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TKR LTKR Done

I took my non-surgical leg and put it underneath my surgical leg and used it to lift up my leg onto the Lounge Doctor. I found it was a huge help to have it elevated like this. You can also use a strap to lift your leg but not to force it to bend!
 
amber777 said:
Is the pain required to get my leg onto a leg wedge pillow worth any benefit? It is beyond excruciating to get it up high enough to be on the pillow, however no sleeping position is comfortable, all are painful. I’m a side sleeper but can’t do that yet.
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Oh man, that's rough! Elevation really is important, but it sounds like getting an effective pain regimen is your first priority. Fingers crossed you get the Tramadol separately from the Acetaminophen and can put them both on a good round the clock schedule - then the elevation may be manageable.
 
Jockette said:
My husband was always willing to put my leg on my wedge until I could do it myself, which was a couple of weeks. Is there someone home that could do this for you?
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Maybe but when I wake up to use the bathroom, I’m not waking anyone else up to help me.
 
mendogal said:
Oh man, that's rough! Elevation really is important, but it sounds like getting an effective pain regimen is your first priority. Fingers crossed you get the Tramadol separately from the Acetaminophen and can put them both on a good round the clock schedule - then the elevation may be manageable.
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My family doctor is away and my surgeon just gave me more tramacet.
 
amber777 said:
No one will prescribe the tramadol on its own only with acetaminophen.
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Amber that's a darn shame.
Perhaps my experience will help?

I tapered off of oxy and onto codeine (I can't use NSAIDS). I had hoped the rx would be for straight codeine, so I could just take my 3000 mg Acetaminophen separately. No such luck.

So I computed how much of the codeine I wanted per 24 hours and totaled the acetaminophen dose in that (at 300 mg per pill). Then I figured out how much acetaminophen total I could safely take and scheduled that. It sounds like you've been doing the math already but the tramadol should be the higher priority to put on a round the clock schedule.

I'm sorry there are such barriers for you.
 
@amber777 I'm sorry you are going through so much pain! For the first three weeks I used a sturdy strap to hoist my leg up. You could use a long belt or someone suggested a sturdy exercise band. Hold both ends in one hand, slip the belt under your foot then pull up to lift your leg. I hope that makes sense.
 
My surgery was on the 28th and the soft tissue pain and bruising is really painful. Any idea when that will improve.
 
@amber777 It's a different time frame for every TKR. Are you icing and elevating? That will help ease this pain.
 
@Jaycey yes I’m icing and elevating as much as I can. It’s still swollen and was still seeping as of yesterday. Not too much though.
 
The swelling can continue for months. You are only days out of surgery. Patience prescribed in large doses!
 
My thigh pain is probably more severe than my knee pain right now. Why? What will help?
 
Hello amber,
I am sorry you’re dealing with pain. Thigh pain is fairly common after TKR and you are only 12 days post op. Your best bet is to ice the area as often as you’d like always placing fabric between bare skin and the ice source. Take any prescribed meds on schedule and if you feel you need something stronger, contact your physicians office. I‘m guessing ice, meds, rest and time will all help ease your pain. It is still very early days for you. :console2:
Wishing you lots of comfort!
@amber777
 
amber777 said:
My thigh pain is probably more severe than my knee pain right now. Why?
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Yes, all the muscles, nerves and other soft tissues up and down your leg have been traumatized by surgery. Not only was your surgeon sawing and hammering bones, he had to do a lot of pushing, pulling, bending and stretching of your soft tissues in order to get in there to work.

That's why everything hurts. I struggled with pain at different time in different places from my thigh down to my foot during the first few months of recovery.

As Layla said, the best strategy is to ice, elevate and stay on schedule with your pain medications. It does get better -- it just takes time.

:console2:
 
Your thigh pain is probably coming from where they placed the tourniquet during surgery. This is a common complaint. You can try heat or ice and see if either helps. If you use the heat, don't get it anywhere near your knee. Heat feeds inflammation and your poor knee is inflamed enough!
 
@benne68 I know this might be a dumb post to some, maybe only people that have been through a surgery like this can really understand. I’m deep in the blues right now, I know it’s normal but it’s doesn’t make it easier. I feel useless as I can’t even take a shower by myself. I know time heals all but I wish I could jump to the end, where it’s healed, where it feels worth it and where I can walk without pain. Thanks for reading.
 
You are so very early in this recovery and your body is exhausted from trying to heal from that major surgery you just had. I found coming on here and trying to help other people also helped me with my depression. I cried more after this surgery than I had in a long time. Also, looking back to the beginning and logging the improvements you see helps.

Come here and talk to others. We are here we care! Every one of us has been through what you are going through and want to help you through it! :prayer:
 
@sistersinhim thank you, I will try that. I reached out to my dad as he’s had both his knees replaced but says he never had the blues.
 
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