TKR Hedgehog On The Mend

[hedgehog]

Hello all!

I’m 6 weeks post-surgery as of today and wanted to share an update.

Each day I’m so thankful for being on the other side of my replacement and more importantly, nearly pain free for the first time in years. I have my 6 week post-op check up on Thursday and expect it to be non-eventful based on my recovery and progress. I fretted for months about what the surgery and recovery would be like. Looking back, I know now that I didn’t fully appreciate, maybe couldn’t appreciate, what it would feel like to not be in pain.

I’m genuinely enjoying PT and for the first time in a long time am appreciating that muscle ache that comes from a good workout (call me crazy...haha). They measured my ROM today for the first time since my intake and I was at 138. I am still striving to improve my balance and have yet to start multi-directional movement that will hopefully help lead me back to the tennis court someday. Today was a HUGE day....I HOPPED in physical therapy! It was only a little skip hop type of step, but it was exciting! My movements were stable, I felt in control and most importantly, it did not hurt!!! I can see that light at the end of the tunnel. Even though it will be many months for a final and full recovery, it was a big milestone.

I returned to work two weeks ago - after building up to being back full time since the third week after surgery. I still get fatigued but am thankful that the terrible memory issues and brain fog are behind me. Upon waking up every day, I assess my energy and comfort level in terms of swelling, stiffness, etc. A few times I’ve gone in later or cut the day short, giving myself extra time to rest, ice and elevate.

I continue to lurk frequently here on BoneSmart. Such a great community and full of so many personalities. It is hard to feel relatable and fully accepted. There are an abundance of threads by people are facing truly challenging steps back to mobility and pain free lives.

Wishing everyone here the speediest and most pain free recoveries possible.

Hedgehog

 

[hedgehog]

Hedgehog back again!

Had a RTKR on May 17. Recovery has been great (and honestly better than the LPKR 6 years ago).

I plan to search the knee recovery forums for info, but I’m wondering, for those it’s relevant for, how long were you off of work?

I will be 5 weeks tomorrow and while I’ve been working since week 2 (computer work from home), I returned to the office last week (3.5 weeks post surgery) and am really finding it difficult in terms of overall energy levels. I’ve been off pain meds since day 5 except for the occasional tramadol boost at bed time (1-3 times a week) but it’s just really wearing me down.

Any thoughts on when I could expect to be back in the office all day, every day?

Happy healing to all the other May surgeries!

 

[Jockette]

@hedgehog Hi and Welcome back! Here’s a refresher course for you:

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are 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: The 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

2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

​

If you want to use something to help heal the incision, ​

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.​

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​

6. Access to these pages on the website

​

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

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 the 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 the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

 

[mendogal]

This is a major surgery; as a result, on a cellular level our bodies simply doesn't care if we want or need to go to work: it's going to grab as much available energy as it can to heal itself and restore function.

We often recommend, when possible, 12 weeks off with a phased return.

For return to work at 10-12 weeks as patient feels able, the following schedules are suggested

week 1: Tues, Thurs 5hrs
week 2: Mon, Wed, Fri 5hrs
week 3: Tues, Thurs 8-9hrs
week 4: Mon, Wed, Fri 8-9hrs
week 5: normal duties

The thing to remember really is that so often when people think of going back to work they just think of the work.

They forget
having to get up earlier in the morning
getting washed/showered, putting on the 'face',
getting dressed
getting a fast breakfast and eating it in about 5 mins instead of casually
getting out the car
driving to work
walking from car to office
actually being up and about and unable to take intermittent proper rests during the day
walking from office back to car
driving home
putting car away
making an evening meal
probably feeding pets and/or others
washing up and then finding it's almost time for bed!

All of that is pretty much equivalent to a day's work on it's own but then you've got to do the day's work as well!

HIPS
for a full time office/teacher/light worker as shown
for a part time office/light worker could possibly manage this over 2-3 weeks
depending upon hours normally worked
for a manual/heavy worker longer, 8 weeks perhaps

KNEES
for a full time office/teacher/light worker as shown
for a part time office/light worker could possibly manage this over 3-4 weeks depending upon hours normally worked
for a manual/heavy worker longer, 12 weeks perhaps
Bilateral knees, minimum of 12 weeks for all.

In preparation for your return, whatever your job, you might find it helpful to stock yourself with some coach's instant ice packs. You just crush the capsule inside the pack and a chemical reaction makes the pack go nice and cold - and it lasts for a couple of hours! No mess, you can keep them in your handbag or pocket. Very convenient and invaluable for a sneaky 5 minute ice during work! And they're fairly cheap.

Also remember that there is no such thing as "just" a desk job, like it's simpler/easier than a manual job. Well, physically it might be but it has it's own set of problems the principle one of which is called "the movie sign".

Read this for more information Knee pain after sitting for a while

 

[hedgehog]

This is a major surgery; as a result, on a cellular level our bodies simply doesn't care if we want or need to go to work: it's going to grab as much available energy as it can to heal itself and restore function.

We often recommend, when possible, 12 weeks off with a phased return.

Thanks for this info…even though I’ve been through this once it would seem I’m being way too aggressive.

 

[Layla]

Remember also that well meaning colleagues, that never experienced joint replacement and don't understand the ups and downs of the healing process, may think that because you're back... YOU'RE BACK 100% and that's just not that way it goes. You may have experienced this already. Go slow in these early weeks back so there is a clear understanding that you are "easing" back into work as your energy increases and discomfort / pain decreases. Best Wishes!
@hedgehog

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!
How are you doing these days? We haven’t heard from you in a bit and I hope you’re enjoying steady progress and increased stamina with each passing week.
Hope to hear from you soon!
@hedgehog