TKR New RTKR - looking for advice, etc

[Dedallen]

Greetings!
So glad to have found this site. Wish I had found it before my surgery rather than after but better late than never, right?

On 12/18/19, I had a right total knee replacement. Surgery went great - anesthesia sucked. Even though we all knew I didn’t do well with anesthesia in the past and took all the right precautions, morning after surgery was a barf fest (sorry for the technical term there) so I ended up having to spend 2 nights at the hospital to clear my brain/body of the fog/nausea so I could move to concentrating on my new knee.

Next battle was something I am still fighting with - we live in a rural area (gotta drive to do anything) In fact the ride home from the hospital was over 1.5 hrs and horrendously painful. Since then, we have needed to do things and I still can‘t find a good way to ride in the car.

Anyone have any good ideas?

We have an older sedan with a manual control of the passenger seat. I can get in and out of the car okay but I haven’t found a good way to support my leg/knee without pain. Our other driving option is a Chevy Silverado crew cab truck (also with manual seat controls) If I can climb into it (we do have running boards) would it be a better option? Should I try riding in the back seat instead of the passenger seat?

Any thoughts or help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Jaycey]

@Dedallen Welcome to BoneSmart and the other side of surgery! Sorry you are having to face all the recovery challenges. I'm afraid the only advice I can give you at this point in your recovery is avoid trips out in the car for now. All you should be doing is resting, ice and elevating and taking your pain medication as prescribed, around the clock.

Here are some articles that might give you guidance on your activity levels while recovering. Remember - you are discharged from the hospital TO recover, not fully recovered.

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 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 a 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 history before providing advice.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Should I try riding in the back seat instead of the passenger seat?

Yes. Have your partner put a large plastic bin-bag on the seat. Sit on it. Then have your partner haul on the edge of the bag to drag you into the car, so you sit sort-of sideways over the back seat.

About as dignified as [insert rude thing here] but it does work.

 

[Helizabug]

I’d stay out of the car too, but those first several weeks I either sat in the back with my keg elevated on pillows, just like at home, or I rigged my crutches as a leg rest in the front seat. The second option isn’t good for longer drives, though; too much pressure on small areas.

Good luck. It’s easy for others to say ‘stay home,’ but less travel right now will surely help.

 

[Dedallen]

well, staying home would be good if it was an option. But I have to get out - even pt is a 30 min drive and that starts next week. So I will try the back seat

 

[Suz]

I just didn't leave home unless I had to for at least 3wks post-op. At 3wks and because of the Bonesmart recovery protocol of, rest, elevate, ice, & on-schedule pain reliever, I was able to apply more weight without raw pain to my surgical knee at 3wks.

When I took my first short journey out at 3wks I made sure I did so after hours of rest, elevation, ice, & a hopefully a non-narcotic pain reliever on board! It makes such a difference taking a happy recovering knee out than an angry knee that is swollen!

Yes, I get bored not getting out. But I choose my post-op battles wisely and 'for me', letting others get what's needed is much easier.

We have a medium sized car and a bigger truck. The problem I have is getting my surgical knee in because it requires such a bend to pass the area where the door is attached to the vehicle. O.M.G., that can hurt if you don't have your body positioned inside the vehicle to pull it pass that area. I could never make it into the back seat of our vehicles. But I'm tall with a large body frame.

Our truck sits up higher, is bigger and yes dauntig when thinking about climbing in. I have learned how to do so with little, but discomfort instead of raw pain! Because there is more room, I always sit in the front seat with my seat all the way back. If there is a passenger behind me- they can put their feet up on the seat if needed, LOL!

I use the handrail to step up onto the platform with my good knee first. Then position my surgical knee behind my good knee, taking my time. I ALWAYS have someone along to protect me if things go wrong. I then get myself inside using my good knee first and then reposition myself inside so that I can pull my surgical knee in with as little bend as possible. Getting out and down- my good knee first onto the platform. Once I'm stable and standing, I use my walker to bear my weight coming off of the platform with my surgical knee first. Because I can break the weight bearing with my arms and the walker. I then bring my good knee down where I can reposition my weight off of my arms and onto my stable knee.

I also carry frozen ice pads with me so I can put one on once inside with an ace bandage. It helps SO much! If you must go long-distance, carry some in a small cooler full of ice to have for the trip back.

My best advice however is to stay in until you get some recovery behind you! No boredom is worth what is required to get out in the early days of recovery.

Welcome to our wonderful Bonesmart group and the 'other-side' of your knee joint pain! Before your replacement, your pain was permanent. Now? Your pain is temporary awaiting recovery!

Happy Holidays!

 

[lovetocookandsew]

I'll echo what others have said; try to avoid too much travel right now. You've just been through a major surgery, and your knee is trying to recover. If you must travel, make sure you've got your regular prescribed pain meds on board, and bring along some ice packs to help as you go.

I had to go to the OS a few days after I went home to have my pain pump replaced, and as the first one had run out and I can't take any pain meds, I was in excruciating pain until the new one was hooked up and going. So, I feel for you, and understand. If you really don't feel ready, you can reschedule your PT appointment for a later date. I skipped all PT after my revision, and am 100% glad I did so.

Good luck, and please keep us posted as you recover.