TKR Pain 2 years after TKR

[Spex10]

Gosh. Quite a curve in it. Some parts looked drier than others. What do you think? Maybe a simple dry dressing? Not a waterproof one. I assume the hospital gave you some spares?
Maybe more experienced moderators will be able to advise you.

 

[Mollymax]

Spex10 I was expecting a nice straight scar but as you say it's curved. Not sure if when swelling goes down if it will straighten. Won't look so bad once healed I suppose. Yes nurse gave me a couple spare dressings. They aren't waterproof.

 

[hopalong61]

Hi @Mollymax i just read your story all the way through. I've just got back from holiday so missed it from the start. It's funny reading it as i was exactly the same ! Feeling sick, no sleep, pain, can't lift your leg/do slides etc. I'm 4 months on from my MUA (6 mnths from RTKR) My scar is also curved like yours but has healed beautifully, i had staples. My knee currently looks like polished wood as we've just been to Turkey for 2 weeks and my legs are very brown ! It's still swollen, even after all this time but i'm sure you know that this is a waiting game. At the beginning i was like you, worried sick about everything but now, i've realised that everything is going to be ok, i need my other knee replacing too. I'm considering next year i think. I will have to plan it though as my daughter is going to Uni in September and is moving to Liverpool and my son lives with his girlfriend so i'll be on my own. I've been separated (happily !) for 16 years.
I am starting to sleep better now, can actually sleep on my side ! I still take Codeine and Paracetamol and have recently got some Diclofenac (from the Pharmacy in Turkey !!) which is helping a lot. I went back to full time work in April (desk based) and that helped too as it makes you feel that things are progressing and getting back to normal.

Reading your posts, you can tell that you are improving each time ! This forum has been a godsend for me, i think i would have been banned from my GP's if i hadn't found it as you worry constantly at first don't you ?

I hope you have a good few days with your family but remember to rest when you need to !

 

[Mollymax]

Hi Hopalong61. Nice to have you here. I was lucky the surgeon was so understanding of my fears even down to the no staples because of being terrified of getting them removed. Such is my fears. I was lucky to have some nice colour on my legs before surgery so am not pale white which I think makes my scar look ok ish.
I need the other knee done so will see what surgeon says later about it. I will still go through being terrified but maybe not quite so much.
I wish I could sleep on my side but it will happen one day. Patience is not my best fortie.
Like you I am so glad for the people on here or my doctors surgery would be dreading my calls as I would be on the phone for every little thing.
I am looking forward to going to Gran Canaria in September so it's something to get fit for. Not sure when I will be back at work. Quite a while yet. I am due to retire at end January and am toying with the idea of going early.

 

[Spex10]

I can recommend early retirement!

 

[sistersinhim]

I wish I could sleep on my side but it will happen one day. Patience is not my best fortie.

Side sleeping will come. Can you try putting a pillow between your knees? That helped me some. You need patience to get patience!

 

[Txmomgmom3]

Yea for sleep!!

 

[Mollymax]

11.35pm and off to bed. Very tired so Hope I sleep. I hope baby sleeps but I guess he won't as he isn't a good sleeper. Knee a bit swollen and tight tonight. I tried to stay off it and left the cooking and washing up to my daughter and son-in-law but I still found myself doing things. Place is a bombsite with their bags everywhere and toys galore. It's lovely having visitors but you forget the disruption children bring. Oh well meds taken and time to sleep.

 

[Celle]

It's looking good, Molly. My incisions are both curved, too. The surgeon did that to go around your kneecap, instead of over the top of it.

I think it's OK to have a shower with it exposed - not a bath, though. Just let clean water run over it and gently pat it dry with a clean towel. It's OK to leave it uncovered but if you find your clothes are catching on it, just put a light, dry dressing on it. Is that OK, @Josephine ?

Yes, your leg is still quite swollen.
Don't get caught up in doing things while your family is with you. Your job is to rest, ice and elevate, to get that swelling down.
Try to turn a blind eye to the mess - your family won't be with you for long, and the house can wait.

 

[Josephine]

It's nothing to worry about. It's scruffy stuff is just the Dermabond (glue) which will take some weeks to drop off.

As for the pink, that's the skin prep they use for the surgery. No need to do anything about that either. But it all looks like it's more than ready for a nice soapy shower!

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Mollymax I understand completely. My house was pretty bad all last week also, to the point where I gave up walking around much of it lest I trip and fall over shoes, diaper bags, and the rest of the clutter. It was a nice visit, even though I was stuck to my ice machine and LD most of the time. A bit difficult right now? Yes, most definitely, but still nice to see family members. It was bittersweet when they went home, but I really needed my house and quiet back to continue recovering. At least I only had 2 adults visiting, except the one day when the house was full of adults and children. I spent some of it with everyone, but most of it in my room and closed my door when it got too loud. Adult visitors bring some disruption also, but we just don't notice it as much when we're healthy as we're up and interacting with them instead of trying to rest and recover. Enjoy your visitors, but try to let them take care of things and retreat to your room often. Make a rule that that's your space and no one enters without permission.

 

[sistersinhim]

Enjoy your visitors, but try to let them take care of things and retreat to your room often. Make a rule that that's your space and no one enters without permission.

That is excellent advice! No matter what, your knee needs to come first! Don't feel guilty about taking time for yourself. Your recovery has to come first! Especially, watch out for the children. They tend to run around and not watch where they're going. Keep your walker with you for protection.

 

[Mollymax]

Morning. Not a great night. Couldn't sleep at first. Managed to drop off about 2.30. Baby woke at 6am but I didn't get up till 8am.
Will just need to try ignore the mess for the next few days and not stress. My room is tidy and peaceful so that helps. Will see how this first full day goes.

 

[Spex10]

Sorry to hear you didn't sleep well. The weather here is pretty damp today. Is it the same with you? That tends to make my knee feel a bit achey. How's yours?
The grandchildren will be a lovely distraction for you. If I'm on my own too much it sort of makes me focus too much on my knee. Maybe you're the same?

 

[Mollymax]

Well it's bed time again. Really rather tired. Did go out with the family to a play farm where the children had lots to do. Baby had his first taste of soft play area and sand pit. I did as little walking as i could talking advantage of all the seats around the park and just watched them play. Then we went for a meal. Sat with my leg up icing it since our return as pretty swollen. Have come to bed now to relax as the place looks like a whirlwind has gone through it. Unfortunately baby isn't settling tonight and both children are in the room next to me so may be a wakeful night. Hoping I haven't over done it today and suffer for it during the night.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

Wow, that's a pretty big outing for not quite 3 weeks! I haven't left the house except to go to the hospital. And, except for my one month check-up with my OS, it's unlikely I will go anywhere until around 6 weeks, and then it'll be quick trips to the store at first. I won't go out for dinner until somewhere around two, or maybe three, months. May I suggest you read the activity progression again? Your knee obviously didn't like the outing, and is telling you so quite sternly now. I wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself in the ODIC tonight and tomorrow.

 

[Spex10]

Maybe such a nice day out with the family was worth it though. These are such lovely memories to store up.
I hope you can sleep a bit better.
Approaching 3 weeks out I've only been to the GPS to get my staples out but last night we went for a little walk round our block and to the garden. It was so pleasant walking on the grass and looking at all the plants that I usually only see from the windows. I iced and elevated later and don't seem to be the worse for it. I hope we can do it again today. My son is coming so I'll try to get him to escort me as I can't quite face it on my own

 

[Mollymax]

It was a pretty big outing lovetocookandsew. Maybe too much for a first trip. I was ok most of the time as it was lovely and warm and I just kept taking seats. There were a couple of times when walking my leg just went weak and buckled a little but I had my sticks and my son in law was walking beside me in case of any problems. I slept OK till 2.30am but it was off and on from then on. Inside of knee was nipping a fair bit but not enough to need pain killers. It is very swollen today though. In fact huge.
Today it is raining so it is a day to stay in. Baby is grumpy and tired. Got children's TV on to try keep him amused.
Spex10 glad to see you got out. Its good to escape isn't it... Lol. Hope you get a walk in today.

 

[Mollymax]

Just had a couple of hours chilling on my own while family went out. Caught up on my tv I recorded last night. Pretty tired. Sat with leg up. Big bruising round ankle today. Knee seems huge. Still pain free though which is a blessing.
Does anyone have the worry that when they try bend their knee the wound will burst open? I know it won't but my brain says otherwise. Very silly of me but when it had a dressing on it and I couldn't see it I didn't think like that. It's only now I see it I think like this.

 

[SusieShoes]

That’s a natural fear. I mean, the wound feels tight to the point of bursting, doesn’t it? Mine did. My surgeon explained in great detail why it wouldn’t (and it never did) but mine sure felt like they (I had both knees done) would burst with every bend.

You just... get used to it. How it feels. How tight it feels and how it still feels tight when bending. It’s a mental adjustment and happens with repeated bending. You do get used to it.