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TKR Pain 2 years after TKR

Thanks all. It makes me feel so much better coming here and reading how everyone got on and makes me realise I am not alone in this.
Waiting for doctor to call me as really need something for the nausea. Today I still have the full strength morphine and it reduces to half strength tomorrow till Friday then I will see what doctor gives me. Pain is quite bad today but still bearable with the medication. This not eating is strange for me as I even had a good appetite in hospital.
I was getting worried about not being able to bend my knee. I just can't lift my leg and thought that was wrong but I see some of you say it can take a couple of weeks. The hospital didn't tell me this. I was kinda led to believe I should be able to. I have to use the strap to get it raised up. I can't do the knee slide either. It just won't bend. Should I be concerned? Again was led to believe it should be bending by now but when I try it just hurts so much and I am frightened that I will do it any damage by trying to force past the pain. Any advice please? Also how much walking do you think I could or should be doing by now. Op was last Wednesday?

Kinda feel a bit weepy today. Still confused and find it hard to concentrate How does anyone go back to work quickly after this I have no idea.
 
Was trying to upload of photo of the bruising to ask if this level of bruising was normal but it leis telling me an error in uploading. I presume extensive bruising is the normal?

Grandson not very well again. Still being sick and refusing food. Daughter having to take him to see doctor today again. Feel terrible I can't help her.
 
Doctor just called. Said to reduce the morphine to half doze. Has given me anti sickness tablets, something to help the bowels and Naprexene for the pain. Just got to get my husband to go collect it now. So will taking Naprexene and paracetamol be enough to keep pain at bay do you think?
 
I never “worked” on leg raises. I couldn’t lift my leg for a couple of weeks. My husband was sweet enough to do that for me. :roseshwr:

One night I realized I was getting my leg up on my elevating wedge myself, so I pushed it aside and tried a leg lift. My leg went all the way up! Wow!!!! It just did! No trying for weeks. When it’s healed more it’ll work.

I did painfully force heal slides, because I was told to by PT and had not found Bonesmart yet. I will never do that again because it’s not necessary and only makes the swelling worse which in turn further prevents bending. When the swelling goes down, the bend will get better.

Of course the medical professionals will tell “you have to.... and you should be” but in reality there is no “should be” because we are all different, our recoveries are all different, so try to relax about what you are told and what you think you should be doing. :console2:
 
The bruising is basically normal. as is the inability to lift your leg for a while. I was lucky this time around and don't have any bruising, but last time my leg was one giant bruise. I am able to lift my leg and have been since 1 week, but bending is pretty difficult for me so far. Everyone is different, some will bend more easily at an earlier stage, or lift their leg earlier than others. But in the end we all lift our legs and bend our knees; it just takes time and patience. Remember, this is a year long journey and we are only days into that year. I'm glad you're getting the meds you need and hope everything settles down so you can eat again.
 
My OS said I wouldn’t be able to work for 12 weeks and he was spot on. Even when I returned to my classroom, it was half days only for weeks.

As far as feeling tired and a bit loopy, I just embraced it and napped as often as I could. I’d fell asleep watching tv or talking to visitors. It’s very normal, especially this early. Be sure that you’re spending the majority of your time icing and elevating to help with the swelling which is why the knee won’t bend.
 
@KarriB I agree. Although some of my bending problem may be that I still have bandages on and can feel them and the tegaderm keeping me from bending much as I don't have a ton of swelling. I am swollen, but not grossly so to date. Maybe @Mollymax has her bandages still? Mine will come off when this last ON-Q is finished as the tegaderm from it and the bandages are overlapping so the OS doesn't want to remove them yet.
Being tired is normal for this recovery for a while as our entire body is sending all it has to the surgery site to heal that wound, so there's very little leftover for everything else, thus the exhaustion. Plus, your usual schedule and functions have been totally disrupted so that also throws our bodies off and contributes to the exhaustion.
 
Morning. One week today post op.

Got anti sickness tablets taken yesterday and feel better that way. Still but nauseous but hopefully tablets will keep it at bay.

Didn't have a good night. Seemed to wake every hour in pain in both knees. Could this be due to stiffness and should I be trying to walk more now? All I am doing is shuffles around the house.

Today I am in more pain than the last few days. I have coped up till now but today feel like crying. I am listening to what you all are saying re leg lifting and bending but am upset because the hospital told me I had to do this and I can't. The leg won't lift and it hurts so much to try bend it. They told me it will remain stiff if I don't get bending it. I don't see anyone for after care so I am a bit worried and upset.

Sorry folks. I think I am feeling really sorry for myself today. Tears aren't far away.

Thanks for link for photos on bruising. Glad to see this is normal.
 
Tears, and lots of them, are part of this recovery. I cried buckets of tears!

Yes, most of us are told we MUST do the exercises or...(fill in the blank)

Bonesmart says if it hurts, don’t do it.

