TKR Pain 2 years after TKR

[KarriB]

It might feel tight and ready to burst because of swelling due to your activity yesterday. I hope you can spend the icing and elevating. Even when I went out to eat I always managed to prop my leg up on another seat or the bench I wasn’t sitting on. Most new knees don’t like to be down at all, at least mine didn’t.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Spex10 I'm glad you had a nice walk. You are coming along nicely. The key to doing things is take baby steps, and if your knee tolerates it, it wasn't too much and you can do a smidgen more the next time. But if your knee throws a hissy fit, you did too much and you need to back up and do less next time, and in some cases, waaaaaay less (ahem @Mollymax ). Good job on the I&E after!

 

[Mollymax]

Thanks for your replies about the wound. I thought it was just a natural fear. I guess now because I see it when bending I am looking for it to open when I know in my head it's not going to It was well stitched and glued shut. Yes it feels like it's being really stretched. Isn't it funny what your mind believes.
I did sit with my leg up in the restaurant as I had a bench seat so it was good.
Today I have been very good. I have elevated and iced all day and have done nothing. My knee is pretty swollen I will say even after a day of rest.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Mollymax I'm glad you're "being good" today. You may need two or three days to free your knee from the ODIC this time. Take it easy, let mommy deal with the kiddos and !!!!!

 

[Mollymax]

It's bed time now. My daughter did all the cooking and washing up today. The only thing I did was give baby his nightime bottle and he fell asleep when taking it. They are all going out for a walk tomorrow so I will just sit and chill while they are out. Hopefully recovered from the ODIC by tomorrow.

 

[Mollymax]

3 weeks post op day. Had a very poor night. Very little sleep. Put on TV on a rubbish channel in the hope it bored me anough to sleep .. Lol. It did as I fixed off watching it then managed to switch it off and still doze. Must admit to a fair bit of discomfort during the night.
Tried to do the few exercises I was given. Managing them okish. My knee feels really weak. Well I suppose its really the muscles that are weak. I hate the way it gives way every so often. So glad I have the sticks or I would be too worried to walk anywhere.

 

[Mollymax]

Just after I posted that last post I got a letter for a physio appointment at my doctors surgery. It's not till 7th August but at least I will find out how things are going before seeing the surgeon on 17th August.

 

[Spex10]

I just had a go at some of the exercises the PT gave me. (I do them off and on mostly when I can remember to). Did better than I thought but still nowhere near 90°. Quite stiff afterwards.
I know I'm really lucky to sleep relatively OK. Also my family live nearby and visit often which is lovely, but they go home! 2 lively little boys wrestling on the floor dangerously near my propped up leg can be nerve wracking!

 

[Mollymax]

Glad things going well for you Spex10. I have no idea what my ROM is. Don't think it's 90° yet.
I am having to negotiate an 11 months toys all over the floor. You forget how much mess a baby brings with them.
I really am hating the weakness in my leg.

 

[sistersinhim]

I really am hating the weakness in my leg.

You shouldn't be concerned about your leg's weakness right now. You #1 worry should be healing. As you heal, the strength will increase in it.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

@Mollymax Do you have a sleep timer on your TV? Mine does, and I set it as I settle down for the night. I watch a binge show as I fall asleep and it turns itself off without waking me so I don't have to wake to turn it off.

I don't know what your pain med regimen is, but it sounds to me like you might still need to be taking them around the clock on a regular schedule for a while. With my first TKR, I took them on a regular schedule around the clock for something like 6 weeks, then didn't need them any longer. I may have been reducing the number towards the end, I don't remember, but I know it took about 6 weeks for my pain to lower enough to switch from heavy pain meds to just OTC meds as needed. It's not a setback, or some kind of failing, if you need them still, rather it's what your knee needs right now. If you're having discomfort at night, and also during the day, you are having more pain than you're comfortable with and need to re-visit the schedule. Remember, swelling and tightness are also forms of pain, along with "discomfort", so don't be hesitant to take the meds.

I also think you may want to re-visit doing the exercises. It's obvious to me you're not comfortable doing them, so I suggest you skip them, at least for now, and concentrate on icing, elevating and walking around your house. When your company leaves, and it's safe again, go back to short walks, etc.

