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How soon before I get back to my normal life?

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tennisjunkie

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This Wed. marks 2 wks since the surgery. I know everyone recovers differently, but I was wondering if you guys could give me some feedback. How long after the surgery before you could drive and how long after the surgery before you could walk without the aid of a cane/crutches/walker? Also, how long did you use pain medication? Thanks so much!
 
I had a RTKR on 7-23-2008. Walking in house without any aid 2nd week of August. Started driving end of August and returned to work Tuesday 9/2. I still go to therapy and just had my percocet prescription renewed. Still occasional take them after a hard day of work or intense therapy. The last thinkg that you want to do is be under medicated. You cannot do what you need to do if you are in pain. As long as you don't take more than you are prescribed I do not think it is a problem. My Dr. originally gave me 10mg percocet's because it was easier than taking two 5mg and prescription would last longer. Now I just cut them in half.

You are almost over the hump. I felt alot better at end of third week.
 
I'm at 10 months post op.
I could walk w/o aids at 2 weeks. Mostly to the bathroom.
Don't give up on the aids until you're good and ready because you will find yourself exhausted very rapidly.
I was cleared to drive as soon as the staples came out..Roughly at two weeks.
I didn't drive too much because of the pain meds which I used pretty heavily the first two months. I gradually cut back and was pretty much off of them at 4 months.
Work hard at your therapy and with time, it will all be worthwhile.
A word of caution, usually at the 3-4 week period, it seems most people get depressed and wonder, "what have I let them do to me"?
Just hang in there, these things take lots of time and effort to recover from.

Also, you'll find even after the 4-5 month time, you may want to take a cane for "security" when you go out.
 
I had BTKR on 6/18/08. I could walk without aid in the house fine after 2 weeks. I used the crutches outside for the uneven areas to maintain stability for another week. I was cleared to drive following my 6 week check up as long as I did not take a pain med within 2 hours of driving.
I am currently 4.5 months post op and take only one Aleve in the AM and one Aleve in the PM. I was totally off pain medication by my 4 month check with the OS.
I had good range of motion (ROM) prior to surgery and have good ROM now. I am working on strengthening my quads and hamstrings to be able to ski in late February or early March. I am also hoping to be down about 20 pounds by then......
We will see. I am down 5 already.
Best,
Crystal
 
Tennisjunkie, the first two weeks are the worst. I came to think of my progress on a weekly basis. The first week, 7 days post surgery, I went to PT and cried all the way home, and I am not a crier. I was using a walker to get around, even in the house. That was the longest ride of my life, I swear. The second week I didn't cry on the way home from PT but I hurt, just not as bad as the previous week. I Remembered to take pain meds before I went to PT and took extra to take for the ride home. I took the walker with me but mostly it was just a prop or in case I felt insecure. The ride home was a bit uncomfortable but nothing bad. My ROM was almost back to normal. Week 3 I went to PT in no pain and had no pain afterward. I took my cane but didn't use it and on the way home stopped at the store to pick up a few things. That was my last visit to PT and my ROM was back to normal. Things went so quickly upward after that point that I can only say that within two weeks I had been released by the surgeon until next year and my life, within reason began, in fits and starts to be my own again. I was still tired, still taking pain meds on a regular basis and doing my exercises and icing and elevating. It is just so very important to be diligent doing the exercises as well as doing the icing and elevating. You have to continue to work for some time and that time varies per individual. I needed a nap until around the third month and got tired very easily. This surgery is a booger and takes a lot out of you. You owe it to yourself to take good care of yourself and don't get caught up in being on someone else's time frame for accomplishing goals. Your body is different than anyone else's and you have to give it time to heal, that means getting plenty of rest, doing the exercises faithfull and icing and elevating. It, also, means taking the pain meds as long as you need them as they are as critical to your speedy recovery as the rest of it is. So many people seem to feel like if their friend on the site is doing something at three weeks that they are failures is they are not doing it as well. We all heal at different rates, just as all of our surgeries are different so are our bodies. This isn't a race, what you want to keep you eye on is the end result regardless of how long it takes. It will happen for you and I can guarantee you that the rest of will be there cheering you all along the way. Good luck, Rowdy
 
Just don't judge yourself by us....results do vary.

I'm almost 4 weeks out from my second TKR. First was in April.

In both cases I moved from walker to cane after about a week. However, I still used walker at night for the sleepy unstable trips to bathroom.

Driving: My 1st knee was my right so I didn't drive until after my 6 weeks appointment. This current new left knee, I could drive now but don't due the pain meds.

I agree to watch the 3-4 week period. Even though I've been through it before, I find myself wondering why I sleep so much, why it still hurts, why is PT so hard, etc...Starting to want to do more than I reasonably should...

Still on a pretty much full dose pain regimen. I do find at this point I can go a bit longer between doses. Last time I slowly replaced the vicodin with ibuprofen. Also, since the pills break in half, I went from two per dose to 1.5 to 1, etc. (I'm currently at 1.5 with an occasional experiment at 1).

Hope this helps!
 
I cannot tell you how helpful your stories of recovery are to me. Thank you so much for sharing. You inspire me and I am overwhelmed by your kindness in taking the time to reply to me. Please keep the stories coming. I know our bodies are all different, but it's very helpful to at least have ranges of time to consider for each step. All the best to you and good luck to you all with your healing. xxoo
 
I had BTKR on October 21st, making tomorrow the 4 week mark. I was in the hospital for 6 days, after which I went directly home, with PT and nursing care. I was on two canes by the 4th day, and after another week or so, moved to one cane. I still use one because I walk better with it(don't want to develop a limp), although I wander around in the house with no aides at times, touching counters and furniture. I drive fairly regularly now, but mostly short distances. It's getting a lot easier to maneuver in and out of the car. A couple of days ago, I shopped very briefly in a market, and today, for the first time since surgery, cooked a real dinner! My energy must be returning.

