TKR I had my RTKR

[Josephine]

the pain is at about 7.

That's very high.

I am home and taking 1- 10mg percoset every 6 hours. After 4½ hours of taking the percoset. I would take the pain meds every 4 hours but my os says only every 6-8 hours

Is your Percocet extended relief? That's often the reason for the '6-8hour' regimen. Even so, it's a very sparse amount.

Before surgery my os was great but since surgery he has been what my sister says is rude & uncaring.

Have you approached your primary care physician instead? It's been my observation that often they are likely to be more obliging than the surgeons.

I am keeping the ice on most of the time.

Define "most of the time"!

As for this PT - considering you are only ONE WEEK out, it's atrocious! I have made comments in bold blue

I am walking with a walker about 20 times a day for 5-8 minutes - not in the first week! Did you read the articles? In the one on activity progression, it clearly states that week one should only be "Walking around the house - trips to the bathroom and kitchen are included!"

I doing two sets 10 of the following exercises: - what do you mean by 'two sets' and how many times per day?
Sitting knee extensions my husband gives slight support to help raise - wait till week 3!
Strengthening Quadriceps sets - I am doing these 3-4 times per day - wait till week 3
Knee raises with pillow rolled under knee my husband gives slight support to help raise - wait till week 3
Slide legs apart 20 times laying on bed - wait till week 3
Heel slides with sling and without sling - no sling, just gentle heel slides as per the Home PT thread
10 inch towel rolled towel under heel with full ice pack on knee - hold there for 8-10 minutes - absolutely not! Not even in week 3! Sheesh!

I sit in my recliner with ice pack on

Good but how high is the leg flap? Did you read the article about elevation?

Maybe I am not doing enough.

Not at all! In fact, you are doing FAR TOO MUCH! You will see that I have crossed out most of your exercises because, quite honestly, it's absolutely insane for them to require you to do all that in the first week. Your knee is far to raw and sensitive for that.

I must ask you again DID you read those articles I left you? Did you understand them? Because much of that you've said since I posted them makes me think you never did.

 

[Nana Mo]

Lisa, welcome to the other side! I agree with all the previous posters. I found that icing constantly and good elevation was the key for my pain control. I also look at the amount of exercises you do and I am amazed. Honestly I am not sure I do that much now and I am almost 2 weeks out. I firmly believe that doing less gets you more! Don't get me wrong.....I do agree that exercising is key but considering that every time it go to therapy they add at least 3 new ones to be done I could be doing an hour plus of exercises 3 or 4 times a day! Good luck and I hope you can get some help with the pain med situation as we'll. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

[cowchick]

It seems my os is so focused on my straighting and ROM it is the only thing he is concerned about. I feel like I am under so much pressure. I am having severe aniexity attacks to the point I can barely breath. They make me feel so very hopeless. I feel like I am letting everyone down. When I have to start the forced knee bends I am in such a panic all I can do is cry the entire time. It is very hard for me to straight lift my leg off the bed and the pt and os get so upset. I have no idea how to turn things around. Any help will be God sent.
E

 

[DogLoverx3]

You're only a week out, my dear. I couldn't do a straight leg lift for almost 3 weeks! To be honest, who cares what your PT or OS say or the expectations that they set. Every person is different and will recover at different speeds. I can't believe you're doing so much on week one. PLEASE listen to the advice that you are being given on here. There is no deadline for progression. By pushing yourself, you're going to set yourself back. I know this for a fact because that's what I did. All overdoing will do is to make your leg swell and hurt. A swollen leg will not bend. You have plenty of time to work on exercises. This time right now is for rest! I know it's hard when those around you set expectations, but unless they've been thru the surgery themselves, they have no idea.

To give you an idea, I my ROM was 75 out of surgery. Up to 90 the next week. Fell back to 80 the following week and stayed there for the next 3 weeks. Of course I panicked, but I'm now 10 weeks out and have flexion of 135 and am just a few degrees shy of full extension. On days that my knee is more swollen, both of these numbers are worse.

I know you're upset, but please read and listen to the advice on here. ((hugs))

 

[Bluetechseeker]

@cowchick First and foremost - THEY work for YOU. YOU are in charge of your recovery. Do not let anyone, including your OS and PT, hurt you or make you do something that hurts. WHY forced knee bends???? Surely you have swelling - if your knee is swollen, it is not going to bend. And, if you're doing as much as you've described, you're swollen from over doing things as well (and that creates more pain!!). Please follow the guidelines Josephine has provided, she knows what she's talking about. The way to turn this around is to stop pushing so hard, let your body heal, and use the gentle approach to regaining your ROM.

