This is how my whole first year went!
TKR Has anyone had a nerve ablation post tkr?
- Thread starter Vida
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Vida
post-grad
@Jockette
I am so lucky. Since 2012 I have been through a complex thr, a mastectomy, chemo and rads, four reconstruction related surgeries, an oophorectomy and a vertebroplasty in June after I fell on New Year’s Day. Then I had to decide quickly in November whether or not to do the knee, which I had put off since 2013. So my husband has been, and continues to be, a true saint. He found me in a ball tonight and said the exact same thing about getting through it together, he has continually said this throughout all my medical drama. I am grateful but still feel guilty that he carries so much while I take ongoing advantage of our wonderful free, Canadian health care system.
I am so lucky. Since 2012 I have been through a complex thr, a mastectomy, chemo and rads, four reconstruction related surgeries, an oophorectomy and a vertebroplasty in June after I fell on New Year’s Day. Then I had to decide quickly in November whether or not to do the knee, which I had put off since 2013. So my husband has been, and continues to be, a true saint. He found me in a ball tonight and said the exact same thing about getting through it together, he has continually said this throughout all my medical drama. I am grateful but still feel guilty that he carries so much while I take ongoing advantage of our wonderful free, Canadian health care system.
It’s hard not to feel guilty when we don’t feel well enough to “do our part” but I’m sure he knows you are not having fun in these situations, and, you would do the same for him in similar circumstances. You have been through a lot. You are another wonderful warrior, enduring these situations and circumstances.
Sks1997
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patriciad
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@Vida. You’ve been through so much more than most of us - your strength and resilience are really inspiring. Your body has been in healing mode for quite a lengthy time so maybe it will take time to overcome all the inflammation that comes with knee surgery. I so admire you for going ahead with the TKR after all the other medical challenges you had gone through. You need to rest that knee and that amazing body of yours and pity party any time you need - we are all here tissues in hand. Sending virtual hugs and positive Vibes.
Anniefannie
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Thank you so much. How sweet you are. You had me in tears. xxoo
Rubyroo
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Vida
post-grad
Wow, so much kindness, good sense and support from a group of lovely strangers. Fortunately I aced all the other medical stuff but this one might just have been a bridge too far. I could have put it off ……if I was prepared go to back to the end of the list again and wait yet another year. I have been doing everything possible to put it off since 2014. The lines are longer today as hospitals everywhere have cancelled electives due to COVID pressures. So I am extremely grateful that I have a great OS who did my thr and knows my challenges. He has given me the opportunity to go into my 70s in pretty good shape. Now its up to me to tap into some patience and be gentle with myself.
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Vida
post-grad
An amazing moment today. I got halfway down a steep set of stairs in the house, one I’d been avoiding since surgery, when I realized I was doing it reciprocally, without pain. Magic. But I certainly won’t be pushing it.
Catalien45
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Hi, @Vida .. I just now got caught up on your posts, and am sorry that you’ve been having a rough patch. And glad to see your Friday post! Truly, you have been through more than many of us, and, I think @patriciad had a very good point. Your body has been through a lot of healing, & you might be a bit slower than some. Some of the best advice given to me was from my older sister;( she has given me several such bits of wisdom through the years, that I still remember & use). She was 80 in October, & had had toe surgery. She got up in the night, & fainted, breaking several vertebrae in her back, and had a concussion. At one point, she expressed her frustration to her wise old family Dr. he told her, “ if you have just a LITTLE improvement most days, that’s progress.” I really called this into memory regularly after my infection & cleanout surgery. And I relate completely to your wanting to cry. I felt that way several times in the hospital, & stifled it. I didn’t want to appear weak in front of my wonderful nurses... they were so understaffed & overworked with the Pandemic situation, and taking such good care of me & others. Finally, after I got home, one day, I just let it out. I’m a pretty upbeat person generally, so it was soon over, but it felt good to do it. And, my big sister’s advice , as it often has, served me well. Some of my progress is still slower than I’d like, but, it is there. Just take your time, & continue to take care of that wonderful 70 year old body. I’m 77, & planning to watch our 6 1/2 year old grandson grow up, so I relate to that too. Aren’t our bodies a wonder sometimes, with all they get us through. And congratulations on that stair victory! That’s a big one.
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Vida
post-grad
@Catalien45 If that isn’t the most perfect, thoughtful reply. You are absolutely right. I have just kept on going for years, without thinking too much about the cumulative effect of all this medical stuff. As a rule I am not given to self pity: I don’t even think I cried once during the cancer marathon. So I am surprised how emotional I’ve felt post tkr. On the plus side I am constantly grateful that I have access to great health care, delivered by truly dedicated professionals. And to gain wisdom from wonderful, wise humans like yourself and others who respond with such thoughtfulness. Much love.
Well I can't possibly top what these wonderful ladies have already said so I'll just say I agree with them, pamper yourself and give yourself a break.
