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brand new - TKR

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char

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just completed one week post op and felt as if i was all alone with my pain swelling pain inability to sleep and well ...everything. this site and these posts are very helpful. thank you all for sharing i have a silly question - the doc sent me home with an ice machine to use constantly....but in my pre PT evaluation the therapist said not to use too much ice. confusing! any suggestions
 
Wecome to the site Char, glad you joined us. Your question is not silly, it gets confusing when you get conflicting messages. Feel free to ask any questions. Josephine our moderator is our professional help, she is on UK time though.

You are so lucky to get an ice machine. I am looking into getting one as at 14 weeks post op I still get a lot of swelling. We all mostly ice for 20 minutes at a time whenever we feel we need it, especially after exercise. I also like to use a heat pad but under the knee only as heat can cause swelling. I found heat comforting when I was in a lot of pain at the beginning. Laying with the heat pad under your back is also comforting I find especially when I can't sleep. I have also found using a body pillow to support the knee is invaluable. Sue
 
Good morning Char. No silly questions here, just a few silly people. Others have used that ice machine. Ask your PT about it and why not. Post and read ofetn so you don't feel so alone.
 
Welcome Char
My os sent me home with one and told me to use it when i needed it the ice did help to numb things
and like others have said use heat to it does make you feel better
I had trouble sleeping for about 3 mo and then all of a sudden it got better
once again welcome and lean on us there is lots of experience here for you to use
hugs to you
caren
 
Hi Char. We are in the same boat. I am one week today and am having a lot of swelling and pain. Are you wearing the support stockings? I find them to be quite irritating at times. Especially with the swelling. Hang in there!!! It does get better. My right knee is 4 months out now and really feels good.
Cheers, Ross
 
My PT's advice is to use the ice in 20 minute intervals to reduce inflammation and swelling. You can also alternate heat and ice every 20 minutes to target specific areas of swelling. Continuous use of ice can aid in pain relief.
Ice can't hurt you unless you are placing it directly on your skin. So go with whatever brings you the most relief. My ice machine has been my best friend on this journey and we still keep it loaded with ice so I can sit down and ice up whenever I feel the need.

Good luck to you!



char said:
just completed one week post op and felt as if i was all alone with my pain swelling pain inability to sleep and well ...everything. this site and these posts are very helpful. thank you all for sharing i have a silly question - the doc sent me home with an ice machine to use constantly....but in my pre PT evaluation the therapist said not to use too much ice. confusing! any suggestions
Click to expand...
 
Welcom Char,
I'm 12 weeks post op and still ice my knee 3 or so times a day..
Ice will become your new best friend.
 
doug said:
Welcom Char,
I'm 12 weeks post op and still ice my knee 3 or so times a day..
Ice will become your new best friend.
Click to expand...

That's true. Before surgery at PT I would love the heat in the beginning of the session and sometimes I would for go the ice because I liked how I felt all stretched out and didn't want to use the ice to "tighten" it all back up. Now after PT the ice feels so good and I'll have them leave it on for an extra 5 minutes if I've got time.
 
Welcome Char. I'm 7 1/2 weeks out and have used the gel ice packs any time I felt any discomfort. For me, the ice has really helped. I agree you should ask your therapist why they don't want you to use ice. It helps with the swelling and even a tiny bit of swelling can make you miserable. I can't imagine they would tell you that using ice would hurt anything. My gel packs are plastic and came with a cloth cover....still too cold against my skin, so I wrap them in a hand towel and there is still plenty of cold coming through to do the job.
 
Jamie said:
Welcome Char. I'm 7 1/2 weeks out and have used the gel ice packs any time I felt any discomfort. For me, the ice has really helped. I agree you should ask your therapist why they don't want you to use ice. It helps with the swelling and even a tiny bit of swelling can make you miserable. I can't imagine they would tell you that using ice would hurt anything. My gel packs are plastic and came with a cloth cover....still too cold against my skin, so I wrap them in a hand towel and there is still plenty of cold coming through to do the job.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of bags of frozen peas, cheaper and good for dinner later lol
 
I tried the frozen peas..I always wrap it to my knee with an ace bandage.
Well, as my luck would have it. I laid the peas across the knee, started wrapping, and the whole end of the pack busted open..Yep, 10,000 frozen peas rolling across the wooden floor.
Two boxers thinking daddy gave them new toys..
Never again.
 
I LOVE the story, Doug....my friend, your life is a B-rated soap opera some days, huh!
 
My father is always having something crazy happen to him. I guess I inherited that gene.
 
You can make your own slushy ice pack---using a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. I think I started with a ratio of 2:1 water to alcohol and adjusted it until I got it to the consistency I wanted. More water makes it firmer--- more alcohol makes it softer.

Use high quality freezer ziplock bags and double or triple the bags. A vacuum food saver unit might work too?????

I learned this trick following a previous back surgery. Contours more smoothly than frozen peas which I used for previous knee surgeries. Not as much fun for the dogs tho Doug!

This time around I have "Ace" brand gel packs and a Polar Ice unit. This combo is working the best of all for me.
 
Good Idea Beach. I used Palmolive dish soap. Poured it into double bagged ziplocs. They're very pliable....Mine are 3+ months old and going strong.
 
Wow Palmolive and alcohol water mix. Learning, learning here.
 
Howdy Char---I am 5 1/2 months out of a bilateral TKR---it was tough at first---but then, after the surgery, I didn't have any choice but to stick it out. i am certainly glad that i did---I feel better now than I have in years, and I have gotten my life back and am doing things now that I had trouble doing (and enjoying) just a year ago at this time.

Yep, PT is tough---over Christmas I was busy tearing away at the adhesions---and that felt horrible. After that, it was to outpatient PT for ROM, strengthening, balance, and other wonderful stuff.

My last outpatient PT was March 27th---and I was on the ball diamond umping less than a week later.

It is painful and grueling; I will admit that; but every drop of sweat that you expend or everytime you hurt---you are on the road to mending and reclaiming your life. Remember; there are two kinds of pain; one kind says that your body is breaking apaprt and you are losing valuable parts of your life. The other says that you are rebuilding your body as well as your future; you are reclaiming what is righfully yours that arthritis took away.

Hang in there---the road is long and challenging, but every step is worth it!

Tim C.
 
"It is painful and grueling; I will admit that; but every drop of sweat that you expend or everytime you hurt---you are on the road to menind and reclaiming your life. Remember; there are two kinds of pain; one kind says that your body is breaking apaprt and you are losing valuable parts of your life. The other says that you are rebuilding your body as well as your future; you aree reclaiming what is righfully yours that arthritis took away."

Amen to that, Tim!
 
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