I've never had to use a lot of pain killers, for some reason. No morphine, Vicodin or Percacet. When the nerve blocker ran out after a couple of days, I started taking mostly Tylenol extra strength, and more recently, Advil. I'm stiff and twingy, of course, but not in serious pain. I've just started outpatient PT, and plan to return to water aerobics next Monday, since the incisions are healed. I'm also hoping, like you,(?) to return to tennis, which is really my passion. I'm not going to rush it, though. One thing at a time.
 
Not wanting to rush it, drfluff! Oh my! Heaven help you if you had! Tell me, did you have a standard TKR, minimal approach and/or a partial replacement?
 
the members have helped me to determine that healing can be fairly soon or a lot longer and I guess I'll have to wait to see what category I fall in. With other health concerns I'm thinking longer. I haven't discussed pain meds with my OS but now feel I should have, although probably when I go to pre-op clinic it will come up. I've had trouble with sleep before surgery.Wondering about after??? Also with the M.S. I have leg jerks; hoping they tie me down for surgury. My OS knows I have M.S. but I didn't mention the leg jerks. I guess I should have? Lindy p.s. I'm not sure exactly how posting and links etc. go but I will in time I guess!
 
tell you doc about the leg jerks!!!! If you have leg jerks after surgery, you will have to be pried off the ceiling. I was dreaming that I stepped off a curb (the night of surgery) You know how you kind of flinch. Well it hurt crazy bad.


I think that the biggest help for me was being in good physical shape before my surgery (LTHR). The first 2 weeks were horribly painful. But at the same time, there was progress each day. Pain meds through the 2nd week. I got a lot better very fast. I was back to work on light duty (Paramedic) at 3 weeks with a cane. I've now been back to working an ambulance for almost 3 weeks without problems. My co-workers do keep an eye out for me and will sometimes move me to the side with a particularly precarious lift. I don't have a problem with that. The VA finally did get me physical therapy; the week after I started work again. I went 3 times and decided I'd just go to the gym. I am working out now to get on the SWAT Medic team. They already want me, I just have to wait for an opening. My surgery was Aug 12th. My body has adjusted to the limb length discrepancy. I don't think that my recovery is the norm. But I did have very strong legs to begin with and I think that was the biggest factor. One of my concerns was climbing into and around a wrecked vehicle. Well I know now that it isn't a problem. I'm fortunate. Don't compare yourself to others, just try to meet baby step goals daily. When you get down, get on the forum. I was very pleased to find this resource.
 
In response to your question, I had a total knee replacement on my right leg, and a uni-compartmental knee replacement on my left leg. Although the single compartment replacement was less invasive, my recovery on that side hasn't been that much different than the right side. There was no difference in pain in either leg, for example---pain levels were low. The left knee was a little less swollen and more flexible than the right, but on the minus side, was a bit more finicky and fragile--I felt, and still feel I have to be more careful on it than on the total knee. The two incisions looked about the same initially, but the left has healed just ahead of the right.
 
Thanks again for the input. I'm also at 4 1/2 weeks now. The weird thing for me is that I still don't feel like the knee is part of my body. I mean I feel like the middle of my leg is asleep, so when I walk I just trust it will be there to hold me up, but it feels like the knee is numb and asleep. I'm not describing the feeling very well. I do want to get back to tennis and I also started out with very strong muscular legs. I've lost an inch of muscle off of my calf since the surgery. I'm going to my 4th physical therapy appt. today, so I hope that helps. I'm wondering when the knee feels like it used to if ever? Thanks to all!
 
Tennisjunkie----I asked my doctor before bilateral knee replacement when my knees would start to feel like my own. He thought about it for a while and told me that it would be about 6 months. I think I understand the weird numbness that you're talking about---but I've actually felt a little more discomfort lately in my right knee (mostly when I get up from a chair, or from bed), and think that some of the numbness might be wearing off. I'm not positive, but there seems to be a bit more sensation---that's good and bad, I suppose. I just try to keep moving, not think about it too much---exercise definitely helps. The strength is starting to return. Good luck!
 
tell you doc about the leg jerks!!!! If you have leg jerks after surgery, you will have to be pried off the ceiling. I was dreaming that I stepped off a curb (the night of surgery) You know how you kind of flinch. Well it hurt crazy bad.


I think that the biggest help for me was being in good physical shape before my surgery (LTHR). The first 2 weeks were horribly painful. But at the same time, there was progress each day. Pain meds through the 2nd week. I got a lot better very fast. I was back to work on light duty (Paramedic) at 3 weeks with a cane. I've now been back to working an ambulance for almost 3 weeks without problems. My co-workers do keep an eye out for me and will sometimes move me to the side with a particularly precarious lift. I don't have a problem with that. The VA finally did get me physical therapy; the week after I started work again. I went 3 times and decided I'd just go to the gym. I am working out now to get on the SWAT Medic team. They already want me, I just have to wait for an opening. My surgery was Aug 12th. My body has adjusted to the limb length discrepancy. I don't think that my recovery is the norm. But I did have very strong legs to begin with and I think that was the biggest factor. One of my concerns was climbing into and around a wrecked vehicle. Well I know now that it isn't a problem. I'm fortunate. Don't compare yourself to others, just try to meet baby step goals daily. When you get down, get on the forum. I was very pleased to find this resource.

Jessie...I mentioned the jerk to my family Dr. re surgery and she said the meds would take care of any movement and I'd be okay. I didn't think about post op and movement. I will mention it definitely. Maybe pain meds will stop any jerks????? Thanks for the advice! Lindy
 
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