3 days post op or more crank for the cranky

[bumleg]

Hi yall, I finally found the "new thread" button So here goes.
Friday 5:15 am I get to the hospital. I am asked all the repetive questions that they have to ask. This does't bother me because I know they have get it right. I'm dressed and ready for surgery. I get to the OR and the nice nurse has me sit up on the side of the table to have the spinal done. She says I won't remember anything and she's right thats the last thing I remember. Next thing I am waking up in recovery. Don't remember alot about that either. After that I am wheeled to my room. Slept most of the way there. Pain wise it wasn't too bad because of the spinal. Thats definitely with way to go. PT came in and I got to do exercises.
First it was the ankle pumps to get the blood flowing, relatively painless. 2nd I got to lie on my back and tighten my thigh muscle to straigten my leg, this is somewhat painful but nothing I can't deal with and work through. 3rd is the one where you try to lift the straight leg as high as the bent knee on the other leg. Still not to painful to do but I found I couldn't lift the leg without a lot of help from the therapist. Got thorugh it. 4. Then came the horrific foot slide which also needed a lot of help from the therapist. It hurt a ridiculous amount but I managed to get thorugh it with grimacing and tears. 5 is where a towel is rolled up under the thigh close to the knee so I can lift the heel off of the bed to straighten the knee. I needed help with this one too. I can not physically lift my leg without help. 6 where you sit in a chair and lift your leg until its straight and then bend it back as far as possible. I have to use my good leg to move the surgical leg when exercising. Than after the torture exercises its then time to walk with the walker. I'm happy to report that I'm doing fairly well with it. Making sure I lift the new knee leg up with a bend and placing it heel first on the floor. The stairs were the hardest part. Thankfully we only have three steps to get into the house. I won't be attempting do stairs for quite a while. As I am on the computer in a kitchen chair I alternate positioning my leg straight until it really starts to hurt then I bend it and leave it that way until it really starts to hurt. Right now its bent in a normal sitting position and I can feel the muscles pulling in my thigh but it isn't painful. After doing this awhile I get up and take a short walk. I am not doing all the exercises at once because I don't want to be hindered by the pain and if it hurts too bad I will quit which is not an option at this point. So what I end up doing is while I'm away I exercise all day long a little at a time. In addition to the above exercises I also stand in front of my kitchen counter and do knee bend, calf raises and rock back and forward from my toes to my heels. I am feeling pretty positive about my overall progression. Its the other little irritations that irk me something fierce.
I was sent home without a constant passive motion machine, I didn't get one of those water jugs that pumps cold water through a bladder that you can wrap around your knee. I was told not to put heat on the knee. Don't remember being told I could ice the knee. Fortunately I have a lift chair that I can do the passive motion with and I have an aunt who has the ice machine I can probably borrow.
For medicine I was given Lortab 5/500,Toradol which I don't know if it really did anything other than give me an all over itch. Zofran for nausea, I didn't know I had Benedryl ordered until I told one nurse nurse that it made me itch and then she told me I had the Benedryl I could take for that. Thankfully she gave it to me. This same nurse is the one who gave me the Zofran, Benedryl, Toradol, Oxycodone and a lortab that night.I also had Ativan for muscle spasms. I don't know if I actually received that one or not. I finally go my first good nights sleep. I think the staff could have been more informative with what meds I had ordered so I would have known what I could have asked for had the need arisen. I am not happy with my stay. The staff was nice but they work in 12 hr shifts and I didn't have the same nurse until the 3rd day and she's the one I had on day 1. Of course in all of this my hubby is clueless about things when it comes to meds and such.
It was a very frustrating experience for me. Plus on my last day I told the resident doc that I couldn't lift my leg and he told me it was because they had cut my quad to do the new knee. I asked him how long it will take to heal and all I got was a not very long and then he was gone.
The only time staff came in the room was to give me medication,PT, aids came in once or twice during the 12 hour shift , more if I rang the bell for something. Is this normal hospital procedure. Staff would come in and do the bare minium of what needed to be done. Only one nurse took it upon herself to straighten my covers, It seemed like the only one who could properly put the CPM on me was my physical therapist. I had the nurses put it on one night, I was going to use it all night but it must have not been aligned right because it made my ankle hurt so I just cut the thing off so I could sleep. I felt to bad to pitch a fit. I guess I'm still a perfectionist at heart. I thought I had gotten over that but after this I'm not so sure.
My meds for home are Lortab5/500 1-2 tabs every 6 hours for pain and an injectable blood thinner. Luvenox I think. In my stash from my meniscectomy last Dec I still have lortab 7.5/500. I took two of those babies when I got home and took a nap. Then 4-5 hours later I took and an Ativan and a 5/500 lortab.
This forum is a life saver for support from the other knee and hip people. When I went for my real history and physical the nurse who did my ekg had bil hips replaced. She was doing great. It gave me hope that maybe I will be able to go back to nursing.
OH yeah and ITs GREAT not to have the limp. One more question. Is PT really not supposed to hurt? I understand discomfort from having to get the muscles and tendons working properly again but to be in tears and grimacing from pain during the exercises. Is that really necessary to make progress?

