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TKR Dr. vs Ins on pain meds

Day 15 - having had quite a few surgeries, you'd think I would remember how bad I am at recovery, and yet....

I have had it with not being able to do what I want, I miss being with my farm animals, I miss the 101 things I do. I don't miss my paying job at all, but am already stressing about having to go back to work in 4 weeks. I am totally freaked out at the idea that I have another two weeks before I may feel significantly better.

On the plus side, saw the new PT yesterday and really liked her. I actually felt good when we were done, but 30 minutes later was pretty miserable, took pain meds without crackers, threw up, and spent the afternoon wishing I had never done this.

Today is another day, however, and at least I am not working!!!
 
Going back to work at 6 weeks is going to be very difficult. My OS suggested 12 weeks off teaching, but I thought I could recover in 8 weeks. Guess when I went back...12 weeks! And I had to go back just mornings at 12 weeks so I could come home to ice and elevate in the afternoons. The energy drain is still very apparent at 6 weeks. What type of job do you do?
 
I am a technology analyst, so not physically demanding, but quite mentally demanding. My dr has recommended 8 weeks because of the issues with my "good" leg slowing down recovery, but the insurance company is already lobbying to get me back at 4 weeks.
 
ks1960 said:
My dr has recommended 8 weeks because of the issues with my "good" leg slowing down recovery, but the insurance company is already lobbying to get me back at 4 weeks.
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It sounds like you have been around this arena a time or two, so I am sure you understand that there is nothing that insurance company can do to change that doctor's decision. Here in California it is an automatic 12 weeks for a total knee replacement. I do very physically "un-demanding" work too - but I commute 106 miles per day. And sitting with no place to raise this leg is not something I am going to let anyone push me into. I need to be back at the first of the year - but I will make that decision as I get closer - not right now.
I am so sorry about the vomiting episode yesterday. I hate to vomit and with the exception of carrying my kids I rarely vomit. But pain meds with no crackers will take me to that point. And now, for some reason, coffee is not sitting too well on my tummy - and I love coffee. But with this surgery my stomach has taken on a mind of it's own and it says no coffee right now!!! I have basically lost 90% of my appetite as well. I need to lose 100 pounds - so maybe this will do the trick!!! I will keep praying for you @ks1960. You sure have been traveling a rocky road and I will pray that you hit nice even pavement soon!!!
 
Any job, physically demanding or not, will be painful and exhausting at only 6 weeks. My OS said I could return to work whenever I felt I was ready. I went back to work at 10 weeks at a physically demanding job where I am on my feet all day. I only worked 4-6 hours a day the first week but even with the reduced hours the first week was tough. It slowly got better after that. I hope you can take more time off.
 
The trouble with sitting behind a desk is that your knee will still need to be elevated through much of the day. At 8 weeks letting it sit down is going to lead to additional swelling. If you can ice while working that'll be helpful. The other issues have nothing to do with the knee, but can be problematic. Lack of stamina and ability to concentrate can be bothersome. I had no issues with concentrating at 12 weeks, but did have issues at 6-8 weeks. It took so much energy to get ready for work and get there, I was tired at 9:00am! If you can manage a phased return it may help to start back to work slowly.
 
KarriB is exactly right. Those "undemanding" jobs can be worse on a new knee than one where you are afforded a little up-and-around time during the day. Please don't go back to work too soon. And when you do go, make every effort to phase in your time at work at the beginning. I suggest you start now to enlist the help of your surgeon to work with your insurance company about a return date, if that's an issue. I'm assuming this is some type of worker's insurance that covers your income when you are not able to work, right? If so, you know it's going to be their sole mission in life to get you back to work so they don't have to pay anymore. Don't let them get to you!
 
Day 17 - saw my surgeon on Wed (day 15), and am not scheduled again until Feb 10. That seems like a long time - does that sound normal?

Got the staples out, which was a relief (albeit creepy), and pain script stepped down from oxycodone to hydrocodone, so we'll see how that goes.
 
Some surgeons see their patients again at about 6 weeks post-op, but some don't.
My surgeon saw me when I had the sutures removed, then again at 6 weeks and not again until a year after the TKR.
So, Feb 10th sounds OK.
You can always phone before then, if you are concerned about anything.

You may need to phone for more prescription pain medications, or else see your regular doctor.

With this recovery, you tend to just keep on improving slowly, so there's not much point is seeing your surgeon frequently.
 
KarriB said:
Going back to work at 6 weeks is going to be very difficult. My OS suggested 12 weeks off teaching, but I thought I could recover in 8 weeks.
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I went back to the classroom at eight weeks---which was much too early. I changed the way I taught, parked closer to the school, had fellow faculty members run errands for me---and I iced and elevated during my lunch and planning periods---and it still caused me to be stiff, sore, and extremely tired by the end of the day.

The job was not physically demanding, but we forget the logistics of going to work---getting up, fixing breakfast, making a lunch, getting dressed---taking public transportation or driving and parking to the workplace, and reversing it all at the end of the day.

Please take as long as you can and phase in your time at your work---I paid the price for it, and, in looking back, I can see now that it slowed my recovery down.
 
I am struggling with this too so thank you for sharing!! So sorry your insurance is being unreasonable. I hope you are able to get it figured out because you do not need to be in pain whilst healing. You deserve to have the tools (pain meds) you need to get though this tough recovery. I feel like there is a message out there that if you need or want pain pills you must be weak or addictive in nature!!
This surgery has taught me a lot about trusting myself and relying on my perceptions first. Good luck and as others said ice and elevate and know people out here are sending good thoughts your way.


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If your doc won't give you 12 weeks off, try for as many weeks as you can get & a phased return. Like others have said, the pain and swelling is bad enough, but your concentration won't be up to snuff yet either.
 
Day 20 - thank goodness I went to read the post-op depression thread. I am just feeling at my wit's end with the unrelenting pain (although it is much much better, it is always there), the inactivity, and the incredible frustration over wanting my life back. Wondering how I am ever going to make it thru 12 weeks or more of this.

My activity level is pretty good, but I am just so tired all the time. And recognizing I really have no grounds for complaint just makes me feel ungrateful and whiney. Ugh - I may have to paint a big "it is getting better" on my wall !!!!
 
This is temporary, in a few months you'll be back to most of your activities. This time 3 years ago I passed time by Christmas shopping on line (be careful of pain meds while shopping) , watching Christmas movies and found a way to wrap presents even with an imbolizer on my leg. Have someone pick up Christmas cards for you, addressing/signing will give you something to do.
 
ks1960 said:
My activity level is pretty good, but I am just so tired all the time. And recognizing I really have no grounds for complaint just makes me feel ungrateful and whiney. Ugh - I may have to paint a big "it is getting better" on my wall !!!!
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It is a long recovery--there is no getting around that. I napped every day for many weeks. But yes, it is getting better.
We all have had our little "pity parties" at times.
 
Feeling tired all the time is part of the Energy drain for TKRs
It's only 3 weeks since you had this major surgery and almost all of your body's energy is still being directed towards healing your knee. There isn't much left for anything else.

Although it's annoying, this tiredness is really a good thing, because your knee needs you to spend most of your time resting, not rushing around being active. I know it's a big trial of your patience, but try to look on it as working hard to give your knee the very best chance of having a good recovery.
 
Ks1960 hang in there sister! It will get better. Do you have an ice machine? Mine has been running 24/7 since my surgery and most of the time my toes are above my hip and heart. Proper Elevation and ice help. I'll send prayers your way. My journey has been easy my heart goes out to you.


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I used the ice machine the first two weeks. In the end, I have really preferred the old school ice pack with the screw on top to everything else. I have it on almost all the time when I am sitting.

It was a great morning - did a set of exercises, got a load of laundry done, changed my sheets, processed a set of wool dryer balls and dyed some yarn (I have a small business for my sheep wool), made some product labels, ate a delicious sandwich my husband bought me - nice to have an appetite!! Just having a bot of a lye down, and thinking I might ask my husband to drive me out to visit the sheep this afternoon.
 
Oh, Kate, for not yet one month away from major surgery, you did a lot!
In fact, it's much more activity than we recommend.
Please read this article again and check that you are not doing too much:
Activity progression for TKRs
 
Try to spread those activities out more. Don't want all the fun in one day, right? :heehee: Or an angry knee.
 
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