TKR nervous over 3rd joint replacements

[barzeen]

Had my surgery almost 4 weeks ago.. Knee is doing well!!!

The rest of me ughh.. painful pressure sore.. hospital Fri evening stage 2 ulcer need to contact wound care tomorrow. Cautiously using walker but torn rotator cuff making that difficult.. Doctor wants me on Tylenol only.. Doesn't believe in narcotics after 3 weeks.
So pain is out of control more than just the knee.

Have to go in to see him tomorrow. Getting in and out very hard. Remember nothing of my surgery or little of rehab, Must have been real good drugs. Emotionally not doing well. Not sure how to stay positive. Feel like I should be further along and so wanted to be. Just scared how I'm feeling.. The knee as far as I know is doing well. Just very weak and wants to give out. I know the exercising would help and doing what I can.. Just so exhausting...

 

[Jockette]

Hi and Welcome to Recovery.

I’m going to ask @Josephine to come and talk to you.

doctor wants me on tylenol only... doesn,t believe in narcotics after 3 weeks... so pain is out of control..

Can you ask your regular family doctor for help?

emotionally not doing well.. not sure how to stay positive..

This is very common after major surgery, we’ve all felt this way. In my next post I’ll give you our Recovery Guidelines, be sure to read them all. There’s an article about post op blues.

feel like i should be further along and so wanted to be..

Your knee has its own time table for healing, you are right where you’re supposed to be:
“Where Are You In Recovery?”
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/tkr-where-are-you-in-recovery.13290/

the Knee as far as i know is doing well. just very weak and wants to give out

Your knee has been surgically assaulted, it will get stronger as it heals.

 

[Jockette]

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.

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.

 

[Jockette]

i know the exercising would help and doing what i can.. just so exhausting...

It’s not exercising that gets our range of motion back, it’s Time:

Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.

Our range of motion is right there all
along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.

In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Exercise as in strength training is counter-productive and in the early weeks does more harm than good. Normal activity is the key to success.

 

[Josephine]

I'd really like to offer you some structured advice but in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?

 

[barzeen]

Josephine thank you for any questions...

 

[Josephine]

Here y'go then!

It would be very helpful if you would answer each one individually - numbered as I have done - in as much detail as you can then I'll come back as see where you are ....

1. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't forget to factor in other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness).

2. what pain medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

3. how swollen is your leg compared to these?

4. what is your ROM - that's flexion (bend) and extension (straightness)

5. are you icing your knee at all? If so, how often and for how long?

6. are you elevating your leg. If so how often and for how long?

7. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

8. are you doing any exercises at home? If so what and how often?
This is the most crucial question so please help me by using the format I have left as an example
(which means please make a list and not an essay!)

Exercises done at home
- how many sessions you do each day
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.

Anything done at PT
- how many times a week
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.

 

[barzeen]

I am 8 weeks post op,. still at my daughters. Just wondering if anyone still struggles with balance? I've had 3 falls since being home. None serious, thank God, however scary. I am no speed demon. 2 were with my walker with my daughter next to me.

PT 3 times a week at home, home nurses, I try to be careful doing exercises. Knee is great. The left is bone on bone to be done down the road. Currently waiting to get my very throbbing shoulder fixed which can't happen until I get my balance and am on no walker. Trying to stay positive but the depression is raging havoc. Feeling so alone. Would appreciate any one's input, thank you

 

[Glosnana]

@barzeen Welcome! You will find this site invaluable for navigating this rollercoaster that is TKR recovery. I am 2 days earlier with right TKR and need the left done sooner rather than later.
Sorry you're having this problem with balance but hope that someone can offer advice and you get it sorted.
I can relate to feeling down, some days worse than others and I know it's because my patience is wearing thin!!

 

[Celle]

Hi @barzeen ,
You'll notice that I've merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread.
For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here.
Don't worry that we won't see your question because, between us, the staff read all new posts every day.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.
How to tag another member; how to answer when someone tags you

If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.

