Revision TKR I just got my new knee.

[referee54]

I see that you are having some rough times---are you icing and elevating---and how often and for how long?

What is your activity level during the day?

It is important to remember that the first four weeks of a TKR recovery are called the "Dark Days of Recovery"---and sadly, for good reason.

One thing that has helped other members of the forum is to ice at night, too, while they are sleeping---that possibly can help you out, too---are you sleeping with your surgical knee elevated?

Those migrating pains that you feel are, unfortunately, normal, as the knee is healing and the tissue is knitting.

Please let us know your icing situation and how long your are elevating, too---we need to get to the heart of the matter to help get you the right advice to get you feeling a little better.

 

[Celle]

So sorry I see everybody else doing it...

They might post a bit about themselves, but only as their progress relates to the person whose thread it is. If you're going to post just about your recovery, then that belongs on your own thread. That way, we can follow your progress. If you post it on someone else's thread, then it gets lost.

 

[Celle]

So sorry I see everybody else doing it...

Don't worry. We all had to learn!

 

[Angel1978]

Dec 1 pkr with alignment. The doctor did tell me that my patella was removed, and a metal piece was put in for my patella. A rare operation and he olny has did 6 in his time. I will need total in 10 yrs or so. But won't.
Follow up today.
I have lots of pain. The pain medicines work for short period of time. Walk with crutches,knee wants to go forward,have grab to avoid falling.Lots of restless nights, position to position trying to get comfortable. Muscle spasms that are insane, yeah I'll take a muscle Relax pain Meds, but they don't help for long and I'm not changing medicines because I'm finally not getting sick taking them.
Bend is 72 cpm machine is 60 Bad swelling ice is used all day off on. Set back oh well.


SonnysWife

 

[Angel1978]

Apt went well today. This is scar. Yeh pt start 3x week 4 weeks. Then follow up Jan 29 my baby lol. Then will follow up will be about other knee..


SonnysWife

 

[skigirl]

It sounds like you are progressing in your recovery, Mary. Have faith it will get easier and easier. But, do not allow the PT to cause pain in your joint.

 

[referee54]

Remember that this recovery is not linear---you will have some good days and some real stinkers, too! Right now there are some tough times with the pain and the post-surgical issues, but, with some patience, you will begin to see better days---some plateaus, and some down days.

Eventually, those down days will disappear, and yo will be left with a pain-free lifestyle.

 

[Angel1978]

Was released from home pt which was a joke. They don't do a lot with you. Yes there limited. But I am still stiff. So reg pt will start Dec 30th. I will probley dread it. He said take med before u go cause it will be tough. I just can't wait till the med leave is over.


SonnysWife

 

[referee54]

Remember that nobody can hurt you without your permission---and don't you let them

Set up the ground rules right away---"pushing through pain" does not do you any good and continues to bring about even more pain, swelling, and stiffness.

You are the boss, and it is your body.

 

[Angel1978]

I see that you are having some rough times---are you icing and elevating---and how often and for how long?

What is your activity level during the day?

It is important to remember that the first four weeks of a TKR recovery are called the "Dark Days of Recovery"---and sadly, for good reason.

One thing that has helped other members of the forum is to ice at night, too, while they are sleeping---that possibly can help you out, too---are you sleeping with your surgical knee elevated?

Those migrating pains that you feel are, unfortunately, normal, as the knee is healing and the tissue is knitting.

Please let us know your icing situation and how long your are elevating, too---we need to get to the heart of the matter to help get you the right advice to get you feeling a little better.

My activity is wake up. Setting up to get motivated to take step/ Going restroom. Waking up kids. Setting on couch for few. Getting Meds down. Helping kids do last min stuff for school. Get on the exceriser for a few hrs. And after that ice. And do some Ẹxcerise. I ice a few times a day. I elevate most of day. I walked around the house it's long. I may clean load dish washer if no one did. Wipe down some counters stove table. Then go ice and rest. By then I am tierd. I relax in chair in between. My leg is still weak. I I've heard that for the first weeks. I was told if I sleep at night don't ice. I sleep off and on for 1-4 hrs and that's off and on. I do elivate then ir starts cramps. So have take half flex. Cause take whole and I am out cold And stiff. Them pains is annoying. And the spasims is wild. I use this ice pack. Till it gets heavy. It's a dura soft. But when heavy have take off.

 

[Angel1978]

Trust me I will. They like kill me before I had the sugury. Trying to fix it. I will walk out if they get snappy. And if they try to push me harder than I can. I can't lift leg off floor far yet. The will see me change lol


SonnysWife

 

[referee54]

How long are you icing? It is important that you ice at least 45 minutes to an hour. If the ice pack is too heavy, take some ice out of it---you need to ice more than a few times---five or six times will help out a great deal.

I ice a few times a day.

Get on the exceriser for a few hrs.

What is this---and why are you on it for a few hours---this is way too long---a few minutes at a time at this point in your recovery is sufficient.

My leg is still weak

It will be for some time---this recovery can take quite some time to be complete---for some, it takes close to a year or so. Jut be patient and you will see results.

I walked around the house it's long. I may clean load dish washer if no one did. Wipe down some counters stove table.

