TKR May the force be with me!

[Bilbo]

8 hr round trip yesterday. It was a little rough, but I made it. No PT, still on my own.

 

[Heyblondie58]

Hi @Bilbo!!

I'm just coming up to 5 wks post op & couldn't straighten my leg out to get myself back into bed until nearly the end of the 2nd week, also my knee still feels warm on & off, especially when i've done some walking/stairs or when i get out of bed in the mornings when it's really stiff too etc then I really have to rest up & not do anything but gentle stretching for a while, if that helps?

Hope the Docs appt goes well!!
Best wishes
Sue

 

[Bilbo]

I took a shower this morning it wore me out. I was sweating by the time I got done blow drying my hair, and I do not have much hair.

 

[Heyblondie58]

Know exactly what you mean Bilbo, everything is such an effort at the moment, I end up in tears sometimes it's so bloody frustrating!!

Sue.

 

[Littlelady58]

Fatigue seems to come hand in hand with this op, but remember it's a major operation, so don't be too hard on your self.... Keep in mind how hard it was to just left your leg off the bed the first while lol.... Showering is a major production at my house, I get my leg easy enough going in but getting out is a whole different story

 

[Heyblondie58]

@Littlelady58

I have a nice walk in shower cubicle so getting out isn't a problem for me, it's the standing when I wash my hair too, kills my back for some reason?

Sue.

 

[Bilbo]

Well I have been having a sharp pain on the inside upper part of my knee. Not all the time but just a little worried about it. Any feed back please.

 

[referee54]

Those pains are all quite to be expected---they most likely migrate around and are part of the healing process.

I gave up guessing where the pains would move to. I would not worry about it at all.

 

[Heyblondie58]

Bilbo, i'm with Tim on this one. I've had pains at the front, back & sides of my knee, the only consistent pain i've had right from the start is a tight pulling/burning/tearing type sensation under where the scar is, & even my PT reassured me saying it was all the damaged tissue/internal layers of stitching & bruising trying to repair itself. It's all perfectly normal & my general pain moves around all the time. It's a very brutal op a TKR, & everything is going to take months to heal itself.

Hope you're feeling better today?

Sue.

 

[referee54]

I had the pains in stereo--a BTKR---and they would surprise me every day as to where they would show up. After telling my wife of these pains, she called them "The Great Migration."

 

[Bilbo]

When I went for my recheck Tue. he took my bandage off and said I was good to go. Well it was a long trip and a long wait when I got there.( I got there early also be cause of the weather). So needless to say I was so ready to leave. I Didn't ask anything. There is no PT (which I really didn't want to mention), I don't know what my ROM is, and how to care for my incision. I don't blame him. He had me walk, took off the bandage,looked at it really good. Ask me If I had any questions. Said I could get it wet. Everything looked good come back in 4 weeks. I was just ready to get out of there. I guess I bit my nose off to spite my on face. Sooooo I was wondering should I be doctoring my incision and when can I get in a pool?

 

[Heyblondie58]

Hi @Bilbo

Firstly, your OS isn't psychic, I know they can be very intimidating at times (although I have to say mine is very nice), but i've found in my experience that if you don't ask what you want to know they won't tell you!!

Ok, as long as your wound/scar is clean & not weeping at all (& from what you've said it sounds fine?), then you don't have to do anything to it, but massaging it gently (once it's less sensitive) daily with a perfume free cream or lotion such as E45, helps to break down the scar tissue & keeps it from drying out. I use Bio-Oil, but i'm a bit further on from you. As for going swimming, as far as I can remember, they don't recommend that until 6-8 wks.

I hope that helps you?
Best wishes
Sue.

 

[KYata]

For right now drag something in the bathroom to sit on so you don't have to stand as long. After the August 2014 surgery I did sponge baths sitting in a shower chair in front of the sink for a long time. It was a big deal when I was confident and strong enough to be able to even stand to brush my teeth for a couple minutes. I could stand and I could brush teeth but multitasking wasn't happening!

This time the dressing was water tight and I showered sitting on a shower stool. At PT one guy said he just dragged a patio chair in his shower, whatever won't slip or get damaged by water I guess. I washed my hair in the sink as I felt wobbly with eyes closed and it was easy to wash hair with elbows on the counter and hands in the hair. Sounds odd but I did that for several weeks until I could close my eyes without feeling wobbly and was standing to shower.

After that dressing was off I was allowed to shower but not take a bath or swim. I was specifically told no oils or lotions until all dry skin/scabs were completely gone.

 

[Kansas Teacher]

@Bilbo , I am on a similar timetable as you -- my surgery was May 1. I just saw my OS on Tuesday and got my staples out. I can tell you what he told me which may or may not be the same thing your OS would say. I've had a waterproof bandage on all along so have been able to shower but not get in a pool. Now that staples are out and bandage is off, he said just give it another week (probably about 3 1/2 weeks out from surgery) and it should be sealed enough to do hydrotherapy. I go back in another 4 weeks too.

I also made it a habit to write down questions that came up along the way and asked them to him during my appointment. Otherwise, I knew I'd forget too!

I have a built-in bench in my shower but, if you don't, I would try to get one that you can use for awhile. It's a great help. Have a super day!

Roxie

 

[Littlelady58]

Hi @Bilbo i wouldn't be too worried that you're not doing any PT at the moment, I only have ever go to occupational Theropy, she takes me through the exercises that are given to us in the book and I do them twice a day, it worked for me the first time and I think it will work this time I'm just letting my incision air dry haven't touched it yet... It looks good a few crustys which I'll let come away on there own, I felt like I missed the class on incision care lol... Which was a concern to me but unless it's weeping or looks infected it should be good when it gets itchy I use ice, it distracts from the itch

 

[Bilbo]

I was thinking, if I was to video myself I know I would win Funniest home videos. If not for the embarrassment. First night home I had to get up to go to the bathroom. Some how I ended up in the floor (I have no ideal how). It was even funnier trying to get up. I didn't get hurt. I don't know why, but I didn't.I have learned all kinds of neat tricks. Thanks for all the input. I will be going home Sunday. I will make myself rest and try my best not to over do it. My main concern is are baby. All 7 of them. It will be good to get home.

 

[Celle]

Sooooo I was wondering should I be doctoring my incision and when can I get in a pool?

There's no need to do anything special to care for your wound and scar. Just keep it clean and dry. Let the scabs fall off by themselves - don't do anything to try and hurry them.

Once your wound is completely healed, with no scabs or little open areas, it's all right to get in a bath or a pool.
If your scar and skin feel dry, it's OK to massage gently with something like Bio-Oil, but it's not necessary. There's no need to massage it to get rid of lumps and bumps. They're part of the natural healing process and they will gradually go away by themselves.

 

[kneeper]

It seems to be pretty common for our skin to be dry after the surgery. I never used anything other than really gentle lotion or cocoa butter with vitamin E on the scar area. I think the doc did not recommend putting anything on the scar area for several weeks. You want the incision to be completely closed.

 

[Bilbo]

My right knee is acting up now. Was hoping it would hold up a little longer. Doctor said in about 3 months, I was hoping for the Fall. May not make it though.

 

[Bilbo]

I have been reading on here, and it seem some people have a popping sound in their new joint. Is this normal? Also they were talking about restless leg and nerve damage being treated with a product from Hyland's. If anyone knows about this I would like some more information.