jancat
graduate
Di, Is there any chance you can purchase an anti-fatigue mat for when you return to work? These are really helpful. Here is an example designed for chefs: https://www.gelpro.com/
TKR not feeling normal since TKR...
- Thread starter Dianne
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Dianne
junior member
Thanks Jancat! We do have fatigue mats at work and they do help a lot but OUCH....what else can I say? :cat-kittyandsmiley:
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Dianne
junior member
Hey yall...I need to say somethings you all have never heard before regarding TKR! WILL THERE EVER COME A DAY WHEN I DON'T REGRET HAVING THE SURGERY DONE AND WHEN, IF EVER, DOES THE SORENESS AND PAIN STOP?:th_heehee:honestly I am so tired of the pain and soreness and being randomly sick to my stomach that I can honestly say right now I wish I had never had the surgery until I just had no other choice.The pain and soreness will ease off a little and suddenly it is back with a vengence. If screaming would help I certainly would. I have not been so disgusted with something in a long time as I am with this.I sincerely hope the pain stops before I decide to stop it myself....just so sick and tired of being sick and tired!!!!! Hope you all are great and anyone NEW here plz don't listen to me right now:cry4: you can get a lot of great help here. I guess I am just trying to have a pity party!!!
Di
Di
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Dianne
junior member
WOW!! Just got a return call from my surgeon and he wants to see me Wednesday to discuss going back to work!!:skeptical:
Di
Di
Lindawalms
graduate
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That is a good thing, right?? Im so sorry but you are only 2 months out - I had hip done am still healing and am 9 months out - I can say I'm well past the "I wish I never had it done phase" but that phase did last a long time for me...but it slowly went away - both times...you just need more time - think 2 months down, 2 - 4 more to go and then you will b on with the WHOLE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!! I kno its hard when you are in it but sometime it will end and you will be happy again - it just takes a LONG time...hang in there
xoxo,
Linda.
xoxo,
Linda.
Hi Diane
I am almost 5 months following my LTKR, you will definitely get rid of the pain but it takes time, your knee is in charge. I was off work for 13 weeks and then went back on a phased return. I am now back full time and I go swimming 2 nights a week. I think we all worry that we will never get the swelling under control or be free of the pain but I am afraid it just takes time and you need to learn patience, the most important thing is to elevate it and ice lots and lots, some days I iced all day and take your pain meds regularly, BEFORE it gets sore. I too suffered the blues terribly (you will see from my threads) but this too passes. I did not do any PT at all other than simple stretches and heel slides, most of the time I rested and iced and read books and watched movies etc and it was not until about the 8 - 9 week mark I felt that I was beginning to get anywhere, I can go up and downstairs now (like a normal person) and I sleep for 8 - 9 hours a night, it just takes time, the surgery is quite severe and it took a while for your knee to get to the state it did and likewise it needs time to recover, but it will all be worth it, hang in there.
Hugs
linda
I am almost 5 months following my LTKR, you will definitely get rid of the pain but it takes time, your knee is in charge. I was off work for 13 weeks and then went back on a phased return. I am now back full time and I go swimming 2 nights a week. I think we all worry that we will never get the swelling under control or be free of the pain but I am afraid it just takes time and you need to learn patience, the most important thing is to elevate it and ice lots and lots, some days I iced all day and take your pain meds regularly, BEFORE it gets sore. I too suffered the blues terribly (you will see from my threads) but this too passes. I did not do any PT at all other than simple stretches and heel slides, most of the time I rested and iced and read books and watched movies etc and it was not until about the 8 - 9 week mark I felt that I was beginning to get anywhere, I can go up and downstairs now (like a normal person) and I sleep for 8 - 9 hours a night, it just takes time, the surgery is quite severe and it took a while for your knee to get to the state it did and likewise it needs time to recover, but it will all be worth it, hang in there.
Hugs
linda
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Hey yall......I know in my heart and kneethat I am not anywhere near ready to go back to work,but may as well suck it up!
I thought you said you "don't have to go back to him for 4 months"? Honestly, you are only 9½ weeks out. Considering all the standing on one spot you have to do, 12 weeks should be an absolute minimum. Mind you, you don't know what he's going to say! Do be sure you define every detail of your job to him and your present condition with pain and so on, so he knows what you will have to cope with.
In another life I am an occupational health nurse and it often falls to me to see employees who had had knee replacements and assess their fitness for work. I make it a policy to never allow them to return before 12 weeks and may even extend it more if they have excess pain or disability. Even then I have them on a Phased return to work You should read this article carefully as it makes you think that going back to work is not just 'going back to work'!
Welcome to the club! I doubt there is a kneesie anywhere who hasn't cried out that in the middle of the night! I know I did, many times! But after a few weeks more - about 16 or more in my case as I recall - you finally do realise it was a good thing to do and stop having to think about it all the time. It will probably be almost a year before you get up one morning, have breakfast and then :ideaIPB: realise your knee was not the first thing you thought about today.