 

[referee54]

OH yeah and ITs GREAT not to have the limp. One more question. Is PT really not supposed to hurt? I understand discomfort from having to get the muscles and tendons working properly again but to be in tears and grimacing from pain during the exercises. Is that really necessary to make progress?


I hurt at times like a son of a @#$%#!! during the PT---It is normal--I had to tear adhesions and work on initial range of motion---once that was done, out patient PT which didn't hurt quite as much, but was even more challenging.

As I have stated in other posts, when the lady came for in-home PT, I would bite on a towel so she would not hear me say things that were entirely not nice. My four dogs were locked in the kitchen during this time and they were going crazy too, having to listen to me in pain. Then I would sit on the edge of a bed with a weight belt on either of the ankes in order to stretch and rip the adhesions---fond memories of doing that while waching Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby in White Christmas. It is worth it, though, as you will be amazed down the road how much of your life has been recaptured.

Tim C.

 

[JudyS]

Hi Bumleg
I am a 2 week new hippie. Our hospital experiences were similar especially with the meds.
Last summer I had cervical fusion surgery, It was extremely painful to swallow. I take a lot of meds as it is. In the morning when the nurse came by she read what they were ,put them in a little cup and gave them to me. I was barely aware of what she said as I was in pain. My list had trazadone on it which I take for sleep. It really knocks me out and I never take the full prescribed dose. apparently she gave me the full prescribed dose, I was pretty much gone that day, only waking to realize how much my throat hurt. I don't think anyone asked.
The nurse assistant kept trying to wake me up. The next morning when the nurse came in with the meds, I was almost in tears as swallowing was almost impossible. This time I paid attention to each and every one, trying to figure out what I could skip. Then she got to the trazadone. I told her it was for nite time to sleeep. Then I refused to take it at 7am.
When my surgeon came by, I discussed how horrible it was to swallow,. He said he would fix that., He prescribed IV steroids for 2 days. That meant I had to stay for 2 more days. Anyway, after he left I felt very nausous. I called the nurse, she finally answered and asked what I needed. By the time she got in the room I was ppuking everywhere!!!!!

Now my hip. I made so sure everyone had my list of meds and when I take each one. I also told my kids that when they came to push the pain button and remind me of it ( I totally forgot I had it last year). I did sleep with it in my hand on night one. Morning after surgery, the nurse, the drugs. She starts reading the list (at my insistance), I realized the blood pressure med is wrong (the one she read had caused major problems and I can not take it anymore). I told her it was wrong. She gets to an antidepressant I no longer take. I tell her she has an old list. I can not figure out how as I gave everyone and their brother the new list.
Anyway I tell her to look in my chart as the new one was put in there the da;y before. She states it is all on computer. Then she starts reading it again, I tell her the ones I cannot take, she gets her computer and starts leaving saying I refuse my meds!!! I told her I need the correct ones. She not so nicely tells me I can not self medicate . I need to take those!!!
Anyway you see how the morning went. I was in tears when she walked back in and started over. I asked for her supervisor and she said no!!!
I was saved as a nurse walked by who remembered me from Feb when I was there. She took care of it all!!!
The evil nurse told me she did not have time to take care of it!!!
Later the nurse started getting on my case about eating. I was not hungry. I finally ordered dinner and ate some of it.
The next morning she was back. The whole nausea thing hit again , same senario. This time it went on longer, always the same non response, this time I actually vomiited a few times before she even returned my call.
What amazed me is the vomit was never cleaned up. I wiped what I could, the whole time I was there it remained on the arm controls. Finally the assistant nurse got me a new gown, but that was it.

Not all nurses were like that, I just got stuck with the same one for the 1st 2 days with the same assistant.

But we are home and the worst is over!!! Now I can pee when I want, choose to not eat when I don't feel like it!!!
Happy recovery
Judy in So Cal
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[AlaskanTKR]

Bumleg -
First - I am glad you are on the other side and starting to feel a bit better. Hang in there - things should only get better (not including the PT).
I was sorry to read that your hospital stay was not so hot. My sister-in-law had her 2nd baby almost 3 weeks ago and I was amazed at the lack of care. Fortuntely she is young and delivery was a piece of cake for her this time. but once the baby was intially cleaned up they left the baby with her 24/7 for the day and a half she was there and I swear I never saw a nurse while she was in the hospital. 9 Years ago and a different hospital I had lots of nurses - like every 4 hours at the most who literally just popped in and out. I had my gall bladder out at the same hospital and had to stay over night and the staff was AWESOME! Again - lots of popping in and out and asking questions. I have also had 3 of 4 scopes there and the day surgery staff was also tremendous. I can only hope this time around is the same. Thanks for the heads up about what might happen - and hopefully you will continue to make great progress. I wish I could send you one of my cryo cuffs. I have 2 manual ones ( you have to lift the cooler over your head when you cycle the water - no big deal) and just got rid of my automatic one. - really cool - constant flow of cold water - but I burned that one out with over use the past 2 years. I was able to have one reused after one of my scopes, but each time I got a new one. Maybe my insurance allows it. Hopefully I will get another automatic one - they are the BOMB!

Hang in and REST!

Marianne

 

[bumleg]

Sometimes the quality of nursing staff flabergasts me. I have to wonder how in the h they got into nursing school in the first place. Judy sorry you had the horrible experience if I could I'd happily go kick their arses for ya. I hope that evil staffing got turned in for patient neglect and abuse. There is no excuse for leaving someone laying in such a nasty mess. I'd be ashamed to let anyone lay in that whether I got along with them or not. That is blantely unprofessional and gives the whole profession a bad name. I'm going to see about borrowing my aunt's cryo machine if I can't get one of PT. I have having home evaluation tomorrow. I am sorry to hear about the PT pain. YIKES!@!!!*&^(%$. I would like a CPM too but not sure that will happen. My leg is verrrry stiff. I work it though. I have worked it most of the day today and now I'm going to take some pain meds and go to bed. I'' be much better able to cope with some much needed rest out of the way. I'll just have to make up my mind to do what needs to be done no matter how much pain it causes. Failure is not an option. The whole point of TKA was to get my life back and I will have it back. Absolutely no ifs ands or buts. You guys hang in there and thanks for reminding me that it will get better. You can also bet your bottom $$ I'll do everything in my power to extend the life of my implant. I don't want to do this again.

 

[Linda2]

You guys are making me very, very nervous!

 

[1jt@atime]

Sorry you all had such bad care in your hospitals. Recovering from something like knees and hips is not a time to have to go through some of the things you mentioned. My care was the absolute best and I couldn't have asked for more. I even got a massage! There wasn't a bad nurse or assistant in the lot. My hospital has what is called magnet status meaning their nursing care ranks in the top 4% in the nation.

 

[Nursepair]

Linda, don't get nervous. Just think that you will be able to walk again without that excrutiating pain in the end. I am five and a half months RTKR now. I have absolutely no pain in that knee now. although I am off to see my OS tomorrow about getting a manipulation. I am the kind of person who gets a lot of swelling after injuries and operations, so was not able to push through it and get the ROM I need. I am still only at 93 degrees.

I don't get so much time on this forum now as I am getting a near normal life back now, which is what it is all about!!

So good luck to you. When do you get your surgery done? Sue

 

[AlaskanTKR]

1jt -
Thanks - I couldn't remeber what that magnet status was - the hospital I am dealing with also has that - My sister (RN in NY) checked it out for me - and that would explain why everything I have had done there has been so great. Now I can relax!

Marianne

 

[JenniferG]

Linda 2 , For every bad stay there is a good hospital stay. Don't be nervous. Mine was wonderful. All the nurses were great and even the CNAs were sweet and awesome. I felt very blessed and cared for every minute. Also they do not always cut the quad which does make recovery tougher. PT hurts but my experience is nothing as bad as the pain I had walking with 2 bone on bone knees.
Bumleg, I too am sorry it didn't go as smoothly for you as you hoped. At least now you are on the other side and can start to heal. Please be sure to take your pain medicine. It really does make the rehab and PT easier. And be sure to take those well earned naps. I think it is almost ironic how the pain meds make us so drowsy we practically pass out. After all that hard done PT and body healing we need it!

 

[Simon]

Sorry for those that had a bad hospital experience. Like some of the others I had very good care on both the surgical floor and on the rehab floor. I think it really does depend on the hospital. I lived in Los Angeles with alot of private, for profit hospitals and many people had complaints like yours. Here in Vermont with the exception of the medical center, all hospitals are non-profit community owned hospitals and I think that makes a difference. Most avg 50 beds though were I was is the 2nd largest hospital in the state at 175 beds.