Right now, you need to focus on being kind to yourself, REST, ICE, and ELEVATE. Remember - NO Pain, MORE Gain!

 

[jeano]

+1

Cowchick you are under no obligation whatsoever to stroke egos or buff resumes for your OS and PT! It's your knee and it will most likely recover in its own sweet time. Do some heel slides, go to the bathroom, wander in and out the kitchen a few times a day, and spend the rest of the next week or two RESTING, ICING, ELEVATING and see how much better you'll do. If you keep doing what you've been doing you'll keep getting what you got.

 

[cowchick]

I would like to listen to my body about pt. From the first day of surgery my is keeps saying... If you don't push and do what I say you will end up having to go back to surgery to have it moved and that will be bad. He said do I need to get a 84 year old lady in here to show you how to move your leg? This was hours after surgery so he now has me terrified I will have to get another surgery because I can't bend my leg enough. Before surgery I trusted him and thought he would guide me correctly. Now I don't know why he is acting like this. I am very confused. I am sure you all must think I am a big baby. I really have Never been this whinny and unsure of my self. Thanks so much for allowing me to vent.
Gods blessings on you, Lisa

 

[cowchick]

Jeano, I know you are right.
Lisa

 

[jeano]

Lisa, honey--you will NOT need another SURGERY if you dont move your knee--worst case scenario you might need a MUA like Blue had, but there is as far as I know no truth whatsoever that your OS would need to CUT OPEN your knee because of anything you did or didnt do in the first week or two of your recovery. He is just bullying you. It is way too early to think about or threaten you with "going back to surgery".

Its also a fact that very often very old people do make "better" recoveries from knee surgery, at least according to one of my PTs. Good for them, but this is your knee, not theirs. You have permission from me to tell your surgeon, "You might think you are encouraging me to try harder but I feel like I am being bullied and I dont appreciate it. Please dont speak to me like that. And by the way, I am having considerable pain and do not feel I will be able to make progress without better pain relief."

 

[cowchick]

Josephine,
I have read all the articles. Many several times. I am just confused how different the requirements are from my Os and what is working for the people on Bone smart. I did not mean to upset you. I am really in a panic today because the pt is coming today and he reports right to the doc and he will be calling me a couple hours after that. So sorry for whinning.
Gods blessings on you,
Lisa

 

[gami]

Oh dear Lisa...this is so wrong...but it seems to happen all the time it must be so frustrating to Josephine and the wise ones who have been sharing their wisdom on this site for so long...recovery is NOT about numbers. It is NOT about causing you pain or the obvious grief and anxiety you are suffering. But it is about letting your body heal ...forget about anybody else being used as an example.
What is up with your OS and physio strange critters I think. .

It's hard to tell your physio you aren't going to listen to him/her but for some of us that's exactly what we had to do my ones mantra was 'you need to bend more...take more pain killers so you can.' He was wrong...and he didn't like it when I told him so. He just thought he knew what I needed to do...he said I would never get into my kayak again...wrong, I would always walk with a limp wrong. He believed what his training told him was the right thing to do for TKR's but he was wrong.

Lisa it's a long road but being emotionally and physically put through the wringer is not the best way to help yourself heal. Tell the guy to get lost or to change his behaviour....follow the advice of those who like you have actually had a knee replacement...and you'll be okay, promise. Stop listening to those who are pushing you, hurting you...it would be interesting to know if these physios have ever watched a video of the actual knee operation, if they really understand the trauma your body has been though...it's recovery time and it begins with resting , icing elevating and gentle gentle movements.

hugs and blessings to you as you start another day.
Gami

 

[referee54]

t's hard to tell your physio you aren't going to listen to him/her but for some of us that's exactly what we had to do my ones mantra was 'you need to bend more...take more pain killers so you can.' He was wrong...and he didn't like it when I told him so.

You are correct on both counts---do not listen to him and, yes, they do get miffed when you draw the line.

However, excellent PT's know how to work with a person in a TKR recovery and understand that pushing for ROM and inducing pain---that "no pain, no gain mentality" does not work.

Draw the line, and stick to your guns---the PT may be miffed, but your knee will be happy, and that is what countxs.

Keeping that knee happy will not only get you better results, but it will keep you happy, too!

