bad night last night

[newfie girl]

Hi there everyone,

thanks for the messages. had a really low night last night with pain. had done a bit more excersize than usual and on my feet for longer but think the main thing i did wrong was getting too confident and cutting down on the pain meds so am upping them back up to what i was having in hospital.
dont seem to be able to sleep in the early hours.

am not able to lift my leg without help to do the strengthening excersize and still having problems bending the new knee. will it sieze up if i dont bend it?

i havent done any ice yet as i was told to not get the scar area wet untill i have had my staples out, is that right?

 

[brs0660]

Oh my....newfie newfie...

Sorry you had a rough night. Am I correct that you had surgery REALLY recently?? Unless you are having trouble with the pain meds (the do cause constipation so take some colace every day) or you are having a reaction to the meds, DO NOT back off of them yet. Most folks don't start backing off until 5-6 weeks when the discomfort becomes manageable.

Ice....start now with the ice. Use a pillow case or a wash cloth over the wound area and place the ice in a zip lock bag. (I put ice packs in s zip locks...two small ones so they fit across me knee). The biggest grcause of discomfort is the internal and external swelling, so the sooner you elevate your leg above your heart and get ice on it the sooner you pain will back off.

Pain Meds...Jo has a great chart that shows that it takes longer to get pain in control if you take it after your pain level gets above a three. So take it as prescribed (usually once every four hrs night and for a few weeks. Plan ahead to take them about an hour before you have PT...makes PT much easier.

Hope this helps
Barb:wub:​

 

[Texas]

Oh sleep yea that might take awhile take naps if you can i was always able to sleep better during the day make sure you take your med before our exercises...........it gets better i promise but grab those naps when you can.........hope you feel better soon........

 

[tom67]

Hi newfie, I found Ice to be very Important to recovery. I don't
know how your applying Ice, but If It's In say a ziplock bag, or
any well sealed bag,( i'm using re-freezable gel-paks) wrapped
in a bath towel ( you don't want Ice to skin anyway ) you will
not get it wet at all. Icing definately reduces pain, swelling and
also improves R.O.M. Best Wishes Tom

 

[cindy88fan]

You need to keep icing. The more you ice, the more the swelling will go down and then you will be able to bend more. Before I got my staples out, I put the bags of ice and frozen peas behind my knees and on top of my ankles. Don't give up! You are still early into your recovery and you will be in pain so right now, don't cut back on pain meds. Once the pain gets bad, it's hard to get it under control. Also, make sure you are elevating your knee also.

Take care and keep in touch.

 

[beth1954]

I'm sorry you had such a bad night too! We have all had them and they can be miserable. I have a habit of losing all hope and going into a deep dispair!!
It takes some time, but it gets better. I am about 5 weeks out and still have some pain especially after PT, but I have to try to think back early on and how it felt then. It's definitely better. Alot of us have the ice machines that have a cuff that wraps around your knee. I love it! Covers every inch of your knee, including the back if you position it right. I like that because I had swelling in the back also. Keep it up! I think you're not to leave it on too long at a time though..........someone correct me if I'm wrong please. Like everyone else says, if you are pretty fresh out of surgery do not fudge on the pain meds and DO take the colace or you'll be very sorry!!
Keep the faith, and everyone on here will be great support for you!!
Beth
:thmb:

 

[newfie girl]

hi there

have not ben icing at all as was worried i would get the wound wet. will talk with the nurse that comes tomorrow to take the staples out (ouch). am much better today and even went out for a short walk for the first time since surgery

 

[Judles]

They said it ALL, Newfie! Now ice and feel better!!!:thmb:

 

[cindy88fan]

You have to ice. If you don't ice your knee will feel stiff and it makes it hard to get R.O.M. If you were told not to put ice on top of your knee then at least put it either behind your knee or on the side of your knee. This will help.

 

[Dawnie]

Hi Newfie, sorry you are not sleeping, I cant believe you have not been told to ice, it makes an enormous difference with both pain and mobility, and as others have said you can ice without getting your knee wet.
I feel like I am improving every day, particularly with my left knee, still having problems bending my right but it will come.
The hospital sent me home with only paracetamol to help the pain, but fortunately my brother has a stash of Tramadol from a previous injury and has given me 3 boxes, I only take one when I really need to but knowing they are there helps.
I am expecting to get an appointment this week for PT, wil take one before I go, lol.
I'm fortunate, I am sleeping great and it makes a big difference but I have a water bed and it is so comfortable.
I can only repeat what everyone else has said, ice, rest and patience.
Hope you get some relief soon. X

 

[Jamie]

Newfie, whoever is telling you not to ice??? You MUST!! Your recovery will be ever so much more difficult if you can't keep that pain and swelling under control. Icing, elevating and taking pain meds on a schedule (like every 4 hours all day and night) are the only way to keep your body in healing mode. The comments above are all right on. We've all been where you are and know the importance of icing and pain relief. Some of us took prescription pain meds for months before we were at a point to switch to over-the-counter meds.

It will get better, but it will get better faster if you do as folks have suggested.

Let us know how things go. We care about you!

 

[Josephine]

Jo's famous pain chart!

 

[Texas]

Good Morning I sure hope you got some kind of sleep last night. Take your med as jamie staes it really will help...............) hope you feel better

 

[tom67]

Hi Newfie, Just cheking in on you. I hope you are sleeping well, and remember
EMBRACE your Ice, It really really helps !! Best Wishes , Tom