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TKR Johnny Cs new knee

JohnnyC

new member
Joined
Jan 7, 2025
Messages
4
Age
66
Gender
Male
Country
United States United States
One day post op. What to expect? Pretty rough right now
 
Hi and Welcome!

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary

2. Control discomfort:
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​
If you want to use something to help heal the incision,
BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 
Just to confirm, your surgery was yesterday, January 6? Right or left TKR? :snow:
 
Welcome to BoneSmart, @JohnnyC. Glad you found us so early in your recovery,

Yes, the first couple of weeks are really hard. Pain, swelling, fatigue -- the surgical team doesn't really prepare us for what to expect. I've been through 2 knee replacements and can confirm that it is normal to feel this way. For now, focus on resting, icing and elevating as much as possible. It does get better; it just takes time.

I encourage you to read the articles Jockette shared with you, The advice really helped me get through both of my recoveries.

And stick with us. Don't hesitate to share your concerns, ask questions, or just vent. We are here to support you on your recovery journey.
 
Hi @JohnnyC !

I had both knees replaced in 2023. My entire ortho team was united in telling me that in the initial weeks Less is Better.

I nested in my recliner, icing and elevating, except for my prescribed hourly very short walk plus attending to hygiene needs.

I took my prescribed pain meds on a schedule to maintain therapeutic blood levels, and kept a steno pad and pen for recording meds, activities, etc.

I initially only did two exercises that could be done while in the recliner: ankle movements to reduce the risk of blood clots, and gentle quad sets to stimulate the quads to reactivate plus foster circulation and a bit of extension.
 
Hang in there Johnny. It gets better. One day at a time. I had my left knee done years ago. It was rough at first, but the payoff of having a new knee is worth it. I’m having my right knee done Feb. 18th. I remember the first week was the hardest. Take care.
 
Hi all. I’m three weeks postop at this point, my rotation is good so my doctor said I don’t need to do physical therapy, and pain is tolerable. I’m having trouble sleeping at night, which I guess is pretty common, but one thing that’s driving me crazy is the itching-My calf and in and around the incision. Any advice for dealing with that would be greatly appreciated!
 
Hi Johnny,
Great news there's no need for PT! :thumb:

Itching is a normal sensation during the healing process.
For the itching, a cold compress such as a cool damp cloth or an ice pack may help soothe the itching. Crazy as it sounds sometimes gently tapping / patting the area can distract from the itch. Make sure you're staying adequately hydrated which will keep your skin from becoming too dry. Wear loose, breathable clothing to avoid irritation around the site of your incision.

Although it is okay to put lotion or cream on the surrounding skin if it is uncomfortable, you should not apply anything close to or on the stitches or incision without the approval of your surgeon. It normally takes four to six weeks for the incision to fully heal and close. You don't want to risk infection by applying a product near an open area before that time. Some of the more common creams and lotions used on a healed incision are Bio-Oil, Vitamin E Oil, E45 Cream, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion with Vitamin E, and Coconut Oil.

The one exception to the guidance in regard to applying products topically over your incision is a product called ACTIVE AntiMicrobial Hydrogel Spray. This product contains hypochlorous (HOCL), a compound made naturally by your body to promote healing. It can be applied to your incision at any point during recovery - it's a germ fighter as well as a healing and moisturizing agent. Discuss its use with your surgeon before using it. You will find a link at the top right of the page in a sidebar ad you can click on if interested.

Have a nice weekend!
@JohnnyC
 
Make sure you place fabric between the ice source and bare skin.
I wish you luck and hope you find relief soon!
@JohnnyC
 
Happy One Month Anniversary, Johnny!
I hope you're doing well, enjoying steady progress and looking forward to returning to all that you love.
Happy February...have a good one!

We're encouraging members to take their experience here to the next level. We appreciate and value your support as part of this community. Check out this link to the Insider's Club -

Joining the Insiders Club allows special perks above the basics, making the most of what BoneSmart has to offer. If you're interested, we'd love to have you join us!

Take good care!
@JohnnyC
 

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