I can almost hear you saying "A YEAR????" :hate-shocked: to which I can only reply, well you never thought this was going to be a quick job, did you? How long did it take your knee to get into the condition where you needed a replacement? So how come you think it should be all better in only a few short weeks! :wink1:
jancat
graduate
Oh, Jo, thanks for that! I am only 3 weeks post-op and already I have the 'crazies" for I don't know what else to call it! That is why I spend so much time on this website! I 'know' it was major surgery but I feel like I should be doing more, then when I try I get so tired. My day is just some exercises, a little walking, ice, elevate, rest, a little exercises, rest, ice, elevate,walk, ad nauseum. Right now I would not rush into the other knee either, but I have just exited the 'why did I ever do this' stage.
RestAssured
alpha
Yep Jo is right there will come a day when you are glad you had this done! My left knee feels so good that I sometimes forget it is a replacement and then do silly things like hopping on cement to protect the other knee! :hysterical:
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Jan, I was told to do nothing for the first three weeks! And after that, a very slow progression of activity which you can read about in here Some suggestions for home physio (PT) and activity progress
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Dianne
junior member
Jo...I do have a follow up appt. with the OS in 4 months!!! BUT I have to go see him Wed. to get my release paper to go back to work.....my leave is up May 7!!! I also go to a great pain management group for my back. 
My appt. with them is Tuesday the 24th and I will talk to them about controlling the pain when I go back to work. Am thinking maybe I need anti-inflammatory meds also..we'll see!! Let you know what they say..Thanks to all for your kind words!!
Love
Di
My appt. with them is Tuesday the 24th and I will talk to them about controlling the pain when I go back to work. Am thinking maybe I need anti-inflammatory meds also..we'll see!! Let you know what they say..Thanks to all for your kind words!!Love
Di
Dianne, from what you describe of your work, I think you're going to have a very tough time of it going back now. Your new knee is not going to like you standing in one place for long hours. And if you're in production, I'm betting you'll also be doing a lot of bending over whatever it is you're making and moving your arms and upper body which will put a lot of strain on your leg muscles as they work to keep you balanced.
What kind of "leave" is it that runs out May 7th? Have you researched taking additional leave under the Family Medical Leave Act? If your employer has 50 employees, he must grant you up to 12 weeks of leave for a medical issue each year. Granted, it is unpaid leave, but....it may be something you should consider.
What kind of "leave" is it that runs out May 7th? Have you researched taking additional leave under the Family Medical Leave Act? If your employer has 50 employees, he must grant you up to 12 weeks of leave for a medical issue each year. Granted, it is unpaid leave, but....it may be something you should consider.
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Dianne
junior member
Well saw the Doc today and I will be going back to work May 7, fulltime with the restriction that I can use my perch as much as needed until knee is fully recovered. I know all to well how hard it is going to be for me and all I can do now is ask for prayers!! Doc seemed to be really amazed about my pain level and said that it looked liked I was going to be 1 of the people whose pain stayed for a long time..Lucky me!! :cry4: but this too shall pass, or not:skeptical:
Love
Di
Love
Di
Nyland
post-grad
Hi Diane,
I'm sorry that you are having a tough time. My prayer for you is that the pain subsides dramatically before May7th. I understand about needing to get back to work and hanging onto your job, especially in this economy. Can you ask you employer to make a temporary disability accommodation for you? Maybe a tweak to your perch? Best of luck and lots best wishes!
I'm sorry that you are having a tough time. My prayer for you is that the pain subsides dramatically before May7th. I understand about needing to get back to work and hanging onto your job, especially in this economy. Can you ask you employer to make a temporary disability accommodation for you? Maybe a tweak to your perch? Best of luck and lots best wishes!
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Dianne
junior member
Hey dear...unfortunately they are not to helpful to us at work when we have problems, health or otherwise.....I will just have to do the best I can...but thanks for caring:doggieshmooze: I am so sure I will really need everyone's listening help when I go back...
Love
Di
Nyland
post-grad
I'm sorry about that. It seems every company's compassion is diminishing lately. Well, you just do the best that you can and know that we are here to listen when you get home. I'm still going to be hoping and praying that you are pretty much 100% by May 7th. Bless your heart. You have the worst behind you and you have been a trooper the entire ride.
Cynthia07
member
It might be better than you think.... see how it goes. but sit as
much as possible.
much as possible.
OP
OP
Dianne
junior member
Just a quick note to say that I am still around, still sick with my stomach problems, working and hurting like h--l, and nothing will stop the pain..:cry4:am still so wishing that I had never had it done......but praying for a better day...
jancat
graduate
Oh, Dianne- I am so sorry to hear this! I had my TKA 6 weeks after you and feel so good. I did have the stomach/no appetite issues in the beginning when I was on more pain meds. I even lost 11 lbs, but have gained 4 back.
Once I didn't need the heavy duty pain meds any more, I regained my appetite.
I go back to work next week, my 12 weeks of disability pay end next Thursday.
Is your OS aware of your pain? Does it still swell? My OS said the knee will swell for a year, so I am ready for that.
I hope you get some relief soon.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Once I didn't need the heavy duty pain meds any more, I regained my appetite.
I go back to work next week, my 12 weeks of disability pay end next Thursday.
Is your OS aware of your pain? Does it still swell? My OS said the knee will swell for a year, so I am ready for that.
I hope you get some relief soon.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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