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TKR Almost unbelievable

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@janetg you can see from my thread that I tried not taking the dilaudid today but only made it to 2 PM. I'm 4 1/2 weeks post-op today. It makes a big difference is how easily I feel I can move my leg and how active I can be. I see you're in Boston - did you go to NE Baptist? That's where I had my surgery.
 
I certainly did not mean to make you feel badly for taking narcotics---I just wanted to make the point that if you are taking narcotics, it is too early to be working.
 
Hi Janet,

I completely agree with the other posters. I am almost 14 week post-op TKR and the worst thing you can do so early in your recovery is to taper off pain meds or do too much. While I agree with positive thinking and think it is wonderful, that does not take away the facts that you had a very traumatic surgery. Your body needs to heal and in order to do that well, you also need to take care of you. Resting, elevating, icing and taking pain meds is crucial for a good recovery. I am amazed that you are trying to work a little already. I hope you continue to do well. If you notice you are in increased pain afterwards or the next day, your knee is telling you, it's too much, too fast.
 
I'm just at the 12 week point and would echo Midwest's post. Pay close attention to your pain, swelling, etc. because if it happens, your knee is trying to tell you to slow down. I overdid it early a couple times and paid the price. Even now, I find that if I'm not careful, I still can overdo things.

Roxie
 
I'm at 10 weeks ( and a NEBH alumni also!) and so agree with everyone else. You have to keep up with your pain meds for any kind of pain, stiffness, etc. It makes a huge difference in how well you can rehab that knee. I made the mistake with my 1st knee in trying to cut back too early & believe me I never made that mistake for this 2nd knee!
 
Oh no! No one on this site has ever made me feel badly about meds. Everyone has been tremendously helpful in every way. I mean say my sister, the neighbor, the resident on call. This site is the BEST!
 
I had been told that this would be a roller coaster. Wow was that correct. Some days are great. I even felt like putting on lipstick yesterday! Oh what a difference a day makes. The PT is coming in about an hour and I want to pull the covers over my head! I happened to have some methocarbamol from a shoulder injury so took one and it helped tremendously with the muscle aches I've been having in my thighs. Another tip from someone on here.
 
I so much need this forum to bring me back to reality on so many levels. I was thinking 'jeez, three weeks and its still so stiff' Than there's the matter of pain meds, how much should i be cutting down? I will be able to take Ibuprofen tomorrow and would like to see if it helps with the pain and also the inflammation. Also, does anyone else have pretty bad thigh pain? Its both legs so i figure it has do do with the odd way I'm maneuvering around. Thank goodness sleeping is really good. Ive got myself on a comfy couch on my screen porch so i feel like i'm camping. The couch makes me stay on my back so I'm not tempted to try and move around a lot. So, again, thanks for all of you that share your feelings and experiences and let me know 'It's OK!'
 
Your knee will tell you about the pain meds. What you'll discover is you begin forgetting to take them. This means you can begin stretching the time between doses. Eventually, that will result in skipping doses.

The thigh pain could be a result of awkward movement patterns. If so, look for ways to help your body move in ways that will keep it in alignment. Maybe you still need to be using a cane or crutches?

Jean

LTKR (Stryker Triathlon): 21 April 2015
Right Knee Arthroscopy: 25 July 2006
Left Knee Arthroscopy: 10 February 2005
 
Your thigh pain could simply be muscles you haven't used or where stretched during surgery. I think I was odd, in that while I was initially worried about taking pain meds, I grew out of it. I was just thankful to have them and if being fuzzy for a month or so was a side effect, so be it. I naturally weaned myself off oxycodone with no issues at all, even with a 2nd surgery a month after my original TKR.
But it's wonderful that you're able to be outside and not stuck in the house. This recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't hurry it along, because your knee will rebel and set you back. It's not easy to accept life will not be the same for a few months, but nothing worth having is easy.
 
thank you Karri and Jean! think I've got it!!
 
I am three weeks today, so high-five knee sister! I have the thigh pain too, and Josephine ascribed it to IT band problems. Mine feels like a burning pain from a line up the top of my thigh to a line running up the outside of my thigh. Really feel it when I first move after sleeping for a couple of hours. If that sounds like yours, do the stretches in the IT band section of the library. Just that little bit of stretching has reduced my pain to a fourth of what it was.
I am where you are on the pain meds too. Might try the switch to Tylenol in the daytime, but think I will keep the percocet and the Robaxin at nighttime for now. Am tired of the brain fog. Let me know what is working for you.
 
Hi five ya back!! I am so fortunate to be able to work (hairstylist) from home, albeit, standing the entire time but once its done i crash. It's such a great diversion. I have had PT and have to admit, i can't believe what a slacker i am! But next week have to go to the real place!! As i said I'm so happy to try the advil later today as it usually works great for me, so maybe combined with just one 2mg dilaudid will do the trick. I'll let you know!
I love your posts! So helpful!
 
@janetg You will notice that I have moved your new posts and those of your respondents, into your original recovery thread.

The reasons for this are that it
1. makes it easier for guests to read the continuous story of a member's recovery - the most important reason
2. avoids people duplicating and repeating things like links to articles
3. helps us to refresh on what you've had done and when, plus what advice was given previously
5. keeps all advice previously given on hand for the poster
6. makes it unnecessary for the member to keep repeating surgery details
7. just makes it easier for everyone all round!

Please don't keep starting new threads about your recovery.
Thank you very much!
 
Everyone recovery is different, thus the need for pain meds varies with each recovery. I have a coworker who had the same surgery and came back to work two weeks later. It took me 6 weeks. That, of course, sent the wrong impression to my boss, and I had to tell him one day that each knee and recovery is different. And now that I am seeking out a revision specialist, he doesn't understand that at all. So you do what is best for you and helps you recover.
 
hi all, gradually coming along to be able to say feeling pretty good. i have a couple of questions. as soon as i came off coumadin i started taking advil which usually works very well for me. well, i never had any experience with pain meds and didn't know to wean off rather than just stop. the withdrawal was really awful. so my question, as i lay here trying to fall off to sleep, advil just doesn't cut it. is it ok to take say 1 dilaudid 2mg at night for pain. seems like a no brainer but feel as I've gotten off the dilaudid, should i take it just at night. thanks
 
Hi
Sorry you're going through this. I don't know the answer to your question, but am going to tag some of the moderators who might have some insight ... @Josephine's in the UK, so she might be up and around soon with an answer. @Celle's in a different time zone and hemisphere from the Eastern US, so she might be monitoring the forum now. @Jamie, @skigirl, and @Pumpkln are all in the states, so they might not be able to get back to you until tomorrow. Sleeplessness and pain are the pits. Hope you get some relief.
 
Hi Janetg - obviously I'm not a medical person but I have cut down to exactly that, one 2 mg dilaudid at bedtime. At least that's what I've been able to do over the last few days. With no ill effect. And I take tylenol 3000-4000 mg throughout the day/night. I can't see why taking the one pill would be a problem or that you would go through withdrawal again from that one dose. Did you end up taking it?
 
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