Become an Insider

TKR Hopefaith's Ups and Downs of Recovery

Hi @hopefaith - oooh lots going on here about pain management. I sincerely hope that you have got yours in control now and it is marching to YOUR beat and no one elses!!

Just to prove the point that everybody is different - I am not superwoman, far from it. However, just to make my point .... I had no morphine at all post-op, codeine and Tylenol for just 3 days, then only Tylenol for 3 weeks, although I did take the odd Co-dydramol at night for a while. (This is not a brag, purely factual - I have a high pain threshold).
Anyone would think reading the minimal pain relief I took and my relatively pain free recovery, I had a textbook, easy and straightforward time. Not at all. As some of you know, I had a bleed and haematoma at 6 weeks and without warning was unable to bend my knee at all and had to go back to square one.

Every one is different, everybody's personal circumstances are different, everyone feels pain differently, every knee is different.

Listen to your body and your knee. There are no prizes going for suffering, if it hurts then your body is telling you something, rest, take some meds and reduce the pain. And when you decide that you want to start easing off the tablets, do it because you feel you can, not by any yardstick or timing you have got from somewhere or someone else. Remember when your children were small, there was always another Mum whose kid walked earlier, spoke earlier, was toilet trained earlier ............ We all beat ourselves up and wondered what was wrong, but when our child was ready, those things all happened in their own time perfectly well and without being pushed. Your knee is no different.

Take care @hopefaith - hope you have a good day.

XX
 
Thanks @dogwheels you are so lovely and honest about your recovery x you did so well and when things went pear shaped you were honest again. This has helped so many people. You were very fortunate to take lower pain meds but having a high pain threshold is the reason why and you've always made this clear. Not once did you ever brag. That's not your style...you are way to nice a person to do that.

My rant during the night was at certain people who did the opposite to you and were quite intimidating. I was trying to reassure @hopefaith as she was starting to compare herself. She had felt like she was not progressing the way she should xxxx

So none of my rant is targeted at any of my friends. I think way too much of you all for that x x x x

Love Nana moon 27 xxxx
 
@hopefaith. Good day and how are you? I'm sorry you're still struggling with the pain meds. I am still on pain meds after 6 months. I did try to cut back, but it wasn't worth it. I think the time will come when I just don't need them anymore (fingers and toes crossed!). It annoys me as everyone my age seems to be on pills for something or other and I used to pride myself on taking none! Pride comes before a fall (or. TKR!). Well, serve me right for pride!

@dogwheels. You're so right that everyone is different. Isn't it odd how we seem to feel we ought to compete, or at least compare, with others! It's a slow journey and like life, we must all do it at our rate. Just when I think I'm finally there, I get another setback. Heyho! I don't have time to worry! When I go into our spare bedroom I remember clearly the agonizing nights I spent there in my early weeks. I can only be glad I've moved on from there!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Why DON'T Orthopods let us know how intense and looooonng this recovery will be. I have my hunches......but your question, was a very good one that I keep coming back to.
@hopefaith I bet I have the same hunches but I wont say either. I think we should al write a book together that includes all the experiences. I mentioned to my PT specialist that I would love to volunteer to tell people what to expect. He laughed. He said soon I will turn the corner. I said I have had my blinker on for awhile but the bus doesnt seem to want to turn.
 
@jbucks love the "blinker" image. SO true. I also would love to talk to anyone about this recovery. I probably talk WAY too much about it anyway. I spoke to a really good friend's cousin a few weeks before my surgery. She had had BTKR in 2008. I asked her tons of questions and now I think about her responses and it was like she had had 2 crowns put in. I know people say this'll all be a distant memory some day (hard to believe) but I hope I am helpful to people and don't lose memory of how very difficult it is when you are smack dab in the middle of it.
~hopefaith
 
Last edited by a moderator:
@dogwheels thank you so much for your words. I need these reminders, often. Pain threshold is sure a complex issue. Why? I know there are no answers to that. I have a very low pain threshold. always have. (By the 4th shot at the dentist, are you SURE you are still feeling that?.....slight exaggeration, but you get my point.) I appreciate you pointing out how we are each unique and each knee is unique. @Nana moon 27 I am glad for your words yesterday. They encouraged me and made me giggle. (that is the best pain relief in the world, eh?) You are very compassionate. That came across very clearly to me. With all we have gone through, I think all of us have formed some strong beliefs. This is a long and arduous road. I had NO idea. Call me naïve , but I truly didn't. I feel a lot of frustration about that right now. I think of you often and all you are dealing with. I also care very much about you.
 
