TKR finally! i’ve been waiting for this for years.

[nightowlblues]

hello all! thank you all for your good wishes. i had the surgery this morning, the surgeon didn’t think my injury was an issue and was ok to proceed. he did say it will affect my healing a bit as it swells up but i’ll be icing and elevating so it shouldn’t be too bad.

i had the spinal block and also a nerve block so i woke up initially with zero pain, which was nice. that only lasted a few hours though and then the pain kicked in, but they gave me 2 oxycodone and some tylenol. i’m staying overnight because i have lupus and a heart issue so they’re just being cautious.

i can’t wait to go home, these hospital beds are so uncomfortable

i’m just so relieved that after waiting years and years for this surgery, and then the stress of can i or can i not have the surgery, here i am on the other side. it’s so surreal and when i first woke up in the recovery room i thought it was a dream.

 

[Layla]

i’m just so relieved that after waiting years and years for this surgery, and then the stress of can i or can i not have the surgery, here i am on the other side. it’s so surreal and when i first woke up in the recovery room i thought it was a dream.

Aww, I am so happy for you! Sweet relief with that pre-op anxiety behind you. Hopefully your pain is well managed and you get some peaceful rest overnight. Safe travels home tomorrow! Let us know how you’re doing once you’re settled into your recovery nest at home. Best Wishes for your comfort.

KNEE RECOVERY GUIDELINES

As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.

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.

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

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. 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.

 

[nightowlblues]

thank you, layla. this site has been a source of comfort

 

[Jaycey]

@nightowlblues It's Tuesday morning here in the UK and I am delighted that the first post I read here on BoneSmart is yours from the other side! Well done!

Rest, ice and elevate and work with staff to get your pain management cocktail just right before going home.

You are on your way!

 

[nightowlblues]

thank you jaycey!

 

[benne68]

Welcome to Recovery, @nightowlblues! Keep us posted.

 

[InkedMarie]

Hi @nightowlblues ! Glad you made it. Are you home now or still at the hospital? Ice & elevate. Stay hydrated. When you get up to use,the restroom, walk a bit around your home. Get sleep wherever, whenever you can.

Marie

 

[nightowlblues]

hello, i got home early this afternoon. i had to clear the stair test for PT because i need to go up 6 steps to get to the main level of my house, but it went pretty well. i was so sore and exhausted by the time i got home but i still haven’t slept more than 2 hours since surgery. i know from many posts i’ve read here that this is to be expected.

i’m settled into my recliner with my ice machine cuff and some pretty good pain meds from the doctor. my knee has swelled up so much since being home, and the bruise is really spreading. i’m uncomfortable but icing and elevating and doing what i can to stay on top of the pain.

thanks for checking in on me. i’m so glad i found all of you

 

[Jaycey]

@nightowlblues Ice is your friend! Ice as often as you can to get control of that swelling.

Yes, sleep issues are all a part of this recovery. Nap during the day when you can.

All will ease with time and patience.

 

[benne68]

Glad to read you are back home, @nightowlblues. I think we all recover better in our own surroundings. Ice and elevate, elevate and ice. That's the way to do it.

 

[nightowlblues]

hello all. i’m at 9 days post op (i think, i’m not sure if i count the surgery day.) i’m doing ok, a lot of pain obviously and the swelling is something else, my knee is so big it’s like a foreign entity. i’ve been icing and elevating and doing gentle stretches; i’m able to get my knee pretty straight but the bend is difficult because of the swelling, but my physical therapist isn’t concerned right now which was a relief. she even said “it’s early days” which is a phrase i’ve seen here a lot.

i had seen a lot of people say they lost their appetite even for favorite foods, and wow is that true. i’m making sure i get good protein and calcium but it’s a struggle. also i’ve been trying to binge watch one of my favorite shows, the walking dead, and i can’t get past the first few episodes, it’s such a chore to watch.

the sleep…i can’t even remember what it is to sleep! i had prepared myself because of everything i’d seen about it, but it’s hard to be prepared for that. i get tiny shards of sleep at night with hours awake in between. i’m trying to nap as much as i can but even that is elusive. it’s definitely taxing on the body and mind.

the worst thing, to me, is the feeling of being trapped. that feeling of i’ve gone ahead and done this and there’s no way out. i’m just taking this one day at a time and staying as positive as i can that the end result will be worth all of this.

it’s funny, i spent the 2 weeks before my surgery scared that i wouldn’t be able to have it, because of that injury, and now i’ve had more than a few moments of wishing i could undo this. the mind is a funny thing

 

[Jockette]

Be sure to read through the Recovery Guidelines, especially these articles:
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

Hang in there,

 

[mendogal]

Hang in there, it's slow but it gets better!

