TKR A New Day

[Jcx]

Eight weeks since my TKR never thought recovery would be this hard. Seen my consultant yesterday and I had loads of questions for him. He was running an hour late and saw me for less than five minutes. He made me stand up sit down and straighten my leg. Then said I was in the the early stages of recovery and he would see me in a years time. I never asked him why my knee felt metallic grinding and felt my knee cap seemed out of place. My physio says this is normal but I'm not convinced. Any help will be very appreciated. Thanks

 

[Jockette]

Hi and Welcome to Bonesmart!

I‘m sorry your consultant had so little time to spend with you. This is where Bonesmart comes in! While we may not be able to answer every question, but we have all been where you are, and totally understand how hard this recovery is.

At 8 weeks post op you are still rather early in the recovery process. Most of us are not told this recovery takes an average of a year. It could be swelling that is making your knee cap feel out of place.

Be careful not to be too active yet, or do too many exercises, as this can either maintain the normal swelling we get from this surgery, or it can increase that swelling, slowing recovery. Rest, ice and elevation are very important. Don’t look at those as sitting around doing nothing, look at it as giving your knee the best circumstance in which to heal.

Please give us your surgery date, and which knee it is, and we’ll make a signature for you.

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

​

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

​

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity progression for TKRs​

6. Access to these pages on the website

​

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

 

[Jcx]

Thanks for the reply. My operation was on my left knee and it took place on the 1st December 2021.

 

[Rubyroo]

@Jcx Hi! My LTKR was shortly after yours on 12-10-21 (2nd knee for me). I’m surprised he doesn’t want to see you at about 3 months out for xrays to make sure everything is looking good. Do you have a patient portal for your Dr. ? If so I’d send a message to him with all the questions I didn’t get to ask & you may also want to inquire about the 3 month out xrays. I would have been upset if I only was seen for 5 minutes. I understand they run late sometimes & I’m ok with waiting my turn but each person deserves whatever time they need to ask questions etc.

 

[Jcx]

Hi Rubyroo. I had an x-ray before I seen my consultant and I had to ask him if everything was ok with them. Normally he would show me them and go through them but not this time. When asked he said they were fine . I can't get my head around my 5 minutes consultation and feel cheated. Jcx

 

[Jaycey]

He was running an hour late and saw me for less than five minutes.

I know the NHS is just stretched to the max. But this is not acceptable. Sorry you were cheated out of quality time with the consultant.

Still very early days for you. Just give that knee time to heal. Discomfort will ease. But it does take time. Please don't allow physio to push you. That knee is in charge now.

 

[Jcx]

Hi Jacey. Your right this little knee of mine is totally in charge at the moment. Thanks Jcx

 

[Starsfan22]

Jcx, I would call the office and tell them your issue with the short visit. Maybe ask for a telehealth visit or a phone call to discuss questions. That's the least they can do

 

[Sara61]

@Jcx I can totally relate to your feelings, surgery is important to us and having a sympathetic surgeon is the icing on the cake, my surgeon is well known & highly recommended in my area, he is one of the top, I knew prior to my surgery that his bedside manner was curt, but I never actually believed it, after, my 1st operation in 2019, I actually thought he disliked me, each consultation was short & sharp but as I had an excellent outcome, last year when the opportunity arose to have my right knee replaced I automatically jumped at opportunity of choosing him again, although I'm having a few issues, I've come to the conclusion that he (the surgeon) has become vain and obviously fame has gone to his head, as on my last consultation last Wednesday, I was like you given 5 minutes of his time, he looked at the knee and claimed his work perfect, he bent & stretched it and told me my issues were in my head, so far he has not taken any Xrays post surgery and now declared that none are necessary (he must have supernatural vision)
Obviously like you, I'm extremely unsatisfied, I have another consultation with him in March and this time I will bravely stand my ground, I've nothing to lose as I hopefully I will not need to see him again as both knees now done. I Discovered yesterday, he wasn't running late but keen to get off to the US Virgin Isles for his vacation.
If you get the chance, stand your ground and get him/her to answer uour questions as its not acceptable.
Let us know the outcome xx

 

[Jcx]

After reading lots of posts it has put my mind to rest. Everything that I'm going through is normal and I will just have to get on with it. It will take up to a year for myself and my knee to recover. The question I won't to ask is should I after nine weeks go on holiday. I've stopped feeling sorry for myself and realize I'm in for the long haul. Instead of staying at home should I just jump on a plane and have a week in the sun and get on with my life. Thanks Jcx

 

[Jaycey]

@Jcx

You will notice that I merged your newest post with your original recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

Please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here. If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we will get it changed for you.

If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.

 

[FCBayern]

I don't think you would find it much of a holiday that early @Jcx. 9 weeks would be very early to fly, travel through airports etc. 6 months would probably be a better time frame and not with too much activity even then. This really is a 12-18 month recovery and too much activity too soon will only bring pain and swelling.

 

[sistersinhim]

I agree with FCBayern. It's much too early in your recovery to schedule a vacation that requires flying. Just look at the long waiting time in the airports, the cancellations, all those people to bump into you...I think you should wait at least a year unless you do exceptionally well and things settle down in the airports.

 

[Jcx]

Thanks for your replies. Our holidays were going to be in January and we put them back a month because of my op. Your right about the airport and flight but if I got through that sunshine awaits. My wife more than me needs a break for what I have put her through in the last eight weeks. It would be a four hour flight not long haul. Thanks Jcx

 

[lovetocookandsew]

I recently flew to another state, before my recent surgery, when I was still in a lot of pain. The airport we flew out of is somewhat large and required walking to the tram to take us to the gate, standing on the tram, walking through the lines in the security area, then hiking to the gate. The airport we flew into is teeny-tiny, but when we got to our hotel I was in a lot of pain, tired and cranky.

I can't imagine going through all that so soon after a TKR, plus sitting on the plane in a cramped seat where your knee is down the whole time, and bent painfully into the limited space. I totally understand the need for a break, but maybe wait a little longer, until you can easily walk the amount of steps required at both airports in a day, and back home again, plus sit on the airplane with no issues, and so on. You're not going to do yourself, or your wife, any favors, if you're in a lot of pain, cranky and miserable. Plus, if you set off your knee, you may be miserable the entire week, and it's unlikely that you'll be able to properly ice your knee on the trip.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

Oh, I forgot to mention, our actual flight time was only an hour, it was on a small jet and had enough open seats that I had both seats in the row to myself so could put my leg up. Still, it was an ordeal I don't recommend for anyone so soon after major surgery.

 

[Jcx]

Thanks all. Trying to be positive but probably not realistic at the moment. Jcx

 

[FCBayern]

You might think about a long weekend away for your wife and a girlfriend if you feel up to being independent and she's the one needing a break. A complete break from care giving instead of spending holiday trying to get you past the pain of travel, it would probably be a few days.

 

[Jcx]

Thanks FCBayrern
NUFC keep the faith
Jcx

 

[Jaycey]

@Jcx just remember all this is temporary. A short space of time for a lifetime without joint pain.