TKR 1 month post op. Weaning off pain medications?^

[Softtail]

Andpeaches. I too am a long time jock, and just can’t get myself to sit and wait for recovery to happen, so I go the PT route, right or wrong , so my recovery will reflect it over the next months. I think whatever route you take will eventually get you to that pain free outcome, so you just have to decide which one you can commit to.

God knows Josephine has years of experience with this, and the let it heal in its own time scenario, and some days I back off a little ,but just can’t get myself to go that route full bore, as long as I see myself progressing.
At six full weeks , almost no pain most of time. No pain meds, ( other than what I take for my RLS, but that was there before). Went to dinner last night, and for first time made it thru dinner without thinking about my knee.
At 3 weeks, could’t Sit or stand for more than 2 minutes before pain set in, and now can sit pretty comfortable for more than an hour. Standing still not my favorite ,but walking a little while doing it relieves the discomfort. Walked around BJ’s last night too with wife ,no pain, and I can remember needing a cart to do that before surgery.

Just got to do what you think is right for your personal recovery, and remember it’s not exactly a straight line. Like 2 steps forward one back lol.

 

[andpeaches]

Thanks Softtail!! You have a 1 week recovery on me and you sound awesome!! At only 6 weeks! You give me hope! It’s so hard when you’re told one thing and then another how to tackle this knee. I went out for dinner Wed night too and had to ask for an extra chair to keep my leg up. I still can’t stand it hanging down for more than 5-10 min unless walking. Walking does feel good! May I ask how you’re sleeping? I’m still so uncomfortable and have to change positions every 30 min. Sleeping for more than 3 hrs without having to get up is something I can’t wait to be able to do!
Thanks for your encouragement and I hope next week we can report it’s even better!!

 

[Softtail]

Sleeping first 3 weeks was done by wedging myself into my sofa, elevating leg, cold wrap, and never got more than 2 hours at a time. Between 3 and 6 as my leg became less sensitive to touch and I could face it towards bed more ( side to stomach sleeper) I gradually worked my way back to more time in bed. Still had occasions where I woke up and had to go back to couch. As my flexion increased [ now close to 120) it became more comfortable to bend my knee which added to my sleep in bed. Now pretty much sleeping in bed like before surgery , and instead of dreading going to bed look forward to it to get on to next healing day. Oh I do my jacuzzi just before bed and that’s just heaven lol. It will come , maybe a little slower than me , but then you could have other areas where you lap me. Patience is a virtue just wish I had more.

 

[Jockette]

My sister in law is a PT and she checks in with me a lot to see how I’m progressing. And I do love her but can’t stand the achy swollen knee after I push it.

You are not accountable to your sister in law, you are accountable to your knee’s personal recovery.

Being achy and swollen after pushing it proves that is counterproductive and doing more harm than good.

Back off doing that and let the poor knee heal.

 

[Josephine]

At the moment I’m back in bed with a stomach virus so I’m feeling awful. But resting. Sleeping most of day.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[kneeper]

I noticed you mentioned a few posts back being concerned about being ready to go back to work. Lots of people think they have to do loads of exercise to "get in shape" to go back to work. But really getting in shape mostly involves letting the knee heal.

 

[flsungirl]

@andpeaches first off Welcome! I had my right TKR on September 10, 2018. I remember the first week was incredible and I was wondering if that was it. Second week kicked in and I fell apart. Now being 6 weeks post op, I finally slept the last 2 nights. How amazing I finally feel with logic and sleep on my side. My knee has not given me much trouble but I had foot pain for about 2 weeks that couldn’t stand any pressure, not even socks. That seems to have resolved but hip pain kicked in. Started laterally now it’s mostly right groin area. I think it’s nerves repairing themselves.

I also work in a busy medical office, clinic supervisor and radiographer. My next appointment is November 12 and I’m hoping to be released for work. If no other mystery symptoms occur, I might be ready!

One other thing I noticed is that bilateral extremities are always cold. I live in Florida and the temperature has finally became a little cooler. Since my foot symptoms resolved I wear slippers most of the time to keep my feet warm.

