Bilateral TKR BTKR Week 14

[referee54]

One thing I hope I don't get hooked on the pain meds.

Many of us, myself included, were worried about the same thing. My OS said to take the pain meds and to not worry---I was taking them for a specific reason, and that I would know when I did not need them anymore.

He was correct.

 

[referee54]

was in a great mood when I first came home but now I getting a lil sad maybe depressed.

Did you read those articles that Jamie posted for you? Here is the article that will help you understand it.
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it

just don't know what's going on with me.

You are just a tad over a week from very traumatic surgery. your body---and your mind---are still reeling from the trauma and massive amounts of energy are being sent to the surgical knee. Compound that with the pain meds, and you will have many ups and downs.

You just strap yourself into the roller coaster ride---the ups and the downs---the good days and the not-so-good days, and go for the ride. you will reach the end of the ride---fully recovered---in a while (most are longer rides than we would like them to be.)

Do not fight it---I gave up trying to figure out why my knees were not cooperating---they just did their own thing.

Recovery is not a gentle curve going upward---it is more like the stock market charts---it does go up, but it has a few down turns, too. You just ride it out.

 

[chestnc]

Hi, I am new here. So glad to hear you are doing well. What happened you decided to do both at same time? Was one knee just as bad as the other? I know others do both knees together, but I think that would frighten me. I was frightened enough and was having so much palpitations that I could barely get to get this knee done. Many blessings to you and for a smooth recovery.

 

[Josephine]

A week and two days post op surgery, I am doing good getting a lil tired.

One thing I hope I don't get hooked on the pain meds.

Well, I think you need to go back to post #3 and read all the articles Jamie left for you. You did notice them, didn't you?

And I notice you haven't answered my questions either. I'm waiting!

 

[Jorettathom]

I have completely read this post and it's very helpful Thanks.

 

[Jorettathom]

I am sorry thought, I had already reply to the questions. But I will reply again.

 

[Jorettathom]

1. what are your pain levels right now? 4

2. are you still taking any pain medications, if so, what, how much (in mg please) and how often? Yes, 5/day 10 mg3. are you still icing your knee and if so how often and for how long? 2/day for 20 minutes
4. are you still elevating your knee and if so how high, how often and for how long? Yes, 5/day
5. what is the detail of your daily activities? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., exercise, light cleaning and walking with walker.

6. what kind of PT/exercises are you doing? How much and how often? Details would are required! Ankle pumps, leg lifts, knee bends, walking, Extension stretchs, Hamstring stretchs, knee extention, Short Arc Quads, straight leg raises and Ankle dorsiflexion.

 

[leejaa]

Wow, too much exercising and not enough icing and elevation at this stage. Your poor knee. Lee

 

[Jorettathom]

Sorry, for not responding, but I have read the articles. very helpful.

 

[Jorettathom]

So my PT is pushing for to much exercise. Thanks Leejaa

 

[Jorettathom]

Chestnc, I had Extreme Arthritic in both of my knees. Very, very painful.

 

[Jorettathom]

Thanks referee54, means a lot

 

[referee54]

I am glad to read that you are doing well! I, too, had a BTKR and I can remember these early days of recovery quite well.

 

[Josephine]

2. are you still taking any pain medications, if so, what, how much (in mg please) and how often? Yes, 5/day 10 mg

5mg of what?

3. are you still icing your knee and if so how often and for how long? 2/day for 20 minutes

Ice LOTS more. Any time you are resting, elevate your legs and ice for an hour, 2 hours, even longer. Ice is your best friend right now - helps with pain and swelling.

4. are you still elevating your knee and if so how high, how often and for how long? Yes, 5/day

but you haven't said how high or for how long.
You should be resting LOTS right now, spending about 2-3 hours 3 times a day resting WITH your leg elevated 'toes above nose' and WITH ice.

ankle pumps and ankle dorsiflexion ..... these are the traditional circulation exercises to prevent clots

Of these you haven't said how many and how often each day which was part of the question. Without that information it's of no use to me
leg lifts
knee bends
extension stretches
hamstring stretches
knee extension
short arc quads
straight leg raises

walking where? (outside, inside), how far, how many minutes, how many times a day.

You've left out all the details,my friend!

 

[1ELISEA]

Hello Jorettathom
I love your avatar with your family. Now that you've had your TKRs, you might find look closely at your next family photo as you may be a bit taller. We get used to walking on painful bent legs; when they are realigned back to their former straightness (hmm... is that a word?) we can reclaim lost height. Not always noticeable, but sometimes.

Hope that you have something fun planned for next year; we deserve to pamper ourselves after recovery!

 

[Jorettathom]

Thanks 1Elisea, lol as you can tell 5'2" smallest in the family . I will definitely take another photo.

 

[Jorettathom]

1. what are your pain levels right now? 4

2. are you still taking any pain medications, if so, what, how much (in mg please) and how often Oxycodone-Acetaminophen10-325 mg 5/day-3. are you still icing your knee and if so how often and for how long? 2/day for 20 minutes
4. are you still elevating your knee and if so how high, how often and for how long? Yes, I am elevating my knees for about 12” high, 5/day for 20 minutes each time.
5. what is the detail of your daily activities? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., exercise, light cleaning and walking with walker.

6. what kind of PT/exercises are you doing? How much and how often? Details would are required! Ankle pumps, leg lifts, knee bends, walking, Extension stretchs, Hamstring stretchs, knee extention, Short Arc Quads, straight leg raises and Ankle dorsiflexion. I am doing 2 sets of 10 and I am exercising 3/week. I walk for 10 minutes 2/day inside.

 

[Josephine]

Thank you! That's much more helpful. Now I can try to help you!

icing knee: 2/day for 20 minutes
Yes, I am elevating my knees for about 12” high, 5/day for 20 minutes each time.

As I said before, ice and elevate more. Any time you are sitting down, watching TV or reading, etc., have your leg up and ice. Don't time it, do it pretty much all the time. The more the better the effect on the pain and swelling.

2 sets of 10 3/week is that all at PT? You're doing none at home?
for the next 2 weeks just do all these 5 times at night and 5 times in the morning
leg lifts
knee bends
extension stretches
hamstring stretches
knee extension
short arc quads
straight leg raises

I walk for 10 minutes 2/day inside - only twice a day? You need to do it 2hrly for about 5 minutes each time

 

[Jorettathom]

Thanks, Josephine

 

[Jamie]

I am vertically challenged just as you are! I was measuring 5 feet 1 1/2 inches when I got my first TKR. It gave me a little more height. But five years later when I got my second one, I got all my height back and now I'm 5 feet 2 1/2 inches again. So......be prepared for a "growth spurt"!!!! Power to the tiny people!!!!