Bilateral TKR LauraLeigh's NEW knees!

[LauraLeigh]

Everything went well, according to my OS. I had nerve blocks and a spinal so I was completely numb from the waist down for quite a while. I finally started feeling some pain around 3 am - not too severe, more like a deep muscular ache in my left calf and shin. I can have dilaudid every 10 minutes & also had some hydrocodone. No compression stockings, luckily - just the booties that pump regularly. I'm trying to do quad sets, ankle pumps and circles whenever I'm awake. They still haven't gotten me up in a chair; they had to wait until the numbness in my feet wore off. So I've still got that to look forward to!

 

[msmechanic58]

Welcome to the other side! Glad to see you post!

 

[Biscuit]

Good for you! Sounds like you're doing great. It'll feel good to get up and about a little. Good luck today.

 

[LauraLeigh]

Thanks guys! I feel pretty good right now & am starting to think about breakfast. I haven't eaten yet aside from some saltines and some milk. They have a pretty extensive menu here and I can order whatever I want. I'm thinking breakfast burritos...

 

[Wednesday]

Congratulations and welcome! I had a late afternoon surgery and was also starving after the procedure. I think it's because we had spinal. Just a word of caution. Enjoy you meal now. The oral meds are likely to play havoc with your appetite very soon.

 

[JustJeff]

Your hospital sounds like the one I used. I looked at the menu and then called for food, ordered and then brought it to you. Btw, what are they icing with?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[LauraLeigh]

@Wednesday, so far they've only given me hydrocodone, which I've been taking for years. I do need a little food if I take 2, but two packs of saltines and a carton of milk worked fine.

@JustJeff, I have two of the DonJoy ice machines. I knew from the pre-op class that's what I'd be getting so I've already frozen a bunch of small water bottles to use in them when I go home.

 

[LauraLeigh]

Sheesh - this place is BUSY! It's like Grand Central Station in here. So far today I've had visits from:
- my OS
- his PA (who removed the heavy post-op bandages)
- physical therapist
- ultrasound guy (checking for clots)
- anesthesia guy
- occupational therapist
- hospital volunteer
- housekeeping
-multiple nurse visits

All I want to do is sleep but someone comes in every 10 minutes! And I know the PT guy is coming back to torture me soon - what fun.

 

[msmechanic58]

Hahaha. That's why I tell the pt every time. "Thanks for the torture!"

 

[Phil75070]

Welcome to the recovery side of things! Sounds like things are going really great for you so far! Super!

 

[Wednesday]

How long do you expect to be in the hospital, and will you go home directly or spend some time in rehab?

 

[LauraLeigh]

If all goes well, I'll go home Friday. If not, I'll go to rehab - we just have to wait and see.

My first PT session was agonizing but I made it through without any tears! I wasn't able to stand - it was just too painful. I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Biscuit]

Oh well, hang in there. Sometimes things don't happen on our schedules. With your attitude, you'll be just fine.

 

[skigirl]

If you have pain during pt, you are irritating tissues that need to heal right now. I will give you our Bonesmart mantras and the post op reading list. all of the articles are shortl

First are the mantras ....
- rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist - to do it to you
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!

Next is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) thread.

And then the articles in order of importance .
Group A
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Progression of activity for TKRs

Group B
How Long Does Healing Take ......
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Using ice

Group C
Knee Replacement - Where Am I in Recovery?
So What Is It Going to Take? The Five “P’s” of Knee Recovery
Work “Smarter” and not “Harder”
About recovering a knee - from one who knows!
Some suggestions for home physio (PT) and activity progress
Myth busting: The "window of opportunity"

Group D
MUA (manipulation under anaesthetic) and adhesions
It's never too late to get more ROM!
It's Worth the Wait for ROM
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

 

[waitingtogarden]

Welcome to recovery side. You are running right on course, it seems. I couldn't stand my first day. My knees would just buckle.

Icing and elevating...along with sleeping sound like a very good plan for now. So do it you can. Visits from staff will soon settle down.

Have a good week!

 

[LauraLeigh]

I think the problem was that the hydrocodone & dilaudid were not doing the job. I've been on that for years so I've probably built up a tolerance. They switched me to Toradol and that worked much better!

@skigirl, the pain I was having during my PT session wasn't in the joints - I've been having muscular pain in my calves and shins so ankle pumps were very hard to do. They did an ultrasound to rule out a blood clot and I'm okay, fortunately.

Surprisingly, they do NOT have my legs elevated! I do have ice on them at all times but they said there was very little swelling so no need for elevating. I just have to keep them as straight as possible.

 

[skigirl]

I am surprised that hospitals don'r elevate the legs--I brought my own pillow to the hospital, but I only stayed one night anyway. Frustrating--but be sure to elevate when you get home. I spent the first two weeks with my legs up --I spent about 80% of my time in bed. By week three, the swelling was mostly gone.

Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Using ice

 

[LauraLeigh]

I'm pretty sure that with my adjustable bed I can the legs both straight and elevated. I know I can in my recliner for sure.

 

[LauraLeigh]

Between the Toradol and the Percocet, I had a pretty decent night's sleep. I still have some numbness on my legs but it's down to a few patches. The ache in my calves is much improved - with any luck PT will go better today. Still on the catheter at this point but I'm in no hurry to get that out!

Last night I dreamt a couple of times that I could walk normally and moved my legs in my sleep -YIKES!! Not good...let's hope I don't do that again.

 

[Phil75070]

Happy to see you are doing so well! Come to think of it, the only elevating of my leg, both in the hospital and the in-patient PT facility, was when my leg was put in the CPM.