TKR New Dawn New Day New knee

[yiayia3]

@Josephine wonder if you can help, I'm not sleeping and thought about taking nytol one a night, have taken them before op and they work quite well I take co codamol before bed so not sure if they mix.Just taken the teds off for a while they are cutting into my legs so much have a another 7 days as was told to keep them on for 6 weeks but making my legs so sore.Hope everyone has a nice day having my hair done so that's a treat

 

[Ellejay]

Hi @yiayia3, I've been very naughty this morning, I'm not wearing my TEDs! I wore them last night but after my shower this morning I just couldn't face them again. To be fair I am six weeks tomorrow, so I'm sure one day isn't going to make a difference, but I do feel a bit bad. If it gives you any hope I've been able to cut right down on pain meds this last few days, I know we're all different, but I'm now just on four paracetamols in 24 hours. I must admit sleep is still fairly elusive, I can only manage two hours at a stretch.
I'm lying here now with my legs up the wall after my home PT session, I'm having lunch with some friends and then hopefully I can have a nap this afternoon. Take care, enjoy the hair do and I hope you get some sleep today. Lyn x

 

[yiayia3]

Oh those teds the ban of my life I'm sure a day without for you will be fine, I'll put mine back on but from now on will have a few hours a day without bliss, pleased about the meds I just take paracetamol when needed and co codamol at night It was great to have my hair done don't feel so much like and old lady now.Have a great day Terri

 

[Mazza]

@yiayia3 There shouldn't be any problem at all in taking Nytol as they are over the counter meds. In any case the pharmacist would advise you. From my own experience, I took my own sleeping tablets into hospital with me and took just one at night which gave me 5 hours unbroken sleep right from the beginning. They are only a very low dosage and I don't take them regularly, just when there is an upset in routine like the first night of a holiday or if I can't get to sleep after a few hours.
For the record, I never had teds at all; just some sort of machine that pulsed at my feet on the bottom of the hospital bed for a couple of days and that was it. I guess every surgeon has his own preferences for aftercare.

 

[Ellejay]

Oh lucky you @Mazza, they are horrid. I had the machine at the bottom of the bed AND the teds, perhaps my OS is a bib and braces type of guy!
Hope everyone has a great weekend xx

 

[icep707]

Yia yia, congratulations. You are doing very well , keep up the great work. You are in week 5-6. You will be full speed ahead before you know it . Summertime will be beautiful and you will get to enjoy it with a new knee. These next 6 weeks should be easier than the first 6 were. Take it easy!

 

[yiayia3]

Thanks all I went out for a curry last night and had wine no meds and slept o.k may try the nytol without strong painkillers,I have had teds, injections and the machine! my O.S very bib and braces,such a nice sunny day enjoy everyone

 

[Josephine]

I'm not sleeping and thought about taking nytol one a night,I take co codamol before bed so not sure if they mix

did you ever read the leaflet in the co-codamol packet? It's mostly Tylenol!

I observe are only 5 weeks out so you get to answer the dreaded questions!

First I have some questions to ask you:

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 compare this with the bone-on-bone pain you had before surgery!

)

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

3. how often are you icing your knee and for how long?

4. are you elevating your leg, how often and for how long?

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

6. what kind of PT/exercises are you doing? How much and how often? (and detailed details would be appreciated, please! Reps, sets and session and all that)

 

[yiayia3]

@Josephine pain level about 3 paracetamol 2 twice a day co codamol 2 8/500 at night I also have co dydramol if needed 10/500 take co codamol at bedtime and in night if needed


Ice and elevate 4 times a day
Make bed breakfast snack at lunch ironing dusting go shopping a few times a week empty fill and empty dishwasher fill washing machine walk every day about 30 mins
Knee bends and leg raises extensions squats 10 times 3 times a day also go to group p.t once a week feel I did to much at last class 10 min on bike knee feels sore and swells a lot hope this is enough

 

[Josephine]

Not enough - I want and need every question completely answered. What you've given me tells me nothing.

 

[yiayia3]

@Josephine Was prescribed by hospital 400mg Ibuprofen 3 times a day for 5 days omeprazole 20 mg for 5 days.
Co-codamol 8/500 2 tablets four times a day when required.

I now take paracetamol if needed during the day and co-codamol at bedtime or 10/500 co-dydramol. This was prescribed before surgery and I find it works better than co-codamol. I was in pain last night and took them at bedtime the

 

[yiayia3]

@Josephine Sorry low battery

Forgot to put in stairs up and down 3 to 4 times a day, going up stairs the normal way now but not down. Is this too soon do you think?

Pain was 5-6 last night. First time for a few weeks. It hurts on outside of knee. Will do the right thing today rest ice and elevate .Thanks

 

[Ellejay]

Terri, you make me feel positively lazy! I still get breakfast in bed each morning, I do my exercises, have a shower, then ice and elevate all morning and then go downstairs for lunch, which has been prepared for me.

I might go out to visit a friend, go for a walk, or someone will visit me, maybe group PT (although these have finished now). By 5pm I'm in the recliner, ice and pillows at the ready'. I do all the food shopping on line, I hated walking around supermarkets before the operation because of the pain, so I'm just continuing now. Later on my dinner is served to me and cleared away.

During the evening I'll have a couple of sessions on the small floor peddler between elevating & icing, then it's back up the stairs to bed. I haven't set foot in the kitchen since the TKR, and haven't done any housework or laundry. I didn't realise until now that my husband could do everything, but he is totally insistent that I rest, so I'm doing as I'm told. I'm thinking of entering him for the husband of the year contest.

 

[Josephine]

I now take paracetamol if needed during the day and co-codamol at bedtime or 10/500 co-dydramol. This was prescribed before surgery and I find it works better than co-codamol.

I'm not surprised! Co-codamol contains a smidgeon of codeine while co-drydamol contains dihydrocodeine which is stronger than codeine by a factor of about 4!

stairs up and down 3 to 4 times a day, going up stairs the normal way now but not down. Is this too soon do you think?

Much too soon! But if you can do it totally without pain going up, good on you! But I doubt you are. As a bench mark, it was 8 weeks before I could go up normally and about 4 months before I could do that coming down!

I didn't realise until now that my husband could do everything, but he is totally insistent that I rest

You lucky girl!

 

[Ellejay]

@yiayia3,
Hi Terri,
Freezer defrosted yesterday with husband in charge. I must admit he was far more efficient than me, it usually takes me best part of a day, but he just bagged things & threw out old food (with my supervision), placed everything in the bath, quickly cleaned out freezer and food replaced within two hours. It was almost worth having the TKR to have him do that for me .
Hopefully you will get yours sorted without a problem, don't let them fob you off with "it's just out of guarantee",
my dishwasher packed up three months out of guarantee just before Christmas (very bad timing), it was a reasonably good make, and top of their range, but apparently couldn't be repaired. We were horrified, but went back to the kitchen company that installed it with my new kitchen and they were wonderful and just replaced it with a new one. Good customer service does still exist. Good luck. xx

 

[yiayia3]

Hi @Ellejay and everyone, hope your enjoying the sunshine, just back from physio they checked my knee and the aches and pains are just from over working it, quad and calf muscles are weak so need to do more stretches but a good class today. My eldest son came round this morning he said mum, except what you have had done and just take each day as it comes, such wise words he is a high above knee amputee he lost his leg in r.t.a 15 years ago he is strong and brave and has just got on with his life,it makes me feel what I,m dealing with is a mere walk in the park sorry to ramble on.Terri

 

[Ellejay]

Just yesterday I heard this song, hadn't heard it for years -

https://open.spotify.com/track/0NvvimA48pRrKKYAUosAud

(Just in case the link doesn't work it's Simon & Garfunkel, the 59th street bridge song)

- and I think the opening lines are just 'our tune' "Slow down, you go too fast......

Your son is so right Terri, and obviously someone who knows what you're going through more than most. What a brave lad.
What stretches does your PT recommend? I do worry, that only having had those four group sessions I don't know enough exercises to improve matters. I must look some up on the library on this site. I heard a PT being described as a "physio terrorist " today, which made me smile. I think some people on here can empathise with that definition.
Lyn xx

 

[yiayia3]

@Ellejay I was doing leg stretch on the stair toe pointing toward knee and stretch and weights on lower leg and lifting leg slowly ,think there are some good ones on here, love that song Terri

 

[Ellejay]

Thanks for those ideas, I'll give them a go.
What is the significance of the reading glasses by your thread on the main page, I noticed Nan moon got some first, now you, what do they mean? x

 

[yiayia3]

Hi its 7 weeks tomorrow since my tkr and just to say this forum has helped me so much,the bad days and good there has always been someone to talk too, the advice is great and has helped me so much apart from me being to impatient! I saw my O.S yesterday and he is very pleased he said its as good as it can, be rom 120 extension 0.I will be around for a long time having left knee done January next year,so thanks everyone for advice and the nice chats long may it continue