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TKR New knee 30th October 2012 - Age 34

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Very interesting history on your knee. Thanks for sharing. I have a new patient that is young and they have done the scopes and the injections. They have just finished the SynVisc treatments. We will see where they go from here.
 
The first time I did the SynVisc it worked for about 1 1/2 years but then I tried it about 5 times after that and it never worked again. Best of luck to your patient!
 
Hi, Shubbles.....welcome to BoneSmart. It looks like you are finally on the road to having a more normal life. You have quite a story! I'm so proud of you for being strong and proactive even at your young age. And good that your surgeon was upfront with you on his feelings as well. Doctors are human, after all, and it's understandable why he might have some reservations about a TKR on a young patient. But....I admire that he admitted that YOU were right!

The important thing now is to allow your body the time it needs to heal. I know you'll be anxious to get going and do all those things that were so difficult for you before. But take things slowly and you'll get there. Time is your friend right now (well....along with icing, elevating, gentle exercises and BoneSmart, of course! :heehee:).
 
I have been icing, elevating and resting and it has helped a lot. I don't have as much flexion as I would like (Only 65 so far) but I am feeling a lot better and have been able to sleep through the night (other than waking to take the pain meds every 4 hours) so I am thrilled with that progress. I was getting up every 1-2 hours in pain for the first 10 days or so. I even felt like going out so I went our to dinner last night and then today, after resting it a while in the morning, I felt like doing something so I washed some dishes, seperated the laundry and made some lunch. Now I am icing and elevation again. I figure I can do a little at a time as long as I rest in between. I will work on a little more stretching later today. One day at a time. That's how it is going to be for me. I love the support on this site. It's wonderful!
 
Ok folks, I am hoping you can help. I didn't have staples or outside stiches. I have inner stitches and glue on top. I am 13 days Post Op and my scar is VERY itchy! It has been for a couple days now. I am not allowed to use lotions or creams on it yet. Does anyone else have this issue? What have you found to stop the itching?
 
I would try taking benedryl tonight and see if it helps with the itching so you can get some sleep. Is it redder than it was? Are you running a fever? Equip yourself with answers and questions and call you OS tomorrow to check in. I had glue and had no itching, but it is possible to have an allergic reaction to the glue or something else. It could just be healing, but I would call.
 
No fever, no redness (not more than a little from it still being new). It's just itchy like when a scab is healing. I figure that it is normal, but it still drives me nuts because I can't really scratch it. I can simply rub my pants across it and scratch around the area.
 
It would still be safe to take some Benedryl to see if it gives you some relief. It's probably just that, healing!
 
Shubbles, I have merged your latest thread into your primary recovery. Please keep all your questions, concerns, and updates here in this thread. When you do this, it makes it so much easier for people to follow your recovery.

As for the itching, it is a normal thing. Since you have no redness or rash, Janet's suggestion is the best. Take some Benedryl and ask your doctor about it when you can talk with his office or with him directly.
 
Sometimes ice helps. Whether it just numbs the area or what I do not know, but I have found that ice on an ichy area that you cannot scratch helps.
 
That itching is the pits! I had it for a time during my BTKR recovery, and I had it on both knees, so I know how frustrating it is. I also would go the Benadryl route---it may calm down that frustrating feelings.
 
I had steri strips to close and when the tape fell off I got the same itch of healing. I found lightly stroking either side of the scar helped alleviate the itching like it fooled or distracted the nerves.:scratch:
 
Had a rough night last night. I had PT yesterday and when I went in I told him that I was extra swollen and hurting more for some reason. We guessed that it was the change in the weather as we had a big change yesterday and that does cause issues for me. So, he pushed and pushed me until I was in tears again instead of listening to me and taking it easier for a day. Then I had to go out to dinner for my sister-in-law's birthday. Riding in the car and sitting at a restaurant didn't help matters. So, when I got home, I went to bed with ice and meds. But then I woke up at 2am to take my next dose of meds and from 2 to 8am I was in pure misery. I couldn't sleep more than 5-10 minutes because the pain was so bad. I was crying into my pillow so I didn't wake my poor husband who needed to go to work in the morning. I took a double dose of vicodin at 6am hoping that would help. It took until almost 8am to kick in. I went downstaris at 8 and elevated more and iced and just cried until I fell asleep. I finally was able to sleep for about 4 hours. It is not as bad now, but it has still been hurting all day, more than it was yesterday or over the weekend. I think it is time to have a sit down with the PT guy and tell him that if he doesn't listen to me when I tell him that it is bad, I will find someone else.
 
Shelly, when he says do it just say no! You know if it feels ok or if it does not. I would not blame you if you found someone else... Read the riot act to him. You are only a couple weeks along, the bones need time to heal...
 
Shelly,
Time to find someone else, you should not have that much pain after PT. No rush for ROM now. You just had the ends of your bones sawed off, and soft tissue cut and pulled around, your knee needs time to heal.:flwrysmile:
Roy Gardiner has some good advice for early healing.
 
Oh goodness Shelly, I am sorry to hear about your rough night. It sure sounds like you did way too much. Do not let the PT push you sooo hard. You can do this and be firm with them. You are important!!! Rest, Ice, Elevate and take your pain meds on time. and don't go feeling all bad and thinking that you are the only one that gets in these predicaments either. Been there, done that way too many times... I will pray for you to get a good night's rest tonight! Hang in there! (((((hugs)))))
 
Shelly, absolutely LOSE that therapist immediately. His aggressive pushing caused you that pain and suffering!!! Do not go back. You have the right to ask for a different therapist in that practice or simply go to another one. In the meantime, you need LOTS of rest, ice, elevation and a steady dose of pain meds all day and night to recover. Don't worry about any exercises for 3-5 days except for very gentle stretches and bends that you can do yourself.

It was also a bit early for you to attempt an evening out. Please allow yourself time to heal. Your body has been through a lot. Although it doesn't seem like much activity to ride in a car and sit in a restaurant, right now it's more than your knee can handle. You'll pay with pain and swelling. This is YOU time. Your family and friends need to understand that you cannot maintain a normal schedule of activity right now. Be firm!!
 
So true, Jamie!!! I recall for Mothers Day, just under 3 weeks post surgery my D-I-L calling and asking if I wanted to go bowling and out for dinner or desert for Mother's Day. I was shocked!!! I told her, "Honey, I just had major surgery. I would love to, but I cannot!" What I wound up having was three of my kids shopping for and preparing a wonderful meal for me, served in the dining room on the fine dishes, and I came to the table long enough to eat and visit for a short while and returned to the sofa and iced and elevated my knee. Honestly that was about as much as I could handle at that time.
 
I rested and iced all day yesterday and by evening I was feeling much better. The only activity I did was help to make dinner by buttering some toast and slicing some cheese :yahoo: Today I took a shower because I have to go out in public for my first follow up with the doctor and to renew my handicap parking permit and when I got out of the shower I noticed that the glue had come off in several areas and my scar was bleeding a little. I guess if that was going to happen, the day I am seeing the doc is the best day for that to happen. So, I will let you all know how the follow up goes. Have a great day everyone! :SUNsmile:
 
Good luck with your surgeon today and so sorry to hear of your bad experience with the PT. We hear about it so oten on this site and you really should think about changing your PT if he is not symphathetic to your needs. I can believe he did that after you told him you were swollen and sore. Its a pity he couldnt see you that night crying withpain. Hope you have good news from your OS and you are progressing well. Take Care:thumb:
 
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