Here are the instructions on finding your thread, How can I find my threads and posts? . Many members bookmark their thread, so they can find it when they log on.

 

[Celle]

Yes, some people do find that their balance is disturbed for a while after this surgery. I think it's probably because your nerves and muscles haven't yet recovered from the trauma of the surgery. Do the best you can,, and try to keep on moving slowly and carefully.
Can you ask your daughter to make sure tht there is nothing around tht might cause you to trip?

I know you feel that you should be further ahead than you are, but everyone is different. You'v had a major surgery that will need a long recovery - as long as a full year for all your tissues to be completely healed.
This article may help you to feel a bit happier about your progress:
Where are you in recovery?? (TKR)

By the way, did you see that Josephine has left her questions for you to answer? - they're in Post #&.

 

[Josephine]

Would appreciate any one's input, thank you

Yes, how about answering my questions?

 

[barzeen]

Has anyone ever experienced leg tremors while trying to walk before or following a TKR. Doctor spoke lightly of it as it could be anxiety, which God knows how I pray he is right however it's affecting my walking healing.

 

[Celle]

@barzeen

You'll notice that I have merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread. This is the second time your threads have had to be merged. Please don't keep starting new threads.

For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated. It's obvious that you have missed some of the advice given to you and you haven't answered the questions that Josephine posted for you. Please go back to Post #7 and answer them, then she can help you.
  
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here.
Don't worry that we won't see your question because, between us, the staff read all new posts every day.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.
How to tag another member; how to answer when someone tags you

If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.

Here are the instructions on finding your thread, How can I find my threads and posts? . Many members bookmark their thread, so they can find it when they log on. Please do that, so we don't have to merge your threads again.

 

[Celle]

Has anyone ever experienced leg tremors while trying to walk before or
following a TKR. Doctor spoke lightly of it as it could be anxiety

It's probably a sign that your leg is tired.

 

[Josephine]

Quite right, @Celle !

@barzeen I'd really like to offer you some structured advice but in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?

 

[barzeen]

had TKR in April.. Continue to be off balance and falling.. left shoulder replaced in August... now need the left knee done... so very sick of feeling like this and the thought of another surgery is so very overwhelming... experiencing what doctor seems to think are essential tremors.. which are made worse with anxiety duh !! Just wondering if anyone else has ever done 3 replacements in 6 mos and had tremors....

 

[Celle]

@barzeen
You'll notice that, once again, I have merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread.
Please bookmark your thread, so that you don't keep starting new threads.

For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here.
Don't worry that we won't see your question because, between us, the staff read all new posts every day.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff, by putting th @sign in front of their name.


If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.

 

[Celle]

It sounds to me as if your general health isn't very good, as you developed a pressure sore after your knee replacement. Before the surgeries, were you able to care for yourself independently?

Continue to be off balance and falling..

This is a concern. Are you still using a walking frame or a stick? I realise that with a a new shoulder replacement a walking frame is not ideal, so maybe you could use a stick in your other hand. At any rate, it sounds as if you need some support, so that you don't keep falling.

It's still early days for your recovery from the shoulder replacement and your new knee is still only 6 months old. Have you discussed a time frame with your surgeon for having your left knee replaced? I think you should wait a bit longer, until you are a little stronger.

Have you talked to your own doctor about managing the tremors? If, as he says, they are essential tremors, there are some medications that may help to control them.

 

[barzeen]

Ive always been very independent ... and pretty much healthy up until the fall on the black ice in 2017..
downhill since.. living w my daughter who is a great help however all ready has her hands so full... i have insisted on seeing a neurologist end of November there has too be an answer.. i have lost the number of falls thank you God nothing permanent injuries,,, but terrified that i can do real damage... depressed and anxious.. have never experienced anything like this..

and i do apologize for posting in correctly... i'll catch on eventually...