The CPM machines can be tricky and I only ran into a couple of nurses that could not get them exactly correct. If they don't feel right, then you were right to stop them.

The home health nurse and physical therapists are also very nice. Next week I will start outpatient PT.

My movement is limited by the limited weight bearing on the right side and I hope when I see the doc on July 3rd it will show the tibia fracture has healed so that I can get out a bit.

Hang in there.

Simon

 

[hess]

My hospital stay was definately on the good side. I couldn't have been treated better than I was. The food was good, for a hospital, that is!! The staff was just as nice as could be. Everything was thoroughly explained to me, and I was not in the blue about anything. My PT here at home has been wondeful also. I really enjoy my therapist, and therefore, am more willing to work to get the ROM, and extension that I need. I really do believe that we get out of it what we put into it!!

Good luck to all,
Hess

 

[Linda2]

It's over in the surgery dates thread, but mine is July 28th. I just got the last Synvisc injection in my "good" knee today--I'm hoping that will help it not give me too much trouble while I'm depending on it. For years, it was the bad knee! The left one just gave up the ghost over the winter--I guess it was tired of doing all the work. I also signed up for the anagolous blood donation today. It's all getting waaaaay too real!

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Linda2 -
Welcome to the July Club - I am 7/14. I did my first blood pull yesterday and WOW they were great. First hit and absolutely no bruising this am! That's a first - usually it takes lots of pokes and the next day it looks like I have tracks from doing drugs - Not this time. Hang in there - the time is FLYING by!

Marianne

 

[Linda2]

I'm hoping my bloodletting goes well also. I'm not the world's easiest stick.

 

[Turtlelady53]

I actually had a very caring staff in the orthopedic ward, and was explained everything quite thoroughly. I had to spend 6 days in hospital due to pulmonary embolism which caused a suspension in PT, but if they had not been watching me carefully, it could have been fatal. I also had two knees replaced which is making rehab quite difficult. Anyway, each and every person I came into contact with was warm, caring, and explained everything thoroughly. The PA's that are in charge of the nurses on the floor would actually have me explain to them what i thought was going on so they could be sure that my interpretations were correct. I never felt as if I was a burden, even to the techs who have to the, ahem, dirty work. When meds were making making me sick, they immediately changed them and tried a couple of different anti-naseau meds.

My husband has had a couple of experiences such as your, especially when he had a ruptured appendix. That was a different hospital, and the entire staff seemed like a bunch of bumbling idiots. It was also 20 years ago, so I think customer service in general has changed a bit.

I am very sorry you had such a bad experience. There is no excuse for bad service in the nursing field. I have deep rooted feelings that 99% of nurses are caring, compassionate individuals. But, they are at the mercy of the hospital administration, so some may have a chip on their shoulder.

So, if you are pre-op, don't get too scared. You will most likely have a good experience.

 

[Nursepair]

It's over in the surgery dates thread, but mine is July 28th. I just got the last Synvisc injection in my "good" knee today--I'm hoping that will help it not give me too much trouble while I'm depending on it. For years, it was the bad knee! The left one just gave up the ghost over the winter--I guess it was tired of doing all the work. I also signed up for the anagolous blood donation today. It's all getting waaaaay too real!

Hi Linda, I had a cortisone injection in December before my RTKR in January. It held out really well until a month or so ago. I had another one yesterday and it is already feeling much better. Hope your's works as well. I normally manage 12-18 months per injection but it has been working really hard for over 5 months and still has to a little longer as I get an MUA on 7th July to increase my ROM. Good luck on 28th, it is worth it, I am pain free now, and have a near normal life back. Sue

 

[Linda2]

The "near normal life" thing sounds excellent. I have two grandchildren that I cannot watch as much as I would like because of this pain. I'm scared of the surgery, but I think I'm more frightened of not having it!

 

[Nursepair]

Yeah the grandchildren issue was sad for me too before surgery. Last week I was able to fly a kite with our 3 year old grandaughter, it was lovely!!

 

[Josephine]

Plus on my last day I told the resident doc that I couldn't lift my leg and he told me it was because they had cut my quad to do the new knee.

bumleg - I cannot believe they REALLY did that! It just doesn't make sense. It goes against almost every good and common sense practice I can think of. I've never, ever known such a thing to be done.

I am also horrified by the stories of poor care from the nurses. Makes my blood pressure go right up!