TKR Mamallama has new knee

[mamallama]

Surgery was at 7:30a and I was back home by 5p. I have an amazing bend, around 80 or 85. Great considering that's where I was 6 weeks out last time. It is stiffening up so I'm bending it once or twice when I change positions to try to maintain it. Cross your fingers for overnight.

Pain is not too pad but I'm taking oxy on schedule so it doesn't get bad. I bought the lounge doctor this time and love it. I need to coordinate more icing. Waiting til tomorrow to set up ice machine. Most of my swelling is just above the knee which is good for bending I think.

 

[mamallama]

Oops posted in the wrong forum. Guess this taking medicine on schedule has it's downside.

 

[Jockette]

@mamallama Welcome to Recovery! I moved your thread over to the Recovery Forum.

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. 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​

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

​

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity progression for TKRs​

6. Access to these pages on the website

​

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

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.

 

[mamallama]

Thank you so much Jockette

 

[benne68]

Hi @mamallama and welcome to the post-op side!

Hope you are finding all the information you need to help with your recovery. Please don't hesitate to ask questions, share concerns -- or just vent about the discomfort. We've all been there and you'll find lots of support here.

Keep us posted on your progress in the days and weeks ahead.