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TKR LTKR recovery going smoothly

I'm one week away from the LTKR. Except the insurance company just denied the surgery :what: They said that the PT that I did after the RTKR should have helped the left knee :headbang:. My surgeon is working on talking with the insurance company, so hopefully it will get sorted out in the next couple of days.

In the meantime I'm digging out my crutches, walker, ice machine, strap to lift my leg, lounge doctor pillow, bath stool.... so much stuff!

My right knee feels OK these days. My quads still get so tired if I do a lot of walking or either sitting or standing for too long (have to move around, but also rest. It's all a balance). But the right knee itself feels OK, and my ROM is still improving. It will be interesting to see how the right knee/leg does during the left knee recovery (if the insurance company allows it, of course...)
 
I’m sorry you are having trouble with approval for surgery. And what a reason! I’m sure your doctor’s office and take care of it. :console2:
 
My surgeon was able to appeal to the insurance company and they approved the surgery this morning. So after being in limbo this whole week, I'm now ready for surgery on Monday! I went back and re-read my old posts to see what I forgot. I think I'm ready. And this time I'm more prepared mentally for the slog that is recovery.

Fingers crossed the second knee goes as well, or better, than the first knee!
 
Had my LTKR yesterday, and this time I chose to come home the same day instead of going to the recovery facility (one night last time). Surgery was at 7:30 and I was home by 2pm! I'm glad I went to the recovery facility last time because I learned a few tips and tricks. But this time I felt I knew what I was in for, and how to deal with the first couple of days. I'm glad I came home this time. It's been nice to be in my own home.

Although I think the block might have worn off already this time. It's pretty painful, and I'm having to take the max doses of percocet/oxycodone. I hope the pain dissipates a bit because I don't like taking the opiods for too long. They make me loopy and a bit dizzy. Would be nice to be able to stretch out the time between doses at least, but my knee is not allowing that yet!
 
I’m glad it’s all done and you’re home!

Here’s a refresher course for you. 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!)​

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.
 
Glad your surgery is over and you are on the other side. At least this time you know what to expect and I do think that helps in keeping you more calm and patient through the recovery process. Good luck 2nd time around!
 
Day 5 of second knee - I don't know if I've just blocked it out of my memory from last time, but I've been in a bit more pain this time. I've also been more nauseous and constipated, which has been unpleasant. I don't think I've done anything differently from the last knee, but I guess I'm really seeing that each recovery can be different.

I haven't done any PT yet. With the last knee I saw 3 PTs before I found one that I liked and who didn't push me to do stuff that I knew my knee wouldn't be happy with. Next week if the pain is more under control I'm going to see if I can start seeing him again, but I'm not in a hurry because I know what I need to do. I know I shouldn't go just to make my surgeon happy, but that's pretty much what I'd be doing!
 
I'm one of those who never took formal PT. I've had 12 knee surgeries, 2 of them kneecap removals, and 1 tkr. Even after those I never took formal PT. But, I didn't just sit around and do nothing. I used my knee as it was intended to be used by walking around to take care of my daily needs along with the necessary house and yard work. As I healed I was able to do more. Icing and elevation were a huge part of my recovery.

My surgeon gave me a prescription for PT, but I never went. Like you, I knew what to do and I didn't see the need to go. When I went back for my after-surgery exams, my OS never said a thing about PT. He just wanted to see how my knee would move. I was so blessed to have him as my doctor!

Listen to your knee. It will tell you if you're doing too much by increased pain and swelling. When that happened to me, I found that resting, icing, and elevating helped. Your knee knows how to rehab itself without being told what to do.
 
Good luck and welcome to the other side! Keep us posted on your progress.....
 
Congratulations on your 2nd new knee, :wave: many of us our following in your steps, - Pain is the one thing we seem to be able to forget quickly, I had my last replacement in 2019 so a far distant memory hopefully better for all of us 2nd time round, keep us posted on your progress xx
 
Yesterday was a bit rough. I tried taking less oxycodone because of constipation, but unfortunately I let the pain get away from me. So then I was in pain and constipated. Fun times! I was drinking Smooth Move tea and eating prunes, but that wasn't doing the job, so I had to resort to laxatives. Luckily today things are moving better, and the pain is under control again. Now I just have to find the balance of keeping things moving but also pain under control.
 
@GiantFinnegan I bet having a second TKR is a little like having a second child...you think you remember the pain but in reality, it's a lot worse. Remember the Emily Dickinson poem, PAIN HAS AN ELEMENT OF BLANK... It's well said, we can only grasp it's enormity while going through it.
I know the Oxycodone can make you constipated, and I also remember how much my knee hurts. I decided I would eat the prunes, take the Oxy, and I knew that eventually the prunes would do their magic. I only had to wait until the next day and if you keep taking a few prunes morning and night, things regulate. But we all have to do what is right for ourselves, and that was what I decided. I needed the pain killers.
Sending all the best, it's a rough go and we are all here for you. xox
 
@GiantFinnegan, I knew the opiates would cause constipation, so I just ignored it, drank my miralax and knew that sooner or later...well, you know My knee was replaced and everything was looking up!
Best of luck!!
 
My LTKR is going so much better than my RTKR. I didn't realize how abnormal my right leg felt back then. I'm pretty sure I mentioned to my surgeon at the post-op appointment that I had burning/numbness in my shin and foot back then but he's not the best at listening(!) My PT was the one who realized I was having nerve sensitivity and recommended gabapentin, which helped almost immediately. My nerve issues were really holding back my recovery/flexion.

Anyway, it has been 10 days since my LTKR, and my knee feels better than my right knee did at 12 weeks! Very little swelling, no burning sensation, my foot isn't numb, and my flexion is already at 85 (I didn't get there until months after my RTKR). I'm still taking the gabapentin, so who knows if I would have had the same nerve issues without it, but I'm happy to keep taking it for now and not find out!

I went to see my PT (who is great, it took me a while to find him last time, but he doesn't believe in pushing until the point of pain) today and he was really happy with how my knee looks so far. I'm really happy, too! I'll be doing at home PT for the next few weeks and will see him again in early December unless I have any issues. I like this approach.

[mods, can you change my title to "LTKR recovery going smoothly"]
 
Welp, of course I spoke too soon.... I suppose I was feeling overconfident because I was feeling pretty good, and of course I ended up in the Over Did It Club. Up until yesterday I really hadn't had any swelling, and my ROM was pretty darn good. But PT on Weds (although I thought pretty benign then) and house activities on Weds/Thurs meant swelling and of course less ROM on Friday. Ugh. Luckily my partner has made me stop everything again, elevate and ice yesterday and today. The swelling is coming down now, so it's already helping, but will I ever learn???
:banghead:
 
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