3 weeks after surgery for RTKR

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Marty

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Hi, this is Marty...this is my first post, but I have been reading several weeks before my surgery, which was on March 10, 2009. I want to thank all of you for giving me some insight before my surgery, and I want to share my progress so far, with hopes of helping those who are waiting or contemplating surgery. My husband was there the day of surgery, but left in early evening. I felt no need for him to spend the night, he came the next day after work, as did my son and grandaughter. None stayed very long. They kept me busy in the hospital between using the CPM machine, the Physical therapist and the Occupational Therapist coming in, then meals, and naps. The thing I was very thankful for was the use of a "Pain Ball" I haven't seen this mentioned on here, and I am sure there is another technical name for it, but it is wonderful. they inserted a fine tube through my groin, worked it down (I assume through an artery)to the knee joint, and there is a ball that laid next to me in the bed with the medication. The medication goes directly to the joint. I also had a morphine drip, but when they disconnected it (I think it was on the 2ns or 3rd day) I had only used it twice. The good thing with the pain ball is you aren't drowsy, and you have no pain. I only had that for 2 days, but when they removed it, they switched me to Percocet. I went to the doctor Fri (3/27) and thur was the last visit from my home visits with the Physical therapist. the doctor gave me the option to go to outpatient physical therapy if I want to...I will decide on that this week. I have my CPM machine at home, and I am up to 115 on that. I will have the machine one more week. I have to say that I feel discomfort more than pain...and I consider myself very fortunate. I have Percocet and I use it, but am cutting back to 1 tablet from 2, and alternate it with Advil for the swelling. If I am up too long, my knee swells a bit, so the Advil helps with that. I ice it after using the machine, or doing my exercises or any time it swells a bit. I go back to the doctor in four weeks.
Previously I had gotten Cortisone shots for over 2 1/2 years. I have some trouble with my left knee, but nothing like the right one. finally, the shots didn't work anymore. I did have minimally invasive surgery, and my new little Titanium Knee and I are getting along fine. I will say, I lost about 15 pounds since the beginning of the year, and that has definately helped. My left knee isn't bothering me at all now...if I had lost weight sooner, I may have been able to put this off for a few years, but I didn't, and I am glad I had the surgery. The old knee pain is gone. I have given up the walker for a cain, and often if I am just going to the bathroom or moving around a room, I don't even use that. when I have pushed my limit, I can feel it and it is time for a nap with the ice.
For when I came home, I stayed in a bedroom on ur first floor, so I had the kitchen and bath right by me. also, I was just off of the living room for when the therapist came. After a few days, I got brave and went upstairs to get some things from my bedroom, now sometimes I sleep upstairs, sometimes I stay on the first floor. But at this point, I never go up and down, more than twice a day...just no need to right now.
I want to thank all of you for having the site...it has been helpful to me and I sure many others. I wish you all a good week.
Your new friend, Marty
I do not regret this at all....I am happy with the surgery, the results , and my recovery. I know there is lots of work ahead, I had a really bad knee for a long time, now I have a fresh start, and I want to get the best end results possible.
 
Welcome Marty! It sounds like you are well on the road to recovery. Don't give up those pain medications too early, as you will find you will need them with the changes in weather system pressure.
Glad you are doing so very well! I had not heard of the pain ball before.... I had 2 femoral nerve blocks before surgery and they last 24-36 hours.
I had BTKR last June and went downhill skiing February 1st this year. I have been out on the hill another 7 times. It was definitely one of the best things I have done for myself.
Keep us posted on your progress!
Best,
Crystal
 
Welcome.

Keep up those pain meds it will pay off during PT. I had BI-TKR 4 months ago and just went turkey hunting over the week end. No luck with the turkeys but I had a great time walking through the wood with no pain!

Good luck!

Max
 
Welcome, Marty! So glad you & your new knee
Are doing so well! Keep up the excellent
Recup! :)
 
Marty,
I'm glad you found this forum! I am going to have a TKR sometime in the next few months. Hasn't been scheduled yet. I'm trying to hold out for awhile. Had the Euflexxa shots and they didn't help AT ALL. What a waste of money.

I am DELIGHTED that I found this forum. Everyone has such positive attitudes and great advice. It has made me feel much better about things for me!

Keep posting! You can get probably every question you might have answered here!
 
Hi, Marty! Welcome to the BoneSmart family. We're glad you decided to join our group and we'll be here for any support you might need....or just to compare recovery notes!

So glad you hear you are doing so well!
 
Hi, thanks to all of you who have replied to my note and for your good wishes.
Crystal, I don't know if the femoral block is the same as the pain ball...maybe it is. did you have a little bag next to you with a "ball" in it containing the medication? I had the pain ball for about 2 to 2 1/2 days.
Gringo, I'm not really sure if I hear a clicking sound. sometimes I think there's something, but I'm not sure if I am hearing it or feeling it...maybe when more of the swelling goes away, I will be able to tell more.
I am not trying to get off of the pain medication. when I left the hospital, the doctor gave me a script for 75 Percocet and I was to see him in 2 weeks. when I went in for the visit, the nurse asked me if I needed a refill and I said yes, but I didn't read the script until later, and then found they only gave me 50 tablets and I am to see him in 4 weeks. That's quite a bit of difference in the amount of tablets I have. also the instructions say to take 1 tablet every 4-6 hours. Well based on that the 50 tablets won't last a month. There's not even 2 a day. I don't know if he thinks I will only need them for another couple of weeks, or if he thinks I may not need them every day ...
I guess I should call the office, because I would hate to take all of them and then find out that he won't refill them. I know they are helpful in being able to do my exercises properly and as frequently as I need to.
Also, could I ask all of you, have you used Outpatient Physical Therapy? the doctor gave me a script for it, but is leaving it up to me if I want to use it. His only reservation is that sometimes the therapists get overly aggressive and that's not good. What are your thoughts on this.
Thanks to all of you for your input and support.
Marty
 
Marty, definitely call the doctor's office well before you need a refill on the pain meds. Sometimes the surgeons are not very good at supporting your pain management needs and, if that turns out to be the case, talk to your regular family doctor. You NEED to have your pain under control. Some of us took prescription pain meds for months before we were pain free enough to graduate to over the counter meds.

Are you receiving therapy at home now? If you are, that may be adequate for you. On the other hand, many folks have benefited a lot from outpatient therapy. You will have to judge for your own situation. My surgeon told me the same thing about aggesssive therapists. But I found mine to be very understanding and we talked constantly about how things felt, what worked and what didn't and what I felt I needed to be able to do. Communication is key when working with your therapist.
 
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