Beginning of 2nd Week - Problems and experiance

[exjock]

Well I had my surgery on July 23rd and got ome from rehab today. To date my knee is doing good but I have had other problems.
My surgery was at 8:00am on Wed. morning. I woke up in extreme pain. Did not seem like anything worked I would just fall asleep. By 2:00 - 3:00 pain came under control. Seems like it takes awhile for morphine to settle into bones. By 8:00pm I had not urinated yet. Three different nurses and Dr. on staff tried to give me a catheter but could not get it in. They called the on call urologist and he said that if I was not in to much discomfort he would be there 6:00am Thursday morning. He failed the first time but got a different catheter and was able to get it in. He told me no matter what I do don't let anyone take it out except for him in 7-10 days. what! I have to worry about this on top of everything else. I have never had prstate problem that I know of so I don't know what is goin on. They kept me in hospital an extra day because they did not like my kidney function. It was assumed that this was because I had not urinated for so long. Everything looked good after a couple days with catheter and I was released on Sunday July 27th.

After advice from this board and persistence of family I decided to go to Rehab. I am sure this helped but seemed like a lot of boring downtime. Went to therapy at 9:00am and 1:00pm and spent the evening on cpm machine.

I thought I was doing good with my knee until I seen a man 10 years older than me who had BTKR get up from wheelchair and take a couple steps to bench unassisted. I convinced myself that everyone heals differently and l have excepted this.

I came home from rehab today Aug. 1st. Knee has 85 and -10 ROM. About 4:00 this afternoon I had my first trouble with catheter. About every 1/2 hr I would have extreme pain like something was blocked and urine has reddish tinge with bits floating around. I do not have a fever. I called the on call urologists and my wife went to 24hr. pharmacy for antibiotic. He said to drink as much as I can and let him know if it gets worse.

I am sitting here now slightly depressed. Have not had bladder pain in over an hr. and urine is looking clearer so I am hoping for a better week next week.

 

[AlaskanTKR]

ExJock -
OMG - you have had quite an experience. Sorry to hear about the catheter issues. That was my main goal the first day - to get that thing out. I did not do the rehab thing but your rehab sounds a lot lke what I did at home. Be proud of that 85 - I am 7/14 and still can only get to 70 and have been stuck there for a week, not sure if I am ever getting any further. I do have 0 extention, but.... I agree with you - I am 42 and cannot even begin to imagine how the older generation just bounces right back from this. I know I am doing pretty good - managed to get out to dinner once and lunch once, but am totally wiped out. People keep telling me its because there was trauma involved with tht OA so there is a substantial amount of healing that is taking place all at once. I don't know. But all those who have bilaterals are my heros! Sometimes I feel like a baby but then I realize while my rom is ughh, at least my extention is 0 and I can do steps, get in and out of cars, etc. You are doing fine. I can see why all the forum members tell us to rest and heal - we certainly need to. Keep an eye on that catheter thing - I hope that all straightens out. Rest and stay on top of your pain.
Marianne - CPMing up here in Alaska

 

[Sandy R]

ExJock... on top of everything else, you have to watch out for the catheter. Hope you do better tomorrow. Do what the doc says... drink lots of water. One of my main objectives after my surgery, is to get the catheter OUT!

I know what you mean about younger vs. older patients. My husband is 75 years old and had his 2nd TKR in May, 4 month after the 1st. I befriended a 43 year old gal, also in the hospital with a TKR, the same time my husband was there. My husband was up and walking before her (without a walker, crutches or cane) and left the hospital on the 3rd day after surgery. She couldn't believe he was going home before she was discharged. I'm 69 years old and will have my TKR in September. I only hope I do as well as my husband did... he's going to be a hard act to follow!

 

[JudyS]

EXjock

I feel really bad about the catheter experience, which I guess is still going on.
I had problems with urination last summer after cervical surgery, they kept putting one in and taking it out etc. The nurse was worried that m y bladder was going to explode. I thought she was kidding.
But, I know it is a lot worse for a guy so I really feel for you.

sounds like your knee is doing excellent though.
Keep healing
Judy

 

[1jt@atime]

I exjock! I think major surgery like this will often bring out other weaknesses in your body that you didn't know existed. My back went out as a result of my first tkr last fall. I couldn't lie flat and I couldn't sit up without extreme pain. Trying to straighten my leg for extension would send sharp shooting pains up and down my leg and to my butt. It was excrutiating. Not only did I have the regular tkr pains to deal with, I had this too. Never knew before hand that I was having back problems but this turned out to be the case according to my Neurosurgeon. Back pain had nothing to do with the tkr other then it was enough to set me off. Maybe this is the case with you? The Urologist might be able to tell you if this was a side effect of the tkr or something preexisting.

Good luck with the healing. I know it is NO FUN dealing with something else in addition to this recovery. Karen

 

[exjock]

Thanks for replies. I had this issue once when I was 19 but they only cathed me once to drain bladder and all was good afterwards. Don't understand persistence to leave in 7 -10 days. The catheter certainly has given me a blaader infection at this point. I am drinkinking like a fish and getting up and down a lot to empty small day bag. At least I am getting exercise. I start outpatient PT on Monday and go to urologist and get staples out on Tuesday. Hopefully better days are coming.

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Hang in there Ex-Jock -
You will feel a whole bunch more comfy (at least your knee will) when you get those staples out. I sure did. Hope all goes better with the bladder - I can't remember which med it is - but when I got home from the hospital I asked my hubby for a glass of cranberry juice - mmm mmm tasted great until I got to reading one of the med precautions - no cranberry products. Ughhh - so that was it for the cranberry juice!

Sending positive thoughts your way!
Marianne

 

[Rowdy66]

Ex-jock, Sorry You Are Having Such A Rough Time, I Know You Must Be Worried Sick To Be Having Problems That Require The Catheter And Then Having Problems Along With It. I Forget Who Said That This Surgery Seems To Bring Out Other Problems I Think Is Right. Things Will Get Better You Just Need To Give It Time. Sounds Like You Are In The Hands Of Some Good Doctors And That Is Always Good. I Think One Of The Worst Things About Surgery Like We All Have Had Is It Really Brings Home The Fact That We Are Really So Darn Fragile. I Think All Of Us Who Have Found This Site Though Are One Up On The Rest Of The People Out There Who Are Going It Alone. I Know For My Part This Site Has Been A Real Life Saver And I Am Sure It Helped To Preserve My Relationship With The Os. I Would Have Driven His Office Crazy With Questions Without All The Folks Here Who Helped Me Through My Btkr Back In May. I Will Keep You In My Prayers. Good Luck On Getting Things Sorted Out. Rowdy

 

[Josephine]

Thanks for replies. I had this issue once when I was 19 but they only cathed me once to drain bladder and all was good afterwards. Don't understand persistence to leave in 7 -10 days. The catheter certainly has given me a blaader infection at this point. I am drinkinking like a fish and getting up and down a lot to empty small day bag. At least I am getting exercise. I start outpatient PT on Monday and go to urologist and get staples out on Tuesday. Hopefully better days are coming.

The various attempts to catheterize you will have been where you got the infection - somebody was obviously slack in their aseptic technique. Males are especially prone to this.

I'm sorry it had to happen to you. Most unpleasant.