TKR New Knee journey to new me

Rollem1

junior member
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Hi all Newbie Nellie here
Thought I’d post a little about my journey so far.
I am 46 yr female with moderate to severe osteoporosis of right knee from inflammatory arthritis. The right knee has always been my Problem child and following several arthroscopies and now being on biological injections we (my surgeon and I) felt it was the right time.
On a Friday I had TKR using the Stryker Triathlon.
I had the surgery with spinal and mild sedation and without tourniquet.
I am so glad I was convinced to go with the spinal etc as I do believe it helped me. I suffered a reaction to the meds which gave me low blood pressure and dizziness on Saturday into Sunday but once they were out of my system I felt a whole lot better.

My surgeon is pleased that I am doing my mild exercises and working with my new knee not against it and I am weight bearing and walking on crutches - pottering around the house.

I am not in any pain - believe me this is a relief as I was in extrutiating pain before - so am taking paracetamol every 4 hours to load just in case.

The one thing to note for me is the extreme tiredness - a trip to the loo makes me sooo tired I am sleeping off and on all day.

It’s only day 4 - love to hear your experience and also anyone who didn’t have pain (am i normal )


Big hugs xxxx
 
I was good for a few days since they injected my knee with pain killers during surgery. When that wore off reality set in :hissy: ! But for me, the pain was never EXCRUCIATING! Just low level pain with lots of stiffness which has been frustrating. The fatigue is normal and will probably linger for quite a while.
Welcome! Lots of good advice here.
 
Hi and Welcome!

Yes, fatigue is normal, it’s due to your body trying really hard to heal from this onslaught called joint replacement! Check out the article about the Energy Drain, in our Recovery Guidelines. Each article in the guidelines 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
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

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

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website

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.
 
I am not in any pain - believe me this is a relief as I was in excruciating pain before
Even if pain develops, and I hope of course it does not, it's not like arthritis pain. Pre-op pain is bad, crippling, horrible, demoralising, and only gets worse. Post-op pain gets BETTER.
My surgeon is pleased that I am doing my mild exercises and working with my new knee not against it
:thumb: :thumb:

Please don't get overconfident, gently does it; it's easy to overdo things and set yourself back. But you look as if you're doing it right, well done
 
Hi and welcome Rollem1,

I’m so glad you found this group of supportive friends! How wonderful that your pain seems so minimal compared to pre-surgery! Bet there’s no complaint about that!

I have had a lot less pain this time (#2 knee) than last as well, and am not sure how to apportion gratitude, but I am very grateful.

It appears, judging from my yesterday experience of too many strengthening exercises at PT, that that sort of thing: overly zealous exercise, can lead me to more pain.

I was told to do I too much and since I “could,” I did, but there was a price to pay!

Im hoping your recovery continues to be smooth, comfortable and continuous! And here is hoping you don’t do like I did and join the ODIC... the OverDidIt Club!
 
Hello,
My last revision that was a total right knee replacement (about 4th) on my right was the least painful. They did a nerve block 2 days before. They also added pain killers to the knee during surgery. But remarkably, once all of that wore off, the pain was still minimal compared to all of my other knee replacements. I believe this is attributable to several things, a robotic surgery so alignment was perfect, a great doctor, and 2 weeks of “couch potato” as the doctor said it. All of my other surgeries started at hour 2 with painful PT pushing as hard as they could for extension and flexion. This last TKR, there was some PT but mainly just passive motion. Then at 2 weeks I was able to get to 0/ 90! I just finished a revision to both of my knees, seems the right had the ligaments stretch so they put in a thicker poly insert and the left had the prosthetic knee cap removed 5 years ago and they finally put one back in.. I am in week 1 right now of couch potato, so pain is minimal but there. I used to think that no PT to start was wrong as the other doctors always said how necessary it is. But my new doctor, who is very good, believes you need to handle the inflammation first. Ice, elevate while on the couch. Active for 8 mins. Per hour. Hope you continue to not have pain. I will let you know if mine continues to be less painful as well. Good. Luck!
 
I was good for a few days since they injected my knee with pain killers during surgery. When that wore off reality set in :hissy: ! But for me, the pain was never EXCRUCIATING! Just low level pain with lots of stiffness which has been frustrating. The fatigue is normal and will probably linger for quite a while.
Welcome! Lots of good advice here.
Thanks sister pat - it’s a dull ache - I love this forum xx
 
I am not in any pain - believe me this is a relief as I was in excruciating pain before
Even if pain develops, and I hope of course it does not, it's not like arthritis pain. Pre-op pain is bad, crippling, horrible, demoralising, and only gets worse. Post-op pain gets BETTER.
My surgeon is pleased that I am doing my mild exercises and working with my new knee not against it
:thumb: :thumb:

Please don't get overconfident, gently does it; it's easy to overdo things and set yourself back. But you look as if you're doing it right, well done
Yes that’s what everyone keeps telling me - slow and steady - I’m definitely a couch potato and an expert in gardening programmes
 
Hello,
My last revision that was a total right knee replacement (about 4th) on my right was the least painful. They did a nerve block 2 days before. They also added pain killers to the knee during surgery. But remarkably, once all of that wore off, the pain was still minimal compared to all of my other knee replacements. I believe this is attributable to several things, a robotic surgery so alignment was perfect, a great doctor, and 2 weeks of “couch potato” as the doctor said it. All of my other surgeries started at hour 2 with painful PT pushing as hard as they could for extension and flexion. This last TKR, there was some PT but mainly just passive motion. Then at 2 weeks I was able to get to 0/ 90! I just finished a revision to both of my knees, seems the right had the ligaments stretch so they put in a thicker poly insert and the left had the prosthetic knee cap removed 5 years ago and they finally put one back in.. I am in week 1 right now of couch potato, so pain is minimal but there. I used to think that no PT to start was wrong as the other doctors always said how necessary it is. But my new doctor, who is very good, believes you need to handle the inflammation first. Ice, elevate while on the couch. Active for 8 mins. Per hour. Hope you continue to not have pain. I will let you know if mine continues to be less painful as well. Good. Luck!
Hi it’s seems our surgeons are aligned on their thinking - rest etc with small amounts of excersises but mainly to keep the blood flowing and stop the stiffening up - I have invested in a cyro cuff aswell which is a miracle in itself .
I am going to sit at the table and pot some seedling for half an hour later and see how I get on.
good luck to you too x
 
You’ll be happy to have that cuff! Makes icing so much easier.
What kind of seedlings will you be planting?
 
Hi Rollem 1 it sounds as if you have a great surgeon and advice I am recovering from a right PKR like you i have had several arthroscopies in my troubled right knee. I sought out a surgeon who specialises in PKR`s and TKR`s he is great i am 4 weeks post op it's a long journey and i find i have good days and bad. I still have pain but more achy pain. hopefully this will subside with time. Hope you recover well.
 
No tourniquet is interesting! I had deep bruising from it that was just plain ugly
 
You’ll be happy to have that cuff! Makes icing so much easier.
What kind of seedlings will you be planting?
Well it was a bit of pot luck as I lost some of the labels but mainly tall annuals like verbena - can’t wait to be able to get in the garden to plant them xx
 
Well okay reality has hit home - frustratingly I have had a wonder 8’days post op with very little pain or swelling which allowed me to to work on lay flat quad exercises (6 years of arthritis has given me pretty much muscle waste) today however I wake up in excruciating pain both bone pain and ligament pain so a double whammy - no more swelling but by goodness there has been some filthy words coming out of my mouth - it was what I expected the first few days and didn’t get! I am now wondering what else I can for pain relief as I’ve been managing on 1000mg paracetamol every 6 hours and 1 500mg ibuprofen every 6 . I’ve isn’t even helping today - bummer of a day and hope tomorrow is better
 
I'm sorry you're in so much pain. :console2:

The best thing you can do now is spend as much time resting, icing and elevating your knee.
It sounds as if you've overdone the quads exercises and your knee is upset. It needs time and gentle treatment, so it can calm down.

Do your ankle pumps, of course, and take short walks around the house, but otherwise forget about doing any exercises for a few days.

Since this is a year-long recovery, there's no need to rush anything.
 
Morning all 8am here in Uk - so day 11 begins and I woke up this morning with a high temperature- a brew bruise on calf and more pain - now excruciating pain but enough to notice even after meds. I’ve been sleeping off on and (more sleep than not) for 2 days and energy at a low - I had put that down to doing too much in Saturday but not sure now.
swelling is no bigger than before but knee feels tighter and calf is aching so I’ve called the ward to see what they advise. I’m not over concerned but best to check with them I suppose. Happy Tuesday all xx
 
Morning all 8am here in Uk - so day 11 begins and I woke up this morning with a high temperature- a brew bruise on calf and more pain - now excruciating pain but enough to notice even after meds. I’ve been sleeping off on and (more sleep than not) for 2 days and energy at a low - I had put that down to doing too much in Saturday but not sure now.
swelling is no bigger than before but knee feels tighter and calf is aching so I’ve called the ward to see what they advise. I’m not over concerned but best to check with them I suppose. Happy Tuesday all xx
Sorry NOT excruciating!
 
@Rollem1 If your knee is feeling tight you have internal swelling going on. Ice and elevate.

How high is your temperature? You might want to check with your surgeon.
 
Rollem, yes, if your temperature is 101 or higher, best check in with your OS - at least that’s what I was told. Keep us posted.
 

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