Perhaps look at this advice from the forum Activity progression for TKRs

 

[Mollymax]

Need to check the TV in the bedroom and see if it has a timer on it. I never thought about that. I haven't been taking much meds lovetocookandsew. I took them in the morning and at night but nothing in between. Today is the last day of the Naproxen so dien to dihydrocodeine and paracetamol only from tomorrow. I guess I feel because its not sharp or really painful pain I didn't need the meds Never thought of taking them just because I felt discomfort.
Behaved today and did nothing. Family went out for a walk so I have a couple hours of peace of elevation and icing

 

[Spex10]

Is Naproxen not just an anti inflammatory? Dihyrocodeine and paracetamol are painkillers. I couldn't bear dihyrocodeine for the way it made me feel so I just take the paracetamol.

 

[sistersinhim]

Naproxen Is an NSAID. Good that today's is the last day of it. They can be very bad for you.

 

[Mollymax]

Morning. Day 22 post op. Slightly better sleep last night. Only really woke when baby cried. Knee quite stiff this morning

 

[sistersinhim]

Even a little better sleep is better!

 

[lovetocookandsew]

I'm glad you got a decent night's sleep. If my rememberer is working correctly, your company leaves tomorrow, so you can get back to your normal routine, which is a good thing. I hope you can continue to get some good sleep at night. Maybe you can continue to sleep by yourself for a while and let hubby and the dogs sleep together? It's really important for everyone to get as much sleep as they can, and it'll help to keep both of you cheerful and avoid the grumpies, which can lead to some testy moments. My husband was a bit grumpy last night, so I made him go to bed early. (okay, I also told him to behave himself when he was a bit grumpy with me as a result of being tired....lol) He's been up late the last few nights after getting off schedule staying home so much, so needed to get some good sleep. Remember, "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"! And if you're not sleeping, you're going to be unhappy and then spread the miserables around. And if both of you aren't sleeping.......I shudder at the thought.......
I noticed my knee was stiffer than usual and hurt more when I didn't refill my ice before going to bed the other night. Are you icing all night long? It really helps me to do that. I should also elevate all night, but sleep better on my side so I end up moving my LD aside at some point and put my pillow between my knees to keep my other leg from ending up on my new knee.

I can't wait to hear how things get to be again after your company leaves. I know how much more peaceful it was here after mine left, and I didn't have babies to contend with all that week!

 

[Mollymax]

Yes lovetocookandsew my daughter and family leave tomorrow and hubby comes back on Saturday. He will continue to sleep in spare room with the dogs due to my sleeplessness. It wouldn't work us both being in same bed just now. I look forward to a tidy house without toys everywhere. Will get daughter to get the bedding and towels in the washing machine and before she goes. Hope your hubby isn't grumpy tonight.
My knee is a bit sore tonight. It's been ok and I haven't overdone it today and I have taken the painkillers but it's maybe more painful than it's been. It's pretty swollen and stiff.
I really want to try sleeping on my side. Which side do you lie on? If I lie on my left side which is operated knee do i put a pillow between it and other knee or between knee and bed? I am not a right sided sleeper. I just want to get comfy and it's not happening just now.

 

[Celle]

You'll need a pillow between your knees, whichever side you sleep on, Molly.

Most people start by sleeping on their un-operated side, because your operated knee won't like bearing the weight of your good knee.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

I've actually been sleeping on my right side, which is my operated side. I have no idea why I was able to do it so quickly, as after my TKR I seem to remember it being too painful for a long time. I use a pillow between my knees, as I have for years.

My husband won't be grumpy tonight, thanks. How do I know this? He got up at his usual time this morning and was able to get ready for work calmly. Yesterday he overslept and was rushing around to get out the door. lol But even his grumpiness last night wasn't much. (And I never, ever get grumpy myself)

My knee has occasional fits also where it swells and hurts more, even though I'm not overdoing things. I think that's just part of the roller coaster. But I'm thankful the pain I do have isn't bad and is manageable by just icing and elevating more. My ice machine and I are practically inseparable and I really think it'll be sad when I put it away in a few months or so. Have a nice day of solitude, peace and quiet tomorrow, before your husband and the dogs come back.