Your leg is highly upset right now from the trauma of the surgery. When things in your knee settle down, and the swelling goes down, you will be able to lift your leg and bend your knee. Don’t worry, it will happen.

I couldn’t lift my leg at one week. Not at 2 weeks. Today I can.
 
Your knee does need to bend and stretch a little throughout the day and also at night during recovery. Not moving it at all is neither natural nor good for it. So just bend as you are able, no need to push into horrible pain, and stretch straight as you are able. That’s all you need to do whenever you feel the urge to move your knee — and you will feel the desire to move.

Moving helps with stiffness. It helps the knee pump out excess fluid. But moving hurts right now, so just do what you can.

As for walking, most of us begin with a shuffle but it is good to stand straight and attempt to walk with a normal gait. Not speed. Speed comes later. But do walk a bit around the house. You must walk anyway for certain things, so extend your walk just a little. It won’t be far at first. Add a room and back to your nest. Little by little.
 
All that you talk about is most of our stories too. So very normal. I went to PT exactly one week after surgery. Was told my extension was “not good” and that I better bend it or the dr would be mad. From experience on my other knee and the knowledge from this site I knew to not listen. I requested a different PT, which was granted. This old mean one will hardly look at me. Lol I think she knows she was rude to me. I was given a sheet of exercises to do at home. Leg raises, quad sets, bending things.... none of which I could do. I even madly wrote all over the sheet “can’t do” and was going to show it to my PT. I was angry they gave me things to do that I couldn’t do. I was still needing my husband to be my keg lifter for everything. I couldn’t move it myself. Well....days passed and everything you’re advised on here is true, things get better. I no longer needed my husband the leg lifter one day, then little by little I could do those exercises. I totally get that it’s frustrating for you at this point. But please don’t worry. Go with it. Find something to binge watch, ice, elevate, sleep, and heal. Get up and walk when you want to. The shuffle will change all on its own. Drink lots of water. Eat lots of raisins. Lol Relax and enjoy the thought of being pain free and mobile in the upcoming.......
 
After this morning's little meltdown the day got better helped so much by what you have said on here. I only took the half doze morphine in the morning with paracetamol and naproxen. It was a scorching day so I set myself (Well hubby did) out in the sun (operated leg covered with a towel away from the sun) got my book, sun glasses and water and chilled out. I forgot about pain, leg raises and leg slides and just enjoyed the sunshine. Well it was mid afternoon before I realised I hadn't taken any more painkillers. I didn't feel I needed any but remembering what you all said on here I took 2 paracetamol. A little later hubby took me out for a little walk. Only 10 mins but he had to tell me to slow down. Still no pain but again remembering your words I took the morphine as prescribed. Then I did try the exercises again. Still no go with the leg raises and the knee slides just don't want to happen but I am trying. I need to remember my knee is not going to break doing them. I won't push past pain - too much of a wimp for that - but I will try.

It's bed time now and it appears I am back to my sleepless nights. I was never a good sleeper but since I came out of hospital all I have done is sleep. However tonight I am wide awake. Knee is nipping more than aching I would say so let's see how the night goes.
 
When I had issues about waking up in middle of the night I did NOT reach for my phone or tablet. I just laid there and tried to relax. Even if I thought I was wide awake I would do relaxation breathing and just try to chill. But FIRST I would go pee. Then back in bed for the relaxation. It ended up that I woke up because I needed to pee but I didn't want to get out of bed because I thought I wouldn't ever get back to sleep.

So try getting up and peeing then go back to bed and, in total darkness, just try to relax. Don't worry about going back to sleep, just do relaxation.

I hope this helps. I'm 5 months post op and still have to occasionally use this technique
 
I'm so glad you had a nice day. I got to sit out on my deck for a couple of hours today also, and visit with family. Usually it's way too hot-100 degrees and more, so I haven't been out there since my surgery. But today was perfect weather. I'm so glad you and I both had a nice day.
 
@SherrieT is so right. When I wake up I make myself get up and got to the bathroom too. That way at least that isn’t the reason I’m not sleeping. Lol
 
Glad you had a nice day lovetocookandsew. Good to hear you a are feeling OK.
I took all your advice and each time I woke I got up to the loo and back to bed without reaching for phone or book. I did manage to get a good sleep. Each time I woke it was more in a bit of pain so the going to loo help move the leg. First night that I didn't need to reach for the meds during the night so that was good. Minimal meds this morning. Outside on decking in the sun. Big bag frozen peas on my knee. I am sure they will melt pretty quickly in this heat though. Towel covering the knee so sun doesnt get at it. Will go a little walk later in the day.

Phone the hospital today just to check I am doing everything ok and that I am trying the exercises even though not managing them. They said make appt for next week with local nurse to have dressing removed and wound checked. So all seems OK so far. Surprised how things have been after all my fears.
 
Fear of a thing can be worse than reality. You’re doing really well and have that first miserable week behind you. Take things day by day, week by week, and you might be surprised by this recovery. It’s never easy but it can be not too bad. :)
 
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