LTKR - 2 Weeks ago today

[SportHog]

Well, today is my 2 week anniversary of the LTKR. My wife took the staples out yesterday and what a relief to have them and the dressing gone!! I think the post op pain for the LTKR was worse than the RTKR last December. I was taking the pain meds pretty regularily until yesterday when I stopped them and replaced them with a couple of ibuprofen a couple of times a day. The pain has really reduced since the staples were taken out. ROM has reduced a bit since I am not pushing the physio as hard this time. It is an interesting experience that the right knee feels normal now after only 4.5 months. What an experience!! So far, I highly recommend the surgery to anyone who is in pain. Thanks to all for sharing your experiences and suggestions.
Cheers, Ross

 

[JenniferG]

Hi ross! Only Ibuprophen at 2 weeks? Wow! Good to know taht 4.5 months feels normal.

 

[Pattipoo]

Don't be surprised if you have some withdrawal problems from quitting the meds abruptly.

Glad you're getting along so well!!

 

[April]

Ross, Good for you! Have you been on pain meds since your first knee replacement in December? When I asked the Nurse Practitioner at my OS office about pain meds, she told me to take one extra strength Tylenol with one Loritab (what I was on at the time) if I wanted to cut back on the dosage, yet still help with swelling. Of course, check with your respective doctors. Not ready to wean myself altogether yet. Noooo way!!

 

[SportHog]

Hi April.
I think I only took the prescription meds for my right knee for a couple of weeks. Then I switched to ibuprofen just before physiotherapy and before bed for a couple of months. Ibuprofen seems to work better for me than Tylonol (Acetaminophen). It is quite possible that I have a reasonably high pain threshold as well. How far along are you? I still have a lot of stiffness in the left knee but it is coming along each day. My Dr. said not to push the left knee too hard. Just gradual progress.
Cheers, Ross

 

[April]

I am almost 7 weeks post op. I had TKR on my right knee March 13. I am doing well, but still fight the tightness and working past my ROM of 90 - 95. I too have a high tolerance to pain, but found that Loritab was not enough when I did need to take it. I am now on Oxycodone as needed and always at night. Anything to push through the PT and gain my ROM back.

 

[Doug]

April,
I had right leg TKR on Jan 17. I think one common bit of advice we keep repeating on the forum is patience. All of us have to keep reminding each other.
Oxycodone was my surgeons drug of choice for me. I'm at a point now where I only take it when I've overdone my workouts or when those low pressure fronts drop on us.
Let me recommend two things. First, keep lowering the seat on the bicycle. It hurts but it works. Do some intervals on the cycle. One minuet fast, one minute slow. Back and forth. It will help strengthen the leg and give you stamina.
Secondly, A big help on the flex is to get into a steaming hot tub of water. Soak the leg for a few minutes. Then, with both feet on the bottom end of the tub,(by the drain), slowly slide down as far as you can and hold it for 20 seconds.. Come back up and relax. Then repeat it several times. It is great for the bend.
Most importantly. After both of the above, ice the knee.
Hope this helps.

 

[April]

Thanks Doug. I have lowered the bike twice now, but a bit slow on the repetitions. I feel like each lowering of the bike seat is an accomplishment in and of itself. Have not had that hot bath yet, looking forward to that! Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[referee54]

Anytime that you have free time, just sit on the bike and ride it...it doesn't matter how fast you go; what does matter is that ou are stretching things and increasing both your ROM as well as your strength. As Doug said, go forwards and backwards, and try to do the intervals as well. I would watch TV and pedal away on the bike. If you are having trouble, just rock the pedals back and forth. Ice for twenty minutes an hour afterwards.

Tim C.

 

[1jt@atime]

April,
Oxycodone was my surgeons drug of choice for me. I'm at a point now where I only take it when I've overdone my workouts or when those low pressure fronts drop on us.

What Doug failed to say was that he overdoes the workouts EVERYDAY! Yes Doug, we all know you.

I think the post op pain for the LTKR was worse than the RTKR last December. Cheers, Ross

Ross, I'm optimistic that my second tkr recovery in June will be better then the first one was last October. Which of your knees were worse pre-surgery?

 

[SportHog]

Hi 1jt@atime. My OS said my left knee (Apr 14/07) was worse than the right one. Despite the higher pain during the second week, it is feeling pretty good as i enter week 3. ROM seems better than the right. I am not overdoing the physio at this time but will step it up in week 4. It is more comfortable to sleep at night. Ibuprofen seems to be doing the job pain wise. I recall thinking that my second recovery would be better than the first. Perhaps having gone through it once is a benefit. So far, so good. My physiotherapist remarked on the small size of the incision (around 6 inches) for the RTKR which may be a factor on the pain level issue. I am sure you will recover from your second TKR in June just fine. Good luck and keep us posted. Cheers, Ross

 

[faith]

Hi I'm Faith and I had LTKR almost 8 wks ago. I have been off pain meds since week 4. last week I finished therapy. Before surgery my ROM was 85.
After surgery I was told that I would be lucky to achieve a ROM of 100, due to years of built up scar tissue.
Well I took that as a challenge and as of today my ROM is 115.
My so called good leg isn't that much more, so I've accomplished my goal.
What I can tell you is that at week 4, I seriously wondered why the heck I put myself through this ordeal. Today at almost 8 wks, I am pain free for the first time in 20 years. That is worth everything to me!

 

[Nursepair]

Faith, that is wonderful news, good for you!! It is great when you realise you are not in that same kind of old knee pain eh?

 

[Skeet]

Faith, I had the same experience. Up through the first 6 weeks I was regretting my decision and thinking I'd made a huge mistake. By 8 weeks I changed my mind and now at 19+, I'm sure this was a great choice. My only discomfort is the stiffness. That's so much better than the old knee pain. God bless the person who was willing to have the first TKR! They paved the road for all of us.