Become an Insider

Revision TKR Hood1980’s Revision

I get no pain relief from Tylenol unfortunately. Dilaudid and to a lesser extent ibuprofen are the only medications that seem to work for me. Pain management has been a big issue for me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I'm so sorry to hear that Tylenol doesn't work for you. It does for most people. It's a shame you don't have that option. At least you have something that is working some for you.
 
I’m getting so frustrated and depressed. I don’t know what to do. Walking is difficult and bending is near impossible without pain. [emoji24]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Your knee is only a month old. You are in the angry tissue time. What you need to be doing is icing as much as you can, along with elevating. Ice is a really good pain killer. Having so much pain is also an indicator of you doing too much. Are you following our weekly activity guide? https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/activity-progression-for-tkrs.14334/
 
sistersinhim is so right. You are still in the period where you are asking "what have I done?"

Can you get your doc to prescribe a pain med that is milder than dilaudid--I'm guessing they want you off of that one? I ask because I found a lot of my pain was what I call "achy stiffness." I'd notice I was particularly stiff when my pain meds were wearing off and it seemed like miraculously I could do more when the pain meds were on board. Not taking pain meds in order to do PT, but keeping the pain and stiffness at a fairly constant reasonable level seemed to work for me.

Oh and I was only in the 70s at 4 weeks.
 
Thank you both @sistersinhim and @kneeper for the positive encouragement. Yes, I’m definitely asking what have I done! The past week or so with my increased ADLs my non operated knee is really painful. I guess it’s been overworked for the past month and wants attention. Trying to cope.....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
That's so typical. My unoperated knee protested during my first tkr too. :(
 
Not making any progress as far as ROM goes and may have a MUA after 8 week post op appointment with OS. I’m continuing to ice, rest and elevate the majority of the day. I am off prescription pain meds, not that they provided much relief anyway. But continue to take 600mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day any my essential oil pain relief formula as needed. Sleeping 4-5 hours at night and napping during the day when I can. Having some bad days dealing with being a shut in, but am managing the best I can with my mood lifting essential oils and reaching out to friends through social media. I guess that’s enough whining for now, just wanted to stay in touch with my fellow bonesmarties!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Hi Hood!! You are not whining! It is hard to be isolated on top of all the tribulations this surgery brings. I will pray that you don't have to have the MUA! I am at three weeks post surg today, feeling OK. I am tapering my hydro at night, that's the only time I take it as that's when I am in the most discomfort. Physical therapy days I combine 600 mgs ibuprofen and 1000 mgs Tylenol. It is actually highly effective for me, I of course acknowledge the daily maximum doseage. I too use essential oils, peppermint seems to be the most soothing but I enjoy all their benefits! I really feel it helps with the swelling! Hope you have a good day today!!!
 
I, too, was alone almost all the time during my recovery. Do you know your neighbors? You might invite them over for just a few minutes. Better yet, call someone else who's shut-in. We have a few church members that need a kind word, maybe you could help out someone like that.

It's good you're taking naps. Sleep is healing and it is also a mood lifter! I also spent, and still do, hours on Bonesmart. I read tons of threads and tried to help my fellow tkrs!
 
If you don't whine at us then how are we going to feel free to whine at you? It's a two way street. We all need someplace that we feel safe to release all these emotions :bawl::bawl:

I'm so sorry you have had the issues with the pain meds and feelings of isolation.
 
I totally understand the feeling of isolation. For me, not only was I dealing with the pain of the TKR but I was scared that I would get the flu or stomach bug that is so rampant. I have not gone to church since my TKR; I used my grocer's online grocery shopping to get my groceries; I used online shopping for all my Christmas gifts; when I go to the doctor's office, I wear a mask; after someone left the house, I used sanitizer wipes on anything they touched... I am tired of being fearful.

For me, the MUA was the only option. My knee simply would not bend. Mine was done at 8 weeks and I have been able to achieve a 125 bend. My PT has been doing deep tissue massage and deep muscle massage since my MUA as my quads were very tight and I suffered with the IT band. After 2 months, my knee is still somewhat stiff but I use Tubigrip and I am able to do my ADL's and have started quilting again.