 

[dogwheels]

Hi - I know you are hurting, you are in pain and possibly don't feel strong enough mentally and physically to stand up to your OS or physio - but as everyone here has been saying, it's your knee, they are working for you - just say 'NO'. They cannot physically make you do anything or manhandle you if you refuse.
As for bully boy OS and all his doom and gloom threats - let's see him with a TKR and see how he feels! My OS (who has a great reputation here) told me on discharge to take things easy, be kind to my knee, do my exercises and expect things to move slowly as it is a long game.
It does seem weird that older TKR patients often progress quicker - I think it is because: they don't have such high expectations; they rest whenever and wherever; they are not in a rush to get a certain ROM and are less likely to be bullied.
You will see many stories of TKR recoveries in UK on BS. You should be aware that patients in UK treated by NHS often wait 3 to 4 weeks post surgery for any outpatient physio to commence - and frequently that is a group session not 1:1. They have an exercise sheet - and if they are interested, supplement these exercises with ones on this or other websites. They are not measured during this time, nor are they checked. They concentrate on sorting out their pain; healing, moving about and some gentle exercise. No one utters threats about what will happen if they do not achieve a certain degree of bend in a certain time - because no one sees them in the early stages when the swelling is bad.
I have had PT twice a week since leaving hospital - a combination of ordinary and hydrotherapy. For the first 2 weeks my degree of bend was abysmal, while those around me were achieving so much more - but I did what I was told and gradually the swelling reduced, healing took place and now I am back on track and improving weekly.
Everyone is different; every recovery is different; everyone's outcome will be different and take different lengths of time. It's really early days for you - painful and frustrating I know - but I promise, take it easy, follow the advice of those in the know on here, and things will get better.

 

[Josephine]

Lisa, please bear this in mind THEY ARE ACTING LIKE BULLIES and most of what they are saying is either an exaggeration or completely untrue.

You don't have to listen to them. You don't have to listen to anyone, come to that.

They are not judge and jury and you will not be breaking the law if you go your own way.

But you know what we are saying is true. Fire the PT and when your surgeon calls, just nod, smile and agree with him and then do your own thing!

Honestly, they shouldn't be applying so much pressure and bullying tactics on you at this stage. You just need peace and rest right now and not all this stress. Very bad of them.

 

[Bassman]

Lisa,
Sorry to hear that your PT is being such a jerk. If I were in your shoes I would fire the bum and
get a new one who would do things the Bonesmart way. Have a chat with the new PT and tell him/her
upfront what you expect, namely no pain more gain. You could tell him what I told my PT - you hurt me
I hurt you! (Kiddingly of course). Hope you are feeling better and things will get better. Remember,
you're the boss.

Bassman
LPKR 26 Nov 12
RPKR 16 Dec 13

 

[jeano]

Hang in there cowchick and dont let anyone be mean to you just because they can. Where in WV are you and what hospital did you have your surgery at? I was born and raised in South Charleston.

 

[cowchick]

Jean, I am in Buckhannon. I had my surgery in Weston, wv. I have lived in Buckhannon all my life.
Gods blessings on you,
Lisa

 

[gami]

Hi Lisa
hope the new week sees you feeling a little better...hopefully you are getting some extra cat naps ...helps us cope with the whole recovery process is we are able to rest. I Google Earthed Buckhannon it looks like a very beautiful area to live in. Hope you'll o be enjoying warmer weather and spring flowers to brighten your days.

hugs Gami

 

[cowchick]

Some days I feel like I am doing better and others I feel like I will never get better. When did you all go from a walker to a cane?
Gods blessings on you,
Lisa

 

[gami]

Hi Lisa so good to hear from you...have no fear you will get better...it's just this healing business is a slow process that we can't hurry, that's why we have all had to try and develop our patience skills and for a lot of us it's not easy.BUT it does happen. I used to worry a lot about the swelling in my leg...so my husband decided it would be a good exercise to measure it...because he could see the swelling going down but it didn't seem like it to me. He was right, it did get a little less every week however like everything else it did take time but I had a record and as it improved so did everything else.

I never used a walker I had a walking stick and it became my constant companion until I felt really confident walking without it. Our children and grandchildren all autographed it and decorated it with artwork and messages of love...it's pretty special. I remember our pre-op Nurse telling us if she bumped into any of us while out shopping (post -op) she expected to see 'the stick' with us until our 6 week checkup. But once again our recoveries don't run to a strict formula...we are all different and I'm sure you'll get a whole range of different responses. I hope you have overcome the issues with your physio and are feeling that you have a little more control over your recovery.

Hugs Gami