I recently had a TKR on both knees (1st 9/11/18 and the second 8 weeks later 11/8/18) due to 50 years of abusing them with sports, a physical job and too many squats in the gym.
I had put off the procedures for 5 years due to fear of surgery, and had dealt with constant pain and frequent knee collapses while walking. the inner portion of the meniscus was totally gone on both knees and they were grinding bone on bone.
I wish I had found this forum sooner, it has been a great source of real world information instead of the boiler plate TKR websites that are out there.
The biggest point is that everyone's recovery and recovery track is different. what works for most may not work for others!!!
1st procedure RTKR: a total disaster!
1. I stayed in the hospital 2.5 days, and the bed and sleeping position ignited a sciatica attack, OMG!
2. The in home PT arrived the same day as my release and had me doing deep squats, weighted leg lifts and similar exercises. my knee down to my foot turned into what I would describe as a pork shoulder that would feed 50 people.
3. the pain became excruciating from that point lasting until the epidural for the second procedure that I almost backed out of!!
4. I went to outpatient PT at 6 days post discharge, he told me to come back in a week and started light stretching with no exerting exercises. the sickening swelling disappeared and I was able to start working on my recovery.
2nd procedure: what a difference!
1. I discharged myself the morning after the procedure while the nerve block was still effective.
2. at home PT showed up within 24 hours, when after explaining what happened last surgery he insisted on doing the heavy exercises, I unceremoniously showed him the door and told him not to return.
3. immediately went to my outpatient PT that I came to trust and have been going 3x a week with great results.
65 days post 2nd op: (at this same point none of this was possible with the 1st)
walking 2 miles with no issues, taking the 6 flights of stairs at my apartment instead of the elevator, SLEEPING THE NIGHT! riding my bike, I have very minimal swelling even after a day at work and a PT session. (I was able to return at 6 weeks)
My own recovery was different from most but some can relate.
Opioids did nothing for my pain: I found acetaminophen in combo with ibuprofen worked better than any narcotic. (yes you can take both and in the EU is very common at the chemists)
Ice did not work. made me completely stiff and unable to bend my knee. elevation was key. 5 minutes of heat before PT made everything easier to move.
I found a PT I could trust, one who understands that everyone is different. So many times he said "that looks like it hurts, STOP! lets try something different".
The point is do what works for YOU! I found that out the hard way.
I had put off the procedures for 5 years due to fear of surgery, and had dealt with constant pain and frequent knee collapses while walking. the inner portion of the meniscus was totally gone on both knees and they were grinding bone on bone.
I wish I had found this forum sooner, it has been a great source of real world information instead of the boiler plate TKR websites that are out there.
The biggest point is that everyone's recovery and recovery track is different. what works for most may not work for others!!!
1st procedure RTKR: a total disaster!
1. I stayed in the hospital 2.5 days, and the bed and sleeping position ignited a sciatica attack, OMG!
2. The in home PT arrived the same day as my release and had me doing deep squats, weighted leg lifts and similar exercises. my knee down to my foot turned into what I would describe as a pork shoulder that would feed 50 people.
3. the pain became excruciating from that point lasting until the epidural for the second procedure that I almost backed out of!!
4. I went to outpatient PT at 6 days post discharge, he told me to come back in a week and started light stretching with no exerting exercises. the sickening swelling disappeared and I was able to start working on my recovery.
2nd procedure: what a difference!
1. I discharged myself the morning after the procedure while the nerve block was still effective.
2. at home PT showed up within 24 hours, when after explaining what happened last surgery he insisted on doing the heavy exercises, I unceremoniously showed him the door and told him not to return.
3. immediately went to my outpatient PT that I came to trust and have been going 3x a week with great results.
65 days post 2nd op: (at this same point none of this was possible with the 1st)
walking 2 miles with no issues, taking the 6 flights of stairs at my apartment instead of the elevator, SLEEPING THE NIGHT! riding my bike, I have very minimal swelling even after a day at work and a PT session. (I was able to return at 6 weeks)
My own recovery was different from most but some can relate.
Opioids did nothing for my pain: I found acetaminophen in combo with ibuprofen worked better than any narcotic. (yes you can take both and in the EU is very common at the chemists)
Ice did not work. made me completely stiff and unable to bend my knee. elevation was key. 5 minutes of heat before PT made everything easier to move.
I found a PT I could trust, one who understands that everyone is different. So many times he said "that looks like it hurts, STOP! lets try something different".
The point is do what works for YOU! I found that out the hard way.