Hey @hopefaith, I had my second knee done a week before you and my first in January and I'm still on strong pain meds. I've had a lot of pain management problems both in hospital and at home so am taking care not to let that happen again. As others have said, you're only 7 weeks post op? There is still so much healing to do. For me, my problem is once the initial stage is over and i feel a bit better, I want that improvement to hurry up and rush things a bit! For example, I said to my hubby last week that I felt I'd turned a corner then blow me for the next few days I felt exhausted and in more pain. Very frustrating! Take care, you're doing great. P.S LOVE your profile photo :) xx


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014
 
Hi @hopefaith my mom put tinsel and baubles on my crutch last Christmas. I was on them pre op!!!it looked pretty. I even took it away for a week leading up to New Years Eve. We got back the night before my op lol xxxx so many people admired it at the hotel x x
 
@that is such a good metaphor @dogwheels about how we compared our kids to other kids, and how unproductive that is. Good reminder!
 
I seem to see a real division on the opposite sides of the pond regarding pain management. It seems like UK docs don't get their britches in such a ruffle as here. Does this seem to be others perspective?
 
Hiya @hopefaith - your GP will be MUCH more accommodating regarding pain meds. Both my OS and his PA made me feel like I was some junkie for requesting just 1 refill of my oxycodone! They only gave me a week at a time! The told me that they 'expected' me to be off pain meds (all of them) by 8 weeks. Uhm, yeah, I'm at 5.5 months and still need Tramadol on most days. Boo. I went to my GP, who I've seen for years, and he completely sympathized and basically asked me what I needed. He's been my doctor for 10+ years, so knows I'm not a fan of pain (or any) meds. If you need them, take them and don't let anyone make you feel bad for doing so sweetie. xoxo
 
My OS asked me today if I needed more pain meds and I said Absolutely! He gave me a prescription no problem. His thinking is that if I am in pain, I will not do my exercises. He wants me to stay loose - the meds certainly help with that. :snork:
 
@DogLoverx3 8 weeks! Straight up insane. Yes, I'm making an appt. with GP ASAP. @71Beetle I had no problem the first request, but then after 6 weeks as @DogLoverx3 was saying the message from my OS's NP was you need to get off these pretty soon. But as the others say the OS office is not the only option.
 
I think you are mostly right @hopefaith - there does seem to be a more laid back approach here in UK regarding timings, PT and meds, which is good. Sadly though, IMHO, the National Health Service doesn't have the resources to support those whose procedures are not textbook, and who run into post op problems. (Nana moon is a prime example - she is finally getting some advice and support, but it is a long time coming and she had no alternative but wait until it was her turn). So we win in some respects but miss out in others.
As for this debate regarding how long you should be on meds - you know my constant phrase: 'Every knee is different'. Well I personally would have been really cheesed off if I had been MADE to take meds when I didn't need them, just because normally people need more pain relief than me.
Ergo, why should somebody be forced to stop them, just because they need that pain relief for a bit longer?

I think your GP is definitely the way to go. He knows you, so knows you wont be selling your medication on street corners, or OD'ing. OS do not have that same personal relationship, and err on the side of caution. Mind you my OS gave me so much Diclofenac, I think I could make a killing on the Black Market :heehee:.

Hope you had a good night, and talk later.
XX
 
@dogwheels I think you make some good points there. I will definitely ponder those. Yes, it has been shocking to me how @Nana moon 27 has had to wait soooo long. Here, that just wouldn't be the case. So, there are upsides and downsides, and yes, my GP knows me oh too well. :)
I never have taken pain meds. before. I think after my scope, I took them for maybe days. I just wanted to get off of them. This, however, is pain beyond anything I ever expected. Thank you for your care. It truly comes right through the technology that tries to stand in the way.:SUNsmile:
 
@hopefaith, I know what you mean, when you have never had taken pain meds, it just doesn't seem right to be taking so many. I'm the sort of person who aways went for a walk if I had a headache, I hardly ever took pain killers....until my TKR... And then I took as many as I needed for as long as I needed them, there is no point in suffering, it delays the healing process as you can't relax and you can't do the exercises properly. So don't ever feel bad about taking them, your body needs them.
 
@Ellejay Thank you for stopping by. I have meant to respond to some of your posts. This site moves SO fast it's crazy. I love it! I especially enjoyed your recent post about your travels. So exciting about getting back on your bike! Yea you! That is something I want to do. I love my bike.

Yes. I am sure hearing all of you to stay on my meds. as long as I need. I had envisioned needing them for a couple of weeks .....the best laid plans......
~~hopefaith
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Corganics CBD
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Staff online

Members online

Total: 1,769 (members: 1, guests: 1,768)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom