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TKR Hopefaith's Ups and Downs of Recovery

I was definitely more uncomfortable and restless, trying to find comfortable positions, but it got better in a few days. I saved some of the Oxy and occasionally take it after PT or when I'm just really tired of that burning stiffness. My doctors never really gave me a choice of other drugs and I'd been on the Hydrocodone (Vicodin) for years before surgery for arthritis pain so I guess that might be part of the reason they had me step down to it rather than something else. I do supplement with Tylenol, being careful to stay within the daily limits recommended (have to take into account the amount in the Vicodin).

I would say what I've really learned is that moving actually helps rather than makes the pain worse. Hard to wrap out minds around when we're hurting, but true at least in my case.
 
Hopefaith,
You had mentioned in another thread that you have fibromyalgia, having pain from more than one source can be a challenge. @kneeper , has fibromyalga also and may additional insight into dealing with TKR and fibromyalgia.
You may want to add fibromyalgia to your signature.
All the best,
 
I have fibromyalgia as well. Trying to get the pain meds balance right isn't easy. Some meds set off my fibro and it isn't to a few days later that I realise what is happening. Its a juggling act working out what pain is from the fibro and what pain is from the TKR. I too had uncrontrolled pain after the initial TKR. How long have you had the fibro? I have had it 9 years and it started after a challenging surgery (not knee related)
 
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@busylizzie Hi there! I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia when I was 26. I am 57. I have not had many issues with it until about 5 years ago. It really comes and goes (as I am sure you know.) This past week I have had a lot of pain in my "new" knee and then I realized my left knee is hurting just as bad, so I get very confused as to how to proceed. The Oxycodone helps a lot. (I don't know the equivalent in the UK) But the deep aching has been difficult.
@Pumpkln you have been very kind and sensitive to my navigating this site. I really appreciate how you have held my hand these past few days. (: I AM learning.
 
Fibro fatigue can also accentuate the normal energy drain we get with tkr too.
 
Hopefaith you have had it a long time. Having one knee fixed can initially put more strain on the 'good knee', perhaps that is what is happening. I got sciatica in my good leg and have realised that I was twisting my body walking after the op. If I make a conscious effort to stop it, it improves. I wonder if the same is with you although it is your op leg. Fibromyalgia has no rhyme or reason and pacing does help. Changes to my routine also sometimes causes a flare up. Ice after my original TKR was my saviour.
 
@busylizzie Do you have more pain because of the fibro.? I had no idea I would be in this much pain. It feels like neuropathic pain a lot. I have so much regret about having this done. I have times in the afternoon where it just hurts so bad and that is even with pain meds. Also, I do not know if my OS, PA will refill my meds. and the thought of being in this much pain without them is terrifying to me. I am surprised I am having this kind of pain this far out. will it get any better? The depression is overwhelming too. Fibromyalgia isn't a legitimate diagnosis in very many settings. Sorry, I am just so down right now.
 
@hopefaith its OK to be down, its part of the recovery process that most of us go through.There is an article in the library about it. https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/post-op-blues-is-a-reality-be-prepared-for-it.7591/. It does get better with time you are only about 4 weeks out. The fibro could be making you feel more down than usual. Pain is hard to deal with.

Do you have a rheumatologist that you see for the fibro. I have a great team at a hospital in the Manchester area. Have you tried gabapentin or lyrica for the neuropathic pain, they do work for some people but unfortunately not me? I have great trouble with any medications as I also have gastro issues. The consultant at the beginning told me that people with fibro can have a harder recovery.

What I did find that helped was regular icing and elevating. I too was sent home from hospital with uncontrollable pain. I used to cry all night as I couldn't get confortable. I found night the hardest time to get through. After several conversations/visits to my GP, one of them suggested using a TENS machine. Not on my knee but my buttock of the offending leg. He said it may break down the pain path through my body. It did help at the time. The pain does ease as time goes by. Why not discuss your pain management with your GP. There are many drugs to try if the ones you're on aren't working. I've recently been on Fentanyl patches and they took the edge off the pain.

I have also tried meditation and relaxation including mindfulness. Like most people I was sceptical but I was surprised at the outcome. I also try distraction techniques when the pain is really bad and it does help to keep your mind busy thinking of other things than pain. I see it like taking the blinkers off.

It is a hard, hard path, but you WILL get through this and come out on the otherside. You are not alone, we care, there is always someone here 24/7 who will help and advice you or simply chat.
 
hopefaith said:
Fibromyalgia isn't a legitimate diagnosis in very many settings.
Click to expand...
I am sorry to hear this is still happening with fibromyalgia :sad:. If your OS does not give you adequate pain medications, ask your primary to take over your pain managment.
I expect to be on pain medication for a couple of months after my revision.
Be sure to re read the posts Jamie left for you in post #3, regarding pain managment.
 
Please do not try and suffer through intense pain. Contact your surgeon, your GP or any others in your medical team who might be able to help. Constant pain like you're describing can cause other problems with your recovery and slow things down. There is something out there that will help you!!!
 
I just put a call into my OS. I will let you all know what they say. Apparently I have fired up my sciatic nerve by sitting on my right cheek to ice so often, so I am figuring out other ways to ice. Also here in the US the teaching is to ice 20 min. on 30 off. I don't see that teaching here and with these blue ice pack dealies (so official) they don't stay frozen very long anyway. ????
 
I hope your OS has some help for you. One thing to remember is that the surgery puts your body through quite a trauma--muscles as well as bone. I used a heating pad (on areas away from the knee) and it helped a bit.
 
Yes, on April 15th, almost 3 weeks now. Less painful, but still letting me know I had a major surgery.
 
You may want to find better ice packs than those blue ice things which don't get that cold and don't stay cold long. These work really well: From Amazon - I got one for each leg. The will really get your knees cold!
[Bonesmart.org] Hopefaith's Ups and Downs of Recovery
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hopefaith said:
Also here in the US the teaching is to ice 20 min. on 30 off. I don't see that teaching here and with these blue ice pack dealies (so official) they don't stay frozen very long anyway. ????
Click to expand...

Actually, it's only some physiotherapists and doctors who give that advice, even in the USA.

You can do no harm icing for as long as you like, as long as you have something like a small towel between the ice pack and your skin, to prevent "freezer burn". Unless you sit on the ice pack and irritate your sciatic nerve, as you seem to have done. ( I hope that settles down soon, by the way, because it's miserable!)
 
actually I have sat on the ice pack today and it has felt wonderful to calm down that sciatic nerve. I have always been told the 20 on 30 off. I have not heard until this site that you could ice continuously. I sure have with my knee and my knee has benefited from the almost always icing.
 
thank you
@VancouverUSAgal , yeah, my doc wouldn't order the ice machine, which I LOVED after my scope, so this looks a lot better than what I use. They don't stay cold long at all. Great info. Thanks!!!
 
So, my OS will refill my short acting and she said I need to get connected to my PCP for the sciatic nerve stuff and I also am now taking Gabapentin which is helping a lot. And now I am icing my knee AND my back end.
:snork:
 
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