MUA 5 weeks Post op TKR

[mxmotomom381]

Ok so my question is: I have pain All the time—-sitting standing laying ugh!!!! What’s happens if I don’t do the PT I’m scared to death

 

[sistersinhim]

What’s happens if I don’t do the PT I’m scared to death

Your pain and swelling will go down and your ROM will improve. You have a brand new infant knee that needs to be treated with TLC, not exercised.

I was blessed to have surgeons that never pushed PT. They gave me prescriptions for it, which I threw away and never went. When I went for my 3 return checkups, all they were interested in was to see what my knee would do and never measured. They never even asked about PT! Of course, they knew I was a single lady that had to take care of myself and obviously trusted that I would not be just laying around all the time.

Because of birth defects, I had to have 12 knee surgeries, so I've had lots of knee recovery experience. I knew from that experience that I did not need formal PT after my TKR, and neither do many others if they do their own daily activities and do not just sit around all day and night. My knee recovered just fine all on its own with only my daily activities. I didn't have the terrible swelling or agonizing pain that so many have after taking formal PT. I knew the Bonesmart way worked before Bonesmart was even thought of. My surgeries started in the early 80s and I never went to PT even back then. I just didn't see the need for it. Bonesmart was formed around 2004. By then I had already had 6 knee surgeries and rehabbed the Bonesmart way!

 

[Flashlight]

Hi, tomorrow it will be 2-weeks since your MUA. As I understand it you are back at day one or the first 2-weeks. I remember the first 10 weeks as being painful due to swelling, stiffness and not being able to bend my knee without help. My therapy was online, and I was encouraged to try every day to do the exercises but never to pain. Maybe some discomfort but not pain. I might have been able to do 3-heel slides or 2-mins of the knee extension exercises but I did try every day. I walked every hour around the house with my walker and slowly increased my time. I didn't start the stationary bike until about10 weeks. At that time my ROM was 110. Next week it will be a year and I am doing great. 140/0. You have been through a lot but try to give it more time and try not to worry about therapy. Or find another. Believe it or not YouTube has a lot of good videos on TKR exercises you might want to check out. Hang in there!

 

[mxmotomom381]

Hi, tomorrow it will be 2-weeks since your MUA. As I understand it you are back at day one or the first 2-weeks. I remember the first 10 weeks as being painful due to swelling, stiffness and not being able to bend my knee without help. My therapy was online, and I was encouraged to try every day to do the exercises but never to pain. Maybe some discomfort but not pain. I might have been able to do 3-heel slides or 2-mins of the knee extension exercises but I did try every day. I walked every hour around the house with my walker and slowly increased my time. I didn't start the stationary bike until about10 weeks. At that time my ROM was 110. Next week it will be a year and I am doing great. 140/0. You have been through a lot but try to give it more time and try not to worry about therapy. Or find another. Believe it or not YouTube has a lot of good videos on TKR exercises you might want to check out. Hang in there!

Thank you so very much for your encouraging words!!!! I’m starting massage therapy tomorrow in hopes it helps and I am able to get some sleep! I have to get up numerous times every night and walk around some leaving me with around 3 hours of sleep a night!

 

[Layla]

Hi mxmotomom,
I am wondering if you’re taking anything? It has to be miserable to not only be in constant pain, but also sleep deprived. I’m so sorry. You need to be comfortable enough to get the restorative rest you need for healing.
If nothing else, you can try OTC pain relievers temporarily in an effort to obtain pain relief and hopefully more sleep.

We often recommend Extra Strength Tylenol at 1000 mg, every six hours, but no more than 4000 mg in any 24 hr period. You must also calculate anything else containing Acetominiphin into the 4000 mg so you're not exceeding that amount.

You are the best judge of your current needs. Keep in mind you want pain control that allows you to remain comfortably mobile.
I hope you begin feeling better soon!
@mxmotomom381

 

[mxmotomom381]

I am taking a pain medication but only one in the morning and one before going to bed because I’m about to run out and since I’m over my surgery my ortho won’t give me anymore. I have tried taking 2 ibuprofen and 2 Tylenol but it does absolutely nothing!

 

[mxmotomom381]

I go for my MUA post op next Monday.

 

[Layla]

So sad to read you have to ration pain meds when you need them. I’m sorry.
Consider trying the Extra Strength Tylenol protocol listed above.
Best Wishes for the post op next Monday. Please let us know how it goes.
@mxmotomom381

 

[Flashlight]

My PCP checked my labs and told me what dose of ibuprofen to take, and she was very concerned with my recovery. I should have made the visit sooner and I wasn't taking the right dose. It's not like we will be on that dose for a long period of time, and it was safe. I found my OS not as helpful. Schedule an appointment and see how he/she might help you out. I understand about the insomnia. I slept in a recliner for the first 10 weeks and slowly was able to sleep in bed. Some people on this site had luck with Tylenol PM. It seems to be a side effect of the surgery and just being uncomfortable. Hopefully by fall it will be a bad memory! Good luck at your post-op visit.