From what you describe, you are doing too much, too soon. These activities may seem harmless and innocuous, but it is way too early to be doing all of it. This time in recovery is "me time" for you----it is about your recovery---and allowing your knee and your body to rest and to calm down. By doing all of this, you will continue to cause tremendous inflammation to your knee, which will cause more swelling and more stiffness---and more pain.

Others in your family may need to step up and help out---if stuff doesn't get done, you cannot, at this time in recovery, get it done, as you are causing yourself more pain and stiffness---not to mention frustration.

 

[Angel1978]

I do rest a lot. I am by my self all day. I use the cpu exceriser . Was told on 2 hr and off 2 hr and sleep I'n it. Also it take me all day to do that little bit.


SonnysWife

 

[Angel1978]

How long are you icing? It is important that you ice at least 45 minutes to an hour. If the ice pack is too heavy, take some ice out of it---you need to ice more than a few times---five or six times will help out a great deal.


What is this---and why are you on it for a few hours---this is way too long---a few minutes at a time at this point in your recovery is sufficient.
It will be for some time---this recovery can take quite some time to be complete---for some, it takes close to a year or so. Jut be patient and you will see results.

From what you describe, you are doing too much, too soon. These activities may seem harmless and innocuous, but it is way too early to be doing all of it. This time in recovery is "me time" for you----it is about your recovery---and allowing your knee and your body to rest and to calm down. By doing all of this, you will continue to cause tremendous inflammation to your knee, which will cause more swelling and more stiffness---and more pain.

Others in your family may need to step up and help out---if stuff doesn't get done, you cannot, at this time in recovery, get it done, as you are causing yourself more pain and stiffness---not to mention frustration.

I do ice most of day. I have a ice gel pack. It's a heavy one. But it don't hurt me. It fill good on it. I have it in thin pillow case. And a dish towel on lwg to avoid to cold. Thanks for info. Yeh was told not sleep in ice cause it cause it frost bit. I don't know who said it. Or if was on here lol. But I try.


SonnysWife

 

[Angel1978]

How long are you icing? It is important that you ice at least 45 minutes to an hour. If the ice pack is too heavy, take some ice out of it---you need to ice more than a few times---five or six times will help out a great deal.


What is this---and why are you on it for a few hours---this is way too long---a few minutes at a time at this point in your recovery is sufficient.
It will be for some time---this recovery can take quite some time to be complete---for some, it takes close to a year or so. Jut be patient and you will see results.

From what you describe, you are doing too much, too soon. These activities may seem harmless and innocuous, but it is way too early to be doing all of it. This time in recovery is "me time" for you----it is about your recovery---and allowing your knee and your body to rest and to calm down. By doing all of this, you will continue to cause tremendous inflammation to your knee, which will cause more swelling and more stiffness---and more pain.

Others in your family may need to step up and help out---if stuff doesn't get done, you cannot, at this time in recovery, get it done, as you are causing yourself more pain and stiffness---not to mention frustration.

And when I ice I prop up.


SonnysWife

 

[referee54]

OK---I see that you are in a CPM machine---do you know that you can ice while in that contraption, too?

 

[referee54]

If you put a cloth or a towel in between the ice pack and the skin, you can ice for long, long periods of time.

 

[Celle]

Get on the exceriser for a few hrs. And after that ice. And do some Ẹxcerise. I ice a few times a day. I elevate most of day. I walked around the house it's long. I may clean load dish washer if no one did. Wipe down some counters stove table. Then go ice and rest. By then I am tierd. I relax in chair in between. My leg is still weak. I I've heard that for the first weeks. I was told if I sleep at night don't ice. I sleep off and on for 1-4 hrs and that's off and on. I do elivate then ir starts cramps. So have take half flex. Cause take whole and I am out cold And stiff. Them pains is annoying. And the spasims is wild. I use this ice pack.

My dear, you are doing far too much!
Read this:
Activity progression for TKRs

It's only 19 days since you had major surgery. All the exercise you need to do is about 15 minutes, twice a day. Exercise should not hurt and it should not be hard work. You can't make your knee recover by working hard at it. You must not allow the PT to hurt you.

Your knee needs time to get over the operation. You should spend most of your day resting, icing, elevating and taking your pain medications on time, in the dose prescribed for you.

Was released from home pt which was a joke. They don't do a lot with you. Yes there limited. But I am still stiff. So reg pt will start Dec 30th. I will probley dread it. He said take med before u go cause it will be tough

Home PT was not a joke. Not doing a lot is exactly what they should have done. And of course you're still stiff! Your knee has been cut open, the bones have been sawed, a metal object has been cemented and hammered into them, and then you have been stitched back up. Wouldn't you be stiff if that was done to you?

 

[Angel1978]

Honestly I did not know that. Thanks I will do just that.
Today nurse/pt came first time this week. And she measure and discharges. Sit is 80 lay is 86
I'm on cpu and it's 100 that's far as I can go. Ans 1st few min is rough. But I get through it. If I get pain I get up walk and I fill better.


SonnysWife

 

[Angel1978]

If you put a cloth or a towel in between the ice pack and the skin, you can ice for long, long periods of time.

I do cause it gets so cold


SonnysWife