Sometimes whining is very therapeutic. I also cried a lot. After reading postings on BoneSmart, I knew I was not alone.
 
I agree with sistersinhim about naps. I often found when I was at my most cranky and frustrated one of the things I really needed was to lie down.
 
Thanks everyone for your support and suggestions and yes I do love my naps! [emoji42] I’m a germophobe too @4quilts. I especially wipe off my walker and now cane, picking up who knows what as it goes along the ground at the hospital/doctors office/PT! Had to look up Tubigrip. Are there advantages to that over the compression stockings they gave us at the hospital?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I could not tolerate the compression stockings as they put too much pressure on my new knee. I did a search on BoneSmart regarding the tight band and stiffness. A member mentioned Tubigrip, which does not apply as much pressure. You can increase the pressure by using two layers. As my knee continues to heal, I will try the compression stockings again. For now, the Tubigrip applies just enough pressure that the tight band feeling is not as bad.
 
Seeking advice on my upcoming 8 week appointment with my OS on Tuesday. At my 4 week appointment he told me I needed to be at 90 or I would need a MUA. I am still in the mid 80s unless I force, but don’t know if this Is good enough or should I go along with the MUA? I have read both sides of the MUA benefits and problems, but how do you know what’s best??? To add to my worries I was in the ER most of Friday being checked for a pulmonary embolism (PE). My BP and HR have been abnormally high and really spiked on Friday, resulting in my primary care physician sending me to the ER for tests. Thankfully no PE, but more tests to look into the cause of “atrial flutter”. Something else to worry about. Any MUA advice would be welcome. TIA


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Hood1980 said:
Not making any progress as far as ROM goes and may have a MUA after 8 week post op appointment with OS
Click to expand...
Don't worry about ROM yet - it's far too early.
In spite of what you've probably been told, there's no need to rush to get ROM, because it can continue to improve for a year, or even much longer, after a knee replacement. There isn't any deadline you have to meet:
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR

In any case, it's not exercising that gets you your ROM - it's time. Time to recover, time for swelling and pain to settle, and time to heal. Your ROM is there right from the start, just waiting for all that to happen, so it can show itself.
Hood1980 said:
I am still in the mid 80s unless I force, but don’t know if this Is good enough or should I go along with the MUA?
Click to expand...
If you're in the mid-80s, you are doing fine. Please don't force your knee to bend further. That will just upset it and increase its swelling, which will then reduce ROM.

I think you should tell your surgeon you want to wait for a while longer before even thinking of having an MUA. Many MUAs are performed far too early, because of impatient surgeons and PTs.
MUA: the ineffectiveness of early MUA (JBJS)

Remember, it's your knee and you are the only one with the right to say what will happen to it:
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?
 
Thank you @Celle for the good advice and articles! Very helpful!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I agree with Celle. Give your knee more time to heal and for the swelling to go down. You can get a MUA anytime, if that what ends up needing to be done. But, I'll leave you a report from one of our members:

One of our members, Bertschb, kept a record of his ROM process. He agreed for us to post it for those of you that are afraid you're stuck. The key is to have patience! Bertschb says:

I'm 12 months out from my surgery and have some advice based on my experience:
1- Stop going to PT (all it will do is make your knee swell and reduce ROM)
2- Don't worry about your ROM
3- Be patient - VERY patient!!!

Here is my ROM history (more or less):
1 month - 60 degrees
2 months - 80 degrees
3 months - 85 degrees
4 months - 90 degrees
5 months - 90 degrees
6 months - 110 degrees
7 months - 120 degrees
8 months - 125 degrees
9 months - 130 degrees
10 months - 135 degrees
11 months - 140 degrees
12 months - 140 degrees

I spent waaaaay too much time worrying about ROM. I thought I'd be riding my bike a couple months after surgery but it took SIX months! Looking back on my surgery, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have wasted my time with PT and I wouldn't have worried about ROM.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel
Corganics CBD

Staff online

Members online

Total: 2,740 (members: 1, guests: 2,739)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom