Left TKR on May 15th

RAD

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Going in for a Left TKR on May 15th. Looking forward to sharing experiences here and learning from those on the other side!
 
Stay positive & surround with positive company!! It is no doubt very very painful. I am one week post left TKR. I cried few times due to the pain. Remember to take your pain meds before the pain kicks in. Very important to have some food in your stomach before taking pain meds.,I was given Vicodin. I slowly reduced the dosage to 1 pill now instead of 2 when I need it.
First week is really to allow the knee to heal from the surgery. Don’t push yourself to do exercises. Sending you lots of good luck and positive energy!!
 
Hello @RAD - and :welome:

violetorch has given you some good advice. Here's some more - the approach to recovery that we recommend:
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
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
don't overwork.
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 a 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 history before providing advice.
 
These articles may be useful, to help you prepare for your surgery:
If you are at the stage where you have joint pain but don't know for sure if you are ready to have surgery, these links may help:
Score Chart: How bad is my arthritic knee?
Choosing a surgeon and a prosthesis
BMI Calculator - What to do if your surgeon says you're too heavy for joint replacement surgery
Longevity of implants and revisions: How long will my new joint last?

If you are at the stage where you are planning to have surgery but are looking for information so you can be better prepared for what is to come, take a look at these links:
Recovery Aids: A comprehensive list for hospital and home
Recliner Chairs: Things you need to know if buying one for your recovery
Pre-Op Interviews: What's involved?

Regardless of where you are in the process, the website and app My Knee Guide can help you stay organized and informed. The free service keeps all the information pertaining to your surgery and recovery in one place on your smartphone. It is intended to be a personal support tool for the entire process.

And if you want to picture what your life might be like with a replaced knee, take a look at the posts and threads from other BoneSmarties provided in this link:
Stories of amazing knee recoveries
 
@RAD this site has so much good information and support. All the best for the 15th, and no doubt we'll hear from you once you have your new knee.
 
All the best @RAD My op is Monday 13th and I can't wait (nervous or should it be excited). Will be doing regular updates in recovery area. Just had my pre-op apt and all well. The PT seems a bit old school (no choice), and has already given me a list of exercises to do in bed after op!!! I think I will only be doing the minimum and only when she is around :elevate:
 
Good luck to you too Lisabl! I’m ready to go but kind of nervous too. I’ll watch for your posts and will be posting too. See you on the other side!
 

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