 20 minutes at a time with no set amount of times during the day.