TKR Cocopug's TKR recovery

[Cocopug]

Had the surgery yesterday and all went very well the surgeon told me. Home today and taking the painkillers as advised. Walking up and down stairs with crutches and have a brace for nighttime to hopefully keep the knee straight and avoid a second op to break up scar tissue from all my previous surgeries. Leg is very swollen and bruised but the wound dressing isn’t leaking any blood. It’s sore of course but manageable at the moment with various pain meds. I am sleeping on my side which is more comfortable for me. I couldn’t do this with the previous surgery.

 

[benne68]

Welcome to the Healing Side, @Cocopug! Glad to read that you are home and resting.

Even though this is not your first TKR, I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines as a refresher. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind we are all different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

KNEE RECOVERY GUIDELINES

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary.

If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.

2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
don't overwork.
3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these
the BoneSmart view on exercise
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for TKRs
The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

Please let us know if you have any questions!

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[mystikfairy61]

Welcome to the other side. I just arrived on Monday the 21st so not far ahead of you. I have been trying to figure out the pillow all the way supporting the op leg so I can lay on my side but I haven't quite gotten there. Sounds like your recovery is starting on a positive note. Hope it continues.

 

[Cocopug]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I honestly have to say that this knee (left) already feels much better in 3 days since surgery than my first knee (right) did.
I slept on my side the second night with the pillow between my knees with the brace on at night and without the brace for my afternoon nap. I’m amazed myself with how well it seems to be going.
I sleep on my left side so the newly operated leg is on the bed.

 

[sistersinhim]

When I was finally able to sleep on my side again, I kept my non-operated leg almost straight and on the bed. I put a pillow under my tkr leg with it bent as much as was comfortable. I was able to sleep like this for a few hours at first. Before long I was able to have my tkr leg on the bed and the old leg bent and above it. It is a trial-and-error thing. Find what works for you.

 

[Cocopug]

Didn’t sleep a wink last night. My stomach is really suffering from all the pain medication I think. It’s all very unpleasant to say the least. I have decided to just manage on paracetamol and icepacks.
It’s one week today since the knee replacement and although the leg is still very swollen and stiff it seems to be less painful. Feeling a little down in the dumps the last two days, where as I was feeling so positive earlier. Just to add that I also got thrush from the antibiotics I was given after the surgery. I bought over the counter medicine for that. It sometimes seems a lot to deal with when you feel so tired.

 

[Axx72]

Those first 4 weeks are a bear to get by. I am still up, early in the morning with knee aches. Sleep can be an elusive quarry when your body is under attack by knee trauma, foreign implanted objects and all sorts of drugs for symptoms and more drugs to counteract other drug side effects.

Everyday it will get a little better, even though it feels like the progress is immeasurable. Recovery is such an up-and-down game. Two steps forward, 1 Step back. Eyes on the prize, don't give up, you will get there.

 

[sistersinhim]

My stomach is really suffering from all the pain medication I think.

We have found that eating foods with high protein helps to protect the stomach. Protein digests slower so it stays in the stomach longer.

 

[mendogal]

It IS a lot to deal with!!! I think for many of us it was sleep disturbance as much as, sometimes even more than, pain and gastrointestinal issues.... Lack of sleep makes the other stuff worse, and makes us less resilient.
Nap as much as possible, wherever you can get comfortable.
For me, after trial and error with over the counter meds and supplements, what finally worked was as herbal sleep tea blend that includes valerian, along with a low dose (3 mg) sustained release melatonin, taken an hour before bedding down, and spending that hour in a low light situation so the melatonin would be effective.

 

[Cocopug]

Thank you for the advice, funnily enough I’ve just had a sleepy time tea.

 

[Cocopug]

Those first 4 weeks are a bear to get by. I am still up, early in the morning with knee aches. Sleep can be an elusive quarry when your body is under attack by knee trauma, foreign implanted objects and all sorts of drugs for symptoms and more drugs to counteract other drug side effects.

Everyday it will get a little better, even though it feels like the progress is immeasurable. Recovery is such an up-and-down game. Two steps forward, 1 Step back. Eyes on the prize, don't give up, you will get there.

Thank you for your kind words and support

 

[Cocopug]

Had a painful night unfortunately. Had to take a short working oxy because I was having a tough go of it pain wise. I iced and elevated because I noticed my lower leg was retaining fluid.
As people say it’s 2 steps forward and sometimes 1 step back. I will get there but, my positivity wains at 3 in the morning.

 

[Jaycey]

@Cocopug The early hours are tough. Hope things ease for you soon! Still very early days!

 

[Mutti3]

@Cocopug
Totally agree the first couple of days after knee replacement are terrible. Take your oxy when in pain.If the pain is under control, the function , sleep , mental health improves. You are only 8 days postop. Give yourself grace.
Had my LTKR in 2017. At the 4 weeks check up, discussing pain management with the OS. I told him of concern of taking too much! He kindly look at me and said ’ take the pain medication, that’s why it was ordered!”
Also agree the weepies always show up in the wee hour in the morning. Keep positive.!

 

[Tentcamper]

@Cocopug That first and even second week was tough. I was a hot mess and had issues with..well...everything. Make sure to look back every day and notice the little improvements. Even just eating without stomach issues will look huge. Set milestones rather than dates for larger accomplishments. I thought I'd be driving in two weeks. Yeah, right. I couldn't even get into the car! Give yourself some grace. Keep posting so we know how you are progressing.

 

[Cocopug]

@Cocopug That first and even second week was tough. I was a hot mess and had issues with..well...everything. Make sure to look back every day and notice the little improvements. Even just eating without stomach issues will look huge. Set milestones rather than dates for larger accomplishments. I thought I'd be driving in two weeks. Yeah, right. I couldn't even get into the car! Give yourself some grace. Keep posting so we know how you are progressing.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I will keep posting

 

[Cocopug]

I had a better nights sleep. Slept about 4 hours in one go.

 

[mendogal]

Oooh that's a relief!!!! If you can combine it with a nice nap during the day, you'll be ok!

 

[Tentcamper]

had a better nights sleep. Slept about 4 hours in one go.

There you go! The accomplishment for the day!

 

[sistersinhim]

Yay, for a solid 4 hours of sleep!