I also think your body has been through so much with all of your surgeries and illnesses that this final surgery is taking longer to recover from than it normally might. Take care, @Vida , we are here for you, both the ups and the downs.
I also think your body has been through so much with all of your surgeries and illnesses that this final surgery is taking longer to recover from than it normally might. Take care, @Vida , we are here for you, both the ups and the downs.
Patience was the most difficult tool for me to pull from the arsenal and the most effective.
Indeed! (cue John Mayer ... well maybe not
)
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Vida
post-grad
@hawk2go Thanks for the laugh! My body is definitely no wonderland. With so much removed or replaced, I will soon be completely bionic. Am considering leaving what’s left to science.
In the department of adolescent medical humour: when my surgeon was demonstrating the knee massage technique designed to squeeze fluid up from calf to mid thigh, he said, and I kid you not, “….be sure to tell your husband to stop right there because I’ve noticed that guys always to want to end the massage higher up.” Not a titter from either myself or his assistant, although she and I locked eyes over our masks. Epic fail.
In the department of adolescent medical humour: when my surgeon was demonstrating the knee massage technique designed to squeeze fluid up from calf to mid thigh, he said, and I kid you not, “….be sure to tell your husband to stop right there because I’ve noticed that guys always to want to end the massage higher up.” Not a titter from either myself or his assistant, although she and I locked eyes over our masks. Epic fail.
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Talk about inappropriate bedside manner. Whoops.
OP
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Vida
post-grad
Hi all. I am now at 11 weeks and trying to be patient. All of a sudden I am struggling with pain at night. I was told in the hospital that it was ok to sleep however was comfortable….. even on my operated side. While I cannot routinely sleep on my back, I managed to do it for the first 10 days, thanks in no small part to opiates. I cannot sleep on my non operated side as I was left with zero padding after four hip surgeries and finally a thr. The entire leg goes to sleep within minutes. So I have no option but to spend most of the night on my operated side. I have tried every pillow combination known to man but as I do more during the day, the night pain worsens. I have also rubbed everything imaginable onto the right side of the knee, where the compression against the mattress is worse. Does this night pain eventually recede? I am exhausted after four straight nights tossing and turning and getting three hours sleep.
glidefloss
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Hi @Vida , I'm also 11 weeks post-op and only in the last week have I been able to sleep on my operated side for extended periods of time ... without paying a price for doing so. Before that the knee would, within 15 minutes or so, start reminding me that it didn't like bearing side weight. Hopefully you'll start getting relief as well.
Hang in there!
Hang in there!
patriciad
senior
It does get easier with time - yes that four letter word again. After recovering from my first knee replacement surgery I found that even my new high quality pillow top mattress felt like concrete after a busy day so I invested in a 4” cool foam mattress topper and have never looked back. It would work wonders for your hips. I have subsequently bought them for every bed I might sleep in - including the spare room bed at my son’s where I stay weekly. So having that already in place this time I naturally turned onto my side one night and woke up in the morning panicked I might have hurt the new knee- always something to worry us isn’t there?
An expensive mattress topper might not be a practical solution but what about trying some soft foam from a craft store just under your side of the bed for now. Good sleep makes a huge difference in recovery.
An expensive mattress topper might not be a practical solution but what about trying some soft foam from a craft store just under your side of the bed for now. Good sleep makes a huge difference in recovery.
Catalien45
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Hi, Vida. I’m so sorry you’re having such a hard time with pain right now. I’m also a side-sleeper. It took me some time to get used to that back- sleeping! I generally sleep on my left side anyway, but used to, flip to the right ( TKR side). But that does hurt when I do it now. My thighs hurt. I do wonder if the very cold temps have any effect? Our current temperature shows -2, & it is snowing. . I’ve found that if I keep a rather heavy blanket folded, over my upper leg ( over our very warm comforter!), it does help some, & I don’t have as much pain in my thighs. I wonder if possibly putting a layer of thick foam under your hip might help some? We got some thick foam from Amazon ( I believe it was 3” thick) when I was still sleeping on the couch, & it helped me get more comfortable. I sure feel bad for you, & hope you get some relief soon. Btw, I think I am about 12-14 weeks from my second, cleanout surgery, & am sleeping better now that I am in our bed, although my little Fitbit watch doesn’t show the best of sleep . I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts a lot. Take care..
Catalien45
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Ooh! I just saw @patriciad ’s post! That sounds even better than my suggestion! Or, instead of the 3” foam, maybe 4”? Btw, mine was 2 ft x7 foot. When our son & his. girlfriend got in from Germany, our daughter & grandson spent the first night here, as it was a little late for them to make the hour drive back to their home after picking up the kids at the airport. It made a great pallet on the floor for him....he Loved it, especially diving onto it. So it was also great 6-year old entertainment!
