TKR Anxiety about TKR - now it's done!

[jenng2003]

Not at all. As long as he doesn't ask you to get face down!.

Why not face down? I've been given the okay to sleep belly, side, or back. Os isn't worried about my extension since I've shown that it straightens out easily multiple times. Just curious if there is another reason besides extension concerns...no one has said anything. I do pt on my belly as well. Uh oh...



LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[Josephine]

Oh - okay. That's okay then. It took me almost a year to be able to lie on my tum even in bed!
No way I could do it for my chiro!

 

[jenng2003]

Oh - okay. That's okay then. It took me almost a year to be able to lie on my tum even in bed!
No way I could do it for my chiro!

Oh...I found a way to lie on my stomach within the first week of being home!!! Haha! I just can't sleep on my back. I'd keep a pillow on my thighs and then one at my feet and my knee would be in extension in the air. It didn't bend. The pt made me show her and she laughed at my ingenuity/determinedness. She said it was straight and as long as I wasn't in pain, then okay.


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[jenng2003]

I got 85 degrees without warming up today at pt and then 90 after warming up. Pt was able to nudge it a few more degrees and it definitely made a lovely noise with a sharp pain. The pain stopped as fast as it came. I'm not sure if it was some scar tissue stretching some or what. No additional swelling or pain, so no harm seems to be done.

Pt is definitely getting easier. I don't have to use the cane unless I want to use it. I use it outside of the house, but not always inside the house. I rode the bike for a total of 20 min today without too much discomfort (I went around forward and backwards on the bike at home and backwards on the therapy bike). I'm sore now, but I went to my little one's bowling and then shopping at a small local mall. Normally on pt days, I don't do anything else the rest of the day in order to ice.

I only need to use pain meds on an as needed basis (pt and painful days). My pain level hovers around a 3 most of the day. Night time is always worse, but ice machine seems to take care of most of the pain. I did take a pill tonight since I did do a lot and I had a restless night last night (I think the weather affects my pain level and it was quite rainy).

Question...my muscles are always tight (even my right one). I used biofreeze before surgery. When can I resume its usage? Not on the knee as much as the calf and hamstring. I think it would help with my sleeping. I wake up with bad cramps (I can't eat bananas due to allergies, but I do take extra potassium right now). My pt doesn't really like me using anything, including heat on the muscles, so I don't want to ask her.


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[Josephine]

my muscles are always tight (even my right one). I used biofreeze before surgery. When can I resume its usage? Not on the knee as much as the calf and hamstring.

What made you think you had to stop using it? It's good stuff - get using it again.

However, I would tend to think your pain is due to inadequate medication. You're only 4 weeks out which is very early to stop using them and a regular pain score of 3 with additional tightness sand cramps would appear to confirm that. I used my prescription meds for 4 full months and even had an upsurge of pain at 6 weeks which required a short term increase in dosage. So be kinder to yourself!

 

[jenng2003]

I'm sure pain management has something to do with it, but my OS has made it clear that I just need to be tough and the pain will end soon. I have enough pain meds for pt only.

I cannot wait to use some biofreeze! I will keep it from my incision area, but I'm using it to help.

Today was a two steps back day. I am in a lot of pain and I had bad flexion. I told the pt that I'm not doing the manipulation. I refuse to start at zero again. She tried to reason with me, but I can't do it. There is no way. I'm just waiting for the day when things are better. I'm sure the 8 inches of snow didn't help today.


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[jenng2003]

I did too much yesterday and did not sleep well. Today, my knee is sore and achy from being cold. The biofreeze has been amazing for helping the muscle pain.

I have pt again tomorrow. My pt is on vacation. We shall see how tomorrow goes...


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[Celle]

but my OS has made it clear that I just need to be tough and the pain will end soon. I have enough pain meds for pt only.

I'll bet your OS hasn't had a knee replacement himself! You do still need pain medication at your stage of recovery.

Have you tried taking Tylenol on a regular basis? It's non-prescription and you can take 1000 mg (1G) 4 times a day. I found that taking that dose 4 to 6 hourly (don't exceed 4,000mg in 24 hours) was a great help when I came off the narcotics.

