4 Week Update

[shutterbug]

Hey All...
4 weeks.... My how the time flys. The recovery is going so-so. I am at the point where I'm glad I had my TKR. ROM is at 90-95. I am not sure how that is for 4 weeks, but I am pleased.

Sleep is still something I need to get a handle on. 4 to 5 hours a night plus dozing a little in my lazyboy.

The exersises are getting easier. Had a bunch of pain under my kneecap, but that is getting better.

Pain managment is another issue. I called OS last monday to ask for more pain meds. I told him that I had enough until sunday (today) , and my appt
is Dec 4. He told me I should only need pain meds for sleep, and that I need to get off them. Tomorrow I am calling PCP to see if he will take over my Pain management. I have my doubts though. I have been taking the Oxycodone 3 times a day with bunches of tylenol and motrin.

Another issue I am having is depression. Am I alone? I will have to talk to doc
about that also.

thank you all

chuck

 

[Linda2]

You are so not alone! What is it with orthopedic surgeons and their stinginess with pain meds!? My internist did the job for me, so I hope that works for you as well. I think that the depression is paradoxical. If you don't have good pain control, that's depressing enough. The narcotics, however, can make you feel kind of depressed as well, so the depression and sleeplessness are both normal. This is a huge surgery, and it takes much longer than one hopes to get better. I am at four months out now, and I'm usually pretty good; but, if I try to do too much, I hurt everywhere. The cool thing is that my new knee hurts less than everything else. I know that much of the pain comes from just not having all my strength back even yet.

One month out is very early still; it just seems like forever when you're living through it. Keep working hard on you range of motion and strength. It really does get better.

 

[Josephine]

Not another one! My these OS's need some teaching!!!

 

[Simon]

I think Jo is right. Maybe we should right an open letter to the president of the 2 professional organizations of orthopedic surgeons and tell them to read these posts or better yet, educate their surgeons.

I was lucky as my OS had a TKR a few years ago and had no trouble with pain meds though because of distance, I used my PCP. I was lucky as pain was not a major problem for me. As I stated before I think is that because in the hospital and inpatient rehab it was so well controlled.

As for sleep, now that was my problem. What worked for me was lorazapam (an anti-anxiety agent). The problem is mostly something called learned/conditioned insomnia a common complication and anxiety is the main problem.

Good luck.

Simon

 

[shutterbug]

In home PT just left...ROM 100. I don't think that is too bad for 4 weeks out.
Very Happy.
PCP taking care of pain managment, Stool softeners doing their job, and
100 ROM. It is a good day!!!!

chuck

 

[Josephine]

That's good, Chuck. I'm very pleased for you.

Simon, that makes so much difference. I worked with a back surgeon who suffered from a bad back and a hip surgeon who'd had a THR. Guess who all the staff went to for each problem!