TKR New Year, New Knee - Jan. 3, 2017<

[Want2hike]

At 9 days post surgery, I was usually a 1-2 while laying down or elevating, and a 3-4 while walking. It would jump to a 5-6 while transitioning from a sit/stand and if I sat with my legs down (dining table or car) I would start at a 1-2 but jump to a 5-6 after about 15 minutes. I was also taking 10 mg OxyContin extended release (10 hours) 2x/day and 5mg Percocet (1 every 4-6 hours) at 9 days. I would also take a flexeril for muscle spasms, as needed (usually 1 every other day).

 

[jaschembra]

Thanks @L.I.T I figured at some point the severe surgical pain has to start changing for the better.

 

[RMasano]

@jaschembra I am a little behind you. I had some really bad bouts of pain in the hospital. I have been better since home. I have a ton of pain meds. They are making me sick though. I am going to give it a couple of days cause I don't want to feel a ton of pain. I would like to cut down because I'm nauseated. right now i'm a 3 sitting down. Standing up 8.

 

[UACats70]

@RMasano OS gave me Ondansetron (say that three times fast) for nausea. Luckily, I have had none since being home. However, I have a cast iron stomach and am the queen of jalapenos. Call the OS and see if you can get some meds for nausea.

 

[jaschembra]

Ha! @RMasano I wish I could say I had Tons of pain meds! I have an ultra conservative OS and my body metabolizes pain meds different from most people. If he is my OS going forward with the 2nd knee, we will have an understanding beforehand!!

I think you mentioned Norco at some point- just FYI- I've been on it in the past (broken ribs) and after about 3 days it gave me bad headaches and I felt nauseous. Percocet became my best friend.

 

[RMasano]

The norco is making me sick. I was also given tramadol so I'm going to wait a couple of day see how that works in lieu of the norco. When it comes to knee replacements I think doctors need to be a little understanding with pain meds. It's not an easy surgery. They also gave me lyrica which is not given for all knee replacements. It's only given at certain hospitals. My insurance wouldn't even cover it. I paid for it and am going to talk to the insurance company later.

 

[UACats70]

I wish they do away with the pills all together and use a patch or some type of long lasting capsule inserted in the knee.

 

[sistersinhim]

@UACats70, that is a fantastic idea! I really like the thought of a long lasting pain capsule in the knee. Something that would last about 2 months should do just fine. @mbrown, I've been on both sides, pt and no pt. I have had much better recoveries without taking pt. I would never suggest that if I hadn't had experience. I didn't tell my OS that I wasn't taking therapy. Every time I saw him he was happy with my progress. Your doctors don't have to know. @jaschembra, if you're hurting that bad after pt, then you're doing WAY too much. PT shouldn't hurt. Having that much pain puts you behind in your recovery. Your soft tissues are very inflamed and now you have to get that inflammation down before you feel like doing anything else. Ice, ice, ice and elevate! And don't let that huge dog lay on your knee! Even a cat laying on mine hurt!

 

[Celle]

The exercises did hurt me @mbrown and after she was here Monday I was a 10/10 on the pain scale so we were not going to have a repeat performance. Not to mention I have an OS who wants me off the Percocet by this weekend or shortly after. Also, I get extremely swollen afterwards and it takes all day to try and get it down. She was better today and let me do it on my own.

As teh others said, PT should never hurt.

You did the right thing in telling your PT to ease off.
Remember this, from the mantras:
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist (PT) - to do it to you.

 

[TML]

@jaschembra Hi, just catching up on your thread and hoping you're having better pain control. My OS wanted me to move early in recovery so the goal was to keep pain levels at 3-4 as much as possible. He'd write a script for enough pills for only a week but would refill when I called and Hubbie would go pick it up at OS's office. I was on long-acting oxy for about 3 weeks, and Norco every 4-6 hours for about 2 months, weaning off it the last 3 weeks or so. (It seems like Norco works better for some and Percocet works better for others.) I couldn't take Tramadol, which works for many others. I also took Robaxin, which is a muscle relaxant, and it was the truly the missing key to keeping my pain level under control. I also iced round the clock and elevated 'toes above the nose'. My home PT had me gently do heel slides and quad exercises to avoid blood clots and to restore quad strength. I am one that had an excellent outpatient PT experience. At 7 months out on June knee and 3 months on October knee, I have 138/0 in both knees and have no pain, only stiffness and slight soreness. I'm in strength training now in the last few weeks with PT and starting to feel like myself again. You are early on. Please be patient and rest, ice and elevate. Let yourself be pampered. Hugs

 

[jaschembra]

Hi @TML I've missed seeing that cub symbol but am so glad to hear you are doing so well. I'm really happy I didn't have hardly any bruising/blood pooling like my mom (spunkybarb) had. Just a little in my inner thigh, a little behind the knee and a light amount on the inside of my ankle.

Good to hear about drugs that worked, etc. in addition to the Percocet and Tramadol, He has me on 300 mg Gabapentin 2 x a day and some strong anti inflammatory 2x a day. I think the Gabapentin is good. Believe it or not our BIG dog is on 900 mg 2 x per day for a spine issue She feels no pain and can act normal.

I'm hoping to find a middle ground with the PT. I'll go to the same facility for outpatient that I went to 2 years go and their philosophy is, if it hurts - don't do it! I just have to get through this home health gal for a few more visits.

Today was a day of recognizing some movements that showed less pain or discomfort

When do those nerve or zingers start?

This morning I felt some stinging and I told my sister it kinda felt like a TENS unit on my knee. Seems too early for those. Guess it was just healing

 

[KarriB]

Zingers can be different for everyone. Mine didn't seem to start until month 3 and went into 4-5. They didn't hurt me at all, just a shock when it happened.

 

[mbrown]

I was probably around a 4 on Day 9. Days 5-8 were the worst for me.

 

[TML]

My zingers started around week 3 and sometimes my knee or leg would just jump. Gabapentin should help the nerve pain - it can take a few weeks to build up slowly in your system. I found gently massaging my leg (not the scar) helped with the weird internal sensations. It's worth finding a great PT you can work with to help you through rehab. I asked my OS if his wife needed PT for TKR, which practice AND which therapist would he send her to see. That's how I got my great PT therapist. Wishing you a restful night's sleep.

 

[Ronsgirl]

I have been having a few zingers and also the little creepy, crawly things in my new knee,too. I guess they can start anytime. I don't remember having them this early in the other knee.

 

[Spex10]

Yes the creepy crawly feelings are so odd. Not painful but strange. My son in law had them too after a nose job!

 

[jaschembra]

@Ronsgirl its funny that you mentioned the creepy crawly things - I just had that last night. It didn't hurt at all, just felt it crawl up the whole incision of my knee on the left side. And I know it's not the drugs lol

My sister is running out this morning early to pick up my Tramadol- we are awaiting a huge ice storm here in St. Louis MO. Should start this afternoon and last through Saturday.

Thanks everyone

 

[jaschembra]

@Spex10 Wishing you well today!

 

[Spex10]

Thanks. Am currently nil by mouth prior to GA so trying to distract myself!

 

[mbrown]

@jaschembra I just saw the ice storm on the news. Said some parts could get over an inch of ice. That will cause very widespread power outages. Do you have a generator?