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TKR Hopefaith's Ups and Downs of Recovery

Yes, prayer is very important to me too. I have been slack about it lately. not good. was too overwhelmed with the pain at first....
 
@Jamie Could you please change my recovery thread to "the Ups and Downs of the journey" Thank you!
 
Welcome to the other side Hopefaith. It WILL get better. You will go for days thinking there has been no improvement, and then one day you will suddenly realize you aren't feeling a certain ache or are able to bend the knee a bit more going down the stairs. Take each of those ah ha! moments as cause for celebration because it shows progress. I just read through your thread and so much of what you have mentioned brings back memories! The sudden unexplained crying jags - no one understands them like someone who has been there. They do stop. Don't feel guilty if you haven't done every exercise or can't yet do a leg lift - you aren't even 3 weeks post-op (I suspect you are a little Type-A like me!). The idea of the quad set before the leg lift is a great one. My PT suggested using a belt or strap under the foot (much like when doing the slides), to assist with getting the leg up. I too worried because of all the pressure to get off the heavy pain meds asap. But read the articles here. Josephine helped me understand that if you need them, take them; she said there is unwarranted fear in the US that if one is on them too long they will become addicted. I should mention that one doesn't want to take them longer than necessary because of difficulties withdrawing from them, but she and articles here had excellent advice for me on how to withdraw gradually.

You will find so many here who have walked in your shoes - literally. And while each of us has our own healing pace and journey, their support and advice got me through my recovery. And we will be there for you as well!
 
@NightQuilter thank you so much for your encouraging words. This recovery is like no other!!! Life just kind of has to stop in some ways. Some friends and family just don't get it. If I can have an ice bag and a chair to elevate, I can do a few things....(: Yeah, the med. thing scares me. I want to drive again soon. I don't think of myself as a type A, but apparently this recovery is uncovering parts of me I didn't really see before.

~~hopefaith~~
 
:shrug: I was able to lift my R leg off of the bed today without assistance from the strap. I thought that would never happen as it felt, as someone else said, as though my heel had been super glued to the bed. It wasn't easy, but I did it! I kept trying about every other day and the second it hurt bad, I would stop. Letting my knee call the shots is hard but it pays off. It felt like a mile stone. (it only took 3 weeks. ):shrug:
 
@NightQuilter how did you do two TKR 2 months apart? Wasn't that overwhelming? I will need my left done at some point, but at this point the word "never" feels very apropos.
~~hopefaith~~
 
I had my hips done at the same time and so appreciated only having to go through one surgery and one recovery. I was actually scheduled to have the knees done together too, but apparently my blood oxygen levels had a different plan. After they closed on the right knee, the levels didn't go up as they wanted so, rather than risk me being on a respirator for 3 months, they woke me up. I must have sounded like a sailor!! I told them I was fine, we were all here, and I wasn't coming back so put me back under and get it done! I lost that one. My OS said he would do the other one as soon as 4 weeks out, but I am glad I waited till 7 weeks so I would have more strength. In my view, we know the mechanics of the knee would support us through a recovery and you are taking all those meds anyway, might as well only do it once. But our bodies have to agree. @Tamsmom - I can appreciate where you are coming from (I was 52 for my hips), but you are only a month out. Yay!!!! Consider though, that if the other knee is already compromised, it is going to get worse and, in turn, possibly keep you from getting really balanced and being able to fully work the new knee. But we all have different tolerances and recoveries, so I wish you well whatever your choice is!!
 
@Jamie Could you please change the name of my recovery thread to "hopefaith's up's and down's of recovery"
Thank you so much.
 
@hopefaith......you can now change the titles of threads you start by going up to the top of the page and clicking on the Thread Tools link at the right of your screen. A drop-down menu should appear that allows you to make the change.
 
I use one crutch when I go out. In the house, I use 1 crutch sometimes. I don't have pain during PT. I have pain after PT about 2 hours later. Today The sky was blue and it was NOT windy. I could actually experience those two things. It was lovely. 3 weeks in a twilight zone is enough for me.
 
I didn't feel ready when my doctors wanted me to step down from Oxy to Hydrocodone, but after the first week I was glad to have my head clearer and be able to concentrate more and read, so understand that it is a transition but you may find you are happy once you get thru the initial phase.

I have also been trouble with sciatic type pain down the back of my hips and also down the sides. I think it's from too much time in the same positions. It always improves with exercise even though that's the last thing I feel like doing when I'm in pain. It's really hard to remember that we will feel better overall with movement even though there may be some stiffness/discomfort later. It's a trade off. I was tired today and really didn't feel like going to PT but afterwards I felt energized and realized that it did indeed make me feel better rather than worse. I have to remind myself of that over and over.

I hope it continues to get better for you. Let us know if there's anything else we can help with.
 
@VancouverUSAgal Thanks so much for your thoughts. I DO think my sciatic nerve pain is from elevating and icing the same way. Walking helps a lot. I followed you in your early moments and felt so bad for you, but it sounds like you are doing much better. My first 2 weeks were a complete blur. I am unable to take hydrocodone, so I don't know an acceptable step down. Also, I can't take NSAIDS, so I am in kind of a bind. I do love the feeling after PT, although I hurt a few hours after. Did you feel a lot more pain when you went from Oxycodone to hydrocodone?
 
Lots of people step down from the heavy-duty pain meds to Tramadol. It's a synthetic morphine-like drug, gives more pain relief than Tylenol (Acetaminophen/Paracetamol). Discuss it with your doctor.

I can't take NSAIDs either and morphine-type drugs make me vomit, so Tramadol and Paracetamol have been my main pain relievers once I was out of hospital.
 
Tramadol is a great step down drug. I am in NY and it is also considered a controlled substance in same category as Vicodin. Your head will be much clearer and it helps with pain. In my case not as good as Vicodin but better for many others.

For my chronic back pain I use a heating pad. It is a lifesaver for me!

Take care and have a better day!
 
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