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TKR One year out from October 2023 TKR

Dmcfad2

post-grad
Joined
Dec 29, 2013
Messages
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73
Location
Oceanside, CA
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Surgery was yesterday at noon. I spent the night in the hospital. I walked with the walker right away and did steps. Minimal pain until this afternoon. I think the nerve block wore off. It’s not unbearable, I’m just very aware of it. I am home now, icing and elevating.
 
Welcome to Recovery!

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

Just keep in mind all people are 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: 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
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​
If you want to use something to help heal the incision,
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.​

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

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website

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 the 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 the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 
Welcome to the healing side!
Glad to read you're in your recovery nest back home. I hope with meds, ice and elevation, you're able to get the pain under control and get some sound sleep tonight. Best wishes and lots of comfort to you!
@Dmcfad2
 
I know you'll glad to be over this hurdle. Now, it's time to take it nice and easy and baby that newborn knee of yours.
 
I had almost no pain for the first two days, then the spinal and blocks wore off. The pain was bad for a few days after that. Ice really helped me, when the meds didn't cover the pain. I used an ice machine/cooler but bags of frozen peas work well. Keep them handy!
 
Well, for sure the nerve block wore off a little while ago. Yikes. This is kind of painful. I’m sitting here with a gel pack on it. I also have an ice machine. The meds don’t seem to be helping at all. Hoping for a better day tomorrow. I got this.
 
If you have been given a list of exercises to do, don’t worry about them right now, they will increase your pain. Gentle movements to give your knee mobility, ankle pumps, and short walks in the house are all you need right now. Hang in there. :console2:
 
If you have been given a list of exercises to do, don’t worry about them right now, they will increase your pain. Gentle movements to give your knee mobility, ankle pumps, and short walks in the house are all you need right now. Hang in there. :console2:
Thank you. I plan on resting a lot tomorrow. I moved around too much today, I think. Sitting here wondering how in the world I’m going to sleep tonight! I’m usually in bed by now, but nope, not tonight..LOL.
 
I woke up this morning after a pretty painful night. I started in the bedroom and ended up on the couch. I am having to take Oxy 10mg every 4 hours and it is barely touching the pain, although the knee is feeling just a touch better this morning after resting it all night. They sent me home with 42 5mg tablets with instructions to take 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours, At this rate, I’ll be out of medication by Monday afternoon. Maybe I can stretch it to every 6 hours and suffer a little. I really can’t understand why that much pain medication isn’t working for me. It’s Saturday, but maybe I should call the office for a refill now so I don’t run out. I feel like I shouldn’t be calling so soon after just getting home. Any suggestions or personal experiences?
I kept my Polar Ice Machine going all night on my knee. Once I got set up on the couch, I was finally able to get some sleep. I think I got about 6 hours total, which isn’t too bad.
Anyway, here I am on Day 3. Yesterday morning while still in the hospital, I could lift my leg by myself, bend it and put full weight on it. Today is another story.
I will continue to think positively. I’ve got this. I’m on the road to recovery.
 
Yesterday morning while still in the hospital, I could lift my leg by myself, bend it and put full weight on it. Today is another story.
This is a normal occurrence. Yesterday was a very busy day for you and your newborn knee. It reacted with extra pain and swelling. That means you are probably subconsciously guarding your knee movements, fearing the extra pain. This is also normal. Your #1 job should be to heal. To best do that rest, ice, and elevate as much as you can. The only thing you need to be doing is walking around taking care of yourself. No exercising especially. Taking care of your needs is natural PT and is good enough for the next month or so.
 
@Dmcfad2 Call your family doctor and ask them to refill your pain medication. Hospitals typically prescribe a very small amount.

Keep that ice machine going - it's a great pain killer.
 
So sorry your having a rough time. I hope the pain starts easing for you and you are able to sleep well tonight.
Don't want to see you stretching out meds though and suffering. Take, Jaycey's, advice and call for a refill.
Hugs and best wishes. :console2:
@Dmcfad2
 
In addition to the oxy.... If you know how much acetaminophen you're getting with the Oxy dosage you're on, you can add plain acetaminophen as long as your total daily dose stays under 4,000 mg.
And ask your doc if it's ok to add a non steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID) like ibuprofen or naprosyn and what dosage. These have a different way of acting and are safe to take with opiates and acetaminophen. The prescribed NSAID dosage is higher than the OTC dosage, which is why it's best to check with your doc and get a recommended dosage for your needs.
 
In addition to the oxy.... If you know how much acetaminophen you're getting with the Oxy dosage you're on, you can add plain acetaminophen as long as your total daily dose stays under 4,000 mg.
And ask your doc if it's ok to add a non steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID) like ibuprofen or naprosyn and what dosage. These have a different way of acting and are safe to take with opiates and acetaminophen. The prescribed NSAID dosage is higher than the OTC dosage, which is why it's best to check with your doc and get a recommended dosage for your needs.
Thanks for this recommendation.
 
@Falcon6210, is your surgery date the 24th or the 23rd? Your signature says the 23rd.
 
Any recommendations as to when I should start heel slides? So far I have done nothing but walk to the bathroom, ice and elevate. My PT starts tomorrow morning. I don’t want to set myself back in any way.
 
Just giving your knee gentle bending movements, for mobility, are better than formal heel slides, at this early stage. You don’t need to be doing reps of bends, which heal slides seem to imply. You don’t even ever have to do formal heel slides, your knee will get enough healing mobility just doing your daily activities.

When PT comes tomorrow, don’t let them bend your knee, or even touch your leg. Too many PTs believe they must bend your knee as far as possible (which can cause tremendous pain, depending on how far they push it) in order to get your ROM back.

Regaining our ROM does not require forceful bending or painful exercises. That is counterproductive.

Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.

Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.

Our range of motion is right there all along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.

In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Normal activity is the key to success.
 
So far I have done nothing but walk to the bathroom, ice and elevate.
This is natural PT, so you aren't doing 'nothing'. I wouldn't worry about doing any kind of exercises. You are moving around and that's all you need to do. As you heal, you will feel like doing more. Let your knee be your guide. If it hurts or swells at the time, that night, or the next day, then your knee isn't ready for what you did. Stop it and then try it again next week. If you do OK, then you can add that and then the next time try a tiny bit more. Again, listen to your knee.
 
Hi Dmcfad,
I hope your PT went well this morning and wasn't too aggressive. Go slow and easy, keep up with meds on schedule, ice and elevate and you should be good! :thumb:
Best Wishes!
@Dmcfad2
 
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