 

[Josephine]

That's just plain cruel! Untreated pain can become chronic and you don't what that. Plus it can result in other issues like adhesions and chronic tendinitis. Why not see if your GP will step up for you? Some will.

 

[kneeper]

It does seem like at least tylenol would help. I'm not sure why you can't use heat on your muscles. I used heat at times (not near knee) or alternating heat and cold. Whatever helps, I guess.

 

[jenng2003]

Yeah...tylenol doesn't help. My gp won't help out. I tried. My OS has never had the surgery. If I were older, I don't think I'd have as much trouble getting meds. Part of it is my fault, since my body reacts to Percocet and Vicodin. I guess it might not leave much else. I ended up needing benadryl In the hospital. The nucynta works when I can take it every 4-6 hours, but they won't give me enough pills for that. You can't take tramadol with that since it is the same type of drug. I think ibuprofen will be very helpful with either the nucynta or tramadol once I'm allowed to take it.

Today, my pain level was okay. I had the nice pt again. She stretched me instead of pushing on me. My hip flexor is causing a lot of the problems. She tried to stretch that out. I'm a bit swollen tonight and pain is around an 8 again. I did got 90 degrees and went around the bike forward and backwards!!! Yay!!!


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[Josephine]

You misunderstand - the Tylenol was to be taken with either Tramadol or nucynta, not instead of.

 

[jenng2003]

I understood. I don't have enough nucynta to take it around the clock. They only gave me a dose for therapy days. I have some old tramadol, but I know I'm not suppose to take them together. If I take nucynta at 8 am, could I take tramadol the same day? If so, when? The dr said nothing except tylenol and the aspirin twice a day other than therapy times. I took ibuprofen the other day with tylenol because it works better than just tylenol and it wasn't a therapy day, so no pain meds.

I go back on Tuesday. If they won't give me more nucynta, I will try to see if they will give me tramadol in a dose I can take around the clock. The lack of pain management is causing setbacks and problems.


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[Josephine]

Oh okay - then I misunderstood! Sorry!

I have some old tramadol, but I know I'm not suppose to take them together. If I take nucynta at 8 am, could I take tramadol the same day?

You can take Tramadol and paracetamol together. Ultracet is Tramadol with paracetamol mixed in. don't know about the other drug. Can't see why you can't take paracetamol with it. Ask your pharmacist.

it wasn't a therapy day, so no pain meds.

That's just so cruel. I can't believe a doctor would do this to another human being. Have you tried enlisting the help of your GP?

 

[kneeper]

It's enough to wish a tkr on this doc--with a doc like himself prescribing the pain meds. :(

 

[jenng2003]

It truly is horrible. I only got my last refill because my pt called and said that my pain was inhibiting pt. And they made me go for an appointment and saw the pain in my face. I still have moments of that pain. It happened at the store on Friday (just a 10 min trip to grocery store). My face lost all color and I was breathless from the pain. I don't know how I am going to go back to work at this point!


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[jenng2003]

I go back to the OS tomorrow to determine when I should go back to work. When did other teachers go back to work?


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[Celle]

I know of one who went back at 8 weeks and found it was too soon.
We usually recommend taking 12 weeks and then, if possible, doing a Phased return to work

 

[jenng2003]

Phased in is not an option. I was told full time/full duty or stay home. They don't even want me on a cane, but I will use one since I work at a jt high and its a visual for the kiddos. I'm out of sick days, but have short term disability benefits. If I go back after christmas, it will be 10 weeks since surgery. Or I can go back next week, which is 6 weeks. I'm still struggling with rom and swelling. Husband love me dearly, but I know he wants me to go back to work . It also will alter my paychecks for the rest of the year. I wish they would just not pay me for these weeks instead of prorating every check from now til August! Single income household...I was planning on staying out til after Christmas until I found that out.


LTKR. October 27th 2014

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[kneeper]

If you can manage the 10 weeks financially, I would go with that. I was able to time my surgery for the summer and so got 12 weeks. It was ok, but I iced at work and was zonked for the first couple of weeks. Also I know we usually aren't stationary while teaching, but is there a chair (non-wheeled) or stool you can have them put in your room?