Revision TKR Lovetocookandsew’s long road to recovery

[hawk2go]

sending healing vibes.

 

[Sara61]

Just thinking of you and wondering how are you feeling today?
Hopefully being back home is now easier for you the pain levels are manageable xx

 

[Layla]

Happy Sunday! I hope you have a better day today.
Wishing you zero 22’s today, for starters.
Had to laugh at that one, Kim.
@lovetocookandsew

 

[lovetocookandsew]

I'm allowed to take showers now as I have a waterproof dressing, and the wraps were removed by my home health nurse yesterday. I'm looking forward to it-the first shower after surgery is always so much nicer than a daily shower. Too bad it can't be a nice long soak in my wonderful and large soaking tub, but I'll take the shower for now. It'll be a quick shower and I'll probably sit on the built-in seat the whole time, but, hey, I'll be clean again!

I removed my On-Q late Saturday night; it really hasn't made a difference in the pain level of the tibial area as I only have an occasional ache there. But, the top of my thigh, which was totally numb from the On-Q, is now awake and screaming, along with the side of my thigh where the actual cutting was done. While the pain level isn't as bad as the pain levels from the surgery to put all this hardware in a year ago, they're still pretty high, and are now in both the top and side of my thigh...........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I'm still using crutches instead of the walker; even though my quads have begun to wake up, they're not yet fully awake, so weight bearing on my right leg is still not a good idea. I can move my leg around some now, but doing so is just too painful so I avoid it as much as possible. I can't yet lift my leg, which tells me my quads are still mostly sleeping. As soon as my quads are fully awake, and I feel comfortable doing so, I can ditch the walking aids altogether, but I'm not there yet.

 

[Rubyroo]

Praying for you lovetocookandsew!

 

[lovetocookandsew]

I had to switch from crutches to a walker today-the crutches were making my back hurt. I can walk some now, but I have to walk keeping my thigh stiff and straight as the pain gets too high when I try to walk in a more normal gait. But, over time, as the pain decides to recede, I'll work on my gait. Until then I plan to do what I can, and live with it.

My quads are still sleeping, so I can't yet lift my leg, but I can move it more, albeit painfully. I still use a leg lifter to get in and out of my bed, but eventually I won't need that anymore either.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......................... I finally took my first post-op shower. I feel so clean! And I have new sheets on the bed! Granted, I only slept in the other ones since Friday, but who wants to get back into a bed where you slept after not showering for a week, after taking a nice shower. So hubby changed them for me while I showered. Yay!

 

[Starsfan22]

@lovetocookandsew , I'm confused as to what type of revision you had. If hardware was removed, was it replaced? My hardware removal included a spacer in place of the hardware which I had for 8 wks while on antibiotics. Was your need for revision due to infection or something else? It sounds as if you're doing well progressing from hospital to home and thinking about ditching the walker. Awesome report. Continued health to you and keep us posted.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Starsfan22 I didn't have a knee revision-I had that several years ago. The hardware I had removed was on my femur and tibia. Everything was placed there a year or so ago to help with some post tip pain I was having. The doctor placed a bone graft on my femur, and used cables to hold the bone in place. The bone graft melded with the bone, but the cables were causing me a lot of pain, so they had to come out. I'll attach a few pics of the before and after.

How are you doing after all you've gone through?

 

[Starsfan22]

You know looking at those pictures we have to wonder how we ever become pain free. It's just amazing that is inside our knees. I'm doing well, this is my 6th week post replacement and I'm healing well. I'm almost off the cane, doing alot more around the house and blood tests show I'm infection free. Life is getting more normal every day. It's been a long process from last Aug when infection showed up.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Starsfan22

 

[patriciad]

@lovetocookandsew I got goosebumps looking at your before and after pictures. You are showing such resilience and patience in what must be a difficult, painful time. I could not believe that the cables inside your leg looked exactly like the cable ties that I use to keep all My tv cables together! Thank you for sharing those photos. I hope your pain starts to ease or that you have adequate meds to stay ahead of It. Sending healing thoughts and wishes for a good recovery.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@patriciad Thank-you. Unfortunately, I can't take any pain meds, opiate or narcotic types, so I have to just get through it.

 

[patriciad]

Oh goodness that sounds awful - I don't do well with opiates but did rely on a combo of Tylenol and Tramadol to get through the first month so can’t imagine your situation of doing this without pain relief.

 

[CamGram]

@lovetocookandsew, you are one strong woman! I have read enough of your story to know that your knee journey has been incredibly challenging. I hope your most recent surgery solves your pain problems and allows you to get back to living your life and enjoying your family.

Just wondering … has anyone ever discussed alternative methods of pain management like acupuncture, massage, etc? I have a masseuse who works with servicemen who’ve been seriously injured and are unable or unwilling to take traditional pain medication. She has had success in providing pain relief without medication in some of those cases. I’m not sure this treatment has been widely used or studied but it would be wonderful if something like this could work for you.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@CamGram Thank-you. I wouldn't be interested in acupuncture, but I have seen pain management specialists. Massage would actually cause me more pain as just touching my leg hurts like . I just have to deal with it as is, and hope I never have a problem requiring long term pain management. As soon as the level goes down, ibuprofen will cover enough of the pain that I can function.

 

[CamGram]

You’re a warrior @lovetocookandsew! I’m glad that Ibuprofen helps you somewhat. It doesn’t do anything for me; I might as well take M&Ms for the pain (actually, that’s not a bad idea).

 

[Sara61]

I take my hat of to you Kim, You are a hero in my opinion, I cannot begin to imagine what you've gone through & still it continues, pain is so debilitating, it's one thing that stops me in my track and invades my every moment of thought.
Are there any creams that you can use, that would have a numbing effect ?
Praying for you, that this is the final surgery and that hopefully soon the worst will pass and that you get back to living a normal pain free life xx

 

[lovetocookandsew]

My doctor told me yesterday to "Hang in there", so.....................................

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@CamGram I will attest to the healing powers of M&Ms. I've been munching on the peanut butter variety the last few days, and while they don't take away pain, they help distract you from it.