Early in my recovery from my first knee in January, near despair from lack of sleep (and not yet aware of this site), I totaled up the elevation, the walk every hour, the icing, the quad sets, etc and realized It's A Full Time Job. That helped me reframe it.

Yeah, three weeks out from my second knee, I can't focus well on a narrative book or movie. It's magazine articles, a short concert film, online jigsaw puzzles (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!)... Distraction is your friend along with meds, ice, and elevation!

 

[WFD]

the worst thing, to me, is the feeling of being trapped. that feeling of i’ve gone ahead and done this and there’s no way out.

Yes, this.

 

[nightowlblues]

i can’t believe it, i got 6 hours 45 minutes of continuous sleep last night. i woke at some point to take pain pills but it didn’t even register on my fitbit, or in my head.

something i’ve been worried about is my bandage, it’s one of those water-resistant ones. my OS told me i don’t need to use the glad press and seal but don’t dawdle in the shower either. however the nurses all told me it’s best to use the plastic wrap because it makes the shower easier as you’re not stressing about the water running on it. i haven’t showered yet (i’ve been using sponge-bath wipes that i used a lot before surgery as i lost mobility,) my sister is coming over to help me today. should i use the press and seal?

i’m worried because my skin is super thin and sensitive and i’m scared for when i get the bandage taken off at my 2 week appointment next monday. i’m scared they’ll pull off a layer of skin with the bandage. do they just rip off the bandage like a bandaid, super quick? so my question is, sorry…i’m a bit wordy, do i leave the bandage as is and shower and maybe it’ll start loosening the tape? or cover it? also any words of experience regarding getting that bandage pulled off would be helpful.

i’m going to try to include a pic of my bandage. let’s see if that works

 

[nightowlblues]

ok wow i didn’t mean to post such a big pic. mods, please fix it

 

[benne68]

Don't worry about the bandage removal. I had exactly the same kind covering my incision and -- believe or not -- it came off painlessly! (Easier than some band-aids I've used. ).

I did use plastic wrap around mine for that first shower. I wanted to just sit and enjoy the water raining down on me and didn't want to have to worry about getting the bandage too damp. Honestly though, if your surgeon said it's okay to do without -- go for it!

Enjoy that shower!

 

[mendogal]

Don't worry about the bandage removal. I had exactly the same kind covering my incision and -- believe or not -- it came off painlessly! (Easier than some band-aids I've used. ).

I did use plastic wrap around mine for that first shower. I wanted to just sit and enjoy the water raining down on me and didn't want to have to worry about getting the bandage too damp. Honestly though, if your surgeon said it's okay to do without -- go for it!

Enjoy that shower!

I just had the underlying glue stick off my second knee today. My experience on both knees is that this over-bandage is FINE in the shower - I washed the ankle and foot but just let the light running water do its thing on the leg itself. As one who has terrible skin reactions to tape and standard band aids... this bandage removal was painless for me too.

 

[nightowlblues]

that’s great to know. thank you both @benne68 @mendogal

 

[nightowlblues]

day 11:

i went to PT today. i really like my therapist, she’s not the one i usually have but if my regular one isn’t clicking for me i’m going to switch to her. she also is trained as a lymphatic message therapist and that could come in handy at some point. we worked on my gait, which is very wonky and had been for years, and some seated elliptical machine stuff. she then measured my ROM, being gentle the whole time. i’m at 85 flexion and 5 extension. she’s sending the numbers to the PA who i’m seeing monday for my PO exam and to get the bandage off.

my shower yesterday was heaven but i have to go down 12 steps to get to it and then back up to get to the main living floor, so i was sore and exhausted afterward. i’m really grateful for our walk-in shower, it made it a lot easier.

today i’m going to try napping in my bed, which i miss so much. i’m a side sleeper so i don’t know how it’ll go laying on my back but i’m going to give it a good try. i’m getting sick of my recliner but have a feeling i’ll be using it to sleep for a while yet.

i got my own breakfast today and that felt amazing, giving me a tiny glimmer of light in that being trapped feeling.