I had no idea it would be like this. I’ve seen TKR and THR in OR and should have known recovery would be difficult! It’s amazing how they twist and turn the leg during the operation.

I go to PT 3 times a week an they never push my knee for extension or flexion. I’m at 102 and 0. I feel better after each session but we do a lot of stretching and a few other exercises. Plus they have baby steps which we use once a week, forward and backward.

Here’s to another day post op! May it continue to improve with no more surprises!

 

[Clairebear]

@andpeaches, my surgeon says with our job it could take anything between 3 and 6 months before we're really ready to go back! I too can't imagine being ready anytime soon, I just keep trying to remind myself how far I've come in a month so hoping in another month I'll be getting there. I've been out and about alot the last 2 days and the walking is fine but the swelling and stiffness is alot worse. Once again having to tell myself to slow down abit.
You're so right about the good days and bad days. It helps to know I'm not alone, thank you

 

[andpeaches]

I apologize I haven’t been on BoneSmart past few days. I guess part of our recovery is that we start to return to our lives, get busy and slowly find we aren’t being distracted constantly by that screaming knee!

I’m now 8 weeks and my knee has started to shut up a little!! Thank God! I’m sleeping much better, getting out of bed and taking those first steps is still very stiff but not as painful. I still will put off getting up to go potty because that’s still a chore but it’s definitely getting smoother, easier.

The stiffness at 8 weeks really comes and goes for me. If I go up or down my 13 stairs in a normal way (each step a different foot or reciprocal climbing) the knee immediately stiffens and screams! But it goes away pretty quickly and I can get going again with my chores.

I stopped formal PT at 4 weeks and with my OS’s advice did not have to go back. But I’m busy just taking care of my house, grocery shopping, cooking (ugh that is still hard walking around my kitchen gathering ingredients, finding utensils, cleaning pots and pans) and walking my dog 1 mile a day.

All in all I’m finding that my knee can get me through my normal days with several breaks for elevation and icing but I’m not needing anything for pain anymore. Stiffness is certainly there but not causing me much pain at 8 weeks. But we are all different!! We are all going to get there!! Sometimes I wish someone could knock me out, move my knee around gently as needed and wake me up in a year and I’d be very pleased with this new knee. But we all know that’s never gonna happen. We just have to find that unobtainable, impossible to maintain word -patience.

 

[Celle]

@and peaches - I have copied the above post from forbesy's thread into your own thread.

The post is mainly an update about your own (good) progress, which was not relevant to his recovery.

Please remember to update your own thread, rather than posting your progress updates in other threads. Thank you.

 

[forbesy]

Hi peaches glad you are making progress, I still have that stifness but it's only been 4 weeks tomorrow, It's that numb feeling down the top half of my left leg that annoys me sometimes it's not as bad but when I walk about it returns did you have this peaches.

 

[andpeaches]

@forbesy I’m not sure I’ve noticed a numb feeling in the top half of my leg, but at 4 weeks I still had residual bruising around my thigh from the extremely tight tourniquet they used during surgery. I was told there was still a lot of soft tissue healing going on at 1 month post op. I think you are still in the early healing phase and there will be such gradual improvement that it’s hardly noticeable to us until a month later! Have you talked to your physician about it?

 

[andpeaches]

Hello! Bon Dia! Ahoy! I just wanted to update my thread as it’s been a few weeks and BOY have I seen a difference from week 8 to week 10! This morning was the first time I woke up with no pain and walked with only some bearable stiffness after a delightful 8 hr sleep!
And drum roll please.....
I went back to work yesterday! I had dreaded this day and it of course it ended up being a crazy busy 10 hr shift. I also have a 1 hour drive/commute on busy highways that precedes and ends my work days.
I arrived to heartfelt welcome back greetings and hugs and concerned coworkers who knew how busy it was and they kept saying” please don’t overdo it today”, lots of “sit down for a break” and “omg don’t hurry!”but ultimately the day went to hell and I never ate BREAKFAST until 4pm and ended up hustling up and down those dreaded stairs for 4 emergencies, 2 admissions, a discharge and had to deal with one very unhappy parent because I accidentally referred to his newborn son as a girl. GGGAH help me it wasn’t by any means my hoped for delightful 1st day back!
But I did get home feeling really good!! Amazingly! Iced and elevated and cybershopped from 8 pm till 10 pm and literally fell into bed.
And this morning I’m amazed that my knee feels actually GOOD!!
Thankfully I’m off today and don’t have to go back until tomorrow for a 15 hr night shift. I negotiated only working 3 shifts a week (10-15 hr shifts) as that was the only best option until I’m 12 weeks post op.
So I hope Im not rambling on too much! Just wanted to share my progress and maybe give another long hours shift worker some reassurance that eventually we can get back to our lives!!

 

[Kiwigirl62]

@andpeaches CONGRATULATIONS
Thats a fantastic outcome so far and the 2hr return drive thrown in also. Glad you got a rest day in between
Gosh i don't miss those days of too busy for food.
And you got through the day and STAIRS...such a big day.
Once you get through these first few shifts you'll go from strength to strength. ...keep us updated
Suzanne

 

[andpeaches]

Thanks @Kiwigirl62 and I see you’re from Melbourne.... Suzanne! guess which Aussie TV series I’ve been binge watching on Netflix ? Since around week 2 in Sept and it has helped me so much take my mind off myself! Swear it was almost pain numbing! Offspring! I don’t know if you watch it but I’m addicted to Nina and Billie and Geraldine & Co. I’m only on season 4 and just cried over the horrible loss. Anyway just thought you might laugh at my new obsession and someday I need to visit Melbourne

 

[Kiwigirl62]

@andpeaches dont you love a big season of binge watching. ...i only discovered binge watching about 2months pre op and i was hooked on Mad Men.

I watched first season of offspring years ago when it was first on tv, but then got tied up in life.........its on my list to go back to.
Melbourne great city....got most liveable several years in a row

 

[Softtail]

Andpeaches , sounds like you are well on the way. At 11 weeks out my new knee has now surpassed my right knee in that I can now bend and support my left knee climbing stairs, but my right knee is really starting to get more painful trying to support my weight when bent. Am planning to fix that come next April so until then will just have to rely on my new knee to support this old body lol. My doctor has been right on with recovery scenario, saying I could play golf at 8 weeks, I did,and now playing pickleball 2 or 3 days per week, midway thru week 11. If all goes well,he told me come 4 months I will hardly notice I had my knee done.. Sounds a bit optimistic, as I know many here have gone a lot longer before their knee settles down. Even then if I am lucky I know it’s along way from healed , but it’s doing everything I can ask of it ,so no regrets. Hope your recovery continues to be good. Being retired, I don’t have to work on it 10 hours a day, so I think your test of your new knee is a lot more difficult than mine.

 

[andpeaches]

Thanks @Softtail! Pickle ball 2-3x week you are Ahhhmazing! Hope you are safely back in Fla? If so enjoy! If not safe travels!

 

[andpeaches]

Just wanted you all to know I survived my first week back at work!!! The night shifts are still going to kill me but I made it through 2 long night shifts. As a nurse practitioner working 10-24 hr shifts I do have a private on call room with a bed and I have to catch naps when I can. Thank God I only had to work a 10 hr day shift and 2 night 15 hr shifts. I was petrified about the emergency pager/ beeper going off while asleep and whether I could even get on my feet besides getting shoes back on and hustling to whatever emergency was happening. It was almost surreal when the beeper went off at 3 am and I kept muttering omg omg but I got my sneakers on and got down those dreaded stairs to the Delivery room and all was ok. But the staff watched me hobbling back up the stairs and kept saying “are you sure you didn’t come back too soon?” But I have to honestly say my knee has held up and feels pretty good! And I think I’m walking much better this weekend! It helps that I’m holding my head up high because helloooo I made it back to work!!!! 12 weeks here I come..,, bring it on!!

 

[Softtail]

Another milestone passed yippee