TKR Newbie on the site

[SheilaE]

Morning/Afternoon...Had TKR on my left knee Dec 1, 2023.

Been reading many of these posts...Seems that recovery is a bit different in US. (at least in FL) My surgery was on Fri, and my first PT was on the following Mon.--Did my assessment and some very gentle exercises...recumbent elliptical, very poorly done leg lifts..and a good amount of massaging. I have gone 2x a week and will go thru Feb.---with the work I was doing, I was totally flat in less than a month. Seems that you must straighten very rapidly or it very well might not straighten. Got to 125 bending a bit later, and that is still a work in progress to keep. My days are good, up to a mile in walking and grocery shopping and just doing my regular stuff.My issue is at night. After a few hours of sleep, I get a tightening knot in the back of the knee...god how it aches...If I could keep it straight in my sleep, it would be great, but ya know your body does what it wants in the deep dark night..lol...anyway...I use my other foot to straighten it out and then I have to get up and walk around for about 10 min. meh...nights are tough....the healing that is done during the night sends very interesting, and different aches that just set there. The pain creams really don't work on this, all the aspirins help for awhile...but the nights are the worse.........

My first month of post surgery was tough...not the knee so much, that moved along very nicely. That healing fog was so awful...I was nauseous all the time, couldn't eat, could't poop. and my brain fog was awful. It took a month to go away...I lost 10lbs -- I am mucho better now.

Also, I've seen my Doc 1x and his PA 1x and see again in a month...our doc visits are...after 4day....1 month, 3month, 6mo, then 1yr. I have an appt in April just to talk about my other knee being done....

Anyway...Goodday!

 

[benne68]

Welcome to BoneSmart, @SheilaE ! So glad you found us.

My second TKR was also in December, so we are "recovery buddies." I found BoneSmart shortly before my first TKR two years ago and found that following BoneSmart guidelines really helped my recovery -- so I'm doing it again for this one.

I will leave you those Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind we are all different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

KNEE RECOVERY 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.

If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.

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
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. We ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[benne68]

Seems that you must straighten very rapidly or it very well might not straighten. Got to 125 bending a bit later,

This really isn't true. Many of us find that getting to full extension (straightening) take longer than gaining flexion (bending). It certainly did for me with my first knee --- and I now have great range of motion in that knee. I'm getting there, slowly, with this second knee.

My issue is at night. After a few hours of sleep, I get a tightening knot in the back of the knee...god how it aches.

This is totally normal. I also still have discomfort at night -- and I do NOT worry about keeping it straight while I sleep; I let it bend into whatever position is most comfortable.

Please read through the articles above -- I think you will find lots of useful information even at two months post-op!

 

[Susie-Q]

Welcome to Bonesmart, @SheilaE !

This is a tough surgery, one of the toughest! It takes awhile to shake the cobwebs out and for things to settle down. Sometimes those aches at night can mean you did too much during the day. Try backing off some of the activities you are doing for a few days, spend more time resting and icing and see if those nighttime aches ease up. It's worth a try! Remember, it's a 12 month recovery.

 

[mendogal]

Oh please sleep however you need to! I was told by my ortho team and PT that a pillow under the leg was fine as long as there was no direct pressure behind the knee. I think many of us have even slept with full elevation all or part of some nights in order to get deep sleep.

After two knees, I'm convinced the path to extension, besides "tincture of time" to resolve swelling, has more to do with relaxing the leg than with intensely stretching it. Slow and gentle wins this journey!

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary!
I hope you're doing well, SheilaE. Please do let us know.
Good luck with your next post op with the surgeon.
Have a wonderful March! May it be a month of great progress.
@SheilaE

 

[Layla]

Hi SheilaE!
I read elsewhere you're dealing with a foot issue. I am so sorry. Nothing worse than recovering from one thing and another issue is interfering. I wish you all the best for your visits with the OS and foot doctor. Please let us know how each goes, we're here for support always.
@SheilaE

 

[SheilaE]

Hi SheilaE!
I read elsewhere you're dealing with a foot issue. I am so sorry. Nothing worse than recovering from one thing and another issue is interfering. I wish you all the best for your visits with the OS and foot doctor. Please let us know how each goes, we're here for support always.
@SheilaE

I did talk to my podiatrist about my right foot. It's neuropathy, no pain, just annoyance...feels like an old patch of leather on the ball of my foot. He said many of his diabetic patients feel this (I'm not) -- thx. It won't have any effect on my RTKR.

On another note I did get a surgery date for #2 --May 30. I am psyching myself up. I still go to PT (I love it!) so am building the right leg as much as I can.One of the biggest issues I had was might hamstring so tight...I am working the hell out of it this time. Just so weird that I can do all the PT exercises with the bad knee and there is some issue, but I CAN do them all...squats, leg presses, the leg raises and lowers on the machine, lunges, and of course balance stuff. It's the most important thing I can't do much of----WALKING...ah well...all will be well mid summer!

 

[Layla]

Congrats on getting your Right TKR scheduled.
Soon you'll be done and dusted as our UK friends often say. I wish you lots of comfort as you wait out these couple of months. Thanks for sharing your recovery with us!
@SheilaE

 

[Layla]

Best Wishes tomorrow, Sheila!
Hope to read an update from you once you are home and resting comfortably.
@SheilaE

 

[SheilaE]

Good Morning from sunny Florida. My second TKR was done last thur. It went very very well, and I was home before 2p. So far, this recovery has been miles and miles ahead of the last time. I have NO brain fog and very little nausea. Makes a world of difference. My primary upped my thyroid meds after my last surgery, and that helped....I think that was probably the big issue. I've already done 1 PT and will do 3 for the first 2 wks then drop down to 2. It's just real strange and different than the last time, there is pain, of course, but not nearly what I experienced before, it just isn't there. Full weight on the leg with the walker. The bruising is almost cut in half. Ankle is moving and circling great.
I worked real hard on that hamstring and muscle around the knee..and the ankle. I went to extra PT cuz I felt so good about the progress and wanted to build it up as best I could. I really think that has contributed to my (so far) good recovery.

 

[Jen53014]

Great report! I know for me there was a world of difference between my original TKR and revisions which I attribute to the extensive prehab…mostly but also of significance for me is better OS.
Happy healing!

 

[Layla]

Great news, Sheila! Glad things are going well for you and that this recovery feels better than your first.
Way to go! Happy Tuesday...hope it's a good day for you!
@SheilaE

 

[SheilaE]

I also think that the knowledge of what was to be expected, made a world of difference. Fear Factor is such a big contributor to recovery. I basically knew that nothing I was going to do, was going to damage the knee. So, whatever pain I choose to power thru and get me back to normal is done with that knowledge. I will probably hit bumps and roadblocks, but will get thru them.

 

[benne68]

Fear Factor is such a big contributor to recovery.

Agree! The knowledge I gained during the first recovery -- along with everything I learned here on BoneSmart -- has made recovery from #2 much easier mentally! Knowledge is a powerful thing, isn't it?

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary!
Please let us know how your recovery is going at one month post op.
Hope to hear from you soon. Enjoy the week, Sheila!
@SheilaE