 

[mendogal]

Everyone finds a different way to cope with the insomnia, which can be really severe even when pain is well controlled.
Trial and error led me to use two things: an herbal sleep tea blend that specifically includes valerian (Art of Tea has a blend as loose tea; Traditional Medicinals sells theirs in tea bags); a low dose sustained release melatonin (in combination with the tea, I use 3 mg, and spend an hour in a very low light room before getting into bed).
It got me from 3 hours of sleep a night to 6 + hours where none of the sedating antihistamines like diphenhydramine were doing the trick.

 

[mxmotomom381]

My PCP checked my labs and told me what dose of ibuprofen to take, and she was very concerned with my recovery. I should have made the visit sooner and I wasn't taking the right dose. It's not like we will be on that dose for a long period of time, and it was safe. I found my OS not as helpful. Schedule an appointment and see how he/she might help you out. I understand about the insomnia. I slept in a recliner for the first 10 weeks and slowly was able to sleep in bed. Some people on this site had luck with Tylenol PM. It seems to be a side effect of the surgery and just being uncomfortable. Hopefully by fall it will be a bad memory! Good luck at your post-op visit.

Thank you!!!

 

[benne68]

I have tried taking 2 ibuprofen and 2 Tylenol but it does absolutely nothing!

I struggled with pain early on and didn't think Tylenol was working until I tried the dosing regimen that Layla shared above. It did take a couple of days to notice a difference, but I persisted taking the 1000 mg at regular 6 hour intervals and by the third day, there was a huge difference in my pain level. The key is to take it regularly and not wait for the pain to increase.

 

[mxmotomom381]

I have tried taking 2 ibuprofen and 2 Tylenol but it does absolutely nothing!

I struggled with pain early on and didn't think Tylenol was working until I tried the dosing regimen that Layla shared above. It did take a couple of days to notice a difference, but I persisted taking the 1000 mg at regular 6 hour intervals and by the third day, there was a huge difference in my pain level. The key is to take it regularly and not wait for the pain to increase.

Exactly what type Tylenol are we talking about?

 

[mxmotomom381]

Also, what is the BEST exercise regimen for the fastest recovery and ROM??? I just want to go to sleep( cuz that’s a joke right now for me) and wake up and see some sort of difference! I realize it’s an extremely slow process but I don’t feel like I should have constant pain and stiffness. I cannot sit in one spot for more than 10ish minutes before having to move around.

 

[Layla]

Exactly what type Tylenol are we talking about

Extra Strength Tylenol at 1000 mg, every six hours, but no more than 4000 mg in any 24 hr period. You must also calculate anything else containing Acetominiphin into the 4000 mg so you're not exceeding that amount.

 

[mendogal]

Also, what is the BEST exercise regimen for the fastest recovery and ROM??? I just want to go to sleep( cuz that’s a joke right now for me) and wake up and see some sort of difference! I realize it’s an extremely slow process but I don’t feel like I should have constant pain and stiffness. I cannot sit in one spot for more than 10ish minutes before having to move around.

My first January TKR was **terribly** stiff within ten minutes, and so stiff overnight I needed both hands plus my other leg to lift it off the bed in the morning! It lasted until 12 weeks then quickly went away. This despite having good ROM and mobility. At 6 months it still gets stiff but rarely hurts.
My new 8 week old TKA started out needing position changes every five minutes. I sit at a table and draw daily. I got it up to 10 minutes (I set a timer!) and now the timer is set for 17 minutes. Watching a movie, I shift a LOT and ask my husband to hit pause every half hour so I can painfully rise and take a 5 minute walk. The short walks are my best medicine for the stiffness, plus GENTLE range of motion (like heel slides, without uncomfortable stretching)
So yeah, this is normal. And it DOES GET BETTER!

 

[sistersinhim]

Also, what is the BEST exercise regimen for the fastest recovery and ROM???

That is impossible to answer since everyone's knee is different. You have to do what works for you. If you do something and later get stiffer and/or more painful, then it's bad for your knee at this time. Anything that sets your recovery back is not being helpful at this stage of your healing. In my opinion, the BEST exercise regimen is NO exercise regimen program. Using your knee normally in your daily activities is the best for most members. Your knee gets stiff because it's swollen. Ice and elevate it as long as you're sitting or laying down to help get the swelling down and your bend will improve. In this recovery less exercising = more healing!

 

[indie]

I cannot sit in one spot for more than 10ish minutes before having to move around.

Hi @mxmotomom381

I went through majority of your posts, and summed it up, Its about pain, aggressive PT, and ROM. I also went through same.

Listening to collective wisdom of all the angels of bonesmart, I slowed down, rested a lot, and with gentle stretches, tried to recover.

Every one is giving same message to you that they gave me, all you have to do is trust their experiences.

Lessen anxiety about ROM, and you are halfway to your recovery.

enjoy respecting your need for rest.

 

[Flashlight]

Remember it takes about 20-weeks for the deep inside tissues to heal. Your incision might look healed but that doesn't show what is happening inside. My OS never told me this and I found out when I started getting frustrated with my recovery. I laugh when I read recovery is 6-12-weeks! Once those tissues heal the swelling, and stiffness start to resolve.

 

[Layla]

To Flashlight's point -
Healing: how long does it take?